Lead The Campaign: 5 Ways To Become A Better Dungeon Master

The Campaign Is Yours

Nervous about being a dungeon master? There are a lot of responsibilities tied to leading the campaign, but it can be a lot of fun, too! After all, most of the decisions and the direction of the story are entirely up to you. So to help calm you down and make yourself feel more prepared, here are five great tips for becoming the ultimate dungeon master.

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1. Prioritize Your Players

Even though you’re the storyteller, don’t forget who the campaign is for: your players! To really engage everyone, make sure you prioritize your players’ interests and likes to keep them invested. Because if they no longer care for the story, there’s no game to be played.

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2. Use Background Music

Dungeons & Dragons is all about immersing everyone into an entirely different universe where you really believe you’re in the story. To help with this escapism, try adding background music during different moments to really make things feel more intense. Your players will certainly appreciate this added effect.

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3. Be Descriptive

It’s not enough to describe the dragon as “red” and “scary,” you need to go deep with the descriptions! Talk about its 80-pointed teeth that are as sharp as daggers, and its impenetrable scaly armor; in order for people to visualize what you’re imagining, you need to be as descriptive as possible so that they believe what you’re saying.

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4. Be Confident

Being a dungeon master is all about confidence. If you want others to believe the story you’re telling, you need to believe it yourself! Speak loudly, clearly, and with as much emotion as you can muster. You’re the one carrying this campaign, so tell your story with pride!

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5. Be Decisive

In moments where all the players are unable to decide on a move and you need to set the record straight, you have to be decisive. You need to let everyone know that you’re the mastermind behind the plot and that you control the narrative! Faltering will only make the others think they can persuade you to follow what they want - that shouldn’t be the case!

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