Being a Dungeon Master in Dungeons & Dragons is a very rewarding role – you get to tell your stories and see them come to life in front of you. However, there are many less glamorous aspects of this job and it’s not for everyone. Behind the scenes, this role presents unique challenges and demands that may deter some DnD fans from taking up the mantle of running the game.
In this blog post, we will go through all the challenges of DM-ing and the reasons this role might not be for you. So, you probably shouldn’t DM if:
10. You are a People Pleaser
To fulfill this role properly, you need to set boundaries with your players. This means informing your players about house rules, and how many game mechanics are going to be handled around your table. It’s also important to let the players know that your word is final, and what you say goes so they can’t walk all over you (Just a disclaimer: this doesn’t mean you should act like a dictator). If you’re typically conflict-avoidant, being the judge and jury can bring unnecessary stress to your life.
9. You Want to Play
Some people can play DnD for 40 years and never even think whether the grass is greener on the other side. If you just want the player experience, that’s completely okay, and you don’t have to try DM-ing to enjoy yourself and be a true fan of the game.
8. You Can’t Do the Time, So Don’t Do the Job
DM-ing takes a significant amount of time. Preparing immersive and engaging adventures and populating them with NPCs and monsters can be time-consuming and extremely hard to accomplish with a very busy schedule. Also, there’s a lot of prep work involved for every single session, so if this doesn’t seem doable, maybe it’s better if you stay on the other side of the screen.
7. You’re Feeling the Pressure
As a DM you might feel pressure to perform and entertain your players. Even though everyone around the table is supposed to work together in order to have a good time, DMs do take on most of the responsibility. It can be too much for some players, so if you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen!
6. You’re Feeling Burnout
Like with any other creative endeavor, DM-ing can also lead to burnout. If you realize you’re not enjoying the game anymore and have a hard time creating new worlds and stories, a break will do you good.
5. You Take Yourself Too Seriously
This is not some high-brow literary society that will make poignant commentary on your work. Come on, we are in a make-believe land of goblins, gnomes, dwarves, and other fantastical creatures who run around and swing swords and other weapons at each other – DnD is not that serious. So you need to approach it in a lighthearted kind of way – let loose, have fun, do silly voices, and make stupid jokes!
4. You Can’t Improvise
You might have created a straightforward story for your players, but trust me, they will most likely find a way to get off track. When they get distracted and don’t hit all the beats you want them to, don’t get frustrated. You can still tell your story but with a little improvisation. Avoid dropping an anvil or a huge tree in front of the party in order to steer them back on track.
To be a DM, you have to think on your feet and adapt to the changes quickly. If improv is not your cup of tea, that might be a problem.
3. You Lack Creativity
When you DM, you’re also a writer and storyteller too. It’s much easier to be a player because you’re operating in a world of somebody else’s making, but as the DM, you are the creator of said world. Nobody likes going through dull, similar dungeons, and meeting the same, boring, stereotyped NPCs. So if you can’t offer some more exciting alternatives, maybe you’re not cut out for DM-ing.
2. You Lack Knowledge
This one is super simple – if you’re a DnD newbie, you can’t be the authority on the rules. Over the course of your DM-ing career, you will fudge the rules and improvise a lot, but you still need a firm grasp of the game mechanics to be able to lead your players in their epic adventures. You know the whole “Know the rules well so you can break them” saying.
Until you get more acquainted with the game, stick to playing, and over time, I’m sure you can transition to running the game.
This tip is also related to your knowledge of the world you created. This is your creation and you should be like a walking encyclopedia on that subject. If you can’t remember things and know them like the back of your hand, take notes. If you are unwilling to do that, maybe this job is not for you.
1. You Want to Make the Players’ Lives a Living Hell
While DM-ing, even though you will roleplay all the player’s opponents, you can’t make the game into a DM versus players competition. You are not Jigsaw and they are not trying to escape your murder traps – you should all be working together. Yes, you are in charge but don’t be a douche about it. Don’t nullify players’ powers, take away their agency, or punish them for straying away from your carefully crafted story. Remember, there is no I in “team”, but there is one in “dictator”.
Also, you need to be able to take constructive criticism about your story and your DM-ing. Player feedback is super important because it can make a DM better and the whole experience way more enjoyable.
So if you’re a my-way-or-the-highway kind of person – maybe you shouldn’t be a DM.
