Dungeon Master Tips for D&D 5e and other RPGs

Here is a list of professional GM tips compiled for you, the brand new Game Masters, who seek “how to” advice on running your first few tabletop RPG campaigns! These tips will help maximize fun for you and your players during D&D gameplay.
I’m a professional DM with decades of experience running and writing games, and I want you to remember the end goal in D&D is to have fun for everyone, this includes fun for you the GM too!
Learn how to simplify your game prep and world building to prevent DM burnout.
Learn simple tips on how to actively engage your players in roleplay and player narration, along with a few tricks to keep the game play flowing.
Regardless of which TTRPG game system you are running player agency in game is crucial; this video has professional GM tips for DnD, Pathfinder, Daggerheart, Shadowdark, Dragonbane, Fallout RPG, Gamma World, Marvel, and more.
Here’s my latest Kickstarter, a fun and quirky adventure called “Sir Geoffrey’s Gallant Games” and written for 5e. Enjoy!
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Check out my Patreon for FREE DnD Maps and other cool stuff like player handouts for your virtual TTRPGs.
/ jackalope1970
Time Stamps
00:28 The GM should be having fun too!
00:50 Player Agency
02:00 Let players do their thing without needless skill checks
03:11 Remove the skill checks which lock up progress of the narrative.
03:22 Player Narration - Let Players Actively Participate in The Narration of the Story
4:29 Be Silent sometimes and let players fill in the silence
4:35 World Building 101
7:07 DM Prep
7:31 Super GM Pro Hack
8:32 Level Up your Deception
8:59 The Illusion of Choice
9:43 End your game session on a cliff hanger
10:15 The end goal of a D&D game is to have fun!

[@CaseyWilkesmusic]

Great comments. Thank you for putting the importance of letting players succeed as the default (the acrobat example) and only asking for a check when there’s a chance of failure (and that it matters).
Asking players what they wish to do next time might be answered with blank stares and “I dunno”. This is okay too and doesn’t mean you have bad players. It means that as DM you should do a little steering until they get the hang of it OR you should present an unavoidable threat that causes immediate action at the beginning of the next session.

[@TheTerrainWizard]

Great advice, thank you for the kind words.

[@Marcus-ki1en]

As a DM of 45 years, I will say your advise is right on the money. Well said, keep up the good work.

[@TheTerrainWizard]

Thank you.

[@ryanb5127]

Great video, one of my favorite little tricks is to ask my players “what are you trying to do with this?” When they ask about the layout or objects in a room or they want to insight an Npc unprompted this helps me be collaborative and not get caught up in unimportant details

[@TheTerrainWizard]

Thank you, I like your trick, as it can save alot of time by getting straight to the point of way a player wants to do.
For unprompted Insight Checks, I generally go with a player character’s Passive Insight. When I DM, I request a player make their AC, Passive Perception, and Passive Insight visible for me at a glance. This expedites the game a lot.