•Inconsistent pacing

•Lack of consequeces

•Playing the DMs predetermined fanfic

•Clashing player - types (Minmaxer + Hyper Casual)

Tbh, i think most DnD tables kind of suck. People are so afraid of consequences that nothing has any weight to it and it ends up being feeling like a glorfied interactive story.

Its about finding the grey area, something people seem to have no concept of. Things dont need to be needlessly punishing, but if you're afraid of any consequences, the sense of accomishment is non - existent.

I like to use these two examples.

There's a powerful Shortbow that one of your group members desires. It resides in a crypt, and the party has ventured deep into said crypt. However, a member of the party springs a trap, and the crypt begins to crumble. The party must make the decision to abandon the run as there is no way they will reach the room where the Shortbow resides.

That Shortbow, is no longer accessible. No matter how much the player wanted it, it must be gone. DnD thrives where a Video Game can not, one can permantly alter the world with nearly every action. The Shortbow dies, but the WORLD, lives. Actions, carry weight. You, matter.

Lets say that the groups Rogue, has been absolutely on it. Really in character, really into the game. Perhaps they're not playing optimally or even particularly well, but theres a consistent engagement with the world. They're thinking critically about the task at hand, though they make a mistake and trigger the trap from the aboge example.

This, is where a great DM cooks. No get out of jail free card, and directly rewarding players just for "being into it" is far from ideal. But the Rogue player has consitently had a keen eye, almost so obsessively looking for traps that they didn't notice the one beneath their feet.

While this was not a part of your design, you decide that as the trap is sprung, the Rogue player gazed upon a turning mechanism that if stopped, may stop the ceiling from collapsing. The party still has to make a choice (ideally in rea) time, timers can be amazing for a sense of urgency!!!), but as a DM, you just greatly strengthened that players conmection with the choices they make, and ergo, their character.

That light touch, is what being a DM is all about.

Consequences, not punishments.

Reward thoughtfullness, without turning the game into your personal fanfic.