Becoming a GM/DM is a big step. Well it is for me.
For those interested in trying D&D whose only exposure to it is the Critical Roll series on YouTube/Twitch and I assume Alpha, I think when they experience me as a GM/DM they are going to be a little disappointed. I’m not Matt Mercer. If anything I’m the opposite to Mercer. I’m not a voice actor for starters. Right I’m stopping there because I don’t want to get into a rant about Critical Roll.
So before I even step up and sit in that chair behind the DM screen I already feel an unrealistic pressure and expectations sitting heavy on my shoulders.
I’m not an extrovert or performer. There won’t be any voices and accents from me. It’s not who I am. Maybe it’s a confidence thing. I don’t know. I’m not that self aware. But I can’t help feeling that because I won’t be doing that stuff that the adventurers will be disappointed.
But despite these hang ups, I still want to try being a GM/DM.
For my first foray into being a noob GM I’m going to run a one shot adventure for noobs. The adventure I settled on is the one Matthew Colville created on camera for the first ‘real’ video in his Running the Game YouTube series (link below).
I could have gone with the Starter set and the adventure included Lost Mine of Phandelver. But that is more a campaign and runs over several sessions. It’s not aimed as being run as a single session. And that also holds true for some of the older starter adventures from D&D’s history. However Phandalin the town from it could be used as the starting point for this one shot. As could any of the towns that Corville (I’m going to refer to him by his last name through out this post. I don’t know the guy, and referring to him as Matthew seems too familiar. Last name seems right. Besides who cares what I call him it’s not as if he will read this ever.) suggests from older D&D adventures that he recommends in later videos, such as Hommlet or Orlane to name a couple.
Colville rightly points out in his video right at the start all you need to start playing D&D with some friends is an adventure (above), the rules, characters and some dice. And apart from the dice for trying out D&D as Colville also points out the stuff you need is free. WotC provide online a free basic rules pdf for 5th Edition (the link I have below goes to a page with the latest version). They also provide blank character sheets if you want to create your own characters. Or as recommended by Colville to get playing straight away use the pre-made characters they also provide (link below for both). It’s these pre-made characters I plan to use for this first adventure.
WotC Character Sheets and Ready Made Characters
Matthew Colville Youtube video Creating the adventure (it also has links to his files for the above, and an Inn,People and Menu document)
Luckily Colville doesn’t leave us noob GM’s hanging. The next two videos in the series cover running the adventure.
The first of the two videos deals with the start of the adventure, the motivation for the adventurers to visit the dungeon. Or as is pointed out in the video I could go old school and just start the adventurers at the entrance.
The second video surprisingly covers what goes on outside and in the dungeon. I really like this video. Colville covers tactics for the monsters, and how the noob adventurers will learn important lessons for future adventures. Stuff they may not have considered or experienced before. It’s also useful advice in running a dungeon for a noob GM.
But with those three videos, Colville’s supporting files, the free WotC stuff, a little prep and some dice there is everything there for an afternoon of adventuring.
For me as a noob GM this is a perfect little adventure to cut my teeth on. It’s also a perfect little adventure for people to try to see if they like D&D. The support material by Colville is accessible and makes it seem like you can sit in that chair behind the screen and breathe life in to a make believe world.
Now to find some thrill seekers to join me in this adventure.
Other videos I like and hint to or suggest in the post above: