Happy International Game Master’s Day! Without folks willing to sit “behind the screen,” there wouldn’t be much of a hobby, so today I’d like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to every GM out there who’s put in time and creative effort to help groups play roleplaying games. I’m especially grateful for all the GMs who helped me discover this hobby and grow as a game master, including A.P. Klosky and the Elders of the Wittenberg Roleplaying Guild.
To celebrate, I’ve compiled some of my favorite articles I’ve written on the topic of gamemastering. You can also check out some of my recommended books for GMs that are part of the GM’s Day sale going on today at DriveThruRPG.
Where to Begin?
If you’ve never gamemastered before, I recommend using a starter set or beginner game offered for the game you want to run. (I’ll note that so-called “quickstarts” are not necessarily new-GM friendly, as they are designed to get people playing a specific ruleset/game system quickly in an economical package, not to teach a GM the foundations of roleplaying games or how to manage a table of players.) If you have the opportunity to be a player in an RPG session or three before trying to GM, great! Alternatively, you can watch or listen to “actual plays” of your chosen system to get a sense of how the conversation flows during play.
If you are ready to take the leap from running published adventures to those of your own devising, The Beginner’s Guide to Crafting RPG Adventures is my step-by-step guide to creating your own scenarios, starting with brainstorming and organizing your ideas, and culminating in filling in your sandbox with interesting locations, non-player characters, MacGuffins, and magic items.
To help you prepare to run a game that’s new to you or your group, check out my 5 Tips for Gamemastering an RPG System for the First Time, and if you’re nervous or not sure you’ll be able to do a good enough job as a newbie GM, please read my article about How Not to Let Fear or Anxiety Keep You Out of the GM’s Chair.
Leveling Up
If you’ve got some sessions under your belt and are looking to improve, read this post on How to Become a Better Game Master According to Science. If your players are starting to get invested in their characters, check out this article on How to Integrate Character Backstories into RPG Campaigns. And if you’re getting ready to run a lengthier campaign, don’t miss this one on Finding Your Ideal RPG Campaign Organization Method (now updated for 2025).
Special Topics and Advanced Techniques
If you’re comfortable writing your own adventures, but are looking to strike a specific tone or emphasize a particular part of play, I’ve written a few resources on how to Kindle the Noblebright or Go Grimdark in Your RPG Campaign, as well as guidance on Crafting Compelling Social Intrigue Encounters.
I’ve also offered advice on How NOT to Run D&D for Kids, Tweens, & Teens based on my experience running D&D sessions at my local library.
Finally, one-shots are very near and dear to my heart, both as a tabletop RPG professional who’s developed one-shots for publication, as well as someone who’s demoed RPGs at conventions for over ten years running. During that time, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes that I hope you can learn from. Check out this three-part series on the components that go into Running Your Best Convention One Shot: 1) exciting and accessible pre-generated character sheets, 2) a scenario that is optimized for one-off play, and 3) excellent player management at the table.
March Fourth for GM’s Day
I hope one or more of those articles have inspired you to take your first steps on the incredibly rewarding path of becoming a game master, or to continue your journey as a GM. If you found this post helpful, please share it with a friend!
Featured Image by Timothy Dykes on Unsplash
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