Being a Dungeon Master for a weekly game is like having a part time job. So today we are going to help all those fellow DM's out there and talk about the 9 things your DM wishes you knew...
DM's Are Human Too...
First of all, remember that your DM is only human, which means they will make mistakes when it comes to rules or even their own story. They are constantly making things up as they go.
This means those random encounters with pigeons, the bartender you decided to go visit that the DM definitely did not forget about, and that one dragon that was meant to be super hard but ended up being a cake walk, were all probably improvised on the spot. So please, try to cut your DM some slack.
You Are Not The Only One At The Table
Second, please be respectful of other players' time by showing up to game on time and being prepared. We all have lives and have to balance school and work, but when it's game time, please be respectful and try to be on time.
Nothing is more frustrating than starting a game an hour late because one person wasn't prepared.
Speak Up...
Third, your DM is not a mind reader, so if you're confused about something or have questions, please ask!
We would much rather take a moment and explain something, then realize everyone was on different pages about what the room looked like, or who did what. Just communicate with us, and we'll be able to help out.
DMing is HARD WORK
Fourth, Dungeon Master's want you to know that being a DM is very time consuming. Dungeon Masters are sometimes putting in hours of work between sessions to make sure that you get the most out of it.
This means that a lot of times, they are forgoing their own game play in order to make sure that yours is the best it can be. So from one DM to all you players out there, just let your DM know that you see the work they are doing...
Your Dungeon Master Might Need a Moment
Fifth, every DM out there goes through a period in every campaign where they feel like they are failing you. This is normal and just part of the stress and pressure DM's face when running a game.
So if your DM seems frazzled or if the campaign has hit a snag, just remember that they are doing their best and things will eventually get back on track when they have a moment to recollect.
The DM is the Rule Maker at the Table
Sixth, players sometimes think that they know better than the DM when it comes to rules. While it's great to be knowledgeable about the game, please remember that the DM is ultimately the one in charge and knows what's best for the game.
So if your DM says no to that rule, trust them and don't try to argue, even playfully, because chances are, they have a good reason for it.
Take Charge of Your Characters
Seventh, DMs love when you take charge. When you stay in character and really get into the game, it makes us happy. It also helps to move the story along when players are proactive and take charge.
This is a huge help when it comes to making roleplaying feel more real, and overall just adds a sense of satisfaction to the world we create when seeing players actually live in it. So if you're worried you're stepping on your DM's toes, chances are they WANT you to do more.
Know Your Character
At number eight, your Dungeon Master loves it when you know your characters back story. It really helps to bring the character to life and make them feel more real when you know where they came from, what their motivations are, and what their fears are.
It also gives the DM more to work with when it comes to personalizing quests and stories for your characters if they know more about them. You can take this one step further by knowing where they were born and what they did in your DM's world.
This is a big one that goes a long to showing your DM that you love their world.
Just Have Fun
And finally, at number 9, the BIGGEST thing that DM's want you to know is that at the end of the day, they just want to have fun with you.
After every session, chances are that your DM is running back the session in their head picking out the good the bad and the ugly...this can get exhausting for them. So if you really want to help, offer to DM a session so they can take a break
Thanks for reading! Forge on, adventurers...
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A must read for every player!