Comments on: How to be a good general manager http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/how-to-be-a-good-gm The D&D Blog Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:36:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kurtis http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/how-to-be-a-good-gm#comment-4579 Kurtis Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:48:54 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=562#comment-4579 What is a Game Master? The GM is the Maestroe of the game. Where it is his job ot weave together a multitude of talent, in which to create a tapestry where plots thicken and desires become needs. where players become enraptured by the finess of the storyline. And where for a brief period of time become their characters in a believable dance of rythm and fantasy. What is a Game Master?
The GM is the Maestroe of the game. Where it is his job ot weave together a multitude of talent, in which to create a tapestry where plots thicken and desires become needs. where players become enraptured by the finess of the storyline. And where for a brief period of time become their characters in a believable dance of rythm and fantasy.

]]> By: Meg http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/how-to-be-a-good-gm#comment-4463 Meg Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:41:46 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=562#comment-4463 Gaming is like being the CEO of a company and having to answer to a board of directors. You organize, but they get the power of veto. There is a lot to managing a game- not just the behind the scenes stuff (which I call Producing the Game) but also at the table (Directing the Game). Our podcast did an episode about this very thing about 6 weeks ago: http://brilliantgameologists.com/blog/31 Gaming is like being the CEO of a company and having to answer to a board of directors. You organize, but they get the power of veto.

There is a lot to managing a game- not just the behind the scenes stuff (which I call Producing the Game) but also at the table (Directing the Game).

Our podcast did an episode about this very thing about 6 weeks ago:

http://brilliantgameologists.com/blog/31

]]> By: Yax http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/how-to-be-a-good-gm#comment-4398 Yax Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:04:01 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=562#comment-4398 Well, I'm partial to the Obsidian Portal campaign wikis: http://www.obsidianportal.com Well, I’m partial to the Obsidian Portal campaign wikis:

http://www.obsidianportal.com

]]> By: RPG Ike http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/how-to-be-a-good-gm#comment-4373 RPG Ike Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:29:39 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=562#comment-4373 When I DM I build a wiki for the campaign. Wikis are great in that everyone can edit them, and they're free. It'll give you a place to put all the campaign information where everyone with the internets can reach it. At the very elast you can build a calendar there write adventure suopses that people can read and add to to keep their minds in the game. My favourite site for wikis is www.pbwiki.com (seriously, you'll have a wiki in like two minutes--I'm running about five of them right now), but there are lots of other options out there, too. When I DM I build a wiki for the campaign. Wikis are great in that everyone can edit them, and they’re free. It’ll give you a place to put all the campaign information where everyone with the internets can reach it. At the very elast you can build a calendar there write adventure suopses that people can read and add to to keep their minds in the game.

My favourite site for wikis is http://www.pbwiki.com (seriously, you’ll have a wiki in like two minutes–I’m running about five of them right now), but there are lots of other options out there, too.

]]> By: Gnome Rodeo: Special Early and Late Edition - Gnome Stew, the Game Mastering Blog http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/how-to-be-a-good-gm#comment-4346 Gnome Rodeo: Special Early and Late Edition - Gnome Stew, the Game Mastering Blog Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:13:45 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=562#comment-4346 [...] Dungeon Mastering: Yax reviews Keep on the Shadowfell, the first 4e adventure, and tackles the GM as general manager in response to our own Patrick Benson’s post here on the Stew, GM Means “General [...] [...] Dungeon Mastering: Yax reviews Keep on the Shadowfell, the first 4e adventure, and tackles the GM as general manager in response to our own Patrick Benson’s post here on the Stew, GM Means “General [...]

]]> By: Phil Smith http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/how-to-be-a-good-gm#comment-4338 Phil Smith Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:01:34 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=562#comment-4338 Very good advice on the whole. I've not run a game in months, years even; always found organisation a pain in the arse. Articles like this help me get back in the mood. Very good advice on the whole. I’ve not run a game in months, years even; always found organisation a pain in the arse. Articles like this help me get back in the mood.

]]> By: Labareda http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/how-to-be-a-good-gm#comment-4328 Labareda Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:11:29 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=562#comment-4328 Im guessing if your playing with Vege/Vegan Healthy Livin types you could substitute pizza for something healthy starting with P. Like... ..pasta Im guessing if your playing with Vege/Vegan Healthy Livin types you could substitute pizza for something healthy starting with P.

Like… ..pasta

]]> By: Yax http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/how-to-be-a-good-gm#comment-4326 Yax Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:46:22 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=562#comment-4326 Thanks for the input everyone. "Players playing for pizza" isn't just an alliteration. The extra bit of work the Dm undertakes voluntarily has to pay off, right? Thanks for the input everyone.

“Players playing for pizza” isn’t just an alliteration. The extra bit of work the Dm undertakes voluntarily has to pay off, right?

]]> By: Bartoneus http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/how-to-be-a-good-gm#comment-4325 Bartoneus Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:12:48 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=562#comment-4325 "Prepare your games as early as you can. Create a self-sustaining chain reaction. I don’t know about you but I’m usually pumped after a game (which usually ends in a cliffhanger) and my brain is warmed up. If I sit down the same day or the next to prepare the following game I spend a lot less energy. I save energy AND I am legitimately pumped about what will/could happen in the next session. This enthusiasm will show when you talk to your players." Great advice! I'll definitely have to keep this in mind, thanks Yax! “Prepare your games as early as you can. Create a self-sustaining chain reaction. I don’t know about you but I’m usually pumped after a game (which usually ends in a cliffhanger) and my brain is warmed up. If I sit down the same day or the next to prepare the following game I spend a lot less energy. I save energy AND I am legitimately pumped about what will/could happen in the next session. This enthusiasm will show when you talk to your players.”

Great advice! I’ll definitely have to keep this in mind, thanks Yax!

]]> By: Chadarius http://www.dungeonmastering.com/tools-resources/how-to-be-a-good-gm#comment-4324 Chadarius Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:29:11 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=562#comment-4324 Our group takes care of this in a number of matters not mentioned here. At first we did have a bit more of an irregular schedule, but we quickly decided to try and meet twice per month. For a while we did the 1st and 3rd Saturdays but now we are on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays. This regular schedule keeps us playing on a very regular basis. We also have always had at least 2 or 3 campaigns going so that if the DM of our "main" campaign can't make it, we have other options. We have also been using voip and uStream to allow players to play remotely if they can't make it in person. We have also worked on trying to meet in a consistent location that can handle seating everyone, hold all the food somewhere, and provide the constant stream of caffeinated beverages. Those are all good ways of keeping the group coming together and playing regularly. Also posted at http://lordsoftyr.com/node/570 Our group takes care of this in a number of matters not mentioned here. At first we did have a bit more of an irregular schedule, but we quickly decided to try and meet twice per month. For a while we did the 1st and 3rd Saturdays but now we are on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays. This regular schedule keeps us playing on a very regular basis. We also have always had at least 2 or 3 campaigns going so that if the DM of our “main” campaign can’t make it, we have other options.

We have also been using voip and uStream to allow players to play remotely if they can’t make it in person. We have also worked on trying to meet in a consistent location that can handle seating everyone, hold all the food somewhere, and provide the constant stream of caffeinated beverages.

Those are all good ways of keeping the group coming together and playing regularly.

Also posted at http://lordsoftyr.com/node/570

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