2 sessions later, I’ve been reading how to and n00b DM posts all over the internet. I think I have to tools to give my, shall we say, creative role players an experience that will entertain and give them buy in.

@Draugen: I tend to be like you and avoid the TPK if possible. I prefer the story to the game, but I still want to challenge them. I’ve also had issues where I let players do things that just caused complete chaos to the story. Gotta love munchkins!

There was a (rather decent) plot, involving a demon spirit possessing the village priest (think the video game Messiah) and mass mind control. This got ruined by the most munchkin-y player onboard – he wanted to posess this demon spirit, which i, in my stupidity, let him. This proved no end of difficulty for him, of course, but still.

Which leads me to my second time GM-ing – now. I’ve consistenly been giving my PCs either to easy victories (so i hate TPKs. Sue me :p) or way too cool loot (such as shitloads of very magic gear in a supposedly low-magic setting) or both.

Ah well – life’s a big lesson and all that. I’m at least aware of (some of) my potential issues as a GM, so I’ll know what to check for

Koranes: Dungeon after dungeon can be fun for quite a while. Are you still playing, or was the unfun of the beginning a killer to playing together?

All through out the game I kept realizing things, like “Uh Oh, the goblin informant doesn’t have an exit strategy” and “but… she’s just sitting there…” As in our elven wizard was on night watch and she succeeded on her Listen check just when the goblin crit-failed on his Move Silently check! He dropped his short sword and cursed for minutes, then ran away, while she crawled up next to the half-orc fighter and held her knees and rocked for the rest of the night…. I didn’t know what to do. Meeting that goblin was important. Then I rememebered a post about using treasure to tell the story (link?), and had a false front pop out of the hilt of his sword with a note inside. Unfortunately, none of them spoke Goblin. I should have read the player’s sheets more thoroughly, but we statted then played that very night. Oi… At least that only took time to correct, until they could find someone who does speak Goblin.

Overall, though, these blogs (I read three daily and the rest randomly but a lot) absolutely help out the beginning DM. Thanks!

I’d say it was a good learning experience, though. I’ve gotten better at planning realistic scenarios, and also at making quick excuses.

On the “be forgiven” topic, I’d say you’re spot on. I recently spent some time stuck on a broken-down train in Ireland with one of my players, and I convinced him that we should take turns running games of Toon. My normal tendency towards zaniness is exacerbated in a game like Toon, so I wasn’t the easiest player to deal with. (He had some sort of preconcieved notion about how I wouldn’t just kidnap the princess.) We got through a very fun brief adventure, and he admitted to having an entirely new respect for just what it is that I do every other week. Now I’m trying to figure out ways of conning the rest of my players into DMing even a brief, silly game, just so they know what it’s like.

@ Lesink: “The next adventure was much simpler — low level and a typical dungeon crawl with simple low level monsters. And from there, I just let it grow of its own accord.” That is the best way to do it. Start with something simple to get the taste, then build into your own style.

@ Patrick Benson: I was a monty hauler my first few times as well. The 2 lessons you mentioned are the key things that I think of when I think of a good game. Did people have fun? Am I with people I enjoy hanging out with and whatever game we make happen is cool!

@ Scott Martin: Thanks! I didn’t even realize they fit a four point model so succinctly. Your first times sound like it went pretty well. Getting better than afternoon cartoons (some of them) is always great to do. I’m not sure some of my games are as entertaining as the latest Avatar episode, but I know they beat out Kung Fu Skunk! . . . Sometimes.

Your advice still holds true– every time I GM for a new group or in a new system I need your four points of advice.

There were too many traps, too much treasure, and way more secret doors than needed and it didn’t matter. We just had a good time because it was just a game and the role playing was the icing on the cake. I got lucky that everyone at that first game liked being in character.

You can’t imagine how crushed I was when I started to play (not GM) AD&D and joined a group of “real gamers” as they put it. First they mocked my playing Basic D&D, and it just went downhill from there. I found another group quickly with gamers who understood that I was learning. That made a world of difference.

I learned 2 things from these experiences: 1) If the group is having fun you are doing it right and the rest is just details. 2) The people in the group are more important than the game.

My point is that I made horrible mistakes when I first GMed and no one cared, because we had fun. As a first time GM be concerned with the players (and yourself) having fun first and foremost, and the rest of your GMing skills will improve with experience.

The next adventure was much simpler — low level and a typical dungeon crawl with simple low level monsters. And from there, I just let it grow of its own accord.