The idea of being a Dungeon Master, game master, judge, or whatever name you want to give it, can sound like a monumental task and impossible to pull off without lots of training, tools, and practice. Here’s the secret – it’s incredibly easy.

The Mysterious, All-knowing Dungeon Master

While it may seem like being a DM is incredibly difficult, and DMs always seem to know everything, it’s simply not true. They’re just like you, but they have a different role in the shared story you are building together. Anyone can be a DM. With just a few basic concepts, you can be running a game in no time, and it’s incredibly rewarding.

Do you like to tell stories?

Are you the person who recounts what happened on your favorite TV show?

Are you the one who retells what happened in the office a couple weeks ago when someone dropped their coffee in the break room?

You Just Might Be a DM

There isn’t one type of person that is the perfect DM. The reality is DMs are all different. Just because you can’t do awesome voices, or always command the attention of everyone in any room you walk into, doesn’t mean you’re not cut out to DM. People have their own personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. What works for one person won’t work for another. I recall in my early years in the work force attending a training session, we were being taught “how to sell.” Everything I was told sounded great, but I knew it would never work for me. If I tried those approaches, it would be fake, inauthentic, and awkward. I found my own way to make things work in sales, and the same idea is true for DM’ing.

Do what you’re good at. If you are great at witty comebacks that make people laugh to no end, make sure you give some space to do that. If you are great at creating imagery through your descriptions – make sure you do that. If you are great at voices – use them. If none of those is you, but you still want to DM – guess what? There’s something you can do and bring to the game. Sometimes you just have to try it to find it. If you do none of those things, but the players feel like they each had their moment in the story and walk away with smiles – guess what? You are THE BEST DM IN THE WORLD!

“So Many Rules, Rules Lawyers, and Spells”

Not every DM knows every rule. Not every DM knows the description of every single spell either. It’s okay. I’ve been at tables where the application of rules was pretty lax and at others that were extremely tight. It’s okay. It’s like a referee in a sports event – not every call will be perfect, but if you’re consistent, everything will usually work out okay. There is also nothing wrong with looking up a rule, spell, ability, etc., as needed. Just keep in mind the time you’ll spend doing it.

“So Much to Prep, I Have to Be READY!”

Okay, you got me on this one – sort of. The amount of prep a person needs is going to vary. Everyone is different. However, there is absolutely a point of diminishing returns. You’re about to guide some players through a living story. The details of everything that happens in that story won’t be known until they happen. Know the major plot outline and the encounters. Writing a story outline by scene is a great way to organize and be ready. I generally include the scene, encounters, and notable NPCs. If I have an outline, then a quick glance at it and I’m ready to go when the players enter. The rest can be fairly improvised based on what the characters do. Be fluid and open to the give and take of the improv fun you’re about to have.

“Iron Chef, Chopped, and Cutthroat Kitchen – I’ll Run out of Time!”

Assign time to the different scenes you’ve outlined. Some modules outline this ahead of time. If you are running long, you can either cut the scene short or take time away from a future scene. If you finish fast, you know you have some room for other stuff. When you have that outline, you always know where you are, and can adjust as you go.

“You Lied, That’s SOOO Much Work!”

If you’re taking notes and writing everything down, you’re doing too much reading this already! In the wise words of Kunu, “The less you do, the more you do!” Here it is in its simplest form:

Know the 30 second version of the plot.

Have some time scale.

Don’t sweat the details.

Be yourself, and have fun.

“Enough Already, Why Is It Easy?”

It’s easy because despite what you might think, you are not the sole participant here to entertain your players. You’re creating a framework to build a shared story with your players. You know the basic story and the encounters they may face, but it’s up to them to decide what course they take. You’re the guide – the story and the players are the stars.

“Four Bullets Was Too Much, Make It Easier!”

Set up a scene.

Players say what they do.

You tell them what happens when they try it.

Go out there and give it a try. You just might be THE BEST DM IN THE WORLD, and no one will know how easy it really was!