Being a Game Master is hard work.

While Game Mastering is (hopefully) a labor of love for many of us, the fact still remains that there’s a ton of behind-the-scenes prep work that usually falls upon the GM’s shoulders. Writing narratives, creating NPC’s, balancing combat encounters, designing specific locations, and learning rule sets while striving to keep things as entertaining as possible can be a truly daunting task for GM’s – especially those with busy schedules. Unfortunately, many GM’s become understandably burned out and frustrated when players are less than appreciative of all their hard work.

What if it didn’t have to be this way? What if players and GM’s could have a relationship that energizes everyone to have game sessions that are fun, organized and flow efficiently? It’s completely possible, and the rewards are definitely worth the effort. What follows is a list of possible ways that players can help shoulder some of the heavy lifting to bring a grateful smile to the GM’s face – and keep them happily chugging along writing great adventures for everyone to enjoy!

1. Take good notes. This involves more than just scribbling down the things that pertain to your own character. You want to jot down the notable (or hilarious) things that your fellow characters and various NPC’s do and say, as well. Remember the five W’s: Who, What, Where, When and Why. It can really slow a game session down when the GM has to constantly remind everyone of why they’re doing what they’re doing. Taking organized and concise notes that you can refer back to during the game will make you a better player – and keep your GM from throwing dice at your head.

2. Track rounds, initiative and effects. This is such a simple thing, yet it can really help free up your GM during combat. What’s the turn order? Whose turn is it, now? How long does that spell last? This is a job that any player can keep track of, simply jotting down the necessary details and bringing them up at the appropriate time. While there are apps out there that can help with this, it’s still a good idea to assign that job to one player at the table and it’s one less thing that the GM has to worry about.

3. Write a synopsis of the last game session. I’ve always found it incredibly difficult to write coherent notes as the GM while I’m running the game. A player with a good memory (and notes!) who can write up a session synopsis to be read at the beginning of the following game session is well worth their weight in gold. It doesn’t have to be Shakespeare, it just has to remind everyone of what happened and what’s currently going on. Of course, the GM can interject with any pertinent bits here and there, as well.

4. Offer to run a game. Sometimes, your GM just needs a short break. Offering to run a game occasionally can give them a rest and the ability to be a player for a change! We all know the meme of the ‘forever GM’ – it doesn’t have to be that way. Despite the work involved, GMing is enormously fun and satisfying. Running a game here and there gives your GM a break, and gives you the opportunity to unleash your sick and twisted imagination upon your unsuspecting friends (cue maniacal laughter)!

5. Get engaged. Every GM has dealt with this – one or more players at the table are there, but not….there, you know what I mean? Looking at their phone, spacing out or just otherwise disengaged from the game, players like this make the GM wonder why they bother to show up, at all. Attitude is contagious, friends. If you show up to the game excited and invested in the adventure that your GM has spent hours upon to provide, it will help keep everyone energized and having fun. If you show up expecting to be entertained without putting forth any real effort to contribute, no one will enjoy playing with you.

The Game Master isn’t the only one responsible for everyone having a good time at the gaming table, whether physical or virtual. If this is how you view the hobby, you’re just not going to be having as good a time as you could be having when you play. Working together to craft stories and create wonderful adventures at the table with my friends has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Let’s be mindful and appreciative of the work our GM’s are doing, and lend a hand. It benefits everyone at the table, and keeps us all rolling dice and having fun.

#ttrpg #dnd #roleplaying #gamemaster #rpg

We’ve all heard the stories of control-freak GMs who rob their players of agency by shoving them face-first along a predetermined path during a game with little to no actual decision-making done by the players. This is called railroading, and it is one of the cardinal sins of game mastery and role playing in general. But what if I told you that not only is a little GM railroading not the heinous crime it’s been made out to be, but can actually help your players have a more enjoyable time at the game table?

Before I get into it, there are a couple important details to remember in any discussion involving the (many) play styles in our beloved hobby. First, it’s vital to remember that your job as the GM is to, as much as possible, ensure that everyone at your table has a good time. Second, it’s important to understand that there are many different play styles in our beloved hobby, and that not every play style will suit every player. Be as flexible and generous as you can.

Now, back to railroading. As human beings, we have a tendency to judge everything by its’ most extreme elements. The countless tales of GMs who railroaded their players to ridiculous lengths tend to overshadow the times where railroading was employed in a more sane manner for the benefit of all. For example, imagine you’re the GM of a group of players who, for whatever reason, just can’t seem to collaborate. Everything turns into an endless debate, and the game grinds to a halt. Now, some GMs with a mean streak will take this opportunity to punish the players’ indecision by throwing something nasty at them – but that usually only delays the indecision until after the combat.

As the GM, it’s your job to keep everything flowing so you do what every good GM does at one time or another – you give your players a nudge, a push or sometimes a boot in the ass to get everyone moving in the right direction. Understand this: when no one is able to make a decision, it becomes the GMs’ job to do so. Is this railroading? Yes. Will it help the players to have a more enjoyable time? Yes.

Of course, the form that this railroading takes is up to the GM – make it fun. Use humor. If the players just can’t decide whether to take the left corridor or the right corridor, have the roof collapse on the right. If the party wants to endlessly debate whether to kill or capture the evil baron for hours on end, have the poor bastard trip and fall on his own sword. It’s up to you as the GM to keep things moving. Or, you could just sit back and let the table argue for the rest of the game session and go grab a sandwich, do your taxes, etc. Which sounds like a better time to you?

No one is talking about leading your players around by the nose on a continual basis, here. But there will be times. Believe me. There will be times. In the end, the whole reason why we bother to roll up characters, write adventures and roll shiny math-rocks is to have fun. And if that means that you, as the GM, need to help bail your players out of their decision fatigue from time to time, so be it.

#ttrpg #dnd #roleplaying #gamemaster #rpg