Reflections on being the GM for the first time

[Darobe9926]

So tonight was gaming night. Nothing more then the normal night we all get together and play whatever we happen to be playing that night. Only difference was I was in charge, well sorta since it's really the players who are in charge sorta. I have to say that as a first time experience it was really good. Didn't quite get the while story out with the same amount of detail as other GM's would but still all had a good time from what was said. Plus others would like to keep this story going.

So not really any questions other then what have been some of the things that have worked for you as a GM and what had failed epic? Just kind of looking for ideas for next time. The only thing I think I might have messed up is having two skill encounters back to back.

Last thing is does anybody, rodrigo maybe, have a map of moonhold?

[Navarre]

I often find players will almost make the game for you. As a DM, I can put almost anything in front of them and they will start to explore it.

As they discuss the possibilities and try different approaches, they will often spark something that propels the next segment of the game even if I am winging it. Then the only trick is to make it look like I was that clever all along.   

[CrowTRobot]

The main piece of advice I always give to people new to the whole DM/GM seat, or being "The Face" as we jokingly call it, is story telling. Early off I wanted such a specific story that really what I ended up doing was limiting what the players could do. This made the players feel like they couldn't do anything they wanted and that there was only one right way of completing a quest or story.

Always remember to leave lots of room for the player choices to shape things and if they want to climb a tree then, dang it, let them climb that tree. If they want to do something really stupid that may get them all killed let it happen because it's what they wanted. No matter how much planning you do and how many angles you think you've set up the players will always surprise you and let them at least try it just because they can.

[Darobe9926]

Yeah I found that when I told them about the festivus going on. So now all my PC's wanted to do was play around in the festival. Not quite how I had planned it but I was able to play on their curiosity and still accomplish what I had set out to do.

[Navarre]

I think that goes with my statement about players tending to explore whatever is put in front of them.

For one, they only know what you tell them so if you mention something that becomes part of the reality they know. They can't see all the world you know to exist until you tell them about it.

Sometimes it's also that players tend to apply meta-thinking, even though they shouldn't. So, if you mention something, they assume it must be important or else the DM wouldn't have mentioned it.

Also, it has been my experience that a game session usually get about half as far as you think it will in terms of plot progress. The banter, narratives, questions, and tangents take up a lot of time.

[Darobe9926]

Yes very true with our group we call ourselves GNATS for a reason. I think the next time we get together maps are going to be a very important thing. I have a sense of scale in my head and unless I develop some kind of telepathy that lets me be in all of their heads at the same time they aren't going to know where they are maybe going.

[Navarre]

Maps are vital, imo.

They are also something you can work into the game itself. Let them have reason to purchase one before showing them the map in-game. Work up an NPC cartographer who's interesting. Stuff like that.

[Beta Ray Bill Cosby]

Last thing is does anybody, rodrigo maybe, have a map of moonhold?

Sure:

[Darobe9926]

Thanks...*walks away saying something about one in every crowd*

[CrowTRobot]

As to Rodrigo's comment: Waah waah waaaaaaaah!

When it comes to how long you should plan for the session should go, plot wise, I'm not sure exactly how far along you should plan for the session to go. For over two years now whenever I have been the DM I've always prepared much more then I think we'll get to for that evening. The reason: If I prepare too much and we go short then it is okay. Just find a nice stopping point for the evening and stick a pin in it. If you plan too short and your players surprise you by just blowing through for an evening, like its happened a few times for me because my players were in the mood for killing, and you either have to end early and the players fill a little jipped or you have to come up with stuff on the spot, which is a DM skill that develops over time.

For maps, in the world of Terra where our current game takes place there are various types of maps. There's the one you can get hand written from some dude that's very generic and very unspecific but dirt cheap. On the other end of the spectrum, well established cartographers in merchant cities can give you well crafted maps that have details you would miss otherwise if you bought one from Gregg the peasant.

As for player knowledge and meta thinking, it'll happen. If you mention something specific player's almost always want to know more about it even if it is pointless because they think it may be something else, such as a magical device to save the world!, or they may even just find it interesting.