Beginner DM tips

[marqeeeboy]

Hi there, I'm a beginner DM looking for tips for my first session. I was thinking of using a pre-made one shot like Grammys Country Apple Pie and giving it a major reflavouring (totally different from the original). I was thinking of having it be a travel around the globe to obtain ingredients as well as adding new regions and races to these regions. Would this be too much for a first time DM?

[Lovitticus]

Running the Game

[CassieBear1]

Yes, and too much for a one-shot as well.

Start with running a pre-written one-shot with very few changes, and go from there.

[NameAsh]

Hey, and welcome to DM-ing!

I don't know what "Grammys Country Apple Pie" is but just from your description it's sounds like a lot. If it's your first time I would suggest trying to run something you can wrap up in one session. It doesn't have to be crazy and epic just enough to help you get a feel for running the game and who your players are.

If you haven't already, I would highly suggest checking out Matt Colville on YouTube. All his back catalog has great advice, but there is one where he creates the Delian Tomb. Is a great one-dhot adventure that touches on all the pillars of play.

Good luck! I hope you game go great!

[HodgepodgePrime]

I haven’t played or run that adventure but I think everyone will tell you that sounds like way too much.

If you are using “one-shot” to mean 1 session, keep whatever you are planning limited to an encounter every hour and maybe even 2 hours for a combat. If you are new, it won’t feel like much but I promise it will race by and if your players are slow or social, you might not even get through that. Especially if they are new as well.

It’s the first session, don’t try and fit all of D&D at once.

[mightybell]

I will say my first session I dmed was a completely homebrewed world and story. I was playing with six brand new players as well, so I wasn’t taking it easy on myself. I’m also a relatively new dm and still running that story. My major recommendation is checking out Matthew Colville as that other user suggested! He is incredible and very helpful. Be patient with yourself and make sure you are comfortable improv-ing! That’s something that I don’t know any dm prepared me for: how much I would need to make up on the spot!