Running Better D&D Games
As a Dungeon Master, it's your responsibility to make sure that everyone is having fun. That can be a tall order when you're dealing with different personalities, interests, and skill levels. It only takes a little effort to level up your game and take it from good to great. Here are some tips to keep your players engaged and improve your world-building.
Be Prepared
One of the most frustrating things for players is when the DM isn't prepared. Maybe you forgot an NPC's name halfway through an interaction, or maybe you were caught flat-footed when the party decided to go left instead of right at the fork in the road. Whatever the case may be, being unprepared can really break immersion and take players out of the moment.
The best way to avoid this is simply by being prepared ahead of time. That means having a well-thought-out adventure with interesting NPCs, challenging encounters, and plenty of loot. It also means being familiar enough with the adventure and with the rules that you can keep the game moving along without slowing down to look up every little detail. If you know there's going to be an important NPC in tonight's session, spend some time coming up with a personality for them before the game starts. The more prepared you are, the more fun your game will be for everyone involved.
To take that to the next level, strive to be prepared for anything. You never know when something unexpected is going to happen, so it's best to have backup plans for key NPCs, have extra map or two on hand in case the party strays into the unexpected area, lists of names for randoms they meet along the way. If there's going to be a choice between two different paths, have a few ideas ready for what could happen down each one. Even two or three interesting set-piece encounters tucked away to shake things up can make a world of difference to the game when travel starts to drag, or shopping for items has gone on a bit too long.
A little bit of advance planning goes a long way towards running a smooth game.
Engage with Everyone at the Table
It's easy for players to get bored if they feel like they're just sitting around while the DM does all the work. Make sure to involve everyone in the game by giving them plenty of opportunities to contribute. There are a few ways you can do this, such as by providing them with interesting and mysterious NPCs, presenting them with creative puzzles and other non-combat mini-games, and by playing to their characters' strengths. Ask for their input on what their characters should do, give them difficult choices to make, and let them shine in combat or during skill challenges.
If your players are bored, they're likely to check out of the game entirely. So, it's important that you constantly strive to keep each player involved throughout the session. Otherwise, you risk losing them entirely. The more engaged everyone is, the more fun the game will be.
Encourage Role-Playing through Immersion
One of the most important things you can do as a DM is to create an immersive experience for your players. This means making sure that the world you've created is fleshed out and believable. Your players should be able to picture themselves in the thick of the action, whether that's battling dragons or sneaking through a city guard's patrol. The goal is that your players feel like they're experiencing it firsthand.
To achieve this, put thought into the details of your game world. What does the local tavern smell like? What kind of practices does the local religion have? By taking time to flesh out these small details, you'll make it easier for your players to suspend their disbelief and get lost in the story.
Role-playing can be one of the best parts of D&D, so encourage your players to role-play in whatever mode is most enjoyable for them. Keep in mind that everyone is not an improvisational actor, and you the DM don’t have to be one either. It can be quite enough to state what your character is doing and saying. Whatever brings the game to life and makes it more enjoyable for everyone involved. So don't be afraid to nudge them in the right direction if they seem hesitant to role-play. A little encouragement can go a long way. Always remember to let people be comfortable with their level of role-play, and keep it to what they find enjoyable.
Another important aspect of being a Dungeon Master is having a well-built world. Your world should be believable and consistent, and it should have enough detail that your players feel like they're experiencing it firsthand. This can be a lot of work, but it's worth it if it means your players are fully immersed in the game. Fortunately, there are lots of resources out there that can help you build a better world for your D&D game.
Make Player Choices Matter.
Another way to create an immersive experience is by making sure that player choices actually matter. In other words, if a player decides to interrogate a shady character instead of killing them outright, there should be consequences (both good and bad) that flow from that decision. This will encourage your players to carefully consider their actions and make choices based on what they think makes sense for their character, rather than just what they think will be most expedient or lead to the biggest battle scene.
Similarly, if players are consistently making poor choices or disregarding consequences altogether, don't be afraid to coach them or allow them to suffer in-game consequences for their actions accordingly. The point is to make player choices meaningful, not just give them free rein to do whatever they want without repercussions.
Make Sure Your Players Know What They're Doing
A common problem that DMs face is that their players often don't know what they're supposed to be doing. As a result, they end up meandering around aimlessly or get bogged down in combat encounters. To avoid this issue, make sure you regularly talk to your players about what their goals are and what they need to do to achieve them. Additionally, consider giving them quest logs or other similar tools so they can keep track of their progress. By making sure your players are on the same page, you can avoid a lot of headaches down the road.
Be Flexible
No matter how well you plan, there's always a chance that something will go wrong during the game. Maybe someone will get sick, or maybe someone will have to leave early. Whatever the case may be, don't get too attached to your plans. Be flexible and be willing to make changes on the fly so that everyone can still have a good time despite any hiccups that come up.
Make It Your Own
Don't forget to put your own spin on things. D&D is a flexible game with endless possibilities, so make use of that flexibility to make your games unique. Add in elements from other genres, come up with creative ways to use the rules, and generally just have fun with it. There are thousands of adventures, adventure ideas, and encounters, traps, homebrew monsters, NPCs, and locations. As you take what you like and add it to your game, it becomes that much more yours. The more you personalize your games, the more memorable they'll be for everyone involved.
When the time is right, you will put all your game choices together into your own ‘game-world’. That can be extremely rewarding. For me, that is when the fun starts. Delving into the deeper world-building than what you need for the next session, gives the depth and richness of history and lore that makes players feel that much more immersed in the adventure.
Have Fun!
Last but not least, remember to have fun! Dungeon Mastering can be a lot of work, but it's also incredibly rewarding. Seeing your players enjoy themselves and get lost in the game is an incredible feeling—so don't forget to enjoy yourself as well! If you're not having fun, chances are your players aren't either—so make sure you're taking the time to enjoy the game as well.
Running a great D&D game doesn't have to be complicated. Focus on creating an immersive experience. That’s what all these boil down to. They’re just a few tips to help you run better D&D games, but don't feel like you need to follow them all rigidly. The most important thing is that you're having fun and that your players are having fun too. So mix and match these tips as needed and tailor them to fit your own style of play. And above all else, enjoy yourself!
