Chris Armstrong 🎲🎲I am still a pretty terrible DM, and I feel like the experience of my current campaign is not improving. I think I'm going to have to shake things up and probably cancel this campaign. Maybe run some one-shots in different systems, maybe with different groups.
Hardcore Narrativist@radix what makes you think that? And, what systems are you looking into, if any?
@hardcorenarrativist I don't have the quick-witted creativity talent for making interesting things happen, and I also still can't seem to make interesting and challenging combat encounters for my players. So basically, every part of my games is bad :P
I'd really like to try a more story-oriented game system, but that would probably just highlight how bad I am at the first part. The collaborative games sound cool, but my players are very much not RPers so I'm not sure how well that would work.
Emmett@radix @hardcorenarrativist As far as scenario creation, I just go with the big list of RPG plots when I'm stuck.
@Emmett @hardcorenarrativist That's a good list. My trouble is mostly with minute-to-minute creativity more than overarching plot stuff. I think I have a pretty interesting scenario set up in my world, with lots of personal relationships set up with PCs, but I just can't execute it interestingly.
The problem is real-time fleshing out of the world, and interacting with NPCs. I am basically a dear in the headlights when I'm DMing. And I've been doing this for a couple years now...
@radix @hardcorenarrativist Have you tried being yourself when portraying NPCs? Simply asking "What would I do in this situation?" just like this was your character?
Once you get used to that, make little tweaks like funny voices. Maybe you just need practice getting into character.
For me, I ask myself questions when I feel I'm stuck. I also take time if I need it. Sometimes I fake looking up a stat if I need to stall. It's really ok to think things over for a few moments.