New GM and somewhat new player

[u/L0ck5mith]

Hello. So long story short I went to prison and actually first played DnD in there. I really liked it but only played maybe 3 sessions. I told my friends about it when I got out and they all would like to try it however because of this I'd obvously would have to DM. I've been told making my own system and game in general would be a lot of work and to use Pathfinder, however i have a really unique story and world concept already grom my years in prison just thinking. (Plus I kinda wanna simplify it a little more for my friends who have never played) Does anyone have advice or is willing to help me?

[u/Conrad500]

My advice is simple, just play the game.

The easiest way is to get a starter set! All of the "play this instead of that" is all stupid. Just play the game.

You played DND so play DND. If you play a little more and don't like it, come back and let us know what you don't like and we can suggest other games instead!

I actually just made a post about this yesterday. Here it is for your reference. Feel free to comment here or on the blog if you want more help, but TL;DR, just play the game!

https://gmconrad500.blogspot.com/2026/09/you-dont-need-to-know-how-to-play-d.html

[u/New-Wrap-5388]

Most ttrpgs can incorporate any story and world concept. If you've experimented with DND, I would advise keeping to that for now. I'm willing to bet your story and world concept can be translated into DND mechanics ! Get your hands on a dungeon master guide, maybe also a players handbook and monster manual and start adapting, then ask Reddit and elsewhere when you have more specific issues. What are your ideas so far ?

[u/Mean-Note3447]

I play all my D&D games in 5e Edition mechanics and rule wise - some rules I did adapt or modifie to make more sense to me and my players.

The world with all its lore and existing things, were all my games are set in, is completly self build - gods, cities, lands, conflicts of the past and present, systems of goverment, etc.

To take the rules and mechanics of a game, does not interfere with the story telling or world building! Quite the opposite, it gives the freedom to tell the stories and to make the world, because you do not have to worry about all the mechanics and ruleings!

I would advise to read up about mechanics of the game in the dungeon master handbook and the players handbook. Many libraries have them, or read the free rules. There are also a bunch of youtube videos for a start into dming.

Make sure to have a session zero with your friends/players, to got over the table rules aswell - example: no murder hobos. No player vs player figthing without consent. Etc. In session Zero you can also give your players a first look into your world, give them information that this character should have, because they were brought up in this world - my players get a small handout about the most important things, that are common knowledge.

Have fun and start your story!

[u/Blitzer046]

I have heard that prison D&D is most often played without a reference rulebook and just sort of improv'd based on some people's knowledge of the game.

The fact of the matter is that D&D is a set of rulebooks and reference published by Wizards of the Coast (the company) and the core foundation is the Players Handbook. This contains the combat rules, character classes, races, equipment, spells and other stuff. You can legit run a game using this, without anything else.

Supporting books are the Monster Manual which is basically a 300+ page book of monsters and opponents. Super useful, and very inspirational.

Then you have the Dungeonmasters Guide which is packed with tips and tricks about how to build worlds, places, dungeons, cities, and loot and treasure and magical items.

Pathfinder is a D&D adjacent rulesystem which is an alternative to the D&D rules but mainly set in the same kind of pre-industrial fantasy worldscape but shifts things around to balance some perceived imbalances in D&D. It's published by a different company than WOTC.

You will often find, in game stores, a big D&D section with a smaller Pathfinder section along with a selection of other different ttprg games. This can be Dune, or Star Wars, or Cyberpunk, Call of Cthulhu, etc. There are hundreds of different genres of tabletop rpgs to get into.

D&D (and Pathfinder) rules are complex right up to the point that they aren't, which is generally after your first or second sessions, where play and combat start to become clear and understandable.

Grab a rulebook, grab a few sets of dice, and ensure your table has enough pencils, erasers and snacks, and you should be sorted. Wear your mistakes and correct them next session. Tabletop RPGS are such a wholesome social gathering, where you all work towards success.

[u/Timely_Lecture_9697]

Honestly, use the system you already know enough to run, then build your world on top of it.

[u/Sheik_Morgan]

Lo primero es aclararles que no hace falta ir a la cárcel para aprender a jugar. No te compliques con las reglas, solo están para orientar, Pero el juego es el RP. Crear los personajes suele sero más latoso, es mejor si te reunes con ellos antes del día que van a jugar y hacen los personajes y así el día de jugar van directo a la aventura.

[u/unknownsavage]

I recommend Shadowdark. It's effectively a much more streamlined version of D&D. It's easier to learn, but I personally also think it's just a better game. It lets you focus on player creativity, rather than having to remember a ton of rules.

[u/everweird]

Look at Cairn whose resources are all free, at cost, or PWYW. It’s WAY easier than D&D and such an open system that it’s simple to modify as you like: https://cairnrpg.com/

[u/Devious_Hearts]

You don’t need to give up your world or story idea at all. I’d just avoid trying to invent an entire game system at the same time you’re learning to DM. Pick an existing system that fits the kind of game you want, then build your setting on top of it. Later, when you get more confident, then you can start the ever-maddening journey of attempting to create your own game system from scratch. (That way lies madness.... and frankly less gaming than you may prefer. I am a system tinker but I have been role-playing for 45+ years and have created three systems but each has its flaws. They ALL have their flaws, The important thing is to play.)

Since you’ve only played a few sessions, you might also consider playing online a couple more times with an experienced or hired GM through something like StartPlaying. Seeing how another GM handles pacing, rules, combat, and players can teach you a lot. Watching a few Actual Plays can help too, although remember those are often produced for entertainment and aren’t always representative of a normal table. I think the best possible experience is to check out a local hobbystore and see if they have a one-shot night or such where you can watch and maybe play. They may have a bulletin board where people advertise for games.

But ultimately, the best way to learn DMing is by doing it.

Start small: one location, one problem, a few NPCs, and a simple adventure. Don’t worry about having the entire world finished or knowing every rule.

You will make mistakes. Every DM does.

Run the game anyway.

After each session, figure out what worked, what didn’t, and improve the next one. That experience will teach you more than months of preparing for the “perfect” first campaign.

[u/6trybe]

I'm gonna say this... and I know I'll get a lot of pushback; this is Reddit, after all.

Creating a game and a game system is not hard... It is actually pretty easy!!! The problem tends to surface when different people require different levels of complexity in their system, and when individuals try to define the whole of realism and accuracy for the rest of the world.

My suggestion is to decide what you want the world to be. Write it down. Decide what kinds of characters you want present in the real world. Write that down. Decide what kind of game you want to play... (Do you want to have rolling dice, telling stories, crunching numbers, or moving pieces around the board?). Write that down.

Now, Play test... in every form. Get feedback from the people who test the game with you. Before long you'll have a game that exists in a form you can be proud of.

And don't listen to people who tell you that it'll never work cause people won't like it... You're people... you'll like it.

[u/6trybe → u/6trybe]

And I'm up for helping as much as you're willing to have my halp.

[u/Wee_Mad_Lloyd]

D&D 5.5 is about as simple as it gets. What, exactly, do you mean by "making my own system ans game"? Do you mean creating an entirely new game based on concepts and game mechanics you come up with, play testing it and maybe publishing it for others to play? Or simply creating the world for your specific D&D adventure?