How to become a Great Game Master!

[@bigsarge2085]

Your advice is always welcome!

[@aonjmj]

Thus spoke Murphythusela. Thanks for giving Jim, and the merriest of Christmas to you.

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@aonjmj and you

[@pez5767]

Always great to hear from you, Jim. Thank you for sharing your ideas. You know, you really should tell us more stories from those early days of the hobby, there aren't a lot of folks from those early days with the technical accumen to get their stories out on the internet. With the utmost sincerity and respect, the history and lived experiences you carry will be lost unless they're recorded.

[@kingofmayband]

Spectacular Advice and an amazing shirt Jim thanks!

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@kingofmayband my pleasure

[@williamhrbacek1486]

Just started GMing for the first time a month ago for my friends and I gotta say out of all the videos I've watched to prepare, I think you've given some of the best advice I've heard so far. I really appreciate you honing in on the bigger picture mentality of what you're trying to accomplish as a GM, hope to be as good as you some day!

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@williamhrbacek1486 thx, you will Game On!

[@retu3510]

You're right. I had a DM who gave me my favorite item I ever had, because he knew I would like it and it wasn't even a powerful one. So simple. I don't play with him anymore, because I didn't feel save and respected.

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@retu3510 that's to bad. Stay safe.

[@Null9797]

Great advice! Always good to hear from you!

[@jimmurphy1591]

😅Glad it was helpful!

[@NotTheWheel]

Teach us, Oh wise one! \o/

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@NotTheWheel ooommmmmm

[@plymoth1015]

Earthdawn, the most underrated, rich role playing game since the 90s. Needs far more love

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@plymoth1015 I did a video saying that same thing.

[@fransgaard]

Happy holidays to you too, Jim.

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@fransgaard thx

[@jt6510]

Love your vids Mr. Murphy. Thank you

[@jimmurphy1591]

Very welcome

[@robbied8587]

Thank you for the eclectic comments and anecdotes as always

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@robbied8587 love those big words..your welcome

[@jasondhathaway]

Where can I get one of those shirts?

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@jasondhathaway royaure or hard daddy online. Many other companies are getting into it. They can be pretty reasonable and sales often.

[@retu3510]

Hmm, because of my biography I have a strong need to express myself. This is me! This clashes completely with what a great DM does: leave your ego at the door and gift fun to your players. I don't think I will be able to do this for quite a while, maybe never. Thank you for breaking down my fundamental problem :)

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@retu3510 you have to be you but maybe you can work friends in too

[@retu3510]

In all the years of struggleing and trying to run games your comment might be the most valuable one. "you have to be you but maybe you can work friends in too" I will keep this in mind. thank you for the encouragement, Jim, and for the trust that I can find a way that works for me.

[@ianx0164]

Merry christmas to you too

[@swordsnstones]

awesome sir ty

[@johnthebabtist1396]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom! A few questions regarding early gaming: In od&d did you give 100xp/hit dice monster defeated? Did your group changed this when brown Greyhawk book came along introducing lower xp/monster hd and stating previous 100xp/hd as ridiculous.? I’m puzzled. So many methods of rewarding xp. Happy Holidays!

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@johnthebabtist1396there were a lot of homebrew rules. I thought the first was damage done and killing blow. I think the new rules like Greyhawk were adopted with mods by DMs

[@eGregiousGames]

Love you Game Methuselah!

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@eGregiousGames thanks Happy Holidays

[@LinksPB]

Hello Jim, I just had to pause the video to comment at your mention of The Expanse and how it is Traveller. That is what I thought as well when I learned that they started the setting with an RPG, but not quite. They originally played by-post online in the setting with a combination of d20 Modern and d20 Future, heavily modified, with the space combat rules created from scratch by one of the authors, Ty Frank. Daniel Abraham (the other author) and another player of the time said that Ty "disliked with a passion" the d20 Future starship combat rules.

[@LinksPB]

Well, I finished the video :p You reminded me of some things I take for granted from TTRPGs. I will be soon "pulling" some non-gamer friends to the table, and I should be clear with them about the nature of the hobby (what I think is the nature of it at least). My introduction would have been a lot more dryer had I not listened to you here. Thank you.

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@LinksPB see,,,,all rules can work it's the content

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@LinksPB my pleasure

[@Pandaemoni]

My gaming group is scattered across the country now, but playing online (with video) has allowed us to keep gaming for six+ years now. In face we're amount to wrap up (I think) a campaign I've been DMing for 130 sessions/600 hours of gameplay this Friday, all online (I know because we've recorded all the sessions online). Sadly we can't game in person, but we have found a system that works really well for us.

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@Pandaemoni it sounds like you made friend and keep gaming as you can. I do the same. We are all victims of our circumstances.

[@stevemanart]

Group calls via discord or zoom do a lot to bridge the in person game gap, allowing online games to feel a lot more like in person

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@stevemanart better than no game. I do it also, but not as good. But game on!

[@stevemanart]

@@jimmurphy1591 I said bridge teh gap, not be an active replacement. There's no need to get defensive about it.

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@stevemanart how was I defensive, your doing the best you can. Keep doing it. GameOn!

[@D9Games-TwilightofFae]

Well done

[@donwebster9292]

Nice advice as always

[@CraigLoos]

I play up being the adversarial GM as well, sadly saying "I didn't even get to use his best attack before you killed him!", but I really don't care, but I pretend to. I can always make a new villain.

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@CraigLoos oogsbog the might boss ogre did not even get one attack off

[@user-fx9pq7du5s]

Hi Jim, I haven't listened to this vid yet but wanted to ask a quick Q about Enlightened RPG. Are you running magic weapons/items like the classic "+1, or +3" etc? If so, would you recommend adding it to the Attack Roll ( I assume you typically use Coord.), Tier Damage or Bonus Damage etc. Or have you had success running a magical weapon as as granting "ease" or "difficulty"(if cursed) against a certain enemy or situation for instance. I understand it's all customizable I'm just curious to hear how it has gone in your groups. Have they run into issues at high level as people did in TFT. Lastly, let everyone know about the D9 Games channel Steve has good stuff over there to promote this cool game. Keep talking about it. I'm looking forward to running Enlightened. Making a character is quick and rolling with a few d9s feels...just right.:)

[@D9Games-TwilightofFae]

You can grant 1 degree of ease or allow double damage or even an effect!? Fun to create your own

[@user-fx9pq7du5s]

​@@D9Games-TwilightofFae Ok. And you're right. I guess until I use the rules I won't know how much is too much or too little. :) I will come back after I get it to the table over the holidays. I'm used to creating my own but know the systems and parameters of those systems for guideline. Cheers

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@user-fx9pq7du5s +1 to hit roll is minor weapon. A stronger weapon gives you an additional die. The super weapons normally will only give you additional abilities as you use them well or use an enlightenment with them.

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@D9Games-TwilightofFae true you can create whatever you think is reasonable and the unreasonable can be expanded if the sword is more powerful. Or aquires extra abilities as it isused

[@Coramonde97]

Thanks guys great video Jim - Merry Christmas.:) I will continue to spread word about Enlightened. I really love the mechanics. We appreciate all your efforts! I’d love to see a game season series with you and a group at a table playing ERPG over the course of several videos. Think about it.;)

[@matthewvillanueva4420]

Nice

[@BX_Disciple]

First!!Thank you for the great advice!

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@BX_Disciple my pleasure

[@Rensune]

That Hawaiian shirt is divine

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@Rensune Santa is Hawaiian

[@mattdahm4289]

Yes- you are like Yoda to MCDM! Love to see new videos Jim, thank you

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@mattdahm4289 do or do not

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@mattdahm4289 Matt is the best Luke Skywalker. He loves this hobby and loves to share with everyone. He lived on Fritos & Nearbeer for years to not sell out, and worked to stay and create in the game business.

[@kmoustakas]

On line D&D is just not the same. Better to just play an MMO. If everyone's around each other everything is better.

[@age-of-adventure]

Anyone know if Jim has any GM’d any Actual Plays that I can watch?

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@age-of-adventure what would you like to see?

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@age-of-adventure I don't have a studio like the Matt's. I edited down a 4 hour Fantasy Trip on to my channel. But a large pain in the butt. Live would be great but requires resources I do not have. Maybe catch me at a convention or like this weekend at St. Crispens on Anaheim in Anaheim where I do play and run games. Also Monday D& D at Marks and Wednesday Enlighted, both in OC. But live stream is hard since these are not actors.

[@age-of-adventure]

Oh wow, thank you for replying. I live in Australia and it would be just great to see your GM’ing in action. Don’t need actors or anything fancy or high tech. Even a mobile phone has decent video if you did want to give viewers an actual glimpse into how to be a great GM. I find seeing people GM an actual session is always the best way for me to learn how to improve my own GM’ing.

[@jimmurphy1591]

@age-of-adventure do have some live play on my D9-GAMES

[@achiriaco]

Nice shirt

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@achiriaco thx

[@kgeo2686]

Always put the links in the description!!!!

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@kgeo2686 explain?

[@manfredconnor3194]

I wouldn't work for Elon Musk if he paid me. 😅

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@manfredconnor3194 oh ...it would be so much fun. I could help revive old RPGs that are hidden away. Hire back great writers that love the games. Build a gaming network for all RPGs. Help convention grow. Miniatures, support products. Art and you name it. I never made a dime in my four year effort to make gaming better and into status it deserves. I wouldn't a dame about the money.

[@manfredconnor3194]

@jimmurphy1591 I hear you. Recently, I met the guy who designed all of Grenadier models figurines back in the '80s. He has all the original molds in his warehouse. He also made a lot of the miniature designs for several of the other companies we knew and loved. He designed some of the 15mm minis for Traveller too. I asked him if he was going to bring out those designs again. He already has brought some back out, but it's just not competative to revive them all. Plastic minis have replaced lead alloy minis and now everyone is playing online with tokens they can buy or stamp themselves.

[@jimmurphy1591]

@manfredconnor3194 we have a lot of those 15mm traveler minis painted. Don has them in Virginia

[@jimmurphy1591]

@manfredconnor3194 sounds awesome.....keep me in the loop

[@manfredconnor3194]

@@jimmurphy1591 My cousin has most of mine in MD. Another good friend has some of mine in NC. My cousin is the minis painter. He even painted the tiny little 8mm minis that we used for Traveller/Striker Mercenary/Military campaigns! I enjoyed painting, when I had the time back in the 80s, but I was never good, and now I can't see as well, so . . . . I would rather be playing or GM-ing. I have some of our minis here in Europe with me.

[@OminousGlowGames]

Lots of sound advice!

[@everweirdworld]

Bro, do not work for anyone for free. Especially a billionaire. 1:02

[@jimmurphy1591]

@@everweirdworld if he gave me a bucket of money. A salary means nothing to me . I'm retired. If I pay off my house and travel to game cons. I don't care about the money. It's the jazz and seeing success with everyone.

[@everweirdworld]

@ as long as you get a bucket of money 😁

[@jimmurphy1591]

@everweirdworld it could even be a small bucket. I like the work and spreading the love of gaming. I can't take it all with me.