11 GMing Tips I Learned from Being a Parent
Sometimes running a game feels like herding a group of toddlers through the glassware department of a department store while carrying an armload of wet cats. While most of the time players act like the responsible adults they usually are, there are times that I feel I’ve got a table full of cranky toddlers. On those times, I’ve found the following parenting skills really useful:
- Never give your players an option you hate.
- Look for ways to say “yes.”
- Don’t tell your players what their character thinks, just tell them what they can do.
- Don’t give in to whining.
- Never be afraid to say “no.”
- Limit their choices, if need be, but let the players make their own choices
- When everyone’s tired and hungry, take a break
- Admit when you’re wrong.
- Apologize when you need to.
- Let players make their own mistakes
- Insist on good manners.
How about you? What parenting (teaching, whatever) tips have you found helpful as a GM?
[Photo courtesy of fiskfisk under the Creative Commons 2 license]
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I would add:
Remember your job is to provide an environment where people can grow and thrive.
@John Lewis: Thanks. That’s a really good one, too. I think sometimes as GMs, we can forget the “and thrive” part.