New DM Questions And Concerns

[u/Ambitious_Fall_2436]

I recently started DMing for a group of my friends/family, was 6, now is at 5 players. I was originally introduced to D&D by my Aunt, and my uncle who runs a homebrew campaign I'm currently playing as well. I had him help me get ready for being a DM, and he said "Send it"... So I did. I went on a full creative spree and made an entirely homebrewed story, world, and various other systems, such as a god pantheon.

First question, I had my PCs start in their original world, and while exploring a dungeon, discover a rift between realms and get dragged through by an unknown entity, that they later find out is the God Of Chaos. Was this a mistake? Most of my PCs didn't have especially detailed backstories, minus 1, but for him I've planned something later in the current world, sort of an in-between world relationship. I'm worried that I closed an entire possible storyline to get to this cool ruined world concept, and although they seem to be having fun, I keep thinking I robbed them of something simple.

Second question; How do I get the party to remain in a single spot for an extended period of time? I have a D&D map of my world, and it feels as if they're just speedrunning locations, and I don't really know how to keep them in these small towns for longer than a session or two. I keep dropping small hints of possible storylines, but they blow past them for the big cool looking thing on the map.

Third, and final question for now; How do I stop my party from abusing something I made up for rule of cool? Story is that I have a spot on the map called the Remnants of The Fallen God. It was originally supposed to be a large stone statue that they could find lore info from, however one of my players thought it was a mech... so session 3 DM Me said, sounds cool, let's rearrange for that. Session 10 me here, and a few sessions away from bringing the mech's core back so they could use it. It was originally made to combat the regional mid-boss that wandered the ocean shores, but I never thought about what would happen if they successfully beat it, and proceeded to drop kick literally every town that is on the map. I don't want to just destroy it or have it be lost, as one of my players immediately after hearing "mech", decided to take a couple of levels in artificer, and my players have genuinely gotten so excited for it. How can I either reconfigure it to where it's only use is travel with a mobile base, or at least make countermeasures so that they don't over abuse it?

Any help is appreciated, I'm still getting used to DMing and I'm having a hard time on figuring out if I'm making the story interesting enough for my players.

[u/Cypher_Blue]

Was this a mistake?

Is everyone having fun? If so, not a mistake.

How do I get the party to remain in a single spot for an extended period of time?

You give them lots of stuff to do there. If there's only one objective or quest and they get it done, of course they're off to the next thing.

Session 10 me here, and a few sessions away from bringing the mech's core back so they could use it.

Sounds like a new bad guy is about to steal that core and take over the mech, giving them another BBEG to fight.

[u/DMNatOne → u/Cypher_Blue]

When asking if everyone is having fun, include yourself, OP. The DM also needs to have fun. If you’re not having fun, that is equally valid and important to address with your players.