Comments on: Before your first game, know your party, and know them well.

By: by_the_sword

by_the_sword — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:14:34 +0000

I would have loved it if my players had generated their character in advance, sadly only two of the five did (Halfling Rogue and Dwarf Paladin), the others (Tiefling Warlock, Half-orc Barbarian and Elf Ranger) did not and I had to really wing-it to come up with some hooks that they would like. Luckily I have experience with that sort of thing. The next session will be much easier on me because I know more about each Player Character. I am going to do some stuff with their backgrounds (which involves a traveling circus).

I am also going to use some of the excellent advice presented in the DM’s Guide 2 and let the players come up with stuff during the game. Since I am not using a set D&D world like i usually do, but rather the points-of-light setting, I am anxiously waiting to see what my players come up with.

By: cwfilson

cwfilson — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:36:12 +0000

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By: Rook

Rook — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:37:54 +0000

Great post! Not just for newbie DMs, but you present ideas that even more experienced DMs need to be reminded of from time to time.

By: bluremi72

bluremi72 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:09:59 +0000

What I found out that works is using a monster stat card for each PC. I just removed the attack and equipment section. What I’m left with is the important stuff a DM needs to know. Throw in the NPC suggestions from Mike Mearls latest skill challenge article (goals, key traits, motivation, weaknesses, fears)and you’ve got yourself a nice little cheat sheet.

By: Lestew

Lestew — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:51:29 +0000

Thanks for this post. It is a great reminder of what the game can be. D&D is about so much more than a paladin beating someone to a pulp. Thanks again!

By: Totte Alm

Totte Alm — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:47:30 +0000

I really agree to what you write here, I’ve always tried to focus on letting each PC have at least one challenge that are for them. This is one strength in 4E, the “roles” are back.

I’ve try to encourage my players to write down some kind of background and playing style so we both have some idea. The rogue example you give is an excellent example, the goes for the arcana folks. It this a fire lover who want nothing more that to learn fireball and BBQ minions, or is he the more subtle kind of “magic user”, that like to use ghost sound, like when the PC Wizard in one of my parties used ghost sound on a fish and tried to use it to convince the Paladin that his god will let him take all that loot from the dead merchant from the ambush the stepped into.

Different playing styles requires different adventures, that is very true, and sometimes playing styles do clash with your plot or adventure, so this advice is really good.

By: greywulf

greywulf — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:21:33 +0000

It’s all too easy for a game to derail because a GM wants one style of play and the players expect another. Role-playing is collaborative first and foremost, but that sometimes gets forgotten.

Excellent post.

By: Daniel M. Perez

Daniel M. Perez — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 06:24:29 +0000

Fear the Boot calls this the Group Template. In RPG theory this is known as the establishment of the social contract. Either way, it’s a great idea and can save a game even before it starts.