Path of the Game Master
The goal of this pathway is to assist game masters of all levels. For novices, it will help you build out your first GM experience. For intermediate game masters, it will help you with structuring your game planning and push you to try different ways of running your games. And for more experienced GMs, we hope it will provide you with an opportunity to rethink and reinspire the way you run your games and see if even after potentially decades of experience, you can inject new ideas into your sessions for your players.
Path of the Game Master 1: Setting Your Campaign's Foundation
This project will introduce the "why" of your GM goals.
Purpose: The purpose of this speech is to give direction for your GM Path and define what it is you are trying to accomplish as a GM and what your motivations are.
Overview: You want to get started on the path to being a GM. Or maybe you want to be a better GM. What is it that you enjoy as a game master? What would you like to improve upon? What makes you excited about being a GM? Share with the guild what motivates you and what your goals are as a GM.
This project includes:
- Novice – What inspires you to be a GM? What type of GM are you hoping to be?
- Intermediate – What has your experience been as a GM? What are you hoping to focus on improving?
- Advanced – Is there a new module you would like to try out? What new GM style are you hoping to incorporate in future games?
Introducing the world that you will be sharing with your players
Purpose: This project should help you imagine and build the world you wish to share with your players.
Overview: Whether you are interested in picking up pre-made materials or creating homebrew, introduce the world your campaign will be taking place in. What module is it and what sets it apart? What is the breakdown of the population? Where will the characters start? What is the goal? Share what world you are creating with the guild and an overview of how you’re going to introduce their characters to the world.
This project includes:
- Setting the scene for where your campaign will take place. What sets it apart from other worlds/environments. How will you drop your players into this setting? By taking on this project you should be able to start creating structure for your players’ environment and how they will interact with it.
Plan your Session 0. Share your plans with the guild.
Purpose: Running games requires structure and establishing of expectations. Are you asking the right questions and are you prepared for what your players want to do?
Overview: Go over your agenda for your players’ Session Zero. What are some custom mechanics you’d like to introduce? How do the players connect with each other? Are players building their characters during this session? How comfortable is the group with PvP? Are there concerns with themes that might not work for the group? Review with the guild and during your evaluation, you can update those plans and present the agenda second time before meeting with your players.
This project includes:
- Planning a TTRPG game. Establishing the culture and environment of the game. Creating structure for the players. Creating opportunity for feedback for your players. Knowing how to lead and coordinate your games all starts with establishing expectations.
Create a plan for your first game.
Purpose: To think about and create structure, themes, encounters, etc. for your first game of a campaign.
Overview: Write a speech explaining what your players will experience once they dive into their first adventure. What characters will they be introduced to? How will you create a story hook? What will the combat encounters look like? How many sessions and levels will the players go through for their first arc? Maybe act out a few encounters and a round of combat. Really build the energy for when you are going behind the GM screen!
This project includes:
- Creating encounters. Imagining NPC personalities. Structuring a game for players.
Path of the Game Master 2: Developing your GM Style
Comparing your leadership style to your GM style.
Purpose: Understanding your inherent GM nature and how this knowledge can help you be a better GM.
Overview: Take the leadership quiz. What type of leader are you? How does that translate to your GM style? Now that you have begun planning out your own sessions, what game elements do you enjoy the most? How does your leadership style coalesce with your preferred GM activities? Lastly, how do you think your experience planning your game translates to things outside of TTRPG?
This project includes:
- Discovering your leadership style and translating it into how you GM. Identifying the benefits and challenges of your style. How does GMing help you beyond the table top?
A post-session zero reflection.
Purpose: Understanding your players preferences and how it impacts your plan.
Overview: Run your Session Zero with your players using what you learned in level one. Ask for feedback at the end of the session. See what they enjoyed and didn’t enjoy. Provide a summary of how your Session Zero went, what the players enjoyed, and how they thought you could improve the game. How do you feel about their response? How does this change what your game is going to look like?
This project includes:
- Self-reflection. Understanding that your goals may not align perfectly with what the players are interested in. Identifying ways to be flexible. Planning out your changes.
Growth through experience. Playing from a GM's perspective.
Purpose: Learning how to look at your player experience through a GM lens.
Overview: Play in another GM’s game. Or co-GM a game with another GM. Take notes on what you liked and disliked about the experience. Set up time to discuss their game with them and get feedback. Walk through an encounter or two with them from your planned game. Share a speech about what you noticed while playing now that you’re working towards becoming a GM. What will you be stealing for your own GM style? How did playing/collaborating in someone else’s game change what you were planning? What feedback did they provide you on your original ideas?
This project includes:
- Implementing new ideas from other people. Changing your perspective when playing in a game.