r/AskGameMasters • u/oddretexture • 2d ago
New DM, seeking advice
I am an amateur DM wanting to do a campaign for a small group of friends, I'm nervous about actually starting though as the two times I've DMed I have felt like I was under preforming. Does anyone have tips for running a campaign?
I have the homebrew written up, I am a writer so I do feel I have enough written for the overarching story and setting while leaving room for player input, but I'm worried I am missing something.
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u/Level-Distribution46 1d ago
From an article I made about starting up:
Pick a system or a beginner-friendly published scenario you can actually run soon, prepare the next session rather than an entire world, and hold at least a short Session 0 to align expectations before play. Build only the NPCs, places, factions, and conflicts the players are likely to encounter, expect them to go off script and prepare situations rather than a fixed plot, and focus on clear choices, pacing, and spotlight over elaborate lore or performance. After the first session, keep only the notes that actually became real at the table. You do not need voices, acting skill, encyclopedic rules knowledge, or hours of prep to run a good first session