It’s kinda crazy for me to think about. Story time! Otherwise just ask me anything :)
Around 11 years ago, I sat in the lounge that the Video Game Club occupies once a month on college campus. I looked over and saw a group of gamers go into one of the meeting rooms attached to the lounge - but instead of laptops or gaming consoles, they had books and dice and paper. I scoffed and thought they were too nerdy and cringey - I then went back to munching Doritos, chugging MtDew, and playing Borderlands/Skyrim/Pokemon for the next 12 hours lol.
Thankfully I was saved from my misguided views. A member of the VGC invited me to try out DnD, his group had an open spot. I was hesitant, but I craved more creativity in games that just couldn’t be supplied. So I decided to try it out.
Ended up not having a great time. One player was entirely checked out for 80% of the time and was a scumbag during the 20% he was engaged. The DM either was very new, or just had some very questionable calls. There were of course some fun moments but not a great impression.
I knew the game had potential. And I knew I could run it better.
So 10yrs ago today, my Players Handbook arrived, which is when I really began my journey to learning the rules, how to make characters, and how to run the game.
I’ve since had a few successfully completed long term games, including one that was over 5 years. I’ve ran a game at a convention, I’ve done some paid birthday parties, in person and online long campaigns, even some very successful afterschool programs while I was a teacher for a few years.
At my peak, I was running 4 games weekly. Since then I’ve slowed down a bit more and focus on two good weekly games.
Willing to share tips or stories for any who ask :) otherwise I just wanted to share this milestone.
Welcome to the club!
I’ll be at 16 years this September
Are you the kind of DM who rides by the seat of their pants on improv or the kind that does meticulous planning?
Personally I’m the improv type. It blows my player’s minds whenever they get a glance at my sticky note of prep with about a dozen words hastily scribbled down.
Is this the bragging part of the thread? 1970s here. Before there was any “advanced”. And I improvise and railroad as the situation and table warrants. Rule zero is have fun.
That’s the spirit and damn is it cool to see a DM from so long ago!
I used to be purely improv, wrote nothing and planned nothing.
But eventually I learned that taking notes and writing stuff helped, and that planning or at least worldbuilding can be fun.
I still do a lot of things improv - one of my groups overall favorite moment was an arc created entirely from a split-second improv moment. And I’m very comfortable just making it as I go.