Q&A for How to Be a Dungeon Master

Return to Full Article

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Can the dungeon masters have a character too?
    Community Answer
    Yes, some dungeon masters will have a character. It's recommended that only advanced players in small groups do this, and primarily in a support manner (i.e., healing and inspiring the party).
  • Question
    How intelligent does a Dungeon Master have to be?
    Community Answer
    You don't necessarily have to be intelligent, just very well-prepared.
  • Question
    What does the board look like?
    Community Answer
    The board looks like anything you can imagine, or at least what you can describe to your players, or put on paper or cardboard for reference.
  • Question
    Can there be vehicles in the game?
    Community Answer
    Yes, there can be vehicles in the game.
  • Question
    How should I incorporate traps and monsters?
    Community Answer
    You can either create your own traps and monsters, or use some online and book sources. Try to make your traps clever or hidden to add a bit of surprise and quick thinking on the player's part. Monsters should be challenging, but don't give the players something that'll kill them easily. For example, a dragon is a bad enemy for level one PCs.
  • Question
    What's more important: a game tile board or a dungeon master's handbook?
    Community Answer
    The Dungeon Master's Handbook. You can always play without the board, but you need the handbook to reference the rules.
  • Question
    Does any core book work, or do I need the current one of that year?
    Community Answer
    Any version of the rule books will do, as look as you're consistent between the ones you use. The newest version (5e) is a good choice for beginners.
  • Question
    What advice can you give me for including a character from D.M. plays in a game?
    Community Answer
    I play as multiple characters sometimes, and I use the environment to introduce them. If the characters are in a sticky situation, perhaps the DM's character is their method of escape. If they're in dire need of seeing the Queen, maybe the DM's character is their royal escort. It can be totally random!
  • Question
    Where can I get a running module?
    Community Answer
    There are always online shops such as eBay and Amazon.
  • Question
    Where can I find instructions for creating dice out of paper?
    Community Answer
    Look on google for a 3D dice template and cut it out and fold accordingly.
  • Question
    Does the Dungeon Master have the campaign with them for the game?
    Community Answer
    They do not have to, but it is highly recommended. The campaign acts as a sort of script for the Dungeon Master, and often holds stats and descriptions for characters and enemies that are not easily remembered. If the DM is confident that they can remember everything, then they don't need the campaign.
  • Question
    Should I add different items for different campaigns?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Multiple new items can freshen up game play and add mystery.
  • Question
    What can I do when I am afraid to write my own campaigns, but I don't want to follow a module?
    Community Answer
    There's no alternative to facing your fears except avoiding your fears. It's best to try to run small adventures to get over your fears, and then create bigger adventures and run them with players you like and trust.
  • Question
    Can the dungeon masters change every week or so?
    Community Answer
    Yes! While this may lead to a very chaotic campaign where there are multiple DMs for the same story (in which case you would need a small level of coordination between everyone dungeon master-ing), it can also just mean that you have a few campaigns going on at the same time. It is advisable to work with everyone you are playing with to figure out what works best for you, though.
  • Question
    How do I deal with dysfunctional characters?
    Community Answer
    When you have dysfunctional player characters in your game, it's best to talk to the player one-on-one to explain what's going wrong and how it isn't fitting in your game or might be hurting the fun for others. Try to offer a compromise or resolution. If the problem persists, you may have to replace the player.
  • Question
    Should I buy the books and starter set if I want to be a dungeon master?
    Community Answer
    Yes. It would help you a lot, as you could always refer to the books if you were uncertain about something, or if you needed inspiration. Most of the rules can be found online, but it would definitely be a good investment if you plan on being the DM more often.
  • Question
    Must I play only with the races in the books or can I introduce new ones?
    Community Answer
    Yes. It is possible for you to do that, but for that, you need to come up with good ideas.
  • Question
    Should I start as a normal character before becoming a dungeon master?
    Community Answer
    It is highly recommended: by playing the game you will learn all the basic rules of D&D that apply to your character without having to know all of them. However, it's not required; if you've studied the rules and are comfortable with them and have a campaign you'd like to run, go for it! The best weapon in a DM's arsenal is the ability to confidently improvise.
  • Question
    Do you need to read the whole Dungeon Master's guide?
    Supernova67
    Community Answer
    You don't need to read the whole thing cover to cover right away, but at least know the basic rules and give the whole thing a solid skim read.
  • Question
    Can you play D&D with 2 players? One player and one DM?
    PreuxFox
    Top Answerer
    You can. I do not recommend it for newbie DMs because it will feel very different from a usual D&D game and you have to balance combat carefully to account for the fact that there is only one player and they could be easily overwhelmed by multiple foes.
  • Question
    Do you have to have a DM screen?
    PreuxFox
    Top Answerer
    No, you don't need one! They can be convenient to have, but many DMs don't have one or even don't like to use them. If you don't have a DM screen and find that you want one, you can also grab a binder or folder you have lieing around and prop it upright by opening it.
  • Question
    How many players does it take minimum to play D&D?
    PreuxFox
    Top Answerer
    You can play D&D with as few as two people (one DM and one player) but it can be tricky to play with a smaller group. Two or three players is a good standard.
  • Question
    Should I eliminate all who stand in my path?
    PreuxFox
    Top Answerer
    No, as the DM, that isn't really your goal. If that is what you wanted to do it would be very easy by just pulling out the strongest monsters in the book on your low-level players, but even if that's fun for you (and many DMs would find it more boring than fun) your players will not enjoy it and probably won't play with you again.
  • Question
    Do you have do have a DM screen?
    Noah Van Til
    Community Answer
    If you are playing virtually and not in person, no. But if you are playing in person, then yes. This is because you probably don't want your players to see anything behind your DM screen, that includes the adventure module, or general information about something that the player shouldn't know. But yes, you probably should have one, and you can use anything for a DM screen that shields your players from viewing your workstation.
  • Question
    I heard that a DM can roll dice in the game, too, even if they're not playing as a character. What does the DM roll for and what dice do they use?
    Community Answer
    The DM can roll for the damage NPCs do on PCs. DMs can roll for advantages, disadvantages, etc. as well. These statistics are usually determined with a D20 die.
  • Question
    I'm starting a new game. I've got a small party, an elvish cleric and a dwarvish fighter. And I was wondering where they should start out. In a village, a forest, a tavern, anywhere.
    Raphael Key
    Top Answerer
    Starting in a Tavern might be a trope, but it's still a very good place to start because of the opportunities it provides. But think about the campaign you want to run and start from there. I did a campaign revolving around dragons, so the first things my characters did was prevent a Dragon Attack.
  • Question
    How do I make sure I’m confident enough? Also, what should I do in long trip scenes instead of saying you are walking and then there is some monster?
    Raphael Key
    Top Answerer
    For very long trips, you can skip most of the walking because walking through the forest from one town to the next... isn't fun. if you want, you can come up with some more interesting encounters, like place a bag of money on the road. if the party takes it, you can have people come looking for the money later or you could make some elven ruins in the wild with a helmet on a pedestal. If they take the helmet, a suit of armor comes together and attacks them. As for confidence. you won't be sure until you do it. I still stress about my sessions all the time, but you'll get better at it.
  • Question
    Can a game of Dungeons and Dragons be futuristic?
    Community Answer
    Of course, D&D is a RPG that can take place in any time in any place, it's just that the classic modules are usually with medieval weapons and warriors.
  • Question
    If I am a beginner DM, should I create a big or a small adventure or campaign?
    Community Answer
    I would suggest start with a smaller one, and build from there, as you play and go through sessions you might be continually inspired for future ideas and sessions. Another idea is start with a simple module maybe level 1-5, a good one is Lost Mine of Phandelver.
  • Question
    Are there little mini figures you can buy for all of the monsters?
    Jack3GI
    Community Answer
    Yes, for a lot of common monsters. You can find them at your local roleplaying shop or just online.
Ask a Question

      Return to Full Article