GM Tips for an RPG rookie?

Just a quick note - but although Proc and RoR make good points about getting your hooves dirty, I completely understand wanting to get as many tips as possible before starting up a campaign. GMing is really daunting, especially for a first-timer, and it can be hard to know where to start. I should know, I had to start with no idea what I was doing, and my first couple outings proved to be equal parts success and failure.

If you can circumvent some of that initial failure part, that's always a good thing (;

Keep in mind though, like Proc and RoR already said, you probably will make mistakes. Don't let them get you down though, and I'd recommend that when you make a mistake, just own up to it and keep moving forward.

Another good bit of advice... Know when to start the campaign... Don't waste too much time just trying to build the setting and stuff.

a Quick question that is a big choice is your game going to be a Play by post or a skype game

Play by Post. It's the only kind of game I've ever experienced and I like having a little time to sit and think about what I say or do. I can only imagine it'd be even better for a DM to have that time.

I find there are big pros and cons to doing Play by Post... But I'm not sure how to explain said pros and cons. Though if that's what you wanta start off with, I only support it. Nothing wrong with more Play by Post campaigns here. :3

Pros players get more time to think about actions, more flexable times, less hassle overall
cons Editing, slower, hard to control, more comitment (have to be there almost every day) less planing time for the GM

Side note I would like to express interest in your game are there any restrictions? Plan on using a Hippogriff Archaeologist.

no, no restrictions really. Is your character high magic? that's fine. Is he pulling out old-timey ray guns and jet packs instead? Still fine! You can be MLP Captain Kirk if you want, I'll try to work it in somehow! Sounds like fun honestly!

The island, as I imagine it, has had a lot of tribal cultures and stuff like that so it'd be pretty easy to find something for an archaeologist to do too! If anything, a character like that would be really helpful!

EDIT: Now that I think about it, there is one restriction. If you want to be MLP Captain Kirk or MLP Dumbledore, don't just go "I'm Captain Kirk but a pony" or "I'm Dumbledore pony" go "My name is Boldly Go, Captain of the star ship Experience! I have been tasked with exploring the depths of space and finding whatever there is to find! My ship is out in orbit as I attempt to blend in and observe the local population of this world." Make the character your own original. I'm sure most people here would do that anyway but just saying.

I'm actually kind of interested in joining your campaign too, DB. You've been with my campaign from the start, and I'd like to support ya if I could (:

I was trying to think of a character I'd want to play, and right now I'm leaning towards an MLP version of Dr. Horrible.

If you're not familiar with the character:

Spoiler:

Basically he's your standard loser villain - always tries to be bad but never succeeds - until the end of the musical, that is. I'm not sure exactly what kind of a pun I could use for him... I was thinking Dr. Horse Bridle, or Dr. Hoar Bridle... Hoarfrost?

But I don't know if I'm a big fan of any of those... Maybe Dr. Freeze Ray? ...Or Dr. Death Ray?

-I kind of like the sound of that last one.

Oh... How about Dr. Dark Horse, as in Dark Horse comics (which published a Dr. Horrible comic at one point)? I think that one might be a winner (:

I'd still have to come up with a background, but I'm imagining a high-tech, mad scientist type that secretly wants to rule the world and have his creations acknowledged as the best of the best.

-And he'd also probably be out looking for love too - by any means necessary (;

Once you start up your OOC topic for said Campaign I'll totally think of joining as well.

... That makes what 5 games at once xel?

tygerburningbright wrote:... That makes what 5 games at once xel?

What can I say? I like to Role Play... XD

Hey Blight how soon do you think you can be ready?

I'm not sure to be honest. I've never put together a campaign of any type before this. I'm starting to realize some things are easier to plan for when you have some information on your players. Like for example, it was easier to work out some things knowing yours is an archeologist.

I think I'm getting close to being ready to set up a signup sheet though.

Excellent! I'll post interest as well, then. I wouldd say, "get a base gist for that signup OOC, and then begin your tailoring more in-depth once ponies start showing up," but you're already doing it.

Dr Blight wrote:I had an idea recently for a campaign and am currently trying to flesh it out. I was hoping maybe some more experienced players and GMs could give me some tips on how to GM a campaign? Things to avoid doing. Tips on how to get players aware and hopefully invested plot lines without completely railroading them. If the monsters I'm developing would work. Or maybe advice on how to make the story more interesting? Pretty much any advice would be welcome.

Adding story information to first post to make it easier:

On the tropical island of Junna off the Equestrian Coast there is a local legend of a spirit named Verana who protects the island and guards against the return of the evil Windigo King. Recently, a fanatical cult intent on overthrowing Celestia and replacing her with an heir to the ancient unicorn throne has come to the island, attacking Verana's shrine and greatly weakening her in their quest to awaken the Windigo king and use his powers as a weapon against Canterlot Court.

I honestly can't give any better advice than has already been given. That said, is there room for me in the campaign? I was thinking about making a Green Lantern-esque character anyway. Maybe an Equestrian peace agent with a magic ring who wanders the land to protect peace and justice, and who happened to come across the island in his travels?

The Warrior of Many Faces wrote:

I honestly can't give any better advice than has already been given. That said, is there room for me in the campaign? I was thinking about making a Green Lantern-esque character anyway. Maybe an Equestrian peace agent with a magic ring who wanders the land to protect peace and justice, and who happened to come across the island in his travels?

^Just curious, but would they be a Unicorn? Not too many races out there that can actually wear a ring (;

BTW - If you played a super pony and I played a super villain, our party interactions could prove to be quite interesting...

Also, DB, don't feel like you need to rush to get your campaign rolling. These things take time, and I think everypony who's posted interest so far is already involved in other campaigns that can preoccupy them in the meantime.

XandZero2 wrote:

The Warrior of Many Faces wrote:

I honestly can't give any better advice than has already been given. That said, is there room for me in the campaign? I was thinking about making a Green Lantern-esque character anyway. Maybe an Equestrian peace agent with a magic ring who wanders the land to protect peace and justice, and who happened to come across the island in his travels?

^Just curious, but would they be a Unicorn? Not too many races out there that can actually wear a ring (;

BTW - If you played a super pony and I played a super villain, our party interactions could prove to be quite interesting...

I was thinking Earth Pony, but you do have a point there about having somewhere to put the thing... then again, I could go with a race with hands. Baby Dragon, maybe?

Also, interparty tension FTW! XD

Hmm so far we have a GL, a supervillian, what ever Xel made most likely something related to his current characters, an archaeologist , and prehaps a selection of noobs one of which looks evil and the other has not been made yet... I am not sure who is the token what now. Blight we may just have to break out the madam and sir if the evil teammates are competent.

I'm going to really withdraw my statement... I've got enough to deal with right this second to join another campaign... Sorry Dr. Bright.

Tigerburningbright - Ragnarok - Hippogriff archeologist
XandZero2 - Dark Horse - super villain scientist
RavenscroftRaven - undecided
The Warrior of Many Faces - ??? - super hero, green lantern

Just a temporary list of who's shown interest. In part to help me keep it in mind while I go.

At the moment I'm mostly working on detailing some NPCs, how some of them might relate to your characters, and trying to figure out how to make a map of sorts.

Hey Blight, could I join? I'm still working out some of the details, but I think my character will be a male Unicorn Pony, who could be the group doctor. He's got a high Knowledge score, with focuses on History and Heal. I'd love to be a part of this, as this will be my first game.

Sure! The official signup/OOC topic isn't even up yet and we may already have a full party!

Tigerburningbright - Ragnarok - Hippogriff archeologist
XandZero2 - Dark Horse - super villain scientist
RavenscroftRaven - undecided
The Warrior of Many Faces - ??? - super hero, green lantern
Subjectz - ??? - Unicorn doctor

Oh this is gonna be good! If anyone has any name ideas, I'm all ears! My character is best with flame magic, and the like. Well, also healing magic, lol.
[Edit]
Also, should we link our character sheets when we're done?

Since we're going with somewhat cheesy character archetypes...

I'll go with a minotaur pirate, Land Lobber. There's treasures buried there, he knows it!

As for Mr(s) Flames 'n Healin', here's a few: Divine Torch, Kindled Passion, Warm Heart, Pyrrhic Victory, Soul Forge, Heated Discussion, Scorch, Indigo Blaze, Dr. Cauterize, and Flaming Idiot.

I suggest the last one. Mix and match, lots of "fire" words exist!

How 'bout: Burning Desire, Burning Passion, Healing Torch (I think that one's particularly catchy, since it plays off of "Healing Touch")... Healing Flame, Heating Pad, Hot & Cold Patch, Flame On, Disco Inferno, Nitros Oxide...

BTW - I also plan on having my character be a doctor, but not a doctor of medicine. I'm still trying to decide whether I should make his 10 stat be Precision (for Mechanics) or Wisdom (for Arcana). I see sci-fi tech as being either high arcana or mechanics - but I'm not sure which yet. Dr Blight, do you have any input on this? Maybe I should give one of those two skill focuses a training, and the other my Cutie-Mark and other training... so I'm able to fuse both to make dooms-day weaponry? (:

Thoughts?