UESP Forums

This thread is for discussing issues you face as a DM, and asking for help/tips/opinions on the art of herding cats running a roleplay.

What is a DM, you ask? DM stands for "Dungeon Master" and was coined for Dungeons and Dragons. It is equivalent to GM, which stands for "Game Master." It's the person in charge of a roleplay, basically.

Make sure you check out the Roleplay Subforum Guidelines and Rules.

DMing Tips:
(taken from the Roleplaying Tips thread and posts in this thread)

• Get some RP experience as a player, first.
• Start small. Avoid huge, complicated quests for your first RP.
• Read all posts.
• Expect DMing to take more time (often a lot more time) than you originally expected.
• Start off characters all in the same place, if it makes sense for your story.
• Keep notes on what you're planning and what's going on.
• It can be overwhelming when a RP moves very quickly, but most of them slow down a lot after the start.
• "Be like bamboo" (in the words of The-Shadow-One) and bend only when extreme pressure is on. Or bend and don't break. Breaking is bad.
• Be detailed in your descriptions of NPCs and locations.
• Avoid "railroading" (ie forcing characters down one path).
• Don't get carried away with rules and mechanics. Sometimes less is more.
• Keep a list of players and character sheets in your OP, it makes it easy for you and the players to see them.
• Have a system and character sheets that make sense for the kind of RP you are making.
• Don't be a dick. Players in an RP are as important as a GM. Be fair to them.
• Have fun!

I say the main trouble is making enough time for people to post.

Keep a list of players and character sheets in your OP, it makes it easy for you and the players to see them. Have a system and character sheets that make sense for the kind of RP you are making.

Rather than saying "Bend only under extreme pressure," both practically and in keeping with the bamboo metaphor, "Bend easily, break only under extreme pressure."

I thought this thread would be something along the lines of a "DM club".

It sort of is. It's a place for DMs to hang out and ask questions of other DMs.

I know, MM. I saw the OP. I just thought it would be something along the lines of 'Nanza or Hat.

I would have to agree.

Pah, main trouble is them laying dust to your plans!

I tried to get everyone together in STD (I really should change the name of that rp), and everyone is alone or in groups of two.

Yeah, I can tell from personal experience Mr. Shadow >.>

I'm bery much enjoying Tyranny. Keep it up One thing that annoys me for some reason is how some people have 0 in skills. Bah I say! But yeah, I like how you give everyone something special (me a Standing Stone, Kylar a wierd dagger, etc.)

I'm sure they'll come in handy later.

Let's not let this turn into another General RP discussion. Try and keep conversation to DM-specific questions and comments.

I think I broke rule #1 and a few others. Besides that, how well do you think I am doing at it?
Honest opinions, please.

W00t!

You have to do some nasty things as a GM.

Pfft, I enjoyed doing my nasty things. Melissa and Ski-Cat. Oh hehehe.

That remind me; why haven't I done anything nasty to anyone in FDB?

Because I will pay you back in kind, seriously, give me time and a single target.. I will torture them, poisons, skinning.

GM Tip:
Don't be a dick.

Nobody that I know of. Players in an RP are as important as a GM. Be fair to them.

How do you do that thing where you link the specific post of a character sheet onto your OP, because it will be easier than sorting it out other ways.

See the little page sign beside the date? Click on that and then copy the URL.

Thank you.