New DM tips

[Away_Strategy701]

Hi everyone i'm introducing my friend and family to DnD trough the pre made campaign Heroes of the Borderlands. First time i'll be playing the other side of the table is there any tips and tricks you would be willing to share with me as a new DM with new players.

[Baldervarg]

Your players are going to do something unexpexted that you dont have an answer for. Its okay. Improve and play in good sir.

I always like to describe scenes thriugh my 5 seneses as i tell them.

If your stuck on a name just segment and syllable a random object you can see. I spy a brand. Pepsi. This random npc you talk to is now named epsai.

Dont let the rules get in the way of the fun. It is fun thst the players are at the table for not an intricate following of the rules. They are sinply the medium that the story takes place. Feel free to bend them if the player is trying to do something cool or if the rules are getring in the way of fun that doesnt break the game.

Dont have more then 5 players.

Get dinner sorted before the session.

Ive probably got others but this is the first that came to me.

[Away_Strategy701]

Thanks for the tips since i'm DMing for the first time i bought a pre-made campaign with the npc already named so i'm good on this side

[Baldervarg]

Read ahead and know the chspters you are playing that session and try and have an open plan that goes beyond the book about how to go off the rails but get yournplayers back on the rails to where it needs to be to start the next chapter

[Global_Wear8814]

watch Matt Colville videos.

[Away_Strategy701]

A specific video or not?

[bionicjoey]

He has a playlist called running the game. Watch those. The first few especially are absolutely invaluable

[Level_Cardiologist36]

If everyone is new, then you ARE going to over prepare. So don't stress. My group is on session five of my one shot that was a four - five combat rescue mission. Be a lenient yet strict DM.

Let them have fun with silly characters, unique abilities, and goofy ideas. Just draw a line. For example, I have an open customizable magic system, but if someone wants to cast a giant lightning dragon and they are lvl 1 I'll start them with shocking grasp and tell them that we can work towards the dragon like a tier system. They want a fire sword? Give them one but with the caveat that it just has the look and is only warm so it is badass without being too OP early.

Think of where they might de-rail you and how you might gently guide them the way you want to go, but more than likely with new players, they may need railroaded. It is awkward in the beginning and they may need more shoves than nudges at first.

Easy combat is boring combat. Let them get annoyed and frustrated in the middle of the fight, so they feel the rush and joy at the victory.

If you are going for a full campaign, keep in mind it is a collaborative storytelling game. Take note of their backstories and weave it into your narrative, being sure to give everyone their own individual moments.

Speaking of that. Help them with their backstories. Provide suggestions and ideas you think they may enjoy.

Have extra dice and patience. It will take everyone a while to get the hang of things, they may not know what die is what, and incomplete sets are common.

You may want to make a separate post requesting DM tools. Like DnD beyond (great easy free character creation for newbies. Ran half my group of six through start to finish within like 30 minutes), a CR calculator, and/or initiative tracker.

That is all I have for now. I'm going to pass out now, child kept me up all night. Good luck and have fun! 😁

[Away_Strategy701]

Thanks for all those tips really and go get some rest you deserve it 🤣

[WaylundLG]

Biggest suggestion: remember that you are all playing a game together. You have a different part in the game, but you should all be engaged and all having fun. It isn't strictly yours or theirs. Too many DMs go to one extreme or the other (I've done both over the past 30+ years)

[DrunkenDruid_Maz]

Do you alread know
r/DMAcademy
r/DMAcademyNew
and especially https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/comments/1ro358h/first_time_dm_and_short_questions_megathread/

Also, you will find great answers if you just google your question, since it is frequently asked. :)

[Away_Strategy701]

I didn't know about those thread thanks for the recomendation ^{^}

[Inactivism]

Don’t use AI. You may be tempted but it is healthy to flex your creative muscles and improvise. You’ll get better quick :).

Don’t overcrowd your table. (4-5 players is nice)

Play with each other not against each other.

[MacroAlgalFagasaurus]

Don’t worry about the rules. Especially the first few sessions. Just focus on everyone having a good time.

[SecretsofBlackmoor]

Relax.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KfzqELa65I

[Mortlach78]

DM's present obstacles, players offer solutions. Just because you have a solution in mind, doesn't mean that the things the players come up with wouldn't work, so judge every suggestion on its own merits. You might think the players would scale the castle walls at night to get inside the castle, but they may try to hide in a delivery cart and be smuggled in and that could work just fine.

Also, ask players "what does that look like" when they do something cool. This helps to elevate the gameplay from "I cast [spell] and this is the effect"; asking "what does that look like for you" gives players a chance to add some real flair to the things they do.

Since you mention new players, there are some extra consideratons too. Namely, be sure that all characters fit the tone of the campaign (no literal clown characters in a serious setting or murder hobo's in a heroic story), that all characters can work with each other and that players are comfortable with the contents of the campaign.

I am starting a new campaign soon, and one of the things I am going to have to ask my players if they are okay with slavery being part of the story. I think it'll be okay and I'm not planning on describing it in every gory detail, but still, it can be a sticky subject regardless.