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Growing as a GM

Growing as a GM

Game mastering is a skill that develops over time. Every session teaches you something new, and there's always room to improve. This guide will help you continue growing as a GM throughout your tabletop RPG journey.

Reflecting on Your GMing​

After Each Session​

Take a few minutes to think about what happened:

  • What went really well? What moments were most engaging?
  • What was challenging? Where did you struggle or feel uncertain?
  • How did players respond? What seemed to excite or bore them?
  • What would you do differently? Don't be harsh - just honest

Monthly Review​

Every month, look at your broader patterns:

  • What are your strengths? Are you great at voices, improvisation, combat?
  • What needs work? Time management, rules knowledge, description?
  • How has your style evolved? What have you learned about your preferences?
  • What do you want to improve? Pick one or two areas to focus on

Player Feedback​

Regularly ask your players:

  • "What's been your favorite moment so far?"
  • "Is there anything you'd like to see more of?"
  • "How can I help your character shine?"
  • "Any suggestions for how I can improve?"

Be prepared to hear constructive criticism and use it to grow.

Expanding Your Toolkit​

Improving Core Skills​

Improvisation​

  • Say "yes, and" more often to player suggestions
  • Practice quick NPC creation using simple formulas
  • Get comfortable with uncertainty - you don't need all the answers
  • Build on player ideas rather than shutting them down

Exercise: Give yourself 30 seconds to create a fully-formed NPC with name, appearance, personality, and motivation.

Description and Storytelling​

  • Use all five senses in your descriptions, not just sight
  • Vary your sentence length for rhythm and impact
  • Practice active voice instead of passive voice
  • Show, don't tell when revealing information

Exercise: Practice describing the same room in three different moods (welcoming, threatening, mysterious).

Rules Mastery​

  • Focus on core mechanics first - attack rolls, skill checks, saves
  • Learn one new rule thoroughly each month
  • Keep quick reference sheets for complex subsystems
  • Don't be afraid to make rulings and look things up later

Time Management​

  • Set timers for different scene types to maintain awareness
  • Learn to summarize long discussions or planning sessions
  • Practice transitioning smoothly between different types of scenes
  • End strong even if you don't get through everything planned

Advanced Techniques​

Layered Storytelling​

  • Plant seeds early that pay off sessions later
  • Connect seemingly unrelated events through background elements
  • Use foreshadowing to build anticipation
  • Create recurring themes that tie the campaign together

Complex NPCs​

  • Give NPCs conflicting motivations that create interesting dilemmas
  • Show character growth in NPCs over time
  • Create believable relationships between NPCs
  • Let NPCs make mistakes and learn from them

Dynamic World Building​

  • Create calendar events that happen regardless of player action
  • Show the consequences of player choices in unexpected places
  • Develop multiple factions with competing interests
  • Let the world evolve based on the passage of time

Emotional Storytelling​

  • Create moments of vulnerability for characters
  • Build to emotional climaxes as well as action climaxes
  • Allow quiet character moments between big events
  • Support player agency in emotional development

Learning from Other GMs​

Watching Other GMs​

  • Online streams like Critical Role, Dimension 20, etc.
  • Local game stores often have open tables you can observe
  • Convention games with experienced GMs
  • YouTube tutorials and GM advice channels

What to Look For​

  • How do they handle unexpected situations?
  • What techniques do they use for description and pacing?
  • How do they manage different player types?
  • What makes their NPCs memorable?
  • How do they build tension and excitement?

Adapting Techniques​

  • Don't copy exactly - adapt techniques to your style
  • Start small - try one new technique per session
  • Practice in low-stakes situations first
  • Get feedback from your players about what works

Expanding Your Game​

Trying New Things​

Different Adventure Types​

  • Mystery investigations if you usually run dungeon crawls
  • Political intrigue if you focus on combat
  • Horror elements for a change of pace
  • Comedy relief to lighten serious campaigns

New Mechanics​

  • Chase scenes with structured rules
  • Mass combat for large-scale battles
  • Skill challenges for complex non-combat situations
  • Variant rules from supplements or homebrew

Alternative Campaign Structures​

  • Episodic adventures instead of overarching plots
  • West Marches style sandbox exploration
  • Rotating GM duties with your regular group
  • One-shot experiments to test new ideas

Challenging Yourself​

  • Run for different groups to expand your experience
  • Try higher or lower level play than you're used to
  • Experiment with different campaign lengths
  • Run games in different settings or time periods

Building Your GM Community​

Finding Other GMs​

  • Local game stores often have GM meetups
  • Online communities like Reddit, Discord, Facebook groups
  • Convention GM lounges for networking
  • RPG clubs at schools or community centers

Learning from Peers​

  • Share your challenges and solutions
  • Exchange resources like maps, NPCs, plot hooks
  • Playtest each other's homebrew content
  • Discuss different approaches to common problems

Mentoring Others​

As you gain experience:

  • Help new GMs get started with advice and encouragement
  • Share your resources freely
  • Co-GM sessions to demonstrate techniques
  • Create a welcoming environment for GM growth

Avoiding Burnout​

Recognizing the Signs​

  • Dreading session prep or running games
  • Feeling overwhelmed by player expectations
  • Losing interest in the story or characters
  • Snapping at players or becoming impatient

Prevention Strategies​

  • Set boundaries on prep time and player demands
  • Take breaks between campaigns
  • Play as a player sometimes to recharge
  • Keep games fun for yourself too

Recovery Techniques​

  • Talk to your players about how you're feeling
  • Simplify your games temporarily
  • Try different styles or systems
  • Take a break if needed - it's okay!

Long-Term Growth​

Setting Goals​

Every few months, identify areas to work on:

  • Specific skills like improvisation or rules knowledge
  • Campaign elements like better NPCs or more engaging combat
  • Personal growth like confidence or public speaking
  • Creative challenges like writing adventures or world-building

Tracking Progress​

  • Keep a GM journal of lessons learned and improvements made
  • Record great moments to remember what works
  • Note player feedback and how you addressed it
  • Celebrate improvements even small ones

Continuing Education​

  • Read books about storytelling, improv, and game design
  • Take classes in public speaking, creative writing, or theater
  • Attend workshops at conventions or game stores
  • Join online courses about game mastering

Advanced GM Mindset​

Embracing Failure​

  • Mistakes are learning opportunities not disasters
  • Players are usually forgiving of honest errors
  • Bad sessions happen to even experienced GMs
  • Growth comes from challenges not just successes

Collaborative Storytelling​

  • You're not the only storyteller at the table
  • Players contribute as much to the story as you do
  • The best moments often come from player creativity
  • Your job is to facilitate not control the story

Adaptive Mastery​

  • Every group is different and requires different approaches
  • Flexibility is more valuable than rigid preparation
  • Listen more than you speak during character interactions
  • Adjust your style based on what your players enjoy

The Journey Continues​

Milestones in GM Development​

  • First successful session - you can run a basic game
  • First campaign arc - you can manage ongoing storylines
  • First difficult situation handled well - you can adapt under pressure
  • First player tells friends about your game - you're creating memorable experiences
  • First time another GM asks for your advice - you're recognized as experienced

Remember Why You Started​

  • Creating fun experiences for friends
  • Telling collaborative stories that surprise everyone
  • Building a community around shared imagination
  • Growing as a person through creative challenges

Your Unique Voice​

Over time, you'll develop your own GM style:

  • Your strengths will become more pronounced
  • Your interests will shape your campaigns
  • Your personality will influence your NPCs and stories
  • Your creativity will find its own expression

There's no "perfect" way to GM, only the way that works best for you and your players. Keep experimenting, keep learning, and most importantly, keep having fun!

Final Advice​

For New GMs​

  • Start simple and build complexity gradually
  • Focus on fun over perfection
  • Ask for help when you need it
  • Celebrate small victories along the way

For Experienced GMs​

  • Share your knowledge with newcomers
  • Stay open to new ideas regardless of your experience level
  • Remember that learning never stops
  • Support the GM community that supported you

For Everyone​

  • The best GM is the one who helps everyone at the table have fun
  • Every session is an opportunity to create something memorable
  • Your players want you to succeed
  • The stories you tell together will be remembered long after the dice stop rolling

Welcome to the lifelong journey of being a Game Master. May your tables be filled with laughter, your dice roll high when it matters, and your stories be the stuff of legend!

🎲 Congratulations!​

You've completed the Getting Started guide! Whether you're a new player ready for your first adventure or a budding GM preparing to run your first session, you now have the foundation to begin your tabletop RPG journey.

Remember: Everyone starts somewhere, and the tabletop RPG community is always ready to welcome new players and GMs. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, ask questions, and most importantly - have fun creating amazing stories together!

Ready to dive deeper? Explore the other sections of this SRD to learn more about character creation, classes, combat, and everything else you need to become a tabletop RPG expert.

The Tactical Challenger​

  • Creates complex combat encounters and puzzles
  • Focuses on strategic gameplay and resource management
  • Enjoys rules mastery and optimization challenges
  • Good for: Players who love tactical thinking

The Improviser​