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13:54, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Any tips for a new GM?

Posted by mightyjake
Tileira
member, 415 posts
Thu 18 Sep 2014
at 13:58
  • msg #16

Re: Any tips for a new GM?

ashberg:
Finally, make a good game for whoever sticks with it. I ran one game
Also - don't mix people with post rates of < 3 per week with those who can post much more regularly. You'll find "over-posters" scaring away "under-posters", thus ruining your game. This comes back to clearly setting expectations.


This. Very much. Everyone has a different idea of what an "active"/"under active"/"over active" game is. Tell people what rate you expect as a minimum and try to keep everyone at roughly the same pace. I even set a maximum post rate, because I only most about 3 times a week and don't want to have to retcon a page of posts because the PCs decided it was okay to ignore the Significant NPC in the room while they bickered.
W0LF0S
member, 22 posts
Thu 18 Sep 2014
at 14:11
  • msg #17

Re: Any tips for a new GM?

One of the best pieces of advice I have to give is this:  once a game gets started (after character creation), try your best to say yes to as much as possible.

Your rogue wants to rope walk above the fight?  Give me an acrobatics check.  Your sorcerer has run out of level 2 spell slots for the day, but he needs to cast something else?  Have him burn some level 1 slots and gain the shaken/exhausted condition.  Generally, your players are going to move within your expectations, but let them be clever or suffer the consequences of their ideas.  Said rogue forgets that he needs to make a new balance check every time he's attacked, so he looks cool for about two rounds before he fails a check.  Said sorcerer manages to launch his key spell for the fight, but is limited to cantrips for the rest of day and loses a level 2 slot the following day.

Now granted, you have to have a limit.  No, Rogue, you can't use your allies as cover to make a stealth check.  No, good Cleric, you may not cast inflict wounds on non-evil characters and expect your god to be pleased with you.  But it's easy to say no to these things, because these are the players that think of you, the GM, as an opponent and not as the Storyteller.

Being reasonable and creative in saying yes to your players makes the game more fun, and it builds a good sense of trust between you and your players.  And it's usually easy to distinguish between someone that's pushing for extra power (because they're always bugging you to let them do such and such) and someone that's had a bit of inspiration (because they almost never ask for special treatment).
Vinny
member, 533 posts
Thu 18 Sep 2014
at 18:57
  • msg #18

Re: Any tips for a new GM?

Don't be too rigid in your mental map of the world. For example, let's say the PCs are having a gunfight in the streets of Newcastle.

A player posts "I duck into a doorway and return fire".

You had pictured the street as classic row of terraced houses with no doorways to speak of.

Instead of correcting the player and asking them what they want to do instead just go with it. Change your mental map.
Jarilye
member, 898 posts
Thu 18 Sep 2014
at 20:39
  • msg #19

Re: Any tips for a new GM?

In reply to Vinny (msg # 18):

  On a similar note, don't get too hung up on the "right" way for the narrative to go.  Make the story about the party.  I've left my fair share of games (even RL ones) because the story was not about us.  We were bystanders there to witness the events the GM had decided would occur in order for him to tell his narrative.

  There are many gaming clichés where the NPC for whatever reason is capable of completely ignoring player abilities.  A classic example is players spend several adventures gathering x pieces of a powerful artifact, only to have the villain swoop in and take them.  There's no way to stop him, no way to immobilize him, no way to fool him with a fake.

  Don't be that guy.  No one likes that guy.  If a player rolls a critical strike that would kill the villain before he's "supposed" to die, don't deny them that achievement.  Work the story around it.  In a cinematic setting, there are a million ways to deal with it, and in a gritty setting, the possibility of unexpected/sudden death is often part of the appeal.

  In short, the story should be driven at least as much by PC actions as by NPC actions.
Gaffer
member, 1163 posts
Ocoee FL
40 yrs of RPGs
Thu 18 Sep 2014
at 20:59
  • msg #20

Re: Any tips for a new GM?

Great advice, Jarilye. One thing I wanted to say is don't ever make your players sit there and listen to two NPCs talking. Any such exchange should be over in about four lines. Also, don't imagine that the PCs will sit still for a long villain-tells-all speech, especially if they feel like they're about to be killed or if they have the drop on him. They aren't going to listen when they could be doing something.
Ameena
member, 49 posts
Thu 18 Sep 2014
at 22:37
  • msg #21

Re: Any tips for a new GM?

I think one important thing to bear in mind as a GM is that whatever plans you might have, however you might be intending the story to go, expect the players to (inadvertently or otherwise) end up driving things in a completely different direction. You fill the haunted mansion on the hill with all sorts of ghosts and traps and a whole elaborate storyline, don't be surprised if the PCs take a look at it and decide they'd much rather go off and explore the nearby forest instead or something ;). I think it's best to have a vague plan of where you intend to go but don't get too bogged down in putting together the specifics before you actually start playing - you don't know how much of that planning might go to waste when the players mess it up for you by deciding to do something else or missing any clues you leave them or getting the important NPC killed or whatever ;).
warjoski
member, 88 posts
Fri 19 Sep 2014
at 03:40
  • msg #22

Re: Any tips for a new GM?

Ameena has the right idea. No matter what you plan, some player will always fins the means to short circut it. This is a good thing IMO. Roll with the punches. Keep your plans loose. And be prepared to improvise. Some of my best game sessions came about because I had to make things up as I went along.
icosahedron152
member, 358 posts
Fri 19 Sep 2014
at 04:17
  • msg #23

Re: Any tips for a new GM?

Bear in mind, though, that the GM needs to have fun, too, otherwise what's the point?

The PCs might prefer the forest to the haunted mansion, and you're right, you shouldn't railroad them, let them explore the forest. But sooner or later they will stumble across another mansion...
eternaldarkness
member, 805 posts
And the world shall fall
into eternal darkness....
Fri 19 Sep 2014
at 04:39
  • msg #24

Re: Any tips for a new GM?

-Know what the players want
For example, a player who joins a superhero game and makes an invincible brick character with a ton of combat abilities and puts all his resources toward being good at combat probably wants to use his invincible brick character's abilities in combat.

-Keep the action moving
We all love that character interaction that makes a bunch of stats into a character, but if nothing ever happens and all you do is hang around talking about the action (unless it's that kind of game), people will get bored, they will check that game less and less often, and after a while of nothing happening that is of interest to them, they will stop caring and you're down one player.

-Avoid 'Deus Ex Machinas/Wet Blanket Tactics
Power nullifying villains, Antimagic fields, 'gotcha' monsters, unbeatable opponents: None of these things are fun except in specific circumstances and only when used sparingly.

And many more of the very good ideas and advice in this thread.
This message was last edited by the user at 04:39, Fri 19 Sept 2014.
Sleepy
member, 221 posts
Fri 19 Sep 2014
at 07:26
  • msg #25

Re: Any tips for a new GM?

These may or may not have been covered, consider them being covered more than once how important they are:

1) If a player has an opinion, it's just as valid as yours if they present it without being rude.

2) Taylor your game to your players, don't expect them to conform.

3) When someone says "Age is just a number", remind them that no... age is a word, 3.14 is a number.

4) Make every party member feel needed, or they'll get bored and leave.

5) Make logical rules, enforce them, and follow them yourself.

6) If your grand scheme is defeated easily, then just play it off as an oversight by the person scheming. Reforming your scheme to always be on point is called the Aizen Syndrome. (Aka: "I KNEW you'd turn the stone foundation of my tower to lava, incinerating my first floor, which is why I kept the one magical mcguffin you need to kill me in there! Haha! I win anyway!" ... That's just being mean to the players).

7) Player deaths should always be looked at as failures on the GM's part, or stupid choices and/or BAAAAAD luck on the player's.

8) If you expect your players to post a minimum amount of times per day/week, they expect you to.

9) Don't be afraid of players disagreeing IC, that WILL happen. If however a resolution can't be reached, have an NPC add insight that may sway one or both of them.

10) Add unique elements. We played in a campaign which ran a long time, and after hitting level 15, we had a few weeks where we RPed our character's history. We RPed them as level 0 characters with almost nil ability to defend themselves, carrying on tasks that were pretty much not dangerous, but that visiting the past was an interesting way to flesh out new futures, and gave our GM plenty of time to come up with new stuff.

11) Don't build a world, build modules that can fit in any world with minor tweaking. Players will often change your world making some of your ideas no longer fit.

12) Everyone immune 100% to acid? Change the beast that spits acid to spit lightning. If players feel too powerful they'll grow bored. Even if you REALLY wanted to use acid, if I can't be hurt by it by any means, I'll show off by drinking it right out of the acid trap just to spit in the face of the person trying to use it against me. But if he tries to use acid, sees I'm immune, then changes to lightning, well crap he's too smart for that, time to be serious.

13) Have fun. It's just a game. If you can't have fun, your players WON'T have fun.
Jarodemo
member, 683 posts
Vestibulum nescio latine.
Sat 20 Sep 2014
at 06:14
  • msg #26

Re: Any tips for a new GM?

In reply to mightyjake (msg # 1):

Be flexible. Once you introduce PCs it becomes their world as much as your world. Get regular feedback and discuss things where possible. Remember, it is supposed be fun for everyone. Bored or frustrated players will either quit or fade away, leaving you sat a a computer playing with yourself...
Azraile
member, 421 posts
AIM: Azraile
Dislexic
Sun 21 Sep 2014
at 08:22
  • msg #27

Re: Any tips for a new GM

Aizen syndrome? Yah I would suggest going that route unless there is no other route. You should always have a backup plan or two or leave yourself some wiggle room. Try and avoid stuff like the "on the twelfth day of the twelfth month" kinda things. You can only put off they changing of an IC day so long. Set in stone elements should be minimized

And having modguals is fine but you still have to use them to build a world. Everything has to interconnect and affect everything else in ways that make sense. Your players will change the world but if you built it right you will know how all those changes will play out. If you just throw a bunch of random locations together or dig them up as you get to them then what your players do will lose a lot of depth.

And like I said what they don't do matters too. If they ignore a problem people may die... And in my Mage game they will soon. Heheh, not that it's there cult these events are playing out on there own and would happen no matter what they do, but there about to realize while there waiting time on personal problems and chasing people down the events are still playing out and the longer the take to interfere the more people die, and if they go on the side quest one what's to now its likey to prevent them from being able to save a few hundred thousand people or so.

Anyhow, if you have enough an understanding of the NPCs and the world they live in then you can figure the outcome of any action they take. But that takes a lot of reading or months of planning out your own game world.

However if you put in the time you will go a long way from newbie to pro. This is why good GMs tend to have systems and settings they prefure to stay in, because they know the world enough they just need a story and NPCs. They can phone in a fairly good game because it will have all the depth that the GMs knowlage permits even if the story was eh...

For exaample my friend knows V:tM, W:tA, WoD mummy, and Ravenloft the best and can run some amazing games out of them and people will say he's the best GM they have ever known. If he say ran a RIFTS game however I would not be nearly as good and would likely play out more like shadowrun being he knows that better.
DarkLightHitomi
member, 719 posts
Sun 21 Sep 2014
at 15:43
  • msg #28

Re: Any tips for a new GM

You don't always need months of planning or prep. You simply need to understand how actions or inactions will affect the world and remember everything you tell the players. Sometimes you can even get inspired to explain past events with connections to current events or revelations.

Never spent a day of my life prepping a game, yet often I produce on the fly results the players see as having consequences in the world and even build the world during play.

For example, I have an entire race with a history called the Reaplings, and they started as a random encounter created on the fly cause I forgot my beastiary.

Of course this method is much easier to use, implement, and in my opinion more rewarding, but requires a bit more practice to get right. Not to mention a healthy imagination. I highly recommend it, and if you want to get better at this, try practicing improve acting.
Azraile
member, 423 posts
AIM: Azraile
Dislexic
Sun 21 Sep 2014
at 18:15
  • msg #29

Re: Any tips for a new GM

Yes, but this takes knowlage of the gaming world for most people. I'm sure you have at least read the books too. Which probly don't take that long for most people so months is kinda to much a word to throw around.  I just read slow because of my problems, and I went over the books on my spare time. lol

Not everyone can create races and cities and worlds on the fly though, so think I think it's best to stick to suggestions that can help everyone. You have to do a lot on the fly, and knowing your game and world helps make that happen.

I have to say though stay away from mage if your new to running a game. lol

Making decisions on how they use there spheres to alter reality play out, rather they have the skill to pull off what they want to do, and how it works with the dice roll they get is not something for a new ST.... let along the vision quest like Seeking that you have to cook up every time a PC wants to 'level up'. Making sure each one of those is significantly mind blowing for the PC is a task.
DarkLightHitomi
member, 720 posts
Mon 22 Sep 2014
at 03:52
  • msg #30

Re: Any tips for a new GM

It takes an understanding of how the world works, not the world (which can actually be built on the fly as well)

excerpt from a book recently linked in another thread,

quote:
"1. It is easy to understand the technique.
2. But using the technique consistently changes the way you play, which is hard.
3. And getting your mental blocks out of the way, so you can use the technique, is hard.
4. But, when you get used to it, building on ideas is so little effort, so pleasurable and so good for the story, that it makes play easier."


 Well, point 2 obviously only applies if you already have set methods of play. Since the OP is a new GM, s/he can just start out this way instead of having to change nonexistant methods of GMing.

Point 3 was something I never had and never realized existed, so I guess some people may have issues with it.

In any case, the book this comes from is all about improvised play and is linked below,
http://anticheese.pojpo.com/Old/RPG/Play%20Unsafe.pdf

Only read some ways into it myself, having discovered it only a little while ago, but it is really good so far.
Azraile
member, 424 posts
AIM: Azraile
Dislexic
Mon 22 Sep 2014
at 13:05
  • msg #31

Re: Any tips for a new GM

The book seams to asume that once you have an idea and plan in place you become so dedicated to it you can't stray from it.

Creating a world before hand or reading up on one helps a lot, paticuarly for a new GM. As dose having a plan, you just can't be afraid to throw that plan out the window.

Just because you have a story and a setting don't mean you can't do everything on the fly.

If you have the setting and the story doing things from scratch is easier.

Sure making everything up as you go is fine, but this is for a new GM and having no experience having a foundation to build on helps a lot.
DarkLightHitomi
member, 721 posts
Mon 22 Sep 2014
at 17:50
  • msg #32

Re: Any tips for a new GM

That is debatable. Having an existing setting means there is a need to remain consistent with everyone's knowledge of the setting. But creating a setting on the fly means you only need to remain consistent with what has occurred in game, or at least provide a reason for any inconsistencies, and it will never conflict with player's expectations because they won't have knowledge of the setting that the GM might not.

Further, creating a new setting means no limits, whereas existing settings have limits that the GM needs to keep in mind, thus a new setting is easier since the GM doesn't need to worry about that.
mightyjake
member, 4 posts
Mon 22 Sep 2014
at 17:56
  • msg #33

Re: Any tips for a new GM

I really appreciate all the advice given by everyone here, but I will say that it doesn't feel right to make mechanics up on the fly.

In my opinion, if I am to make something of quality for my players, I must take the time to think about it and polish up the lore/story/character/situation, whatever it happens to be.

Since I started my game, I had one goal and that is to provide the most enjoyable, reliable and active game I could.

As for my games system it is 100% unique to me. Yes it draws from various sources as influences which may or may not be obvious, but at the end of the day, the piece of work I have created is my own. I feel that setting certain limits can help by making sure that I am focused on the task at hand. However, I have already experienced that the players will want to push the bounds of the game out a little, and as a GM, I have seen the sense in allowing this to a degree as it makes the game theirs as much as it is mine.
DarkLightHitomi
member, 722 posts
Mon 22 Sep 2014
at 18:06
  • msg #34

Re: Any tips for a new GM

Please bear in mind I was referring to the story side of things, not so much mechanics.

There is one more source you might want to check out. I can't link at the moment cause I'm on my phone, but look up The Alexandrian. It has lots of good info for games in general, such "Calibrating your expectations" which is mostly about dnd 3.x but the points he made are applicable to any system. There is also "Don't prep plots, prep situations" which is particularly good.

Also, I have made plenty of systems if you want some experienced eyes to look at it, of course I'd like to see it either way, as I'm always looking to see how other systems work.
Azraile
member, 425 posts
AIM: Azraile
Dislexic
Tue 23 Sep 2014
at 00:19
  • msg #35

Re: Any tips for a new GM

Your mind is set that once people have there mind set they can't change things. I will tell you though if I can think of my own world and story and change it on the fly, anyone can. Rather funny if you ask me...

And if you have SOEMTHING to start with then all of that on the fly stuff has something to be based on, and when you put that something with what the players are doing it writes itself.

It's like a pearl, it needs something to grab a hold of and build on. You can think that up durring play but you risk quality on what ever your imagination brings up at the time. If you have something to start with then it just builds onto it naturally.

Nothing you start with matters to anyone but you, because your the only one that knows it, you are free to scrap and alter your world elements and story elements as you see fit.... it don't matter if you are playing from a known system or world. It's YOUR version of it.

The only set rule should be what the GM says goes.
HasniM
member, 268 posts
Tue 23 Sep 2014
at 00:32
  • msg #36

Re: Any tips for a new GM

I guess the best advice I have is not to over prepare. If you do, and the party goes off on a tangent, you either feel compelled to railroad them or throw away a ton of work.  Being flexible is the key to sanity, I believe.
DarkLightHitomi
member, 723 posts
Tue 23 Sep 2014
at 00:54
  • msg #37

Re: Any tips for a new GM

In reply to Azraile (msg # 35):

One problem with that concept, other people. It doesn't matter that you can do that, what matters is that so few people accept it, particularly when trying for a ftf group, only online or at a convention can a GM afford to turn away players (there might be some rare exceptions, keyword, "rare").

Other people have expectations. Seen The Gamers: Dorkness Rising? The only player throwing a fit about he should be able to play an elf monk because they are in the book even though the GM didn't want elves or monks. The GM tried to change things but ran afoul of the players expectations.

If you use existing stuff that players might know, they will come expecting certain things, and these expectations will without a doubt affect their gameplay, storytelling, rp, and most importantly, decisions. Changing things up on them is like fixing one's car to go backwards when the shiftstick is in drive, they can learn to deal with it but it comes with problems and not just when driving that car, but going back to normal cars suffers as well.

This is the same effect as trying to play halo, but changing the control scheme every third match. Try it, your scores will drop like a rock.
Sithraider
member, 69 posts
The dead, they walk!
16 in the clip...
Tue 23 Sep 2014
at 01:12
  • msg #38

Re: Any tips for a new GM

In reply to mightyjake (msg # 33):

As long as you are clear about your expectations (of the players and "story") and the players do likewise, you'll be fine. Enjoy the creative side of things and kudos to you for making your own system.

My only comment here is on your "polish it up" statement. To which, I ask why? Have an outline. Know the general direction you want to go.

But, know your players. If they want to run off the rails, let them. If they want a "select yes or no" adventure, give it to them. And that will be the best game you can do. If you put 100 hours into development, half your players will leave (for what ever reason). If you put in 10 hours of prep ( half your players will leave). That's the nature of things on the web. The point? Prep what you absolutely need to. The rest? Play to find out what happens. That's how you have fun. Finding out if Jane will kill the priest. Or if John will choose to save the villagers instead of taking the cash. If you already know all the answers, then why play?

* maybe too many carbonated fermented beverages at the airport. Apologies.
Azraile
member, 426 posts
AIM: Azraile
Dislexic
Tue 23 Sep 2014
at 01:40
  • msg #39

Re: Any tips for a new GM

If your going to make every game a blank slate because you don't think people are capable of changing there expectations the. Your even more jaded than me, which is kinda scary.
DarkLightHitomi
member, 724 posts
Tue 23 Sep 2014
at 20:15
  • msg #40

Re: Any tips for a new GM

In reply to Azraile (msg # 39):

Well practiced GMs can handle the problems and issues that arise, for a new GM however, I would recommend not making things more problematic than necessary. Let them learn to run the game and story, they can learn dealing with problems as they arise, no need to invite more problems.
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