Advice for a First-Time GM

By HaphazardNinja, in Genesys

Posted at

Hey all. My wife is going to run our first Shadow of the Beanstalk campaign in couple of weeks. She has solid year experience with Genesys as a player, and Savage Worlds as the same for a year prior. This will be her first "real" time in the GM seat, four 1-shot adventures notwithstanding. She enjoys the system and was really intrigued by the Android setting. What tips, warnings, and general advice do you have for a first time Genesys GM? I have been running Star Wars RPG and Genesys so long I can no longer remember my early lessons. We already have general party roles delegated and the rest of us are similarly or more experienced with Genesys and role-playing in general. Thanks!

Posted at

Listen to The Dice Pool Podcast (www.thedicepoolpodcast.com).

this is a shameless plug but we go into each part of the system.

I would recommend the following episodes:

There are other podcasts you can listen toas well but what you are asking needs about 20hrs to explain.

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Also have a listen to some liveplays. We will be making an Android one available very shortly.

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My advice would be:

Relax
Be flexible
Err on the side of propelling the story forward and/or in the player's favour
Make frequent use of the Story Points to keep things interesting
Keep copies of the tables for Spending Advantage/Setback and Critical Injuries handy
Try to give every character at least one moment to shine (in combat, social, netrunning, etc)
Provide a generous XP award at the end of the first campaign session (I've found as a GM this is always met with great approval)
And, of course, have fun! :)

Posted at
13 hours ago, GM Hooly said:

Also have a listen to some liveplays. We will be making an Android one available very shortly.

Agh, I'm trying to catch up on the non-LP episodes as it is and you tempt me with an Android game?

Posted at
13 hours ago, GM Hooly said:

Also have a listen to some liveplays. We will be making an Android one available very shortly.

13 hours ago, GM Hooly said:

Listen to The Dice Pool Podcast (www.thedicepoolpodcast.com).

this is a shameless plug but we go into each part of the system.

I would recommend the following episodes:

There are other podcasts you can listen toas well but what you are asking needs about 20hrs to explain.

I immensely appreciate this. However, as a mechanic she is an interactive learner. She cannot "do podcasts" or really anything where she just listens to people. Again, thanks for your input (and shameless plug 😁 ). If it makes you feel better, I was already a fan.

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2 hours ago, HaphazardNinja said:

I immensely appreciate this. However, as a mechanic she is an interactive learner. She cannot "do podcasts" or really anything where she just listens to people. Again, thanks for your input (and shameless plug 😁 ). If it makes you feel better, I was already a fan.

I had read a post on another forum a while back that resonated with me.

Quote

Skills/tips/superpowers of GMing I am willing to share.
I use:

  • Sandbox
  • Railroad
  • Illusionism
  • Lying
  • Cheating
  • Fudging
  • Manipulation
  • Crying
  • Begging
  • Linear Plots
  • Ignoring
  • Meta Gaming

Or anything else I think will keep the Players engaged.

To me, keeping the Players engaged is VASTLY more important than any RightWaytoPlay purisms people cling to.

YMMV

I always start with a session zero. At session zero We make characters together! That way everyone knows who is playing what. I no longer allow people to show up with ready made characters or for people to make a character at session zero, just to make a new one before session 1.

I also put a limit or 'boundaries' on what I am willing to GM. If I say I am wanting to run a city campaign that lasts for 18 sessions. That is what I am wanting to run. I refuse to spend 17 sessions outside in the forest in a city campaign.

Have a copy of every character's character sheet.

I have a sheet of paper with random names, street names, businesses, etc. that I can insert into the game when someone asks for or about something I haven't completely detailed.

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General Tips / Advice:

  • The most important rule / tip for me as a GM/DM is ... "Just have fun!"
  • Secondly, listen to your players. It is amazing what you can pick up as far as ideas and what not from hearing them talk to each other.

Warnings:

  • Don't let the rules rule you as a GM/DM. Just be familiar enough with the rules to make a confident decision on a rule without looking it up.
  • And now I will contradict myself, if you all as a group are learning new rules then take the time to look it up to do it the right way. This might be for character creation and a couple of sessions, but then go back to my previous warning and don't let the rules rule you. 😃

So, just have fun! Be confident! And did I mention ... just have fun? hehehe

Enjoy and good luck!

Chris "Zszree" Holmes

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Prepare.

-Read the adventure thoroughly (easier when you do your own). Not having to pause makes you look on the ball.

-If the adventure/session/campaign isn't on rails, create random/modular encounters ahead of time. Have several ready. Putting the time in increases the quality and ultimately player buy in and enjoyment.

-Create applicable NPCs with names and quickie backgrounds ahead of time, so when they ask the shopkeeper's name/race you have an answer. Same as above, pumps up quality of session.

-Give PCs bumpers for character creation. Don't let them make something you genuinely don't want. If they need to be thugs/underworld types, tell them so.

-Session 0s are helpful in knowing what your PCs have made to tailor efforts in the above.

-Obviously have a good command of core rules.

-Organize how you want to track things, wounds, money, etc, and have checksheets ready.

-Select your adversaries aheadof time, read, and understand them, again so you aren't pausing to read during the session.

-Most importantly, be comfortable with being in charge and make rulings