When I was taking my teacher classes, we were encouraged to be “Reflective Teachers,” even to keep a teaching journal or diary. Â While few teachers have the time to write a diary, most good teachers do try to evaluate their lessons and make improvements. Â We may formalize those suggestions in post-observation reports or discussions with administrators, or we may just keep sprucing up our lessons and labs each year on our own.
In the same manner, good GM’s are reflective as well. Â While most of us do not have time to write post-session journals, we should make a little effort to mentally assess how our games went. Â Below is a list of questions to help with that process. The suggestions are listed for several gaming situations, though many of them cross-over.
FOR A CONVENTION OR ONE-SHOT GAME
- Did I introduce myself and give the players a chance to introduce themselves, even if it is only their name and what they usually play?
- Did I briefly explain any dice rolling conventions or special rules for the game?
- Did I make sure everyone had dice or other needed materials?
- Did I make an effort to involve folks who were not participating? Â (An easy way to do this is when the party is talking to an NPC. Â You can ask “Do you have anything you’d like to ask them before we move on?” Â Or better yet, have the NPC ask.)
- Did I make an effort to be fair to all the players as much as is reasonable? Â (And for a one-shot, even to lean things in the players favor? Â After all, they signed up for your session over others).
- Did I thank them afterwards?
FOR THE START OF A NEW CAMPAIGN
- Is the campaign theme clear in my head, and did I make things clear to the players before they signed on? Â (For example, a DM shouldn’t spring “adult” themes on unsuspecting players. Â I’ve heard of this happening and folks walking away from the campaign.)
- Did I help with character creation or character choice so that everyone has a role to play? Â Did I try to accommodate unusual requests, while still avoiding overpowered or unworkable characters?
- Did I tell players whether this is a limited duration campaign, or an open-ended, ongoing campaign?
- Did I make sure players understand any house rules, prohibited classes, or rules changes that will be used during this campaign?
DURING AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN
- Did I give a clear recap of previous sessions at the beginning of each session?
- Did I ask players to help with the recap or remind me of anything I missed?
- Did I make fair accommodations for players who can’t make it? Â (Usually better than killing their character while they are away).
- Did I make sure to give each player their turn in the spotlight?
- Did I handle rules questions (or even challenges) calmly and fairly?
- Did I make sure that the players were talking at least as much as I did, and preferably more?
- Did I summarize the session at the end to give them some sense of accomplishment?
FOR ANY CAMPAIGN
- Are they having fun?
- Are you having fun?
- Are your players coming back?
This list isn’t meant to be exhaustive.  Nor I am trying to suggest that we will all hit all of these notes every time  (I’m sure I don’t). It’s only meant to be a start, and please feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments section.
Viola Spolin lists, in her book Theater Games, questions that she ask herself while sidecoaching actors on the stage through improv exercises during rehearsal. While this is about theater, I can see a lot of similarities in roleplaying games. Funny thing is that she calls her techniques for “games” and the actors for “players”.
1. Am I giving enough energy?
2. Am I staying overlong on mechanics?
3. Which players need individual attention?
4. Do they need more workshops?
5. Are rehearsals to drawn out?
6. Am I nagging the players?
7. Am I attacking them?
8. Are the actors working at odds with me?
9. Is the problem physical or psychological?
10. Am I just being a traffic manager?
11. Is it necessary to stimulate more spontaneity?
12. Am I overanxious?
13. Am I asking them for more than they can give me at this time?
14. Am I reaching the intuitive?
I can recognize myself asking the first three in my game mastering today, but the fourth is something I want to include more. I’m already doing exercises today, at the beginning of the session, to show how I and the rest of the players should communicate when I’m the game master, but I would like to reflect during the coarse of the game if I need to hit the brakes and do exercises to relieve spontaneity and creativity even more. Nagging and attacking is something I’ve seen on conventions, where people who are fired up are attacking a shy or undetermined player with directed questions. I always aim to build a creative environment where everybody feels safe enough to contribute to “the story” or “the experience” of the game. To do that, you need to be compassionate and calm, but still feed the group with energy. Don’t force yourself upon the others, but cherish what they do – either by telling them how good they are or by building on their ideas.
“Don’t force yourself upon the others, but cherish what they do – either by telling them how good they are or by building on their ideas.”
That’s gold, Rickard, pure gold. My players have told me that our best sessions have been when I have been able to weave character backstory into the game. If I can put it as a saying: “The players’ ideas are more important than the GM’s.”
Nice stuff from that theater course too. I like number ten, about being a traffic manager. The real trick is not to just wave them along through the encounter, but to make each encounter more memorable. I’m still working on that one. It is big on my list of ways to improve.
These are awesome questions to ask of ones self before, during, and after a game.
I especially appreciate the convention/one shot questions as that’s the best place to draw in new players and get them hooked on the hobby.
Thanks for reading Angela, and I agree about con games. Also, I’ve been able to run two short games this year for my high school students during off-times. They LOVE it. I only wish I could accommodate them with more gaming, but adult real life and all that.
Still, there is a hunger for this kind of gaming, something beyond staring at a cellphone screen. Good GM’s out there, YOU will make that happen. Put your game out there, even if it is awkward at first. You’ll be surprised.
(Just don’t do it during work hours. I’d like you to eat, too)
I’m glad you included the advice to introduce yourself to your players for the con game list.
I made my own list of con game rules a while back and took a bunch of flack (I think on RPG.net) for even bothering to mention that introducing yourself to your table might be a good idea.
I can’t imagine not introducing myself, Let alone perpetuating the misanthropy of some gamers.
I agree, there are a lot of jerks on forums. Here’s one way to think of it: would you go on a 4-5 hour hike with people and not introduce yourself? Would you work at a volunteer activity all day and not introduce yourself?
Thanks for looking at my column, and trust me, I was writing the list to remind myself of stuff as much as any reader.