Gamemaster Tips #1: Beginners
I’d like to start this new blog series with the most basic of advice, things I think all new gamemasters need to hear.
Don’t stress. The people at the table, or in the parlor if you’re running a LARP, are there to have fun. So are you. As long as you do your best to make it fun for everyone, folks will generally be tolerant of your mistakes. If they aren’t don’t play with them.
If you’re using a published setting, learn as much as you can about it. You don’t need to know everything for the first few sessions, but the more you know about the setting, the easier it is to improv when your players go off the rails.
If you are homebrewing a setting, the work and depth you give it is never wasted. It makes the place feel more real even if it never directly comes up, and once again, the more you know the world and how it works, the easier it is to make up new details on the fly and handle it when players leave the expected path.
You are not responsible for knowing all the rules, especially right away. The books exist for whatever system you are using for a reason. Don’t be afraid to look stuff up, especially at first. But…don’t let it slow the game down. If it starts to, make sure you understand the basic way mechanics are handled, then make a call and run with it, double checking after the session.
You are not responsible for your players sheets. Make them learn their characters, the rules that apply, etc, so you can concentrate on running the game.
Make sure you know what the players want out of a game. Have a solid session zero to examine hard and soft limits, as well as find out what the players are interested in. On top of that, look closely at what they decide to play. Every background element is a plot hook. Every capability they design into their character is a vote for content where that ability shows up. If a ranger takes a favored enemy, either let them know the best ones to take for your campaign…or make sure you add the one they do choose in. Either way, if a Ranger’s favored enemy never comes up you’ve missed a bet. If the party has divination stuff, make it so they need those spells to learn important things. If everybody is playing rogue, take the hint and make stories about stealth and crime. Make a clerics choice of god and domain matter far past the mechanical benefits. If someone is playing a Gangrel of the Bruja bloodline at your table, make sure there are some good Sons of Anarchy inspired stories. If there’s a member of the Adamantine Arrow, make sure they have people to destroy in righteous combat. You get the idea.
For your first foray, I heartily recommend using a published setting, even a published adventure. But…don’t be afraid to make it your own, and if you decide to build your own stuff anyway, more power to you, I’ll be here to help. That’s what I’m here for.
The priority of gaming, in my mind , goes like this. Character trumps story, which in turn trumps rules. The individual player characters are what your story is about, and them as a group…not whatever NPC’s or antagonists you provide. They drive the plot, but it has to be about the PCs. Behind them, story is more important than rules, in my mind (not everyone agrees, your mileage may vary), because the rule of cool makes sessions better than slavish adherence to “You can’t do that, you don’t have X feat”. Rules are still very important though, because without them you have no real framework and everyone is shouting, “I shot you!” and “You missed me!” like kids on the playground.
This is kinda number one repeated. If you and your group are having fun, you are doing it right. There’s no wrong way to play. Despite that, there are definitely ways to increase your GMing and even playing skills. Listen to advice from experienced people, then weigh it against your own reason and feelings while deciding whether to use it.
If you trust and like your table, (especially if you don’t have a whole lot of extra time), you could all build your world together. Take a look at how the FATE system suggests that be handled.
Don’t stress. Relax, have fun, build new worlds, characters and stories together. It’s easy, it’s natural, and it’s fun.
