Tip #5: “Highlighting specific rules by giving them their own session” really transformed the way that I booted up my current Blades in the Dark game. There was a lot of stuff going on and I didn’t want to unleash everything on the table all at once, so I’ve been introducing rules and mechanisms session by session. It’s been a huge success - it allowed me to start simple and bring more and more complexity over time without overloading the players or myself.
I find something that really helps me is watching the myriad content out there of people running that game. While I'm sure there will be errors in that content, it helps me understand the flow of things really quickly. And also it can introduce you to the 'meta' understandings of that game, 'oh grappling seems potent against casters because it prevents them using their arms' etc. Then when viewing that content make little notes to yourself on questions you have or rules that sound more advanced than what you first assumed.
Yeah. With one exception, I only watch APs either to see how a system runs or how a specific adventure/campaign. It's really useful, although I do get a bit annoyed when it turns out they're using house rules and haven't said that up-front.
Game designers would be wise to incorporate these ideas. A quick-start rule set with a one-shot adventure with pregens that highlight what the game is about.
For each of the last few videos the timing has been amazing. Almost every one has been something I have been looking for that week. I very much appreciate how you are able to pass so much information in less than 10 minutes, while still making it entertaining enough I can re-watch it as I take notes. (I already pre-ordered the book, but I need something until then). Thank you for the work you have been putting into these!
Although I understand English well enough to be able to learn a new rpg, I always translate the manual into my language because for me it’s the best method to memorize the rules and understand the mechanics.
That fourth tip on co-opting expertise, specifically the “turnabout is fair play” use of one’s own players - that’s just some classic Justin Alexander cleverness right there. Also, Seth Skorkowsky made a highly complementary but quite different on this subject that people might find useful.
Some great advice. I’m planning on GMing (for the first time since right after high school either the Fantasy trip or my version of D&D life which would be about 70% of Deathbringer. My favorite nugget is do a one-shot and then start up the campaign once you, and in this case my daughter, understands the rules.
It might take away from the process, but I have seen recently that some TTRPG's actually already have "cheat sheets" available for purchase or download. Cyberpunk RED is a good example of this, the cheat sheet runs about 30 pages as it includes highly summarised world lore, pre-gen character sheets and a couple of maps.
Great video on this subject. I have been a GM for over 40 years, and your videos and website are proof that you can always learn something new from others. I always appreciate your insights; they are well thought out and concise as well. Keep up the good work and yes I have been a subscriber and like your videos as I encounter them. Sincerely.
Another tip derived from "Read the Manual" is "Read the Errata". Check if the game's maker has published an official errata/FAQ document; if so, get it and read it in tandem with the rulebook. Doing this might save you and your players from a lot of trouble over sections of the rules which contain errors, ambiguous wording, or broken/unbalanced mechanics which weren't fixed before publication.
I have one simple tool that helps me find what I need in a book very quickly: the humble Post-It tab (their flags work just as well). I put the tab on relevant pages that I think I might need to look up during the game. I put a tab on stat bonuses, on weapon mechanics, on combat mechanics, on the first page of spells, on my character's "class," if the game uses those (or all the classes if I'm the GM).
Play the game solo. If it has solo rules built in, great! If not, find an emulator that works for you and try it. Solo makes you learn the rules but at your own pace. And there's no pressure of having to 'move things along'. It's a great way to learn a system.
Great advice. Players should also RTFM, but GMs really need to at least cover the rules once before they really consider running within a given system.
I tried having a co-rules looker upper. It just caused so many issues at my table. I just default to, if I don’t know the rule I will make a ruling and then correct myself after the session. I just find players really don’t like when other players tell them how something works and it more often than not turned into a fight of one players interpretation vs the others.
What timing, I was planning a one shot to introduce my players to a system called OVA, focusing on Mechs. Great video to remind me of what I should do to prep and help make it go smoothly over.
I have a question about a consequence of one of your suggestions. When I can't remember a rule during the session and can't find it in the rules, I just make a call and move on. Of course I tell my players this. But sometimes (not always) it happens that my call puts a player at a disadvantage when compared to the actual rule (i.e. they fail a roll they shouldn't have failed). This can lead to frustration when said player learns how the rule actually works. That usually happens at the beginning of the next session when it's too late to change the result. This hasn't led to any major problem and my players understand that this can happen, but it's still a bit frustrating to them. It makes me feel bad too, because it wasn't my intention to put them at a disadvantage when making a judgment on the spot. :/ Do you think it's warranted to make it up to them in some small way? Like give them a point of meta-currency that many TTRPGs use to improve rolls or something like that as compensation? Or should one just move on and vow to do better? I know it probably depends on the group's dynamic and the relationship between the GM and their players as well as their understanding of fairness, but I'd like to hear your opinion on this.
A meta-currency for "oops, my bad" is a great technique. But also: 1. If I'm not certain what the rule is, I'll usually err on the side of the PCs. (There are exceptions. But, when in doubt...) This can avoid the problem entirely. 2. It can be useful, if you're still catching flack, to say, "Hey. I hear your concerns. But to be clear: I'm not the only one at this table who didn't know the rules. I asked if anyone here knew it, remember?" As a GM, I'm often privileged to be the one to teach the players a new game. But the GM isn't the only one at the table with the opportunity or the responsibility to learn the rules of the game.
Definitely a solid video, and well timed considering that my group is starting Pathfinder 2 this weekend. Thankfully I can tell I'm already on the right path. My (incomplete) cheat sheet for Pathfinder 2 is 879 lines long :D
Thanks! As always, this is great advice for DMs! I especially like how you formatted the video with your numbered steps on the screen the entire time. This is good for reinforcing your message. I'm looking forward to my preordered copy of your book. P.S. Put some more interesting trinkets behind you to jazz up that beige wall above the bookshelf. I know you have more stuff to show off, right? :)
Walking through character creation once as a GM, even just to create a mock character, can also be really helpful when you're helping your players work their way through it.
@@TheAlexandrian coming from a Wargaming background, I would pick a couble of newly made PC - or any other kind of opposed encounter (Learning by doing)
I also find that following these tips (particularly the cheat sheet) makes it a lot easier to pick up a game after I've taken a break from it for awhile.
Yeah, if you accept the inevitable shortcomings as completely normal, you can just decide and do this. I believe in you! But please, for the love of god, don't try this "from cover to cover" from step 1 with GURPS' Basic Set =D
@@TheAlexandrian , yeah, GURPS is super educational. However, I'd like to add that Third edition's Basic Set is 275 pages, but Fourth edition's one is 580! It took me a year to read near all of it XD
Thank the gods you advocated for READING THE MANUAL. I don’t know how many games I’ve been in where it was totally obvious the lazy GM was winging all the rules. Boooo
I disagree with step 1. I run about a dozen different games and never read a single RPG book "cover to cover". And I would actually argue against it. RPG books are technical manuals. They're not designed to be "read cover to cover". If you're going to run a level 1 dungeon crawler one shot to demo the system, you don't need to read in advance what the rules for running level 10 characters or what special rules it has for playing a murder mystery. Then after running your first demo one shot, you can read the rules on running campaigns and start prepping your campaign. And so on. The Contents and the Index pages are the most important pages in a TTRPG book. If you cna understand how those are organised, you can read instantly whatever is relevant while you're prepping.
This works GREAT if you have a rulebook that clearly indicates which rules are only required for running 10th level characters (or whatever other division is relevant here). I've read a lot of RPG rulebooks, and I can honestly only think of one RPG I've seen that actually does that: The 1983 D&D rules, by virtue of splitting the rules into the Basic, Expert, Companion, and Master boxed sets (each covering a different range of levels). (You can kinda, sorta get similar functionality from a Starter Set. But then you should read the Starter Set cover-to-cover, so the advice still holds.) Failing that, the only way to make sure you've actually identified which rules you do and do not need for your first session is to... read the rulebook.
@@TheAlexandrian My experience here is as soon as you get to a "list" section in a book (like a spell or feat list), you can read a subsection of it, scanning it without needing to go through every one. Each of these are less rules and more specific exceptions. It's okay to not know all of them, but instead to study the ones your players choose (and dip into them if you're buildng a relevant NPC). Sure reading everything is nice to do, but I wouldn't say it's strictly necessary to do so.
Tip #5: “Highlighting specific rules by giving them their own session” really transformed the way that I booted up my current Blades in the Dark game. There was a lot of stuff going on and I didn’t want to unleash everything on the table all at once, so I’ve been introducing rules and mechanisms session by session. It’s been a huge success - it allowed me to start simple and bring more and more complexity over time without overloading the players or myself.
"Sucking at something is the first step to being sorta good at something" - Jake the Dog
Eternal truth.
I find something that really helps me is watching the myriad content out there of people running that game. While I'm sure there will be errors in that content, it helps me understand the flow of things really quickly. And also it can introduce you to the 'meta' understandings of that game, 'oh grappling seems potent against casters because it prevents them using their arms' etc. Then when viewing that content make little notes to yourself on questions you have or rules that sound more advanced than what you first assumed.
Great tip!
Yeah. With one exception, I only watch APs either to see how a system runs or how a specific adventure/campaign. It's really useful, although I do get a bit annoyed when it turns out they're using house rules and haven't said that up-front.
Game designers would be wise to incorporate these ideas. A quick-start rule set with a one-shot adventure with pregens that highlight what the game is about.
Absolutely! Exactly why I took this approach with both Infinity and Magical Kitties Save the Day.
Your Numenera cheat sheet/GM screen is what got me onto your site years ago and now your UA-cam channel. Thanks for that, super useful.
You're welcome! Great to hear other people find those cheat sheets useful!
For each of the last few videos the timing has been amazing. Almost every one has been something I have been looking for that week.
I very much appreciate how you are able to pass so much information in less than 10 minutes, while still making it entertaining enough I can re-watch it as I take notes. (I already pre-ordered the book, but I need something until then).
Thank you for the work you have been putting into these!
Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos and I hope you enjoy the book even more!
Although I understand English well enough to be able to learn a new rpg, I always translate the manual into my language because for me it’s the best method to memorize the rules and understand the mechanics.
What a fantastic way to familiarize yourself with the rules! And also a great resource for the whole table to benefit from!
That fourth tip on co-opting expertise, specifically the “turnabout is fair play” use of one’s own players - that’s just some classic Justin Alexander cleverness right there. Also, Seth Skorkowsky made a highly complementary but quite different on this subject that people might find useful.
I'll have to check out that video from Seth for myself! Thanks for the pointer!
Some great advice.
I’m planning on GMing (for the first time since right after high school either the Fantasy trip or my version of D&D life which would be about 70% of Deathbringer.
My favorite nugget is do a one-shot and then start up the campaign once you, and in this case my daughter, understands the rules.
It might take away from the process, but I have seen recently that some TTRPG's actually already have "cheat sheets" available for purchase or download. Cyberpunk RED is a good example of this, the cheat sheet runs about 30 pages as it includes highly summarised world lore, pre-gen character sheets and a couple of maps.
Always worth checking out for games that include them!
Great video on this subject. I have been a GM for over 40 years, and your videos and website are proof that you can always learn something new from others. I always appreciate your insights; they are well thought out and concise as well. Keep up the good work and yes I have been a subscriber and like your videos as I encounter them. Sincerely.
Thanks! I'm humbled to offer any insight to a veteran like yourself!
Another tip derived from "Read the Manual" is "Read the Errata".
Check if the game's maker has published an official errata/FAQ document; if so, get it and read it in tandem with the rulebook.
Doing this might save you and your players from a lot of trouble over sections of the rules which contain errors, ambiguous wording, or broken/unbalanced mechanics which weren't fixed before publication.
I have one simple tool that helps me find what I need in a book very quickly: the humble Post-It tab (their flags work just as well). I put the tab on relevant pages that I think I might need to look up during the game. I put a tab on stat bonuses, on weapon mechanics, on combat mechanics, on the first page of spells, on my character's "class," if the game uses those (or all the classes if I'm the GM).
That's a great tip!
Play the game solo. If it has solo rules built in, great! If not, find an emulator that works for you and try it. Solo makes you learn the rules but at your own pace. And there's no pressure of having to 'move things along'. It's a great way to learn a system.
Nice tip!
So much value in a video under 10 minutes! Thank you.
Great advice. Players should also RTFM, but GMs really need to at least cover the rules once before they really consider running within a given system.
I tried having a co-rules looker upper. It just caused so many issues at my table. I just default to, if I don’t know the rule I will make a ruling and then correct myself after the session. I just find players really don’t like when other players tell them how something works and it more often than not turned into a fight of one players interpretation vs the others.
Thank you for the great video! :D I've been dreaming of running some Call of Cthulhu, and this is exactly what I needed!
I've actually followed this exact procedure with Call of Cthulhu for multiple groups! Works great!
What timing, I was planning a one shot to introduce my players to a system called OVA, focusing on Mechs. Great video to remind me of what I should do to prep and help make it go smoothly over.
Hope your one-shot goes great!
I have a question about a consequence of one of your suggestions. When I can't remember a rule during the session and can't find it in the rules, I just make a call and move on. Of course I tell my players this. But sometimes (not always) it happens that my call puts a player at a disadvantage when compared to the actual rule (i.e. they fail a roll they shouldn't have failed). This can lead to frustration when said player learns how the rule actually works. That usually happens at the beginning of the next session when it's too late to change the result. This hasn't led to any major problem and my players understand that this can happen, but it's still a bit frustrating to them. It makes me feel bad too, because it wasn't my intention to put them at a disadvantage when making a judgment on the spot. :/
Do you think it's warranted to make it up to them in some small way? Like give them a point of meta-currency that many TTRPGs use to improve rolls or something like that as compensation? Or should one just move on and vow to do better? I know it probably depends on the group's dynamic and the relationship between the GM and their players as well as their understanding of fairness, but I'd like to hear your opinion on this.
A meta-currency for "oops, my bad" is a great technique.
But also:
1. If I'm not certain what the rule is, I'll usually err on the side of the PCs. (There are exceptions. But, when in doubt...) This can avoid the problem entirely.
2. It can be useful, if you're still catching flack, to say, "Hey. I hear your concerns. But to be clear: I'm not the only one at this table who didn't know the rules. I asked if anyone here knew it, remember?"
As a GM, I'm often privileged to be the one to teach the players a new game. But the GM isn't the only one at the table with the opportunity or the responsibility to learn the rules of the game.
@@TheAlexandrian Thanks for the reply! I'll keep that in mind! :)
Very helpful video, thank you!!
Definitely a solid video, and well timed considering that my group is starting Pathfinder 2 this weekend. Thankfully I can tell I'm already on the right path. My (incomplete) cheat sheet for Pathfinder 2 is 879 lines long :D
That's a lot of cheat on a lot of sheet. :D
Thanks! As always, this is great advice for DMs! I especially like how you formatted the video with your numbered steps on the screen the entire time. This is good for reinforcing your message.
I'm looking forward to my preordered copy of your book.
P.S. Put some more interesting trinkets behind you to jazz up that beige wall above the bookshelf. I know you have more stuff to show off, right? :)
A bucket of coffee, and sit down and simulate a combat or other encounter - maybe with a helper
Walking through character creation once as a GM, even just to create a mock character, can also be really helpful when you're helping your players work their way through it.
@@TheAlexandrian coming from a Wargaming background, I would pick a couble of newly made PC - or any other kind of opposed encounter (Learning by doing)
Great video, Justin. Thank you!
You're welcome!
Helpful as always!
Glad you think so!
Where do you get your bookshelves? My gaming books are making my book shelves sag badly, and I think your shelves look a lot better then mine lol
Great video as usual.
Thanks!
I have a reasonable degree of mastery in the system I am current running as a GM, but I still use 90% of this tips anyways.
I also find that following these tips (particularly the cheat sheet) makes it a lot easier to pick up a game after I've taken a break from it for awhile.
Yeah, if you accept the inevitable shortcomings as completely normal, you can just decide and do this. I believe in you! But please, for the love of god, don't try this "from cover to cover" from step 1 with GURPS' Basic Set =D
Reading GURPS 3rd Edition cover-to-cover was a major milestone in my life as a gamer.
@@TheAlexandrian , yeah, GURPS is super educational.
However, I'd like to add that Third edition's Basic Set is 275 pages, but Fourth edition's one is 580! It took me a year to read near all of it XD
Thank the gods you advocated for READING THE MANUAL. I don’t know how many games I’ve been in where it was totally obvious the lazy GM was winging all the rules. Boooo
100%.
"But I don't want to read 600 pages!"
Then you really should find a game that doesn't have 600 pages of rules. You'll be so much happier!
I disagree with step 1. I run about a dozen different games and never read a single RPG book "cover to cover". And I would actually argue against it. RPG books are technical manuals. They're not designed to be "read cover to cover".
If you're going to run a level 1 dungeon crawler one shot to demo the system, you don't need to read in advance what the rules for running level 10 characters or what special rules it has for playing a murder mystery. Then after running your first demo one shot, you can read the rules on running campaigns and start prepping your campaign. And so on. The Contents and the Index pages are the most important pages in a TTRPG book. If you cna understand how those are organised, you can read instantly whatever is relevant while you're prepping.
This works GREAT if you have a rulebook that clearly indicates which rules are only required for running 10th level characters (or whatever other division is relevant here).
I've read a lot of RPG rulebooks, and I can honestly only think of one RPG I've seen that actually does that: The 1983 D&D rules, by virtue of splitting the rules into the Basic, Expert, Companion, and Master boxed sets (each covering a different range of levels).
(You can kinda, sorta get similar functionality from a Starter Set. But then you should read the Starter Set cover-to-cover, so the advice still holds.)
Failing that, the only way to make sure you've actually identified which rules you do and do not need for your first session is to... read the rulebook.
@@TheAlexandrian My experience here is as soon as you get to a "list" section in a book (like a spell or feat list), you can read a subsection of it, scanning it without needing to go through every one.
Each of these are less rules and more specific exceptions. It's okay to not know all of them, but instead to study the ones your players choose (and dip into them if you're buildng a relevant NPC). Sure reading everything is nice to do, but I wouldn't say it's strictly necessary to do so.