Blog Post: 17 Gamemaster Tips the Manuals Don't Tell You

[ripx187]

I'm typically not one for Gaming Tips. The web is inundated with them! But this list seems pretty good to me. What are your thoughts?


17 Gamemaster Tips the Manuals Don't Tell You

[bravewolf]

This is timely, Rip, thanks! I just started a second Arduin campaign this past Friday. Most of the players are noobs or returning players. I immediately found myself having to switch up some aspects of my refereeing, and this article will help, I think.

[Hexenritter Verlag]

A great post ripx187, the only issue I had was my past players liked to deal with shops buying stuff & interacting with the NPCs in them. A lot of the mundane buying should be done out of game, but some should be allowed unless it is making things drag for others.

[ripx187]

Mar 25, 2019 13:58:23 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

A great post ripx187 , the only issue I had was my past players liked to deal with shops buying stuff & interacting with the NPCs in them. A lot of the mundane buying should be done out of game, but some should be allowed unless it is making things drag for others.

I agree. For the most part I think that all of these rules should be broken here and there, this one especially because if you play old-school; I think that what you choose to take with you is important.

[bravewolf]

Mar 26, 2019 16:42:42 GMT -5 ripx187 said:

Mar 25, 2019 13:58:23 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

A great post ripx187 , the only issue I had was my past players liked to deal with shops buying stuff & interacting with the NPCs in them. A lot of the mundane buying should be done out of game, but some should be allowed unless it is making things drag for others.

I agree. For the most part I think that all of these rules should be broken here and there, this one especially because if you play old-school; I think that what you choose to take with you is important.

Absolutely. Arduin Group 1 tends to minimize in-session shopping. Arduin Group 2 (aka War @ss) SAID they wanted to shop in-session, but got overwhelmed by the choices or something and so proceeded to shop in a cursory way and without roleplaying

[El Borak]

That is a really good post and I see it is from back in 2013. How did you run onto that?

[ripx187]

Mar 29, 2019 1:46:13 GMT -5 El Borak said:

That is a really good post and I see it is from back in 2013. How did you run onto that?

I read alot of stuff, but this one stood out. It's got a great title!

[El Borak]

Mar 29, 2019 8:51:53 GMT -5 ripx187 said:

Mar 29, 2019 1:46:13 GMT -5 El Borak said:

That is a really good post and I see it is from back in 2013. How did you run onto that?

I read alot of stuff, but this one stood out. It's got a great title!

Happy you found it, I had never seen that blog before.

[xizallian]

This blog is called Sean D. Francis and another post is How to Make a Homebrew D&D Campaign Setting.
Worth a read and check out this image.

[xizallian]

Regarding the OP here are the headings, very worth a read of the full article.

1. Names are important.
2. Players love familiar faces and places.
3. Dice rolling is boring.
4. Offer distinct options from which the players can choose.
5. Reward player cleverness, don’t punish it.
6. Don’t add crazy just for the sake of crazy.
7. Be consistent.
8. Admit mistakes as soon as you can.
9. Plan one significant character moment for every two hours of play.
10. Make each character a hero in every adventure.
11. Let the mundane events take place ‘off stage’.
12. Take the game as serious as you want the Players to take it.
13. Let the Characters’ strengths override the Players’ weaknesses.
14. Always keep a current copy of the Players’ characters.
15. Manage time like it were a precious element.
16. If you aren’t having fun, no one will have fun.
17. You can’t make all the Players happy all the time.

I think he is a little over the top on 3, everyone I know likes to roll dice and we mainly do it for combat.

Thirteen (13) should be renumbered 13A and 13B would read
13B. Let the Players’ strengths override the Characters’ weaknesses. Now that is old school.