In recent years, the popularity of table-top role-playing has been on the upswing. This can be traced back to the hobby playing a big role in popular shows likeStranger Things. The release ofDungeons & Dragons 5ehas helped bolster the hobby as well.D&D 5eis very user-friendly and much more inviting to new players than other games. Once players become familiar with the ins-and-outs of the table-top RPG, they move on to other games and systems likePathfinderorCall of Cthulhu.
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Eventually, most players want to try their hands at running a game. Becoming a Dungeon Master (DM) or the more general Game Master (GM) requires more than a core rule book and a basic understanding of how things work. Running and designing a game can become something like a part-time job or feel like homework. Like most jobs and homework, GMs are going to need the tools to see their work through.
Updated on August 10, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra:Dungeons and Dragons is one of the most popular tabletop role-playing franchises around. The sheer amount of influence this system has had on everything fromthe JRPG genre to the inception of western role-playing gamesis astounding, making Dungeons and Dragons one of the most culturally significant and important releases of all time. Each session of DnD requires a good DM to maintain the pace of the campaign and introduce threats organically, and here are some skills that will help any aspiring DM craft a wondering and exciting campaign for their friends.
15Boundless Imagination
The most important skill in any DM’s arsenal is the ability to concoct several exciting scenarios that players can get invested in. Following pre-planned scenarios is good enough but only till a point — participants would want a more personalized approach sooner rather than later.
A DM with boundless imagination can craft highly engaging campaigns that test a player to their very limit. It’s easy to see why having a ton of imagination is crucial to ensure the best experience around.
14Great Improvisation Skills
Great campaigns tend to swerve from the beaten path, with many people proposing wild and unique solutions to any given problem. While certain DMs tend to favor a rigid path, a good DM understands the point of flexible roleplay for a conducive session.
With good improvisation skills, a DM can turn a relatively tame session into something truly exciting and stimulating. Quick thinking is important for any DnD game to become a legendary time.
13The Understanding Of How To Craft A Tough Yet Fair Game
A DnD session that is too easy can leave players wanting for more, whilea game that is unreasonably hardwill be more frustrating than fun. A good DM knows how to strike a balance here.
A campaign that is tough yet fair offers up plenty of challenges without feeling too oppressive or easygoing. Great DMs are known for crafting well-thought-out campaigns that are highly engaging and challenging.
12Good Communication Skills
A DM needs to interact with each player and carefully integrate their actions into the main narrative. With good communication skills, all of these diverse opinions and tasks can be incorporated into the main campaign with ease.
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Properly speaking and listening to a player is also important to help everyone feel involved. Failing to do so can lead to certain players not having fun, which beats the point of sitting down for a DnD session.
11An Open Mind
There are times when DMs craft an extremely scripted campaign that is extremely rigid and linear. While this might seem engaging at first glance, the whole point of a DnD session is for players toroleplay as they see fit.
As a result, DMs should be ready for things to go off-script instead of sticking to the script. The latter makes for a limiting and frustrating experience that many fans might not have a great time with.
10Wet Erase Grid Mat And Markers
Nearly every GM incorporates “theater of the mind” into their games, but many tabletop systems encourage the use of a physical representation of the playing field. Having something to help visualize the battle or dungeon comes in handy when considering all the different combat rules that arise.
It’s preferable for a player to see how they receive or fall victim to something like an attack of opportunity or trap. Otherwise, positioning is at the whim of the GM and games are more fun for a player when not trying to visualize the battlefield in their head. Drawing the map for your players helps immensely.
9Grid Paper
A good GM shouldn’t rely on their memory alone to plot out the floor of a complicated dungeon. The GM needs a reference for drawing out a map or dungeon and there’s nothing better to accomplish this than graph paper. The squares on the paper can be easily transferred 1 to 1 on a grid mat for easy dungeon and battlefield design.
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A library of dungeons and battlefields physically on hand makes them re-usable. A single dungeon from a sprawling campaign can easily be selected and dropped into a quick one-off adventure.
8Miniatures
A map on a grid can’t represent the playing field alone. Players and GMs will want to include miniatures (“mini-figs”) into their games to mark player and NPC positions. Since everything is now represented visually, none of the GM’s players will be at a loss as to what they can and can’t do in regard to movement. This is a great boon for every gaming table.
It’s also fun to have a visible representation of the characters to help immerse players in the world. A whole sub-hobby of miniature and model painting is huge among table-top game players.
7Area Of Effect Templates
Area of effect (AoE) templates represent the area on a grid map that a spell or power can cover. There are a lot of options out there for AoE templates. Many options can be found in local game shops and online. Some are simply wire perimeters that can be set down on the map. There are also large, clear plastic areas that can be held above the action.
DIY AoE templates are easily made. Because the grid-map squares are 1-inch by 1-inch, the areas can be measured onto foam project board and cut out. However, an AoE template is made, it’s great to have on hand.
6Combat Risers
Since most TTRPGs offer a number of powers and abilities, a character is eventually going to fly. It can get pretty tricky keeping track of which character is flying and exactly how high. To convey flight, there are a number of different styles of combat risers available.
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Some are very simple, like a clear plastic base that elevates a miniature and utilizes a die to represent height. Others are high-end elevated platforms that follow the same grid system as a combat grid. Extensions can be purchased to change the height of the platforms. Risers literally add another dimension to your game.
