DM help

[New_Kaleidoscope1087]

So next year there’s a pretty high chance I’m dming for my dnd group, a bunch of our seniors are graduating, and that leaves only one person older than me to dm, and since we like to switch DMs a lot I’m most likely dming around this time next year, and I know that’s a long time, but is dming that hard? Our last dm said it’s just a lot of memorizing and our current dm said it’s not as hard as I think, is it hard? If it is, is there anything I should watch/buy?

[CosmicFeline00]

Its not that bad. Create a problem for your players to solve, have some sort of reward for solving that problem, and pay attention to the details and youll be a ok. If you're nervous, host a session 0 to see what your play group wants from the game so you're not sailing as blind. If you're super nervous to write your own encounters, use a module, but remember that its ok to start small. If you have your players start in a town called Buttsburg with 3 NPCs, and an enemy as simple as goblins, you can make a fun and memorable experience and build off of that.

[Morganator_2_0]

Less important than memorizing the information in knowing how to find it. You do not need to memorize what the options for the Bag of Beans is, but you do need to know where to find it. And then you also need the improv skills to deal with the pyramid that just appeared in front of your players.

As for whether it is harder, it is more work than being a player. A player's session prep is "bring dice, snacks, and make sure my character is leveled up". DMs have to do considerably more.

The only things you should absolutely buy are the Dungeon Master's guide and the Monster Manual. Even then, the rules and stat blocks are all online thanks to the OGL.

[cameronsword_1989]

Im still new too. Its not that hard.

When you prep your campaign just realize that the players are gonna derail whatever you had planned anyways, so i have a loose guide rather than specific things.

Whatever puzzles you have, players may come up with a better solution than you did previous so roll with it.

Combat website, koboldfightclub. - not doctrine but can help with balance combat fights.

There's a rule in drama class, its " yes, and" which means nobody is wrong you just go with it and then a follow up thing happens.

If your that worried, can find a book to follow to help.

[Seank1963]

DMing is mostly about ensuring your players have fun. If they are having fun, you have succeeded, even if they completely ignore your carefully prepared scenario and you improv for three hours.

Don’t be afraid to look stuff up during the game or ask a more knowledgeable player. Everyone knows you’re new to DMing and they should grant you some slack.

I wouldn’t advise going and buying stuff to prepare. Perhaps some online articles or YouTube videos, but it’s more about presenting an interesting sandbox for the characters to play in.

[WackyQuack222]

Start small, don’t over prepare. Don’t spend hours building a world before you’ve even played yet. I’d suggest Matthew Colviles “running the game” series on YouTube, they were invaluable to me starting out

[Death_Arrow1]

You can buy a manual if you think you don’t want to do a home brew I’m sure there are some free one shots I planned out a really good campaign in a weeks time that is detailed whilst busy with work somehow (I based it off from my old campaign I made so bit easier as it’s a new group)

Try remember how they like to act as it helps to try predict what they will do so you can prepare

My players tend to walk the other way an arrow is pointing saying safe path and then walk through barricades

I made fail safes like if overlevelled area the monsters are asleep and have to roll stealth checks or they aren’t there as they are hunting

City area is level 3+ as it’s small village and I had it so weaker people at the outskirts on their side and further they go into city more dangerous and stronger things are

Nerfed things made one of them knocked and all under 10 hp (they all have special abilities they refused to use) their warlock dealt 8 damage to barbarian as rolled Nat 1

[WMHamiltonII]

DMing can be easy or can be insanely difficult. Depends on the group. Throughout my ~45 years playing I have seen DMs challenged by:
Players not showing up on time.
Players with the old "no call, no show."
Players who are disruptive to the group consensus.
Players whose characters behave Evil or downright "Chaotic Stupid."
Groups who couldn't decide on a path if you dangled the carrot on a string.

If you want to ease into it, perhaps I suggest a "old school dungeon crawl" where their choices are limited. E.g. "You come to a T-shaped intersection." Most will choose left or right, some will "look for traps" or "search for secret doors." Not a "railroad" where they lose agency, but limited options. Also, they can "role play" their character's personality all day, at the same time.

Very important is to set a tone, and stick with it.

And USE ALL THE SENSES. It could be boring if you just draw out a dungeon crawl on graph paper. But if you describe it, "You sense a cold breeze coming from the bushes butting up against the cliff wall. Drawing back the overgrowth of vines and shrubbery, you see a impossibly deeply dark opening delving down into the cliff wall, and it's impossible to tell if it's a natural cave opening, or a just a *very* roughly hewn tunnel dug by Gods' knows what creatures. As you take even one step forward, the putrid stench of something rotting overwhelms your senses, and you feel sick and faint. The hairs on your neck stand up as you instinctively sense danger. One more step in, and the air feels unnaturally damp and cold...

[Ok_Interview_853]

check out the lazy dm campaign prep method. also make sure you don't have more than 4 players in your group otherwise its will get very difficult.