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I'm rereading the D&D 4e dmg this morning, and I cannot emphasize enough how WotC could literally reprint the entire two first sections (1. How to Be a DM, and 2. Running the Game) and it would answer 95% of the questions brand new DMs are googling and asking on reddit.
It's 34 pages, has very little 4th edition specific stuff in it, and fills in some much-needed gaps in the DMG, and other published materials.
A few really key nuggets in there:
A few really key nuggets in there:
1. The 5e DMG gives an overview on player types and how to engage them. 4e adds a few "problem areas" for each player.
Examples: the "actor" taking all the stage, or justifying wangrod behavior as "what my character would do". Or, the "instigator" attacking the other PCs.
Examples: the "actor" taking all the stage, or justifying wangrod behavior as "what my character would do". Or, the "instigator" attacking the other PCs.
I absolutely love how both edition's DMGs give you ways to engage each player type, but the way 4th highlights potential pitfalls you'll get at the table is really really great.
2. 4e ALSO has a 2 page spread on DM styles! This could probably use a bit of an update and some expansion, but it's really key for DMs to understand that WE ALSO have a style of play, with strengths to highlight and engage, but also out own pitfalls to watch out for.
3. Prepping your game.
My word, y'all. This is hidden treasure in WotC's own books that needs to be republished in their own books.
I cannot over-emphasize the importance of this.
It gives DMs suggestions on what to prep, based off your prep time, thereby prioritizing it!
My word, y'all. This is hidden treasure in WotC's own books that needs to be republished in their own books.
I cannot over-emphasize the importance of this.
It gives DMs suggestions on what to prep, based off your prep time, thereby prioritizing it!
It ALSO gives a really quick overview on how to prep a module for play. I think that part needs an update and an expansion as well, because I can tell you that all of us new DMs have no idea how the heck to DM a hardcover, and most of them don't really tell you either.
But the entire page on prepping for your session is honestly just amazing. It helps new DM prioritize, and focus in on what they need to do NOW.
And even has a "NO PREP TIME" blurb, because they know that most DMs, old and new, are doing the 11th hour OH SHIT thing.
And even has a "NO PREP TIME" blurb, because they know that most DMs, old and new, are doing the 11th hour OH SHIT thing.
This isn't really in the 5th edition DMG, and needs to be published.
Moving on.
Moving on.
4. Narration. Okay. [deep breath]
This is the single most thing that is absent from the DMG. There are bits of it scattered here and there, but THIS is the kind of thing that a some would gradually learn passively, just from playing in a lot of campaigns with different DMs.
This is the single most thing that is absent from the DMG. There are bits of it scattered here and there, but THIS is the kind of thing that a some would gradually learn passively, just from playing in a lot of campaigns with different DMs.
This is the thing that I, and so many other new DMs, don't know how to do. This is the "okay I rolled on these wilderness charts but, like, NOW WHAT?! How do I actually DM this?!"
Think about it this way. Say that you have a recipe for making pie.
Think about it this way. Say that you have a recipe for making pie.
It lists the ingredients, which you go to gather. You then turn the page to read the instructions. The "how to take these ingredients and turn them into a pie".
There's none.
Go make pie.
There's none.
Go make pie.
Lets say that every single month, you sat at the kitchen table with your parent and watched them bake the pie.
You watched them sift flour, cut the lard, gently fold the liquid into it. The process of rolling it out. Adding the cinnamon apples, top crust put on, & into the oven.
You watched them sift flour, cut the lard, gently fold the liquid into it. The process of rolling it out. Adding the cinnamon apples, top crust put on, & into the oven.
You might not be able to do it perfectly the first time, but if you have the ingredient list, you can probably get a decent pie the first go, and after a few more goes, you've got it down!
But If you have never made pie before or watched it being made, and all you have is the ingredients list?
You're all NOPE, THERE'S NO WAY.
Great, I know what I need, but now what? HOW do I make this?
You following my drift? This 4e section on narration is the instructions.
You're all NOPE, THERE'S NO WAY.
Great, I know what I need, but now what? HOW do I make this?
You following my drift? This 4e section on narration is the instructions.
It's not in the 5th edition DMG. There are bit's here and there, and if you sit down with in the recipe book and read the whole thing, you might find a section on cutting in lard.
I MEAN a travel-montage approach (5e DMG, pg 106).
I MEAN a travel-montage approach (5e DMG, pg 106).
The 4e section on narration has the following sub-headings:
Lead by Example
Brevity
Atmosphere
Cinematic Style
Enticement
Realism
Roleplay
Suspense.
It then moves into pacing, dispensing information, improving, ending, and troubleshooting.
Lead by Example
Brevity
Atmosphere
Cinematic Style
Enticement
Realism
Roleplay
Suspense.
It then moves into pacing, dispensing information, improving, ending, and troubleshooting.
THAT my friends, is the equivalent of pie-makings:
using different types of flours (pastry, pie, all-purpose, etc)
cutting in lard (temperature, cutting tool, size of lard pieces)
rolling (how to avoid stretching which will shrink your crust)
pie fillings (baked, unbaked)
using different types of flours (pastry, pie, all-purpose, etc)
cutting in lard (temperature, cutting tool, size of lard pieces)
rolling (how to avoid stretching which will shrink your crust)
pie fillings (baked, unbaked)
basic mixing instructions
temperature of oven
and more.
You picking up what I'm putting down here? (Sorry that it's not actually pie... I have it on the brain because my Canadian self is seeing all your thanksgiving discussions.)
temperature of oven
and more.
You picking up what I'm putting down here? (Sorry that it's not actually pie... I have it on the brain because my Canadian self is seeing all your thanksgiving discussions.)
This entire 33 page section is critical for new DMs, but nothing is more important than this "Running the Game" section.
It is absolute gold, hidden treasure and WotC should literally republish those pages (with a little editing, polish).
Bet it would outsell the "updated ToD".
It is absolute gold, hidden treasure and WotC should literally republish those pages (with a little editing, polish).
Bet it would outsell the "updated ToD".
Past. Just sliding back here to tell you all that the 4e DMG and DMG2 PDFs can totally be purchased on the @dms_guild.
You're welcome!
You're welcome!
