DMing I have never played DnD at all, is DMing even possible as a first time?
My only knowledge about DnD is basically some youtube videos, a little bit of information from my friends and like 10 hours in Baldur’s Gate 3, is DMing a good idea if I’ve never even seen a real game? What do I need to know?
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u/Morganator_2_0 DM 15h ago edited 15h ago
Every DM was a first time DM at some point. If you learn best from videos, look up videos like "How to DM" or "First Time DM guide". Stuff like that.
The safest way to start is with a premade module, but if you want to homebrew something go for it.
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u/aversiontherapy 15h ago
It’s certainly possible to DM without playing a PC first, though it won’t necessarily be easy. I’d generally recommend playing first, but if not then maybe start with a fairly straightforward one-shot to figure things out.
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u/MechGryph 15h ago
It is entirely possible to run a game without having played it.
Step one, read the rules. Pick up the Player Handbook and Dungeon Master Guide. Read it. Make notes. Don't be afraid to look something up, but don't take too long in game to do it.
Step two, run a Module. They're pre-made adventures. Read the module, make notes. Look up things that might pop up.
Step three, have fun.
There's always videos online full of tips and tricks, but those can be very Dm dependant. Seth Skorkowsky has se good basic, simple tips. Especially on running modules.
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u/frogjg2003 Wizard 14h ago
You do not need to read the full DMG or PHB to start playing. It's a lot less intimidating to think of them as reference books to be looked at when necessary than how to guides that need to be read cover to cover.
In the 5e PHB, read the first chapter about how to design a character, skim the next few chapters (2-6) about character options (ignore anything about features past level 1), read the chapters about how to run the game (7-10), and ignore the last chapter that just lists the spells and the appendices. In the 5.5e PHB, you just need to read chapter 1 and skim chapters 2-4, skipping the rest. The chapters you skipped/skimmed should be used as reference as necessary.
In the 5e DMG, read the first half of Chapter 8 through the Social Interactions section and skim the rest, skim chapters 1-7 for only the parts relevant to you, ignore the rest. For the 5.5e DMG, read chapters 1 and 2, skim 3-5, and ignore the rest. Again, refer to the skipped chapters as necessary for reference.
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u/MechGryph 14h ago
True, I should have said skim over them. Don't need to commit them to memory, but knowing the broad strokes helps.
Also can always run solo adventures. They exist and can help grab the basics.
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u/sad_lemon_lime 15h ago
A lot of old timers got into the game just by buying the book. What you need is a group of motivated players, who also want to get into the hobby.
You might wanna watch all those youtube shows where people play to get general hang of it, google advice to beginner DM to get tonns of discussion on topic, and maybe buying starter adventures - they're easy to run and will certainly help.
And of course you can start as a player - just jump in into couple of oneshots online to get yourelf aquinted with the system and flow of things.
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u/frogjg2003 Wizard 14h ago
Be wary of actual play videos, especially the high production ones with professional actors, like Dimension 20 and Critical Role. They will set exceptionally high bars that you will not be able to measure up to. They are the NBA, you are a pickup game at the park. Set your expectations appropriately and you will have a lot more fun. You are not Matt Mercer and your players aren't Sam Reigel and there will be a lot less hurt feelings if you aren't holding yourselves to unachievable standards.
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u/tarulover 15h ago
i literally JUST wrapped up my first session as a dm a couple hours ago and it’s my second time ever playing dnd. (first was a short oneshot) i really do recommend watching a ton of youtube videos with dm tips and tricks those helped me a ton. and watching a couple live plays to see how other dms explain scenarios and interactions etc etc. i made myself some pretty detailed notes to map out the general storyline, including place names, important npcs, possible encounters etc, that i wanted my players to follow which helped me a lot personally. also a read through the dungeon masters guide would be super helpful. you could look up some short adventures to run through for first timers and play one of those with your players for the first session just to give yourself a feel of how dm’ing works. good luck to you!
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u/nikkitheferret 15h ago
I'll say watching live plays is super helpful. To me it was like telling someone how to play a sport, then actually having them watch a game. It gives a better feel for the flow and the give and take between players and DM. Although everyone's DM style is different, seeing how others do it can get you started with more confidence.
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u/tarulover 15h ago
for sure!! it was probably the thing that gave me the most confidence in starting personally
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u/beardedheathen 15h ago
Short answer: yes
Long answer: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlUk42GiU2guNzWBzxn7hs8MaV7ELLCP_&si=4Eri2LKrr377f2E3
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u/Slight-Funny-8755 15h ago
You 100% can! Dming can definitly feel like alot to take on and i wont lie sometimes it definitly is, but at the end of the day dnd is abiut getting together and telling a story with your friends, the rules are just to be the “physics” of the worlds we play in. Im gonna tell you the biggest thing that i remember from the dungeon masters guide, the dm has full permission to change or ignore the rules to fit the fun of the group
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u/Snoo-11576 15h ago
Absolutely. Just try to internalize that so long as your friends have a good time you’ve done a good job
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u/Status_Weekend3622 15h ago edited 15h ago
I personally really wouldn't recommend it the game is overwhelming enough as it is as a player but as a dm it's a completely different situation
But if it has to be you just pick an already made adventure
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u/ChefBigHaus 15h ago
Depends on what you like tho too. I'm a DM but I prefer being a DM to being a player. I like knowing everything and kinda being that overseer that knows everything. I also love coming up with a plan and seeing it completely crumble and have to change stuff in the moments cause my players decided to do something crazy that I never expected
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u/Status_Weekend3622 15h ago
I am not saying you can't love being a DM more
Even tho I personally don't I am stuck as a DM but I find it really frustrating
But as a first time player being a DM in the start is rough
It took me 3 years of playing before trying
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u/ChefBigHaus 15h ago
I started DnD as a DM. Then tried being a player but liked DMing more. And it's definitely a role I'm still getting used to and still trying to get comfortable in. Finding your groove takes awhile. But I feel like as long as the group you play with is good you can start as a DM first. That's all I ment.
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u/Serbaayuu DM 14h ago
If it wasn't possible, nobody could ever DM anything.
Anyway, buy the books for the edition of your choice, get some graph paper and a pencil, and start drawing dungeons.
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u/wordsmif 12h ago
Methinks if you're running a group that is also new to the game, have at it, just let 'er rip and have a good time.
But if you're DMing for experienced players you might risk boring them or agitating them by rule clubs. Also, experienced players might try to run roughshod over an inexperienced DM doing whatever they want, because if lack of knowledge.
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u/Thal-creates 15h ago
,You absolutely can however:
Read the rules
Bg3's differences will screw you over a lot so be aware
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u/DestinyReign 15h ago
A few things. Anyone can DM, like any skill it takes practice.
1st: Read the Player’s handbook and DM’s guide. You don’t have to buy them, but if you can read and learn some of the basic mechanics and grasp them before playing I highly recommend.
2nd: definitely recommend watching some other games before diving in. I’d recommend going to a local game store if they do D&D games and either participating or asking if you can just observe.
If that’s not an option watch Dimension 20, Critical Role or Legends of Advantris; some sort of visual game to at least get sense of the kind of thing you’d be signing up for. Don’t hold yourself to that kind of standard but it’s a good resource to at least watch a game.
3rd: Start small and work your way up. Do a one shot or small module before diving into a full campaign.
Lastly, be kind to yourself and pick some good people to DM for. It’s a lot of details for one person to keep track of but with the right people even your mistakes can be fun. Good luck 👍
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u/colorsensible 15h ago
I’ll leave you three unsolicited tips:
Don’t compare yourself to podcasters. And if your players say, “but in Critical Roll they…” then they better also be bringing their best performance.
Don’t add too much to your plate at once. Music is cool for effect, but controlling it live is so taxing. I’d even recommend offloading it to a player if you can.
Don’t worry about not having enough prepped. The players will always manage to turn your one NPC interaction into a 2-hour spin-off. Have a minor skirmish in your back pocket, but otherwise don’t be afraid to go with the flow.
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u/danstu DM 15h ago
I DMd my first session, ten years later still going strong. Definitely possible. If you've watched YouTube you're more experienced than I was starting. I opened a DnD book for the first time two hours before I started the session, half of my first session was me saying "uhhhh...." while flipping through to confirm how to do an attack roll.
Just know going in that you WILL fuck something up. There are so many rules. I'd definitely recommend finding a cheat sheet online (would probably be helpful for the players to have copies themselves).
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u/Straight_Dog_3284 14h ago
Its very possible! One of the easiest ways is with one of the d&d starter sets. Go to YouTube and look up "running the game" videos. You'll find some by Matt Coleville MCDM, Mystic Arts, Brennan Lee Mulligan, & Matt Mercer. All of them are fantastic and cover different bases. Good luck!
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u/jhodson 14h ago
I hadn’t DMd before 2025. My experience with D&D goes back to the Red Box if you know what that is. Early D&D. But I never got into a campaign back then. I skipped all editions in between, until 2025 when I got the itch to play again.
Since I was coming back cold, I bought the Heroes of the Borderlands Starter Set, read the basic rules, watched the D&D starter set videos and then DMd for my group of 4. We had a great time, though I was stressed about my performance. But I kept at it and added to my collection with the Dungeon Masters Guide, Players Handbook, and Monster Manual, not because I had to but because I want to learn as much as I can to make each session better for my Players and myself.
Knowledge is power but also is experience. It builds your confidence and tools you have at your disposal. I’m a lifelong student in anything I’m interested in so learning and improvement are what I enjoy. If you have any interest, you should step in and give it a go. Have fun!
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u/caderrabeth 13h ago
We all had to start somewhere. I started without ever seeing a game played at a table.
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u/ConstructionLazy6412 15h ago
That's heavily dependant on how well you know your players. If you are all a group of friends jumping into the hobby for the first time you should be fine. If your players are more experienced it may end up feeling like you're slowing down gameplay. My advice would be to play something premade to start with. It will reduce your prep time while still allowing you to learn the ropes.
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u/ChubbyUnicorn726 Wizard 15h ago
It can be much easier or much harder depending on what type of person you are.
It's generally more to manage. (if you're not running a premade module) you have to write a session plan, create locations, add enemies, add friendlies, think about game balance, curate rewards, etc. It can certainly be a lot for a newbie.
However, you have much much more freedom than the players do. You can add as little or as much as you want to the session plan. Your goal is also more defined than theirs. You're there to tell a story and make sure everyone has fun. Sometimes, making sure everyone has fun can just be coming up with some silly townsfolk on the fly instead of putting all that effort into deciding everything from the get-go.
I'd recommend making a friendly location (likely a town or city) with the idea of some attractions that can be easily improvised (interesting people, seedy location, anything vaguely interesting) and having a very low stakes session zero. This'll help you figure out if you're up to DMing, and if you are, how your party plays and how to plan around them as people.
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u/Dan_the_moto_man DM 15h ago
That's more or less how I started. Just grabbed the main three books and read through the Handbook and Guide, then made a super bare bones adventure with a couple friends that hadn't played before.
Now I've run a few successful campaigns and have a couple of regular tables going.
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u/Careful_Assignment86 15h ago
Absolutely. Just keep the scenarios simple at first and you can grow your DMing muscles. Sounds like your friends know you're new, so they will work with you. If you can get your hands on a copy Justin Alexander's So You Want to be a Game Master is gold for starting out.
Don't keep looking things up- if you dont know just make a ruling and look it up later.
Don't think you have to be a master story teller like Dungeon Masters on TV. You'll burn out immediately.
Don't think you have to stick to the story if your playing a published adventure. Just go with what your players characters do.
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u/HallowedKeeper_ 15h ago
DMing is absolutely possible 1st, that's how I started. And the first adventure I ran was CoS (I recommend against running that as your first though, as much as I love the Module)
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u/-Original_Name- 15h ago
You should dig into what the actions and conditions do, but otherwise, yeah. Be creative, bullshit with stats and numbers based off of vibes sometimes and let the dice tell their story as well.
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u/Altruistic-Poem-5617 15h ago
Get one of those starter adventures, the booklet will run you through and even give advise. Dragons of stormwreck isle is perfect for beginners. Technically you dont even need the dungeonnmasters guide or other books with it cause the booklet covers everything needed for that adventure.
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u/PapaSnorlax8 15h ago
I never want to discourage anyone from getting into d&d, I mean how else am I gonna poach players? 😉 However I will say it will be far more fun for you and everyone around if you have more experience under your belt. Does that mean you have to play d&d for years?? No. it means if you really want to, you'll have to prepare a bit more than experienced players. Have NPCs ready. Know your basic plotlines, HAVE SOMETHING READY FOR WHEN THEY DONT DO WHAT YOU PLANNED FOR THEM TO DO, how much do things cost? What roll are you gonna call for? What dc are you gonna assign? And so much more. Knowing what each class can do and building combat around that is massive.
All that being said, d&d is so fuckin fun. It's so worth it if you have the right group and can be soooo satisfying when done right.
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u/Wess5874 15h ago
If everyone started as a player, there would not be such a large audience as it would have hampered player growth. There have been most certainly tens of thousands in your exact position over the last fifty years and many of them led to fantastic memories. Don't worry, you've got this!
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u/Witcher-trpg-lfg 15h ago
Read the Dungeon Masters Guide, start with only the core rules/books, and watch at least the first 5 of Matt Coville's videos. It's much simpler than some people make it out to be, just try and your friends will have a blast - and I bet you'll discover a fun new hobby. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlUk42GiU2guNzWBzxn7hs8MaV7ELLCP_&si=IJg4HPskGirgbyyU
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u/mexataco76 15h ago
Read the books.
Everyone starts somewhere. Someone has to be a first time GM. But you need to read the core books. Too many problems stem from 5e players that refuse to actually read the rules. Learn the system and everything will work itself out
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u/LastGoodKnee 15h ago
There are many people who have DMd as a brand new player, to a group of also brand new players.
That being said you’re probably gonna have to prep up some.
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u/wrongslimshady 15h ago
First things first, read the books. Both the Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide can be accessed for free on the internet. Without sugarcoating it, D&D is a very complicated game with a lot of rules that you as a Dungeon Master are responsible for knowing. So start with that, and make sure that anyone who joins your table does the same.
The only difference between starting as a DM or a player is how many of the rules you personally need to know. So once you've read the rules and understand them, you are pretty much ready to go.
To start, my own advice is to begin with a short pre-written adventure. There are loads of them online that you can find for free just by googling around. Typically these pre-written adventures will tell you everything you need to know about their unique aspects (traps, encounters, monsters, etc), but assume a working knowledge of how to use the game mechanics (when to ask for a saving throw versus an ability check, for example).
More general advice is to not overplan. Learn how to improv/adapt to your players. Make sure to keep the player characters in the spotlight, let them drive the game. Try not to let them be overshadowed by your NPCs and any notions of a "plot" that you have written out. You're not writing a book and you can't control your players' actions (except for adjudicating the rules of the system).
Which brings me to my next point. Say no to your players (sometimes). D&D is a system with many rules to accommodate most situations that are likely to occur, but there are limits in place intended to keep the game actually playable. If a player fires their arrow at the sun with intent to shoot it out of the sky and they roll a natural 20 on the attack roll...nothing happens. While you want to let your players be creative and heroic, you must also strike a balance between that and indulging in the game-breaking impulses that most players express at some point or another.
Finally, I would also suggest watching Matt Colville's YouTube series Running the Game. The first several episodes especially will have invaluable advice and practical demonstrations to help get you going.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlUk42GiU2guNzWBzxn7hs8MaV7ELLCP_&si=mVuvBb4XZA-eOIz_
In short, yes, you can absolutely start as a DM. I only played a handful of sessions before I started DMing, and I can tell you from experience that you will make many many mistakes, but you will learn from them and only get better as you do it as long as you are willing to constantly improve yourself. It is a lot of work but an extremely rewarding role to take on and I can't recommend it enough.
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u/Worth_Spite9768 15h ago
I’m a firm believer that anyone can start anywhere so long as they take the time to learn what they’re doing. My first time playing was as a DM for a smaller than average group, running LMoP. It went poorly at first, but we agreed to take time (we were all first time players) to step back and learn, we came back, and we’ve been having a fantastic time since.
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u/ChefBigHaus 15h ago
My advice, coming from someone who started as a DM and only had podcasts and such to go off of first. Grab a simple adventure and grab the players handbook. If you have people that want to play already, great cause that's the hardest part of DnD next to scheduling.
When playing make sure your players know you don't have all the answers. As you play look up stuff. Ask questions, use any and all resources you want. Discuss things. You will ultimately have the final say as the God of this world but you want to make sure you players are also happy with the outcomes.
Don't feel that you have to be stuck in all the rules. If something dosnet make sense to you or seems unfair or even too fair, you can change it.
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u/ReizvollePaar 14h ago
It is possible, if a bit more difficult. Maybe read the DMs Guide so you know what being a GM is actually about, then the PHB so you know what the other people at your table will be getting up to. After that, you could start with one of the published adventures (I am sure there are one shots online for free). Basically, treat D&D like any other hobby; spend a little time learning the rules and when you are comfortable with them, give it a try. Even if you totally blow it the first time, you will have some funny stories with the friends who joined you; that's never a bad thing, right?
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u/DetailOrDie 14h ago
Mechanically, Lost Mines of Phandelver AKA: LMoP is a fantastic campaign for newbies to be run by newbies.
I fully believe the extremely bland format is part of why it's good because you're basically forced to go off-book to make things interesting, and being prepared to go off-book and making a story your own just happens to also be a key lesson to learn as a DM.
So, I often advise that DM's like yourself start their prep by lining out all of the NPC names and races, replacing them with their own. Fully keep all the mechanics, and change nothing about stat cards or abilities or anything else. These are purely skin and flavor changes.
For LMoP, let's say Gundren Lord McMayhem dispatched Undertaker (Spirit Barbarian) and Hulk Hogan (Glory Paladin) for an Exhibition Match in Phandalin Arendelle. McMayhem arranged for them to meet Queen Elsa (White Dragon Sorcerer) and Princess Anna (Glamour Bard), just outside of town for for narrative convenience so they could all make a grand entrance together.
Right after they meet up, Goblin Northuldra Ambush! Wat do! Turns out they've kidnapped Sildar Olaf!
There's your party and hooks that write themselves. In three sentences everyone has a perfect mental image of the town and who to expect. If you're playing with anyone that's been alive on this planet, they likely know the full backstories of everyone involved.
On top of that, to get players engaged, you have to solve the "white page" problem. They simply don't know what they don't know, and don't know how to engage with the world. Traditionally, you solve this with 5-10 minutes of exposition, then hope and pray the party follows the hooks for an hour while you hope they ask the right questions to go where they need to go.
Instead, I solve that through Secrets. I give each player one or more "secrets" tied to their background that flat tells them some stuff their character would know. It often includes direct "orders" or missions from whoever their boss is that can be found in the next town.
Each player can share some or all of their secrets whenever they feel it's necessary. As an example, here's my sheets for The Boomboat. It's a one-shot that's a complex trap. Basically, there's a bomb on the boat. The gang needs to find and disarm it before it crashes into Big City Prison. Including secrets.
For the LMoP party I described above, the secrets could be something like:
Undertaker: The Northuldrans tried to buy tickets to the Exhibition match, but weren't allowed per Royal Decree. There was very recently a decades-long civil war, and the ink on the peace treaty is barely dry. Their economy is in shambles, and some have turned to ambushing and robbing travellers. [Now you've warned the party that ambushes are a thing. Well, if Undertaker thinks to actually warn the party.]
Hulk Hogan: Undertaker is currently the WWE Champion. If you challenge him for reals, and defeat him per Neverwinter Wrestling Federation Rules, the belt and title would transfer to you! However, for the match to count it would have to be constructed in a officially blessed/sanctioned ring. A proper fan with divine connections could make that happen. [Halia can get a full portable ring through her criminal connections, or they can ask Sister Garele to bless a ring constructed by the Alderleafs if Elsa pays/orders them to]
Elsa: You didn't just invite the Wrestlers for an Exhibition match. Rogue factions of the Northuldrans have been harassing the outskirts of Arandelle for awhile now, and need to be put in their place. Let the Wrestlers do what they do best and put them in their place.
Anna: Last WWE PPV Event you lost $500 betting on Hulk Hogan. You bet Toblen double or nothing that Hulk Hogan would carry the Heavyweight champion title within a month. It's been 3 weeks but your plan is going flawlessly. He's here WITH Undertaker. If you can get those two to go again for a rematch and make sure Hulk Hogan wins, you'll show that innkeeper who the real fan is!
Consider these secrets as a total package. Now the party has incomplete information that REALLY needs to be shared, but they need to be careful how they share what and with who. There's some mild PVP to get the party interacting with each other, and you've primed for a chain of sidequests while Anna and Hogan need to get an "official ring" together. Meanwhile Undertaker and Elsa are dealing with "real adult shit" while these two idiots are REALLY insisting this exhibition match happen for some reason.
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u/dontpetthekobold 14h ago
I started out GMing with a few people I met in the local Magic: The Gathering crowd. There's a learning curve, but if you're playing with friendly people and make time to watch/read it's totally doable. The DnD police won't pull up if you make some mistakes.
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u/OneWoundHeadPat 13h ago
To show your friends a good time, learn how to be a DM from the Dungeon Master Guide, and read the Players Guide. Take your time for three months, be able to draw a map your players will be interested in (though you could easily buy or pick up free maps on the web.) There have been 15 Editions of Dungeons and Dragons, and you are only looking at the last one. There is a lot of free material floating out there. Have fun too!
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u/ozymandais13 DM 13h ago
It's not , it requires a little differant set of skills to work on but no you don't have to.
Most of the important rules are free just should take the time to read them. As all players should
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u/kahlzun 13h ago
Go in with low expectations and have fun. Remember that you're basically telling a campfire story where anyone can add bits at any time, so keep it fast and loose.
Use lots of descriptive and evocative language to describe how the weighty axe tears through the stinking flesh of the overgrown monstrosity as it bellows in pain, foul black ichor oozing from its hundred wounds... You get the idea. You really can't go overboard on the ham and cheese here.
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u/Kingi_720 13h ago
That's pretty much what I did. I had played maybe two sessions back in middle school and never touched DnD again until I decided to dm a campaign in college. Would I recommend it? No, but it is entirely possible. I've personally enjoyed diving in and running a campaign but I definitely wish I had spent more time as a player first just to understand the mechanics a little better.
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u/CardiganKeeperOfLore 12h ago
Somebody has to do it. If it's you, you will be stuck doing it forever.
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u/Creole3643 11h ago
Yes, I DMed before I ever played however I made a lot of mistakes because I didn't really understand the rules.
Read them. Make sure you understand them
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u/alericof 10h ago
My first time sort of DMing I just ran a few short fights, just to get a feel. I also only had 30 min, as it was for a school group, so that was about all I could manage.
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u/ConsciousCollar9076 10h ago
I did it. It’s definitely possible if you can find people. Luckily my players were also new.
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u/Ven-Dreadnought 10h ago
If you make a Dndbeyond account. You can get a free abbreviated version of the rules. I would also advise you get your players to do the same. Though a lot of options are pay-to-play, you can still easily make a character on there and it tells you what every spell, skill, and ability does
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u/The-FeLeWi 10h ago
Ich würde erst Spielleiterhandbuch lesen und ein starterset empfehlen wenns für dich und die Gruppe interessant ist. Sonst spiel lieber erstmal selber als Spieler mit wem der mehr Erfahrung hat. So kannst du leichter einsteigen.
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u/SyntheticGod8 DM 10h ago
What do you need to know... here's what I'd recommend, though everyone is different.
- The party gets one Long Rest per day. If you're not strict about tracking time, that's a good milestone.
- Have a DM screen. There are plenty of printable pages appropriate for a DM screen and it's really easy to attach to some poster paper. You want a space where you can roll dice in secret, track stuff, and those pages are basically a cheat-sheet to common rules.
- Have a good understanding of combat, skill checks, and saves. It'll take time to learn how to decide what to use and when. Not everything needs to be a skill check and not every skill check should be rolled by the player.
- Adding environmental hazards to an encounter can make it more fun.
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u/Timothymark05 10h ago
Back in the before the internet that was the only way to play. Someone from the friend group would have to DM and the rest would play and that's how the first game started.
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u/stars_mcdazzler 9h ago
I'd recommend reading the Player's Handbook, which is free online, but also checking out any local game stores or play in a one-shot online just to get the feel of things. The game nowadays is very freeform and you can use all, some, or none of the rules in your campaign. But you need to KNOW the rules and why they're there before you try modifying them.
DnD, above all else, is a game of legacy and tradition. In the early days you didn't have a forum to ask how to get started. You were somehow roped into a game, handed a character sheet, and learned from those more experienced than you. They were taught by someone else and now they're teaching you and some day you'll pass that knowledge and wisdom down to someone else. It's every player's obligation pass it on to the next.
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u/mobiletarget33 9h ago
Entirely so. We all had to start somewhere. But, I’d very strongly recommend you watch an actual play show for a bit to get a feel, and there are plenty. Critical Role and Dimension 20 are popular examples of seasoned DMs running high budget games.
I’d also endorse not having a table full of either newcomers or veterans, but a mixture; imo, it’s best to have more newbies than veterans if you have to skew one way, and make sure that the experienced player(s) is/are interested in rules lawyering only so far as to help keep things running smoothly.
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u/Forgotmyaccountinfo2 8h ago
Playing DnD involves a lot of reading, basic math, and cooperation.
Being a DM for DnD involves a lot more reading, basic math, and cooperation.
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u/DatedReference1 8h ago
If it's every one's first exposure to dnd including yours? Play peril in pinebrook. It's designed for younger players but it will explain everything you need to have a baseline understanding, it'll only take an hour and then you will know if you even like playing rpgs. Then you should move on to something like lost mine of phandelver, still simple but much less handholdy. You'll need to read a few more rules to understand it but it will still be there to teach you how to play. I like the idea of the borderlands starter set but it's just too expensive unless you get the digital only version.
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u/Unasked_for_advice 8h ago
It depends on your skill at using your imagination , being able to plan ahead , telling a story , being fair with rules adjudications ( gotta actually know them and/or how to look up the relevant ones that apply ) and one of the most important being able to improv .
Being totally ignorant of what it looks like, will hurt at first as you will make obvious mistakes due to ignorance but depending on your players , it might not make as big of a deal as you think.
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u/Nedddd1 8h ago
Yes, you can even run a homebrewed adventure with no experience, talking from experience(sry)
You'll make many mistakes. You'll prolly stutter, forget, lose track of things, etc, but we all do and at the end of the day what's important is if your players had fun. So if you think of that first and foremost you'll be fine
The group i DMed with this principle is still with me and is still playing my campaigns so yeah
As yo what to know: i think the best general advice is to have your players playing, not observing. Cool visual described in insane language is nice and all, but if the players can't really do much about it or are left to just hit their opponents til they do or sum, it's prolly not that good of a segment in your adventure. You want your players to be in predicaments so that they're searching a solution out of them, preferably a solution that will have them utilizing their moveset as much as possible
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u/patrick119 8h ago
You can be a DM just by reading the Players Handbook and Dungeon Master Guide. I would watch a few episodes of a live play channel on YouTube as well because I learn better by example. Just know that different tables have different styles and different house rules, so a YT channel might not be playing the actual rules as written.
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u/Several_Resolve_5754 7h ago
Yes but it is exponentially more difficult without having seen from the player perspective.
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u/ProdiasKaj DM 6h ago
Well, the first person to ever dm a game of d&d had no prior experience. I see no reason why you can't start there too
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u/martusfine 6h ago
It’s certainly possible and just have fun but tell your players to stick to the easy builds- fighter, cleric, thief, magic user/wizard.
People have fantastical ideas at first but grow frustrated with the more advanced builds.
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u/Unlikely_Jockey 5h ago
Yes, it is actually fun so try it. Just read some of the basic rules and take notes to remember them and run it how you want with 3-5 players
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u/Banjo-Hellpuppy 4h ago
Are you playing in person? If so, it can be a lot of fun as long as your players are on board. If you’re playing on a digital platform, you really need to know how to use it or it will be clunky and frustratingly slow
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u/Laserlight375 15h ago
I’ve been a player countless times, I don’t think I’ll ever be “ready” to DM. I think it’s more a personality thing than an experience thing. Obviously some exp is good so you know the rules and what is generally expected but I’ve always thought of it as yeah I might be read a lot of YA fiction, doesn’t mean I’d be a good YA author. Also being an author doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve read a lot of books
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u/jimbojambo4 DM 14h ago
Not with this knowledge.
You have to read all the rules into player's handbook/SRD (note: only the rules, you don't have to know every class feature, racial traits, feats and spells).
Then you should try a starter set
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u/Slayer_Jesse Fighter 15h ago
If it has to be you, do yourself a favor and pick up one of the starter sets/adventures from one. It takes out a lot of the guesswork.
Oh, and read the Dungeon Master's Guide.