Fun

Before the Game

1. Anticipate: Imagine each scene playing out, and how you can squeeze the most fun out of it. Sometimes just imagining various outcomes can make you chuckle. It will also help you be prepared for crazy players.

a. Pick A Player: Many players excel at throwing the GM curves. Picture one of those players in this scene, and what they might do.

2. Make Stuff: You can have a lot of fun making maps, props, and player aids. Just don’t turn it into a chore. Don’t go Martha on things.

3. Hype the Game: Hype up how cool the game is going to be to everyone you know. Build excitement!

4. Cackle Evilly: You know you want to.

During the Game

1. Watch Your Players: Keep an eye out for players picking up reading materials, standing up away from the table, chatting with people outside the game, or scowling.

a. What’s Up?: See if you can figure out why they aren’t engaged and having fun, and see if you can bring them back in. Call a break and ask them if you have to.

b. Change Pace: Sometimes just wrapping up the current encounter and moving along is enough to reengage people.

c. Take Breaks: No one is having fun if they are starving or have to pee.

2. Keep it Interesting: Players, especially experienced players, bore easily. You need to keep the game interesting to keep them engaged and having fun.

a. Don’t Drag: Many new GM’s will let things like combat, or puzzles drag forever. The game should be quick and exciting.

b. Don’t Let Them Flounder: If the players don’t get it, give them increasingly blatant hints, but don’t let them flounder for more than a few minutes. When was the last time a movie character scratched his head in realtime?

c. Don’t Give it Away: On the other hand, you should at least give them a chance to figure things out for themselves.

d. Vary the Pace and Tone: Don’t make every scene super high energy, or tense and spooky. You need to vary the pace and tone of the game to keep players’ interest.

3. Make It Memorable: You know that players are having fun when they are grinning, shaking their heads and muttering “There never going to believe this!”

a. Jaw Dropping: Creating scenes that just wow the players with their events, their intensity, or their over the top humor is a good way to get remembered fondly.

b. Involved: Players remember the things that they did more than anything else. Give them the opportunities to make their own memorable moments.

i. Bait Them: If you know that a particular character hates slavery, throw it in!

ii. Tease Them: The PCs are heroes, and naturally attractive to NPCs. Remember to keep it appropriate.

iii. Call Them by Name: If the bad guys are worried enough to know the PCs’ names, it will help pull the players in.

iv. Let Them Shine: Tweak encounters so that the PCs can take advantage of their special abilities and quirks.

v. Reward Them: If the players come up with a great idea, or the PCs do something amazing, make a big deal out of it! Just make sure to keep it fair.

1. In Character: Don’t penalize the PCs for circumventing the scenario. If they do something brilliant, figure out a way to reward them in character.

vi. Repercussions: The world should respond to what the PCs do. Nothing is more frustrating to a player than feeling like they aren’t making a difference.