5 Tips Every New Dungeon Master Needs to Know
Starting your journey as a DM? These five practical tips will help you run smoother sessions and keep your players engaged from the first roll.
5 Tips Every New Dungeon Master Needs to Know
Running your first D&D session can feel overwhelming. You've got rules to remember, a story to tell, and a table full of players looking at you expectantly. But here's the secret: you don't need to be perfect. You just need to be prepared enough to have fun.
1. Prep Situations, Not Scripts
New DMs often write pages of dialogue and detailed scene descriptions. The problem? Players will go off-script within the first five minutes.
Instead, prepare situations: a bandit camp with a hostage, a merchant hiding a secret, a crumbling bridge over a chasm. Know what the NPCs want and how they'll react. Let the players drive the story.
2. Say "Yes, And..." More Than "No"
When a player asks "Can I swing from the chandelier onto the ogre?", your instinct might be to check the rulebook. Instead, ask for a roll. D&D is at its best when players feel like their creativity matters.
That said, "Yes, and..." doesn't mean "Yes, always." It means "Yes, you can try, and here's what happens."
3. Keep Combat Moving
Nothing kills momentum like a 45-minute combat encounter against three goblins. Set a soft timer for turns — if a player hasn't decided in 30 seconds, their character hesitates (takes the Dodge action). Players will learn to plan ahead.
4. Steal Everything
That cool dungeon from a video game? Steal it. That NPC from a novel? Steal them. That plot twist from a movie? You get the idea.
Your players won't know, and even if they do, experiencing it in D&D feels completely different. Every great DM borrows liberally.
5. Debrief After Sessions
Spend five minutes after each session asking:
- What was your favorite moment?
- What do you want to do next?
- Anything that didn't work for you?
This simple habit will make you a better DM faster than any guide or video ever could.
Starting out is the hardest part. Once you've got a few sessions under your belt, you'll find your groove. The most important rule? Everyone at the table — including you — should be having fun.