Ready for the full-on geek? I’ve been a Game Master of roleplaying games since the term "GM" related specifically to being a Dungeon Master. From old-school dungeon crawls to post-modern storytelling, I’ve done it all. My shelves are packed with more game systems than I can remember, and after a decade-long break from the hobby, I’ve recently returned to the table.
In my recent conversations with beginning GMs, I realized I’ve picked up a specific kind of knowledge—wisdom that isn't kept in those dusty tomes of rules. Here are 17 tips you won’t find in any single roleplaying game rulebook.
1. Names are Important
Giving your NPCs memorable names makes them instantly more interesting to the players. Every NPC, no matter how minor, is an opportunity to enrich your world. Towns, regions, rivers, and terrain features also deserve rich names. Pro-tip: Keep a list of five or six extra names for NPCs and places on a sticky note to use on the fly.
2. Players Love Familiar Faces and Places
Reuse previous settings. Revisiting the inn from the first adventure during the seventh creates a powerful sense of nostalgia. The NPCs they briefly encountered before are now part of their history. Seeing the man they once rescued from the woods now serving as the town’s mayor creates instant intrigue. Don’t overdo it, or the world feels small, but sprinkle these moments in for maximum joy.
3. Dice Rolling is Boring
On the surface, dice rolling is the heart of the game, but when one player is rolling, everyone else is waiting. And waiting is not fun. Keep dice rolling to a minimum. Start encounters quickly and end them quickly; don’t make players chase down every last critter once the threat is gone. Save the big combat scenes for achieving major plot goals.
4. Offer Distinct Options
The world is filled with endless possibilities, which can lead to "analysis paralysis." Help define paths the players can take while making it clear they can pivot at any time. Be clear on the types of actions available and the general consequences of those choices.
5. Reward Cleverness, Don’t Punish It
Too often, GMs feel they are playing against the players. This leads to the GM being overly loyal to their own obstacles. If your players discover a loophole or a creative bypass, let them have it! Don’t try to "fix" the obstacle in spite of them.
6. Don’t Add "Crazy" Just for the Sake of Crazy
Make sure there is a reason for irrational characters. Crazy has a place in good stories, but not every NPC is a River Tam or a Tom Bombadil. Mostly, "crazy" characters should add color; the minute players have to rely on them, you’ve added a component that exists beyond the rules. Add these elements purposefully.
7. Be Consistent
Randomness in dice is expected; randomness in rule interpretations is frustrating. When you make a ruling on the fly, write it down. Unless there is a specific narrative reason to change it, stick with it. If a dinner knife reflected a laser grid in session one, it better do the same in session ten.
8. Admit Mistakes Immediately
We all do it—we say something unintended that sends the players into a whirlwind of unproductive speculation. If they are heading down a dead-end because of a slip of your tongue, admit it. Unless, of course, their speculation gives you a brilliant new plot idea. In that case, keep quiet and pretend it was the plan all along!
9. Plan a "Moment" for Every Two Hours of Play
Players are there to be rewarded. Rewards can come from character development, story milestones, or cool loot. If players don't feel they are achieving something every couple of hours, they will grow frustrated or disruptive.
10. Make Each Character a Hero
Give every character a chance to shine in every adventure. It is up to the player to seize the opportunity, but you must provide the hook. Make the moment meaningful enough that they’ll still be talking about it decades from now. Even a heroic failure is more memorable than being ignored.
11. Let Mundane Events Stay "Off-Stage"
Unless there is a specific story value in roleplaying the purchase of rope and iron spikes, don't spend table time on it. Skip the fundamentals and get straight to the parts where the drama happens.
12. Take the Game as Seriously as You Want the Players To
This is the Golden Rule. If the GM starts going off on personal tangents or checking their phone, the players will follow suit. You set the standard of behavior at the table.
13. Let Character Strengths Override Player Weaknesses
Not every player knows how to survive in a real wilderness or solve a complex logic puzzle. If the character has a high intelligence or survival skill, feed the player the information they need. We play to escape the drudgery of normal life; let the "amazingly smart" character be smart even if the player is stumped.
14. Keep Copies of Every Character Sheet
Inevitably, someone will forget their sheet. Recreating a character from memory leads to lost time and "accidental" stat boosts. Keep a backup. When a player forgets theirs, make a small show of saying, "Oh, how lucky! I happen to have a copy right here!"
15. Manage Time Like a Precious Element
As the GM, you are the arbiter of time. You control the flow. When you halt the game for twenty minutes to look up a niche rule, the momentum dies and players devolve into side conversations. Keep things moving.
16. If You Aren't Having Fun, No One Is
Don’t force yourself to run a style or setting you dislike just to appease a player. If you aren't enjoying the story, you’ll spend less time planning and more time dreading the session. Your lack of enthusiasm will be contagious.
17. You Can’t Make Everyone Happy All the Time
Stop trying. Your effort to appease one outlier might alienate the rest of the group. Accept that someone might not be thrilled with a specific session, and aim to make it up to them next time. If it’s the same player every week, it’s time for a private conversation about what they need to have fun.
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The following items are designated Product Identity of Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. / The Adventures of Captain Hedges:
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