It’s the question forever DMs everywhere ponder at night: How do I get one of my players to jump in and DM their own stuff so I can get some playing time?! (And also, so they can express themselves, expand the hobby, and all that other good stuff.) It’s not always easy. Sometimes the players you think would be the best DMs don’t have the interest. Other times your own presence may be intimidating them out of trying. Perhaps you just don’t make DMing look very fun to them?
With those obstacles in mind, how do you make new DMs? Here’s how Thorin, Tony and Dave approach recruiting new players to DM, encouraging them to take the mantle, and supporting them as they take the reins.
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2:00 A listener question: How do you convince players who’d be good DMs to try DMing?
3:00 How and why we started DMing and recruited each other to run games
13:00 How we try to talk players who’ve never run a game into DMing, and why they may say “No”
24:00 How do you spot players who will want to DM and help them overcome their obstacles?
26:00 The pros and cons of starting with official, “boxed” adventures
32:00 Sometimes younger players are more excited to try DMing than older, more experienced players
34:00 Let new DMs know you like their ideas and are excited to step back and be a player in their world
37:00 How do you help a new DM who struggles in their first game?
40:00 Bring your enthusiasm to their game
42:00 Final thoughts: Make DMing look fun, and more players will want to do it
48:00 P.S. The creed of 3 Wise DMs: Everyone gets to play what they want to play and do everything they want to do
I’m guilty of asking this question. I thought you did an excellent job addressing the topic in the podcast and even had some fun with my intentional phrasing in the subject line. This was the most I’ve smiled and laughed through a 3WDMs podcast since your earliest episodes, and I think the focus on the player’s positive experience in bringing new DMs into the fold is an excellent approach. You keep podcasting; I’ll keep listening! Thanks again, Irquk