Instantly Improve your D&D Game with this SNEAKY TRICK 

⭐ dScryb | Get professionally written narrative descriptions for your RPG game. www.dscryb.com/thedmlair - Use coupon code THEDMLAIR for 10% off! 💖 Lair Magazine free trials are now available! 5e and PF2 GM resources - adventures, puzzles, traps, encounters, and more! www.patreon.com/thedmlair

I would add to that one small trick that also helps a lot: maintaining eye contact with players. If you're talking but your eyes are looking at the screen or laptop or tablet, you could be in the other room and it wouldn't make the difference. Show your players, where your focus is.

I'm a new DM, and at least with my group I have a bunch of people who try and talk over each other. So I make them roll initiative at the start of the session. And that decides the order in which they are allowed to do actions, asking questions, ect... So far it's working out great

So to sum up-to avoid your DM lagging you need to do these 3 things: 1. Avoid having to look things up via prep, knowing rules, and improv 2. Keep things moving by limiting total discussion time-in and out of combat- 5 minutes max out of combat, 1 minute in combat, and prevent backseating. 3. Control chaos by preventing players from talking over eachother, handle one action at a time and ask them to wait, and poke at each player one at a time to ensure they’re now buried under the extroverts. Is that everything?

I find it funny when people say their players start talking about strategies mid-combat. I wish mine did that from time to time, because they always go after the monsters without even talking to each other LOL

What timing! I actually just had a brief convo with my players about this. While they didn't feel like it was an issue, I had noticed that I was, like you described, the DM with their nose in the book. Yes, I'm running a module, no, I'm not trying to get it perfect, but there were several instances where I was like "crap, I forgot what's in this area." That's definitely on me to better prep for the next session. Great video, good advice. Definitely going to try and keep these tips in mind when the game seems to be slowing down.

My group can get preoccupied on being rules lawyers so I have stated as a dm that if a discussion can;t be resolved in 30 secs then I will make a ruling for the evening and review after the game. If a change in decision is necessary then so be it but it doesn’t disrupt the pace.

Took your suggestion to do strategizing at the top of the round from an earlier video, and minimize OOC communication during the round, and it really sped things up, reduced metagaming, and reduced players backseating each other. So thanks!

One thing our dm has us do if they are working with one or two players on a scene, is let the rest of us use the chat section to declare what our characters are doing at the same time as the scene. Now, this is ONLY for roleplaying. I play in a lot of roleplay heavy games. But sometimes this means the entire party is not around for the entirety of a scene. Because yeah, you wander off or do your own thing. So rather than make us freeze or pretend we aren’t doing anything, dm has us smoothly do our own thing in the text chat so we aren’t breaking immersion but we aren’t excluded either. Of course, if we stumble on doing something that requires a ruling the dm will briefly tell us to pause there and they will make one at a key moment, usually by either wrapping up that scene, changing perspective so it’s now on us in the background, or pulls us all in if it’s close enough, like, I don’t know, somehow one of us set off a trap or got a guard’s attention by accident. But still, this is how the dm let’s us participate. And again, it’s for roleplay heavy scenes. Combat? Wait our turn politely. Heavy intrigue scene? Wait our turn? Scouting ahead in a tense mission? Also wait our turn. It helps that we are all respectful players and we don’t abuse this chat aspect, keeping it low stakes if the atmosphere calls for it and being ready for the switch when it isn’t. This tactic has also taught all of us to keep an eye on the sidebar for the text chat too which has been a god send when a player had some mic issues that couldn’t be resolved so they just participated like this. We could still include them and interact and react to them via the chat in a timely manner because we all had learned to keep it in the corner of our eye and react as needed to it. Anyway, that’s just my experience. All of this is amazing advice though. It clues me into why I enjoy many of the games my various DMs run. Now I do wish to add one thing. We sometimes have tactic discussions in the middle of combat at some tables. The reason why? I play at a number of tables with brand new dnd players and if we just let them on their own, they will sometimes freeze up. So we are a little more loose in tactic and suggestion discussions, which, the more they get comfortable, the less we interfere. Those tables have a high contrast between very experienced and well read player vs very new and/or insecure players. Again, while this slows combat, we do it as a learning tool for the player who needs it, and only if they want to. We do not overwhelm the player but offer some suggestions that are in line with what they have shown they like doing. These are also the campaigns though that we wrap up early a bit and take some time after answering dnd questions such as class mechanics and so on. So yeah this more for my learning tables. I enjoy those greatly to be honest as they have their own joy. Is everything optimized? No! Is it still fun? Absolutely! But I went into these games knowing these were teaching tables and as one of the more well read players (I was and am still new compared to some, being just over a year playing, but I’m very well read and tend to memorize what I read). And one who has a lot of games under my belt from many different styles (I joined a lot of games out of the gate with a variety of players and dms and styles of gameplay). I also was a teacher in the past so these learning tables are a specific joy that I get fulfillment in. They are low stakes in a lot of ways because of their intent. But yeah I don’t always play at optimized tables but that’s ok. I don’t need them. I have a few tables that fill that need and so I can find my joy at these teaching tables without that.

I have no problem with looking things up or taking a long time to discuss/plan/do things. I actually find it fun taking time to discuss & do things. I also don't have a problem with Chaos as long as its kept polite/respectful.

The tactics-to-turn is a good idea, I'll try it next time

as a long time DM my go to response to rule questions is " lets just do this for now, we can check the ruling after the session " i don't like to stop the game for a rules question. If i don't know we check it later or during a break. We don't stop a combat or pause the whole game to look up a rule. My best advice to new DM's is always this---you make the rules. So if you dont know, improvise, make something up, even if its just to tide you over till you can check the ruling later.

One thing that really helps to run more smoothly is to officially assign a trusted experienced player as the designated rules lawyer. If a particular mechanic is uncertain, it is their job to look it up while you continue narrating or adjudicating something else.

All solid advice. Pacing is absolutely key, especially for combat.

Great video as usual. Good pace comes from thorough prep, which is partly why I homebrew a lot because if you’ve designed it you know it backwards, and you can be more comfy generating content and tuning encounters on the fly. I also think I have great players because none of them are anything other than supportive of me, the game and each other.

I have had my head in the monster books to find monsters for them to fight. Other then that i try to improvise on the rest of what happens. I use the players randomness to make things interesting and fit around the fight or interaction.

Sweet Shirt Man, also, as a proclaimed "Forever DM" I have only done one module, and sadly yes, I had my nose in the book most of the game, but I tried not to "pause" it as you said, and usually only did it when there was combat when I could tune out a little it, otherwise, everything I've done is homebrew, and I watch in excruciating pain as my players ignore the carefully handcrafted storyline and go off to fight the Ghaleb Duhr I just made up because they wanted to look in the hills around the town. (true story) Improvisation is one of my strong suits.

Yes keeping the pace is good. We have a good group that is pretty polite to other players and DM. With a large group people have jobs to do like moving minis or looking up rules so the GM can continue on with the game.

I was at a convention where the DM bragged about having everything at his fingertips on his tablet (PDFs). He spent so much time accessing info, that half the session was wasted. Very frustrating.

When playing online, I tell people that if they want to try something while I am speaking/dealing with another player, type it into the chat. It lets me keep track of what people want to do in order. My group of players are awesome though, so it might not be for everyone.

Very good information, thanks Mr. DM Lair!!

Having a player that’s the dedicated rules lawyer and researcher helps. Just remember you’re the judge though.

The nested lists in this video are phenomenal. I was one more list away from drawing out an outline! Great advice though and I've used some of these to run my game smoother.

If Player A tells Player B to flank Baddie C during game play (as opposed to the allowed 1 minute discussion), it means the characters shout the directions to each other and the Baddies can hear them (barring some sort of telepathic communication). Having Baddie C and his friends capitalize on shouted tactics a few times will teach the players.

Our DM left a while ago so we are all taking turns doing adventures. So we get to see different gaming styles. We are also a big group. One of the funny things we do when there are too much talking, is to have character consequences. One DM had them make a Dex Save or have a rock fall on them when we were in a cavern. Another had us roll a giant D100 to come up with a consequence, like disadvantage on their next attack or initiative roll.

Ending a session after a boss monster is revealed but before combat begins gives players time to discuss what to do in the upcoming fight. This builds tension, excitement, and gives them time to prepare so that they're not panicking or talking the whole fight. You won't always be able to time this right but it's worth it when you can. If you introduce a boss enemy and have the players fight and kill it that same session, even if it's tough, it will be less memorable.

Thank you for your information video

The only time I look things up are very rare rules or spells, cause I can't learn all the spells. But for the most part I know the important rules and I can keep the game going at all times and we get a lot done and have a lot of fun.

Control the number of players to the right amount., control the environment to cut down on distractions. Then mentor the players encourage them to step back and let other players get involved if they are busy.

I had the same experience with a DM once were they were constantly looking things up in the module. worst dnd experience of my life.

I think what helped with me back in 3.5, is that my first DM gave us the dimensions of the room first. Now in 5e this new DM im playing with doesnt quite bring it to attention.

For rulings I don't know, I will improve the ruling, but will write down the question and research at a later time.

I love running tabletop role playing games. Though my memory isn’t always great. I’ve recently been employing mnemonics to help me remember details regarding the game.

I run the game right now with only one monitor which makes it a bit tricky for me at times, we play online with camera. The Camera part is really important to get engaged players when playing online. But I have my nose rarely in the book and only in my one note for NPC names and stuff, or somebody throwing me a curve-ball I haven't expected. We are new to Pathfinder 2E so we look a couple of things up if necessary, to learn, best way to learn especially for players is at the table during the game. However if it can't be easily resolved I just find a fair solution and we go on, so I can look up the correct way afterwards. If that ruling is something that has to do with an ability or spell of a player character THEY are going to do the look-up afterwards, their character they have to know how it works. Means not I don't support it but I had a situation where I told the player "Well, seems like your character can't remember how that spell was exactly casted, maybe they should spend 1 hour during the next rest and practice a bit" because nobody had a clue how that freaking spell worked.

Have you happened to do any videos on how to improve online DND experiences? Particularly if people don't use webcams and only voice chat? Would love to see something like that :) Thanks

I canNOT avoid pauses and loading screens. I'm that guy looking at the book. I also just got started. How in the world am I going to handle ALL the things and NOT hand out a loading screen? I've read the DMG cover to cover multiple times; that's a LOT to keep track of. Yikes!

I have had this happen, but usually it is started by a player....they seize on something not well stated or explained or an obscure exception to a rule...thus initiating a rule call. Afterwards, they try to deluge with actions.....I stop this pretty quickly. i tend to 'adlib' things instead of ruling if I can. if I can I will 'shot from the hip' and then fix it later....sometimes its a results in a Recon, but usually I can massage the game to fix it.

10x better - 100x better - I mean sure I can do that - but who has the budget for that much bacon per session? That's what I like about you Luke, you're a dreamer.

The worst D&D games I've ever played were run by people more interested in getting the technology (cool VTT effects in one case, screen projection in person in the 2nd) working right than facilitating the game. The more I played in those games, the lower tech my own games became (save for my laptop which doubles as a GM screen and note taker because I write super slow by hand). I've even started phasing out battle maps for more theatre of the mind combats when the terrain doesn't matter too much. I even included a rule for 5e where players can spend inspiration to add a battlefield complication (the enemy mage steps in a rabbit hole while trying to run away, or there's a barrel in the alleyway that a PC can hide behind for cover). It's made combats more dynamic and also makes everyone more engaged when it happens. I also offer inspiration to add complications for players at any time. For example: the rogue disarms the trap and I ask if they want an inspiration. If they say no, then that's it. If they say yes, then they disarmed the trap but it causes the swinging axes hidden in the walls to clank down on the ground noisily. The trick is to make sure the complication is something interesting that raises tension or adds a time limit to something that didn't have one, never to add something that completely negates a player's success. When I first started that, they'd only take the inspiration about 50% of the time, but after 2 sessions it's a 100% uptake now, and it keeps the game moving along really fast.

The last game I ran for my players was Humble Wood. It went well, the book had everything well structured in chapters and was easy to get a grasp on what would likely be going on for the players. But, that didn't stop my players from deciding to do "other" things. Which was fine, it changed some things around, it let me alter the story in some ways and take an npc who was good, and now he'll be a villain in a future story. Spoilers................... Even though they defeated the aspect of fire, their actions will lead Humble Wood to have a civil war for many years to come.

I just started running tyranny of dragons with a Group that hasn't ever played before , While in the town of green they were interested in searching every single house... We need up only getting 1⁄3 of the way through chapter 1 and about 4 hours... Near the end I was kind of honest with them and I ended up saying " so like the module doesn't have anything for these houses in particular So like I don't want you guys to keep going in these houses that they have nothing for " Is that the best way to handle it? Or is my job as the DM to ensure that they Find something in some of these houses that they're taking time to Look through? All advice welcomed ( DM AND player )

The 1 minute tactic before round is good tip. My group is very tactical and it slows down the combat. Thanks for the tip!

3:00 nope , bg2 was quite ok speed-wise, but try ultima 8, that was 50 seconds loading on my computer at each save, and you died a lot in that game.

Y'know, I have to wonder how short lived/small the D&D community would be if *all* tables were actually rampant with the bad kind of chaos.

BACON

Me, 2 and a half minutes into the video and taking a shot every time "his nose was in the book": bruh i wouldn't blame you for walking out of that one lmaoooo cows and whales amirite

Maybe I was perfect GM from the beginning

Another thing to keep the game smooth is pruning player creativity. Not killing it, but not letting it grow uncontrollably either. If the players offer believable ideas, try integrating them into the game. It makes their choices feel more impactful, and drives engagement. If the players offer ridiculous ideas, explain why they couldn't work. Just repeating "no" is frustrating, and can lead to indecision or antagonistic behavior. I gave my party a magic sword that can polymorph into a chicken. Just an ordinary chicken. Not only did they want to keep it, but they thought about what magic and materials could make it stronger. One goal they have now is getting the Awaken spell, and making the chicken sword sentient.

I recently got back into D&D after many years, and in between, I had gotten into improvisational comedy. I was, and am kind of freaked out about how we discuss combat, IN the combat. In improv comedy, there is only the most basic setup of a situation, and the scene evolves based on what the players do. While we stop time to work out the combat mechanics, we shouldn't really be discussing tactics with each other. Each turn is like, six seconds, you have no time to work out a strategy turn to turn, and what's more, team tactics are impossible within the reality of the game. "You get slashed in the face by the orc. Now consider that your wizard is at the top of the stairs, and has the high ground, and your barbarian is down to seven HP, and you are outside the AoE of the cleric's mass heal." No, you get slashed in the face and you go buckwild on the guy that did that to you. I really wish we could tone down the team discussions during combat, unless it's in scene. "Get the big one!" is about as much tactical discussion as you would have in reality.

My group can say a sentence in character as a free action on their character's turn like the really common "I don't feel very well." when low on HP. It makes tactical discussion very hard and not very effective like it should be in the midst of combat ! 😂

frost

Right on the money, Luke!

here's this ONE TRICK, which is because of THREE reasons, and one of the reasons has TWO CAUSES

Every time I bring up the time limit or even put a hourglass on a table, I get called a douchebag for "not letting them to play" Next time there will be "Hourglass of DM's Patience"

All great tips, “don’t stop to look up rules” is probably my number one rule as a DM. Also, recently I started using 1, 3 & 5 minute sand timers to my game. The players get a measured amount of time to complete a task like discuss tactics, pick a lock etc which eliminates the game killing slog time plus watching the sand actually run through the timer adds a little bit of drama to the game when it’s a critical task….kinda like watching the timer run down when the SWAT guys are trying to disarm a bomb.

I don't allow tactics discussions once the combat has started. We go from player to player on each turn, without interruption, wherever it's possible. I run large groups (typically 6 players is my ideal group), while one player is going, the others could discuss quietly with each other, aloud or via text, but never talking over the others and never interrupting the combat. I don't allow one player to toss a suggestion to another, as that's metagaming and takes away the other player's agency. This you could do better than the player handling the paladin? Then you should have played a paladin. Also, when "analysis paralysis" seems to have kicked in, I kick right back, right in the butt, by interrupting the PC discussion with a wandering monster or some other stimulus to get the PCs back on track. You can't conduct a planning session in the hallway of the enemy's stronghold. It just doesn't work that way.

There is no tactical discussion allowed during combat in my games. You can call out instructions on your turn (one or two sentences) but there is no standing around and talking. The enemies are trying to kill you. Act!

what's the sneaky trick?

In the last session I DM’ed the party was taking excessive time to plan their next move, so every few seconds, I had one of their unmanned horses move away from the party every few seconds. A minute later, the party looked up and realized they completely lost a horse. They were much quicker in group decisions after that.

TL;DW "Be competant"

I love the 1 min tactics sessions only before the round. If an action is 6 seconds, other characters don’t have time to shout advice, and the player in question certainly doesn’t have time to consider and act upon advice. Not a DM yet, new player, but one player in our group who knows the game inside and out will backseat strategize everyone’s moves as they come up. If he wants to be a tactician, great! Give us advice prior so that the combat doesn’t slog like pointed out here. Because it DOES.

I personally don't like the idea of having people discuss tactics at the start of game rounds. I tell players to talk tactics when their characters actually have time to do so; if there's any "I'll take out the big one", "Should I do A or B?" or "You heal so and so" talk, it's gotta be shouted out during the fight, which means everyone hears it, including the enemy, and I adhere loosely to the amount of time a game round is actually meant to represent in the given game system. Partly because I'm all about immersion/storytelling, and partly because tactics talk in combat makes the fight take longer.

The best way to run A smooth game is to make sure the alcohol is not bottom shelf… oh wait!

I want to see a GM prepare after the game, instead of in advance.

Instantly improve your DnD game by switching to Pathfinder 2e. :P

Skyrims loading screens omg

this is a comment!!!!!

Huh. I expected the advice to be 'stop playing 5th edition.' :)

God this delivery is cringey. "Wanna buy some Prime Drink?" but you could be just.. you. You are completely right in your message, but it's like surfer/salesman tone and delivery.

Here's the short answer on how to improve your D&D game: Play Shadowdark instead.

ITS NOT PAUSE ITS CALLED ROLEPLAY, You played your CHARACTER. (Determine when its downtime and quest or combat QUEST AND COMBAT ALWAYS USE UP ACTIONS AVAILABLE OR CAUSE CHECKS OR SAVES) (Downtime is role play research buying or crafting, jobs, or maintaining allies from backgrounds DO NOTHING TO PROGRESS A QUEST WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE DM) (A MURDER HOBO CAN ONLY OCCUR IF THE DM ALLOWS IT) MAIN RULE 1 to player YOU DONT GET A MAIN ACTION TILL THE DM TELLS YOU ITS YOUR TURN. till its your TURN DONT DO ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES A ACTION. MAIN rule 2 NO ONE BUT THE PLAYER DECIDES WHAT THE PLAYER CAN DO UNLESS THEY WHAT HELP OR COMBO WITH 1 OTHER PLAYER. TWINS MIGHT BE INHERENTLY COMBO-ED Main RULE 3 ALL SAID IS SAID IN GAME AND CAN BE HEARD UNLESS YOU SAY WHISPER AND ROLL A STEALTH CHECK TO SEE IF YOU CAN HIDE THE CONVERSATION OR TACTICS. NEVER TELL THE DM WHAT TO DO unless IF HE ASKS FOR YOUR INPUT. DM IS KING RESPECT DM Unless he a Jerk in that case walk away. DM IS HUMAN AND NOT COMPUTER NO EINSTEIN HE OR SHE WILL NOT REMEMBER EVERYTHING if your not following the narrative DM CANNOT PREPARE CONTENT HE NEVER INTENDED TO RUN. DONT GO OFF SCRIPT You are a party and a team dont work against the party and all crime and trouble you cause will be attributed to your party if not now for invisibility LATER AS THE UNSOLVED CRIME IS SCRYED And AUGURY. Worse identify can identify the magic used in crimes Locate creature can locate the scent footprint sweat or any fey of tiefling properties you left behind. Magic item that require attunement attune to you and your magic and psyche (mind) A tracker or bountyhunter could track your essence from a attunable item you touched that sampled your presence that you required purchase to attune to but you didnt purchased.

Simple solution for fast combat: Reduce combat to moves, attack rolls, spellcasting. No flanking, grappling, charging, etc. And no more turns or initiative. Everyone acts simultaneously! The DM adjudicates player combat to the players while he focuses on controlling the monsters. This should be no problem since simplified combat is rolling to-hit and damage. For minis on a battlemap, players could roll a die to move their PC x number of squares/hexes to regulate movement. Only pause gameplay to resolve spell effects. Or more complex actions like jumping onto the chandelier and landing on the ogre's back.

You can either run adventure modules or you can be a Game Master, but you can’t do both.

5 minutes is too much.

One minute to discuss tactics? rubbish. IT IS COMBAT. It is happening now, probably in a dark dungeon with flickering light. It is six seconds long. You get six seconds to tell me what you are doing and who you are attacking. Six... Five.... Four.... Three.... Two.... If they are still brainlocked, then their characters dodge. Next player... Six... five... four... three... two.... one. Combat turns are not freaking chess, you cant think about what you are going to do for minutes, hours, days, whatever. There are no timeouts to get a play call from the sideline like football. You want to discuss a tactical plan while you are outside of the door? No problem. That is when you do it.