Sometimes it can be really tricky to run a game as a Dungeon Master. Your players are hellbent on burning down all the towns you spent hours creating, everyone’s forgotten to bring their dice, and half of the table is watching Game of Thrones on their phones whilst you’re trying to rattle off some lore. Your job as a tabletop DM is one of sacrifice, and we here at Cultured Vultures wanted to reward you with some tips to look at when things just don’t seem to be going your way.
You can, of course, utilise these tips for any number of tabletop games–it doesn’t have to be D & D–I’m just going to be using it as an example!
IMPROVISATION
I know you really, really want games to go the way you planned them in your head. You want your players to talk to that specific NPC, step on that exact hidden trap, discover that treasure chest at the perfect time…but things don’t always work out the way we plan them.
When things start to go off-road, it’s time to improvise. It’s possible to steer your players back in the “right” direction by guiding them with some light improvisation–don’t panic if things don’t go your way! There’s lots of ways to keep your adventures on track when things are going astray, and your players will never know all of the quick thinking you had to do in order to keep them on the right path. For example, if your characters missed talking to an NPC, have them suddenly ambushed by that NPC. Or, if they missed a treasure chest, have them meet an obstacle which requires them to retrace their steps to find an item which will let them continue their journey.
You can, of course, improvise an entirely new adventure as you go along, and make up new stories and environments on the fly. It really depends on how crucial you think your planned adventure was to the development of the players, and if your games are more focused on combat or roleplaying. When improvising, remember to let your players improvise too–say “yes” to them as much as possible!
IMMERSION
There are lots of tools you can use to help yourself and your players get lost in the worlds you create.
Something I’ve found especially helpful to help create a sense of immersion is music. You can either create a playlist of inspiring orchestral music (soundtracks for medieval-set films and games are often perfect for this, I tend to use a lot of music from The Elder Scrolls and Sword Coast Legends) or you can create a more specific soundscape-type playlist based on the locations that your players will be in. For example, you might want some fiddle music and the sounds of loud talking if your players are visiting a tavern, or the sound of hooves and carts rattling if they’re travelling a long distance. http://tabletopaudio.com/ is one of my favourite sources for free audio for your games, and you can mix your own soundscapes to fit your game needs.
As well as music, making your physical space reflect your game world can be done with little effort: think about serving some ye olde drinks and snacks that your adventurers might enjoying feasting on (chicken drumsticks, ale/mead, cheese plates and bread baskets are all inexpensive snacks that you can grab in a hurry) and also consider covering your walls with maps of your world, if you have any.
KINDNESS/EMPATHY
Sometimes it’s easy to think that you’re working against your players as a DM, but you’re really working alongside them to bring them the best gaming experience possible.
A little kindness and consideration can really go a long way in games. If someone is especially devoted to their character, bend the rules a little to help them stop their character’s untimely demise. Maybe their Deity helps them out, or they die but the party works together to bring them back from the afterlife. Or, if someone has a really cool idea for your game, hear them out. See if you can incorporate their ideas into the next campaign, or even let them DM for a week or two. It’s easy to become protective of your games (and you should be protective–you’ve spent a lot of time crafting worlds!) but don’t let your own visions cloud over the players’ sense of fun and enjoyment. After all, being a good DM is all about sacrifice, and learning how to work with your players to create amazing stories together, as a team.
Do you have any extra tips for DM’ing? Let us know in the comments below!
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