I'll be running my first ever campaign as a DM later today

>3.5
Can't advise, you've got bigger balls than I do.

>>723589705
I've only ever played 3.5 and the 1st version of the game. I've been told 4 is complete trash and 5 is the easiest to start with. I'll be playing with first timer's so I hope they grasp the game relatively quickly.

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>>723590000
4 is D&D with training wheels. 5 is much closer to 3.5, but without the open license nightmares.

hrm...don't get too hung up on rules and focus on fun story-telling?

>>723589616
Don't allow CoDzilla builds.

>>723589616
Fuck off Wayne.

>>723589616
Don't use a PC as a punching bag.

>>723589616
dont be afraid to cheat

sometimes you'll wnant to say that you rolled lower if you think the fight is being unfair, and sometimes youll want to crit their asses for being dumb

the DM can and must always cheat

>>723590000
Nice quads

>>723589616
What makes it fun kinda depends on your group, so it's kinda hard to say.
I dunno what you have planned or what resources you have, but for combat I find it helpful to have generic maps beforehand, so if someone starts a fight you have the basic details on hand. Time taken to set up encounters can make things a bit dull.

>>723589616
Remember you're role
>You have no control of where the story goes
>You're a storyteller. Not a navigator
>The players should have more control over their own actions than you do
>You're not a god

As for some technicals of DMing
>Just write a few names down before you DM
>Remember that the treasure trove always exists
>Don't invest so much time in a story. Invest more time in the bare bones of the map
>If you ever get stuck telling a backstory and the players want to hear it might be good to tell the story through a bard

>>723590769
Also don't jump plot point to plot point every three seasons. My bad DM went from sailors, to gladiators, to getting a keep then to stopping a lich lord. We are still level 5.

>>>/tg/

>>723589616
Dragon-published designer here.

A) Keep it fun and light. 3.5 has a lot of eccentricities, so don't be afraid to common-sense a lot of calls.
B) Ignore XP. No, seriously. Level your characters based on plot progression.
C) Your players WILL disassemble your adventure and run in weird directions. LET THEM. Don't have a firm plot in mind, just a rough outline of places it CAN go.
D) Give NPCs their own voices. Players WILL get more attached to them. THIS IS A GOOD THING.
E) For the love of god, don't do DMPCs.
F) EVER

>>723591009
To add on to the second list which I forgot
>You get XP from more than fighting
>Cheat on certain rolls

>>723591388
I had no idea that was a board, thanks!

So from what I gather thus far:
Storytelling > Everything else.


>>723591423
So DM cheating is really this common?