|
Post by copycat042 on Oct 22, 2017 11:54:45 GMT -8
...that make sessions easier for the DM and more fun for the players?
Examples:
Yes, and...
No, but...
Present problems, not solutions.
If the players need the clue, just give it to them.
If the outcome doesn't matter, don't require a roll for it.
What are yours?
Perhaps there are some DM commandments?
|
|
|
Post by leatherneck on Oct 24, 2017 12:24:50 GMT -8
If the players aren't having fun, I'm not having fun.
The player characters are there to be abused.
|
|
|
Post by kaitoujuliet on Oct 25, 2017 10:16:43 GMT -8
If it's not working, pull the plug and move on to the next bit.
|
|
|
Post by uncommonman on Oct 25, 2017 12:33:26 GMT -8
Why problem make when you no problem have you don't want to make.
|
|
temmogen
Initiate Douchebag
I am the thread killer
Posts: 40
Preferred Game Systems: 1st Ed. AD&D; Pathfinder; Mongoose Traveller; Call of Cuthulhu
Favorite Species of Monkey: Space Monkey
|
Post by temmogen on Oct 26, 2017 6:48:50 GMT -8
The game has to be fun for everyone... including the DM.
|
|
|
Post by akavidar on Oct 26, 2017 16:12:12 GMT -8
My DM is so short ... oh wait, that's not what you meant.
|
|
|
Post by Forresst on Oct 26, 2017 23:31:59 GMT -8
If all else fails, shoot them with lasers and worry about it later.
Every port has a drunk.
Nobody will fail to buy food.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2017 23:00:15 GMT -8
Suck. Squash. Bang. Blow!
... Oh wait. That’s a four stroke engine, not a game.
|
|
|
Post by EricaOdd on Oct 28, 2017 5:47:03 GMT -8
When planning an adventure... never rely on the players to take a particular action, and never rely on them to NOT take a particular action...
|
|
bobcatt
Apprentice Douchebag
Patron
An infinite number of monkeys can't be wrong...
Posts: 81
Preferred Game Systems: AD&D 1e, 2e, 5e, Top Secret/S.I., Classic Traveller
Currently Playing: nothing at all :-(
Currently Running: completely stalled doing 5e via Roll20
Favorite Species of Monkey: Barrel of
|
Post by bobcatt on Nov 6, 2017 17:51:22 GMT -8
Players will do anything that they believe was their idea.
|
|
|
Post by chronovore on Nov 15, 2017 6:06:03 GMT -8
Great idea for a thread!
In the vein of, “No battle plan,” he sagely noted, “survives contact with the enemy," and "It's hard to do jiu-jitsu when you're being punched in the mouth," I'll offer:
No story arc survives contact with the players.
Further, the degree of damage done to the story arc scales with the amount of planning which went into it.
|
|
|
Post by ayslyn on Nov 15, 2017 16:32:16 GMT -8
Great idea for a thread! In the vein of, “No battle plan,” he sagely noted, “survives contact with the enemy," and "It's hard to do jiu-jitsu when you're being punched in the mouth," I'll offer: No story arc survives contact with the players. Further, the degree of damage done to the story arc scales with the amount of planning which went into it. *nods* This is why, when I talk about “telling my story”, I am talking about the jacket blurb version. “What happens when a group of strangers comes together and learns that they have a shared legacy?” The answer can be that they embrace their connection and work together to resolve it, or just throw up their hands, say “screw it!” and open up a bar.
|
|
|
Post by Stu Venable on Nov 15, 2017 21:32:44 GMT -8
Your players are the protagonists of the story. It's not your story, it's everyone's story. If a failed roll has no consequence, don't ask for a roll. Make NPCs as real as you can. It's more important to know how an NPC see the world than it is to work up their stats. Always consider if answering "yes" will make the story more interesting. Combat exists to add tension, if it's not creating tension, end it. The hardest earned rewards will be the most treasured. Look at your players' character sheets, especially skills: they'll tell you what kind of stories the players are hoping for. Use variety with your NPCs: some are greedy, some mean, some kind, some selfless. If a player believes something is more than meets the eye, reward them by making them correct.
|
|
Caroline
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 27
Preferred Game Systems: I can't make up my mind
Currently Playing: Star Wars Edge of the Empire, D&D 5E
Currently Running: Fate, and working on an occasional Masks game
|
Post by Caroline on Dec 11, 2017 10:46:37 GMT -8
A good poker face is extremely helpful. And just accept that more often then not your players are going to do weird, off the wall, and completely unexpected things periodically.
|
|