Warmup: From JustinIntroWelcome Thanks for the One-Shot with Dan, Jordan and Anna. We really appreciate your support. We will be having our next one-shot at the end of this month. Make sure to sign up for the newsletter as well. As well if you’re interested in us livestreaming this particular segment of our show, then let us know, reach out to us on our Instagram or email. We can even do an ask me anything. If that’s something you’re interested in, let us know.
Topic: Preparing for your First D&D SessionJustinRun ThroughBefore I do my session, I find it’s incredibly helpful just to quickly run through the session or at least what I’ve written about it and my timeline. More than anything this just help refresh in my mind the basic timeline of things. I feel it makes a difference to my players when I know that C happens after B and D happens after C and A is how it all starts. Prepare the SpaceGM Setup Player Character Sheets Minis Snacks
Specific Text Write UpsBeginning of the Game Very Specific Parts of the game that will give maximum impact
Look Up or Create Helpful TablesHelpful loot tables Random encounter tables
Read the LoreYou want to make sure you know at least a brief idea of some things that happen next.
TannerBe Simple: plan something straightforward and simple. Exploring, simple dungeon or house exploration can be a wonderful way to start an adventure since it is low on mechanics, has the excitement of discovery, and does not require intense role playing by you. Have a Dry Run (for online): if it is your first time running D&D, have one of your players come early to run through technical difficulties (if they are friends, this should not be too hard). Plan One NPC as a warm-up: role-playing well on your first session is very nerve-wracking, and it can make you shy away from doing serious role-playing, like voices and the whole shebang. So, I would suggest planning a throwaway NPC to help you transition into it. And make them exaggerated: super old, or super gruff, or super British-orphan, or whatever! Just something you can be silly with, but also something you have to put yourself out there for.
Closing
Background noise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCSJwAHKV4Q (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCSJwAHKV4Q)
Mentioned in this episode: One Shot Sign up to play D&D with Justin or Tanner as your DM Play online and then after give feedback! https://how-to-be-a-better-dm.captivate.fm/one-shot (One Shot Sign up) Death Roll Gaming Discount Hey there listener. We all know the intense discomfort one feels when bringing dice to a D&D session only to have them spill out of your bag and fly all over the table. Or when you roll a dice and it smashes into something making the roll garbled and you have to roll again. Well you can save yourself some embarrassment by purchasing a Dice coffer from Death Roll Gaming. They hand make dice coffers out of various types of wood in Appleton Wiscon. Each product is made with high quality and 5% of each sale goes to the charity of your choice. What’s more, they are a supporter of How to Be a Better DM. So if you’re in the market for a nice dice coffer go to deathrollgaming.com/discount/BETTERDM and you’ll get a 10% discount on all your orders. You don’t have to drop your dice anymore.