what i learned

As a GM, you have a lot of resources out there to give you tips and tricks of the trade. This advice is there to aid you in developing your best game possible. Listen to it. Test it. Learn from it. Ultimately though, this is your game table. Here are some things I’ve learned over the last 10 years I’ve been running weekly games.

-It’s not about me.
It might be my game table, but it’s not solely my story. My players want to be involved and see how their actions affect the world around them. I move the spotlight and it should never really shine on me. A GM should be the facilitator of the group’s actions, not the dictator. Sure, provide some challenging encounters, but it doesn’t have to be a death match every battle/session. Also realize that you may need to remind the players what their characters know or hear, perhaps right after it is said. Don’t be afraid to guide the players through this.

-A group can make or break the game.
My group has a lot of other GMs. Giving the story over to them is easy, but I still run into some of the same issues. My players don’t always take good notes, get distracted, or even check out during a combat. What makes it work is that they are invested (even if they don’t look like it at times). They make the effort to guide the story and try to improve their own roleplaying to truly get into character at the table.

-If it’s not fun, it’s wrong.
Pick up on what your players are trying to do and run with it. Give them opportunities to do epic stunts. I adjust the enemies on the fly a lot to ensure my players are having fun; in turn, this makes it fun for me as well. Disclaimer, not every session will be fun, some are quite tense. These nights are looked back upon often with satisfaction because something was resolved either in character or between players.

I admit, I have a great group! We have played together for many years now and have built trust not only around the table, but through friendships that will last a lifetime. I want this for every group. Take it one session at a time, listen to your players and adjust the story. Remember, you are not just playing a game, you are having shared experiences.