"Game Master" or "Game Moderator". This is the person who is in charge of running the game, including having final say over how actions are resolved. Also referred to as "Storyteller" (in White Wolf games), "Dungeon Master" (in D&D), and innumerable other names.
31
votes
8answers
2k views
How To Divide Up Loot?
I've been GMing a very successful (Pathfinder) campaign for quite a few months now, but we've developed a bit of a problem I'm not sure how to resolve: loot distribution.
None of my players are ...
17
votes
6answers
623 views
How can I screen new players to make sure they are a good fit for my game?
I'm looking to start a new Savage Worlds campaign and I need a full set of players for it. I've played in games before and ran a couple of one-shots, but I've never GMed a full campaign. There's ...
-2
votes
0answers
57 views
looking for skype gm over play per post [closed]
basically I am never able to go to a game stpre and want to learn the d20/modern/future/modern arcana stuff so that i can start writing my own stuff. just about to sign that contract that will allow ...
33
votes
6answers
737 views
What is a good way to become a better NPC/monster actor?
One of the biggest problems I have as Game Master, (going on 30+yrs) is in portraying NPC and Monsters in any RPG. Is there a good resource for becoming a better 'actor'?
Instead of just saying... ...
15
votes
9answers
524 views
Does GMing diminish or detract from being a player in games?
I started playing RPGs last year with the Pathfinder Beginner Box. I have been GMing and writing a campaign, but have also encouraged members of the party that are interested to run a one-off Beginner ...
9
votes
3answers
256 views
What setting changes need to be addressed in order to convert Golarion to the E6 variant system?
For those who are confused what E6 is, please go here: E6: The Game Inside D&D
I will be running an E6 game in Golarion in a few weeks. Two main assumptions I have made in the E6 version I am ...
3
votes
1answer
182 views
What to buy to start out 4e D&D (DM and PC) (Complete Noob, no previous experience) [duplicate]
So we're a completely new group of people, none of us have experience, and I've been assigned DM, which I think is a good idea. But we don't know where to start, or what to buy to get started on our ...
23
votes
19answers
1k views
What role-playing games have good gamemaster advice sections?
Which RPG's, in your experience, have good advice for gamemasters in their rulebooks, both for novice and experienced gamemasters?
Please keep in mind that this question is not about good games for ...
6
votes
1answer
97 views
Treasure tables with mixed groups
In reference to this Treasure tables in 3.5, how does the system expect a GM to handle groups with mixed treasure types?
6
votes
2answers
113 views
Methods for round-robin style DM'ing?
Round-robin storytelling has been around for a while, and something I have always been interested in experimenting with a variation of DM'ing where players take turns becoming the DM in the same ...
28
votes
4answers
281 views
How can the players reduce the workload of a game master?
As you know DMs do most of the job for the campaign (maps, plot, NPCs etc) and quite a bit of storytelling.
Players, on the other side, bring in their creativity and add extra spice to the game ...
18
votes
9answers
914 views
How do I kidnap my characters without bending the rules?
I'm about to start a new arc with my characters and I'd really like it to begin by having them be kidnapped. It would be easy for me to just do this by fiat and say that "You are knocked unconscious ...
11
votes
8answers
2k views
How do I select background music for my fantasy RPG campaign?
Music is an essential component of my games. When running games set in the Star Wars universe, the music of John Williams adds a new dimension to the experience, both for me and for my players. Now ...
11
votes
7answers
462 views
Could a “Fog of war” prop break a game in any way?
I'm going to run the Pathfinder's Beginners Box scripted adventure that has a dungeon map printed.
This is not only the first time GMing, it's my first time playing an RPG. All of the party are new ...
21
votes
7answers
911 views
How can I invoke actual fear in my players?
I'm a DM that focuses heavily on story, description and setting. My goal is to send players home wanting -- no, longing -- to actually be part of the mythos I've created.
The ultimate goal for me as ...
17
votes
6answers
728 views
How to encourage a player's creativity without breaking the game?
I've just started a new D&D 4e campaign with a new group of players. One of my players came straight from 2nd edition, and has never played 4e before. She doesn't seem to grasp the layer of ...
11
votes
4answers
434 views
Help turning my NPC Druid Undead
I have an upper level NPC druid that I plan on killing and then making undead, along with his animal companion.
1) Do the rules allow the undead animal companion in this situation? (If so does it ...
10
votes
2answers
213 views
Memories of undeath once resurrected?
Related to my other question: Undead NPC Druid
If an NPC has been turned undead and later destroyed/resurrected does he retain the memory of being undead? Specifically the actions he took part in ...
26
votes
8answers
1k views
What are the most important differences for a 1st Edition AD&D Dungeon Master learning to run D&D 4E?
I'm a campaign designer and DM with 20+ years of AD&D 1st edition experience. I've been "retired" from the game for over a decade, assume I don't know anything about 2nd, 3rd, or 3.5.
Now I'm ...
5
votes
2answers
150 views
LFG: Looking for Guineapigs (aka players to test an encounter..or 4)
I'm setting up the end of my campaign and I have 4 "mini-boss" fights (& Final BOSS fight) that I'm trying to make extremely tough but also winnable. I don't want to just slaughter my PCs after ...
65
votes
9answers
2k views
How does a player correct a GM mistake without being a rules lawyer or pushover?
You are playing in a game. The GM says that you need to roll a given roll. The rules clearly state something different. I realize one solution is to go along to get along, then tell the GM after ...
1
vote
2answers
124 views
Dungeons and Dragons 1 hour game advice [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it practical to run a weekly lunch-hour game of D&D with my coworkers?
Other than don't use the system what advice do you guys have for playing Dungeons and ...
9
votes
4answers
225 views
What to do in Labyrinth Lord when both PCs and Foes are surprised?
In Labyrinth Lord, when there is a possibility of surprise for both PCs and foes, both sides roll 1d6. A 1-2 indicates that side is surprised for the first round. If both sides roll a 1-2, both ...
17
votes
2answers
764 views
GM attacking a recently stabilized ally: is this allowed?
The title pretty much sums up my question.
I was playing the Scales of War campaign with a group of friends, and my character was getting absolutely destroyed in an encounter.
I had failed two death ...
9
votes
1answer
184 views
As a DM, what is the best way to create custom weapons and armor for your PCs?
After quests have been completed, or during the course of completing them, your Player Characters might pick up new armor or weapons that you have put placeholders in for. What is the best way to ...
3
votes
2answers
185 views
Average experience per encounter for a two person party?
I have been playing Dungeons and Dragons for a while now as a player. I've recently started up a new game that I am DMing. I am going to run the Kobold Hall adventure for starters. The problem I have ...
17
votes
10answers
973 views
How do I encourage a GM to use the rules as written?
Related to this question, there are some game masters who either don't know the rules or ignore them properly. They come into conflict with rules lawyers, players who know the rules well and expect ...
19
votes
8answers
965 views
How do I handle a group that does not understand the 'assumption rule'?
1st rule of D&D (as of 3rd edition/pathfinder): The GM is the final arbiter on all rules.
I understand this, completely, and do not disagree. That said, I'm having trouble with a group that ...
4
votes
1answer
194 views
How to upgrade Pathfinder Beginner Box games and characters to Pathfinder Core Rules?
Similar to this question on Red box to 4e core rules upgrade, what problems are there overcome with or good ways to achieve moving games and characters from the Beginner Box rules to Pathfinder Core ...
15
votes
4answers
349 views
How would I quickly put together a believable map of an area?
As part of my "Closed Circle" campaign, I'm looking for ways to quickly put together a believable map of a college campus and surrounding area, complete with believable building placement. "Quickly" ...
11
votes
3answers
400 views
Cheating on rolls as a DM to adjust the difficulty on the fly (or other means to adjust difficulty)
I was a DM for the first time yesterday.
It was a lot of fun, and all things considered, I think I've made a pretty darn good first session. It was, however, too difficult. I've based the various ...
12
votes
1answer
132 views
Are there guidelines for creating & customising MM3-style monsters?
I've heard that Monster Manual 3 came with an improved design philosophy for monsters (particularly solos), and there are questions about updating pre-MM3 monsters for MM3.
I want to create and ...
18
votes
5answers
359 views
How do I run a game for a larger group?
I am currently running a Dungeons and Dragons 4 campaign for a group of 9 players. Whittling the group down to a more manageable size is not really an option since they are all family. When we do ...
10
votes
6answers
727 views
My fifth level PC has a +2 longsword but that's about all
How much can any single possession take up a character's wealth? For this question, I'd like answers that operate under the presumption that wealth-by-level isn't a minimum but instead a target.
I've ...
22
votes
4answers
904 views
Monster Manual 1 - Is it balanced? Should I balance it?
I've been DM'ing a little lately 4 edition D&D and of course I'm confused again:
My first adventure was a big question mark, I didn't use the exact guidelines for creating an encounter and ...
5
votes
1answer
124 views
What should I look out for, when scaling a late heroic published adventure for late paragon/early epic tier?
I will be including a level 9 published adventure in my campaign soon. The thing is, the four players will be somewhere between level 18 and 24 when they hit the dungeon.
Aside from obviously scaling ...
5
votes
2answers
137 views
Balance between planning and improvising [closed]
What is the ideal balance between planning out an entire session of playing, complete with music scoring and conversation detailing, and winging the entire thing?
As an example, I'll cite one of the ...
5
votes
1answer
91 views
Do I need both DMG1 and 2 to create adventures?
I'm working on my first custom campaign for my players (I have previously run modules out of books and Dragon magazine), and I am wondering if I should read both DMG1 and 2 or if it's possible to just ...
43
votes
14answers
1k views
How can I help my PCs remember clues that they found?
I'm a new DM running my first adventure (it's D&D 4.0 but that's not relevant to my question). I've heard of the "three clue rule", that there should be at least three independent pointers to any ...
0
votes
0answers
164 views
Old School gamer attempting to get back into it…with some trepidation [closed]
I use to play D&D since Version 2, when it was banned at schools because it was thought to be devil worship, then later after a few people went a little nuts and used their "character personas" as ...
18
votes
5answers
2k views
Tips for running a successful and engaging campaign WITHOUT combat?
I'm thinking of starting my own campaign with a few of my friends with me as DM, primarily because I wasn't extremely impressed with the campaign my friend was DMing. When I started thinking about the ...
17
votes
6answers
1k views
How can I murder people and lie about it?
My character is a Halfing Rogue specializing in lying and ranged sneak kills with a concealed crossbow. With the Childlike and Pass for Human feats plus max ranks in Bluff I'm crazy good at a ...
1
vote
8answers
343 views
Survivalist NPC build?
How can I best optimize an NPC so that instead of having perfect power attack or sneak attack, they're just really hard to kill? I can think of thief acrobat and perhaps exemplar or dungeon delver, ...
11
votes
8answers
439 views
How much plot guidance is too much?
I've played in many games that were extremely railroaded. There was basically only one feasible course of action and we, as players, were expected to take that route. (The GM would get very upset if ...
36
votes
9answers
3k views
How should I respond to a DM who unfairly plays the “rules-lawyer” card?
My question: How would you, experienced role-player, deal with this situation?
I was recently invited to join a 4e startup goup. I've RP'd a fair bit in my day, but not in decades, and never D&D. ...
20
votes
6answers
540 views
Any advice on how to politely approach a friend on problems with her character(s)?
I've been playing with a good friend of mine for a couple of games now (Exalted and Pathfinder) with another friend as GM. In a few weeks, I'm going to be running a new game because the GM is getting ...
31
votes
17answers
1k views
How to Handle a Powergamer / Munchkin
What are some strategies that I can employ to handle a power gamer that constantly outshines the rest of the party? This is a friend of us all and we don't want to boot him, but combat simply isn't ...
0
votes
1answer
214 views
Free action/no action encounter power available to all players?
The DM I play with for encounters passes out these power cards that are either a free action or a non-action (can't remember) encounter power that lets you add to a skill check roll, add a damage die, ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
Does anyone have any templates for Scrivener?
I want to start using Scrivener to plan a game and am looking for some templates for characters, locations, encounters, etc.
17
votes
3answers
431 views
How does a GM fix the rules when they goof?
I think it happens to the best of us. I'm not the best of us, so I get to goof a bit more often. The specific example I'm going to mention was using Dresden Files (a derivative of FATE for those who ...
