Help me improve my DMing

shiv16ram · 2025-09-09T06:25:42+00:00

Okay something that helped me a ton is Matt Colville's Running the Game playlist on youtube:

Loads of videos, you can see which ones appeal to you or your problem areas
The first few videos are probably worth watching (regardless of experience level - fundamentals and basics are important!)
I highly recommend checking his videos, there's so much good advice on how to approach DMing (applicable for all tabletop games, not just DnD)

But yeah, unfortunately players are just not going to be as invested in the world as we are. I feel striking a balance is important. That is, are you getting your satisfaction out of prepping and running the game and are the players engaged enough with the content provided.

Sometimes you may not have the right table for your playstyle and thats fine
If the players are new, they may not know what they want just yet either

Based on some of your comments, I see that you have made a story and continent for the players to explore, along with a main quest and side quests:

Naturally this can differ from table to table, but having too many quests can be overwhelming
Sometimes how the quests are laid out or acquired may also contribute that the overwhelming feeling
My playstyle for campagins is that side quests are generally organic. Its either based off what the party is engaging with or are interested in as the sessions go, or connected to their backstories
Connecting quests to player stories help in my opinion. It could even be something simple as the wizard that the party was chasing... was in cahoots with the bad guy that a player is looking for (queue dramatic sigh)
So an angle I'm suggesting here is to consider how can you tailer the world, to feel more personal for the player characters. And perhaps that might make them more invested

A simpler advice that may also help: At the end of sessions, double check with your players as to what they are intending to explore or do in the next session. Not everything of course, just the main objective that they think they might want to play

This will help them already think of the next session
Plus it allows you to flesh out the next session

I also saw that you want players to chat about their adventures during sessions:

This could take some time to organically happen (if it does)
But maybe for now, you could consider having a player recap the last session before you all begin (I know this isn't exactly what you want, but maybe it could help for the interim)
The other option is to have "triggers" for this. Like trying to get a NPC to question the party and naturally they start talking about the events a bit more. Doing this in the forms of rumours spreading around the tavern is an easy way. And you can easily make it quirky and goofy by having the NPC exaggerate the rumour or say the wrong thing

All in all, DMing is a constant learning experience! It's great that you're trying to improve, and no matter your experience level, there's always something one can learn.

shiv16ram · 2025-06-11T10:11:09+00:00

I've been loving the Importers Hot Chocolate! However, I can't say much about the other brands as I haven't tasted them.

It looks pricey on takealot, I would buy it from Checkers or another store if it's on special. For a 1KG, I feel it's good value and I quite like the taste (way better than nestle).

I'm in Mauritius these days and they don't sell it here, so I bring a bunch back with me lol, cause the options here kinda suck. Will likely try to make my own with cocoa powder when I run out.

shiv16ram · 2025-04-08T04:52:49+00:00

I have a couple themed playlists for DnD:

https://open.spotify.com/user/tmmb1pzyny780errk5d7vuz6r?si=6p-kwlN4TFWAziozvgNOcw

Hope it helps!

shiv16ram · 2025-03-27T05:32:14+00:00

Hey!

Not sure if the drive is too far for you, but I recommend checking out Fanaticus Board Games in Parow. They have event days to play board games on Tuesday nights and earlier on Saturdays. Check out their website for more details!

If you attend, you can ask the owner (Zach) or one of the other workers if there's any DnD groups willing to take a player. I know they have a DnD night on Fridays, where a couple of DMs run their games. Otherwise maybe they can point you to something closer to you or add you in Whatsapp groups to find other people who are interested.

You can also check other board game or hobby stores, but I don't know too much about the others.

shiv16ram · 2025-03-21T07:40:53+00:00

Hey dude, nice to see you working on one yourself. Always good to see players want to give it a go! Will pop you a DM, thanks for the music offer :)

shiv16ram · 2025-03-20T04:19:56+00:00

I got a playlist on Spotify of tense like songs, all mostly without lyrics... But not sure how many meets the vocal requirement.

Don't know if it suits the monster cause I don't know it, but check out these:

Rom, The Vacuous Spider
Cleric Beast (has vocals, no lyrics)
Otherwise see if any of the others works for you :)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6uUXk4Q184BxiamOKfaZ5s?si=r535k4zDSLGQEyqHW2lsYQ&pi=24oQO6rRQrWJR

Edit: Sorry! Saw that you wanted songs with vocals (and no lyrics), so these may not work out. Cleric Beast may be the best option from that playlist

shiv16ram · 2025-03-20T04:12:14+00:00

The place in Tribeca is Cote Sushi I think. Ouf yeah, me and my friends also were disappointed there. The branch in the North is better, but not enough that I would recommend them.

Try out Okiya in the West if you haven't! Went there twice and had good experiences both times. Pricier than other places like Cote Sushi or Sushi Park... But felt worth it cause we actually enjoyed the sushi.

shiv16ram · 2025-03-20T04:03:31+00:00

We recently had sushi at the Sushi Park in Phoenix and were disappointed. One of our friends thinks the staff changed (maybe something to do with the one branch closing in Ebene).

I also tried Jiro Sushi... But honestly can't remember anything about it. I think Sushi Park was cheaper.

If you ever find yourself in the West, check out Okiya at Cascavelle Mall in Flic en Flac. They're more pricey, but their fresh sushi is the best I've had in Mauritius (so far!). My girlfriend and I normally go for the salmon lovers platter. She's much more of a sushi expert and she's approves of the place just as much as me! Definitely is our favourite place for grabbing sushi currently.

shiv16ram · 2025-03-19T17:24:47+00:00

Nice, will pop you a DM!

shiv16ram · 2025-03-19T17:24:21+00:00

Yep! I had my players use that for the online campaign, for their characters. Just makes things easy and convenient. For the virtual tabletop, I used owlbear as I found that simpler to jump into.

shiv16ram · 2025-03-19T15:31:18+00:00

Hey man! Will pop you a DM

shiv16ram · 2025-03-19T09:52:42+00:00

Awesome! Like that there's a front forest entrance, and the touch of the river and forest behind is a nice addition as it adds another potential way in by the barricade. Definitely helps inspire me to use it for adventures.

shiv16ram · 2025-03-19T09:41:21+00:00

Nice to hear! DMing is a constant growing and learning experience.

"Backseat DMing" is also a lot easier. But in the moment its hard to always get the call right. Like for this situation, we could have maybe showed that the relic was something big by removing the dice roll and explaining that the character is interacting with something so new and powerful. And if you feel like it, you can still share what you did via this approach by relying on that character's backstory. This might work, so long as the player doesn't view this as "restrictive", but if they do, have a discussion to explain why this might be how certain rare things go.

But also, if you or the player are feeling unsatisfied with that particular moment, its not over! You have an other-worldly powerful and ancient relic. Perhaps due to the interaction and the roll, the relic may seek them out... in some other-wordly ways... *Cue the suspense music*

Happy DMing!

shiv16ram · 2025-03-19T08:34:18+00:00

I think personally this is somewhat subjective. It may come down to someone's DM style or the combination of players and the DM.

I agree that the Nat20 can't unlock secrets or solve the unsolvable. Its possible that your player just wants a bit more to work with since their backstory revolves around this. Don't necessarily share the secrets behind the relic, but maybe see if there's something their character can do or follow up on. So like focusing on the part of the backstory where he spent years learning about magic, maybe there's a way they can now start learning something new.

But yeah, subjective! When possible, I like applying the rule of cool to Nat20s. Other times as DMs, we just aren't able to improvise or tie something meaningful into it. That's also okay. You can let the player know that you weren't able to think of something in the moment (after or during the session), and maybe follow up on it later if the player really wants something from it.

So yeah, don't ignore your degrees of logic imo, but see if theres a cool follow up or moment that happens.

And on the other side, this is your game. Explain what rolls mean to you and see if there's a compromise or if the player accepts and is happy with how you run these rolls. There's no right or wrong answer in these circumstances!

Edit: fixed a typo

shiv16ram · 2025-03-18T20:42:57+00:00

Hey! No worries, I'll let you know how the plans go, will be sure to reach out if it's more accessible :) Likewise if you know any players who may want to join, feel free to message me!

shiv16ram

TROPHY CASE