Improving Your Game
Being a DM is challenging for a number of reasons. Good DM's (Or GM's) not only have material prepared, but can jump off script at any moment. They know whats an appropriate challenge for combat, the right way to get the party to jump onto a hook, how to manage the table and different characters expectations. A lot can ride on a DM, weighing them down and sometimes throwing them about and spitting them out. DMing can be disheartening for a number of reasons also.
How can you rise through the ranks in almost any pursuit or hobby? I'd wager a good way would be to look at the professionals, what makes them great? Is it the story? the table management? the interesting hooks, plots or NPC's? Is it the encounters, the laughs, the suspense? Obviously its a little of each of these things plus more all bundled together. However, every group likes things slightly tweaked to their style. Emulating one such master wont necessarily cover the way your table plays. That's why you need to study them all.
So where do you start? Well it certainly is overwhelming in the beginning, the options are potentially endless. Also remember this little piece of advise I first got told when I picked up the DM mantle. "Steal everything", ideas, plots, npc's, twists, traps, cars.... No don't steal cars. Anything you think is cool can be used in your own games, it saves you having to come up with content yourself and it also gives you solid examples to work off in your own games.
So i will compile a few personal ideas and examples of each, in an attempt to assist all you aspiring DM's on the road to greatness.
Firstly live play shows/podcasts. This is an easy one, there are plenty of great podcasts and twitch/youtube streams and shows available to anyone for FREE! I'd strongly recommend listening to a few separate ones to vary your experience and the various styles you will most likely encounter.
A few personal recommendations would be first, Force Grey: Giant Slayers with Mathew Mercer. Its the perfect intro show for newer people, Mathew is obviously one of the greatest DM's of all time. (Now most would opt for Critical Roll which is terrific but for people like me who just don't have the time.... force grey is an excellent alternative.)
Second, either the Glass Cannon or Sneak Attack Podcast's. They are both light hearted and are easy to get into. One is home brew and the other is played of an adventure campaign from the great team at Paizo.
Next i would try either the Turncloak's or Advantage podcasts. Both are a lot more drama filled and take a more serious note. The character role-playing here is much more in focus and the story is the center piece of the shows.
Finally i would try a host of various you tube shows from dawnforgecast (watch on 1.25x speed :P), Nerdarchy, Webdm (personal favourite) or any other D&D channel that discusses ideas, mechanics and all things from a DMing perspective.
Another option is always Books/Movies/TV for plot ideas, twists or encounter ideas also. Trying to list them all at this point would most likely be impossible, I'm sure you would have a few of your own favourites.
But there's only one way to get good at things right? Practice practice practice. WRONG!!!I think there's 2 ways, practice and study. That's right your schooling days aren't over future and current DM's, you are going to have to put in some effort if you wanna be the best.
How can you rise through the ranks in almost any pursuit or hobby? I'd wager a good way would be to look at the professionals, what makes them great? Is it the story? the table management? the interesting hooks, plots or NPC's? Is it the encounters, the laughs, the suspense? Obviously its a little of each of these things plus more all bundled together. However, every group likes things slightly tweaked to their style. Emulating one such master wont necessarily cover the way your table plays. That's why you need to study them all.
So where do you start? Well it certainly is overwhelming in the beginning, the options are potentially endless. Also remember this little piece of advise I first got told when I picked up the DM mantle. "Steal everything", ideas, plots, npc's, twists, traps, cars.... No don't steal cars. Anything you think is cool can be used in your own games, it saves you having to come up with content yourself and it also gives you solid examples to work off in your own games.
So i will compile a few personal ideas and examples of each, in an attempt to assist all you aspiring DM's on the road to greatness.
Firstly live play shows/podcasts. This is an easy one, there are plenty of great podcasts and twitch/youtube streams and shows available to anyone for FREE! I'd strongly recommend listening to a few separate ones to vary your experience and the various styles you will most likely encounter.
A few personal recommendations would be first, Force Grey: Giant Slayers with Mathew Mercer. Its the perfect intro show for newer people, Mathew is obviously one of the greatest DM's of all time. (Now most would opt for Critical Roll which is terrific but for people like me who just don't have the time.... force grey is an excellent alternative.)
Second, either the Glass Cannon or Sneak Attack Podcast's. They are both light hearted and are easy to get into. One is home brew and the other is played of an adventure campaign from the great team at Paizo.
Next i would try either the Turncloak's or Advantage podcasts. Both are a lot more drama filled and take a more serious note. The character role-playing here is much more in focus and the story is the center piece of the shows.
Finally i would try a host of various you tube shows from dawnforgecast (watch on 1.25x speed :P), Nerdarchy, Webdm (personal favourite) or any other D&D channel that discusses ideas, mechanics and all things from a DMing perspective.
Another option is always Books/Movies/TV for plot ideas, twists or encounter ideas also. Trying to list them all at this point would most likely be impossible, I'm sure you would have a few of your own favourites.
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