39 Tips for New Dungeon Masters — and a Few for Veteran DMs, Too
New to being a dungeon master or game master and not sure how to get better? Here are 39 things the 3 Wise DMs wish they knew when they started running role-playing games.
DM Tips
The Holy Grail: Making Your Epic & Crazy DM Ideas Work in a Game
Let me start with a warning: I am, and have always been, a DM who wants the party to do crazy, super, heroic things like they are living out scenes from mythology. With that said, let me tell you the tale of Sir Thomas & the Quest for the Holy Grail, and how a truly epic adventure played out in one of my games.
13 Crazy DM Stunts You Won’t Believe We Pulled
From adventuring Apocalypse Dragons to the PC pile of bugs, what the 3 Wise DMs learned from our (mis)adventures that may have crossed the line.
Is Faster Leveling Better?
Of course players want to level up just about as fast as they can, but does that lead to a better, more fun game? Our recent experience shows it might. Here’s what we’re seeing, and some ideas about how to optimize level pace in your games.
3 Ways to Pace D&D Encounters, Sessions and Games
How much do the 3 Wise DMs plan to get done, and how do they get games back on track when things bog down?
Stealing Smart: 10 Easy Steps to Prep Any D&D Session
I’ve learned over the years from running multiple games in multiple systems for multiple groups of players that the old adage of “the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry” is all too true. In this vein, I’d like to detail how I prepare for a session that leaves all the room for the organic decision-making that the players are going to bring.
What’s Fun for the Dungeon Master?
The D&D dungeon master is expected to be the storyteller, referee, manager, entertainer and more. But is that stuff any fun? And what do you do when it isn’t?
The 3 Worst 5E Classes for New D&D Players – And What DMs Should Guide Them to Instead
Introducing new players to the game is one of the best parts of being a DM. But it’s important that you put new players in a position to succeed, and that means making sure they play a character that helps them fly, not drown. Some classes put new players in a much better position to do that than others.
The 8 D&D Player Types and How to DM Them
We revisit the eight player types, how we relate to different types of players (sometimes poorly), and strategies to bring out the best in your party and yourself.
10 Do’s and Don’ts for DMing Power Gamers
Here are 10 do’s and don’ts for DMing power gamers that will let everyone – including you and the power gamer – show off and have fun.