DM-Nastics #149: Show 'em the Ropes

As a GM who has brought a few people into the hobby I'll throw in a few things, a bit higgledy piggledy but here we go =)

i see it as my role as GM introduce them to the table a bit like a pro wrestler, who they are, why they'll be great at the table, why I am excited they are there, then introduce the other players

run a session zero - or a mini one if they are joining an existing group. Lay ground rules of inclusion, safety, agency and fun

I also run them through the 6 kinds of fun'and ask them to give me their top 3

have them sit nearest me and tell them I'm their as their anytime help

I always give a set of dice and a dice bag to anyone new at my table

if they are up for it steer action, or at least a decision their way asap and get them rolling

Mechanically I tell everyone about the one mechanic to bind them all: D20 + Modifier v Target

I've made a printable (will try and dig up and link here) that breaks it down by weapon attack, spell attack, ability check, skill check.

I think I'll try to tackle #4 (first character death) since that's a heavy one. I've seen even experienced players get worked up on this. It can certainly hurt a lot when you lose a character that you've put so much time, thought, and effort into.


1. What could you do to prepare the player ahead of time?


Especially in a game with new players, I would not want to run a really deadly game where characters could drop at any time. There's a place for games like that, but I think that might be a little rough on newbies. What that means is that character death won't really be on the table until the campaign gets to a high stakes boss fight sort of moment. That presents an opportunity for a little pep talk. The party kicks in the door to the cultists' ritual chamber right as a horrible demon is summoned and the fight for the fate of the kingdom is on. I'd pause the game here and remind the players that this is a highly dangerous situation, and character death is a genuine possibility. I'd try to spin it positively; you may die, but this is a chance for heroic martyrdom. Characters may die, but their legend can live on. Also, depending on the setting, resurrection might be possible. Having the new player recognize the danger is really important, so that they don't feel blindsided if/when it actually happens.


2. How could you craft the scenario to help the new player?


I mentioned that it could be an opportunity for heroic martyrdom, and that's definitely something I'd lean into. It would be a mistake to design an encounter like this as a simple war-of-attrition slugfest; if a character goes down and all they have to show for it is a dozen dead minions, that's a recipe for feel bads. Rather, I'd want there to be some nice juicy targets that are worth sacrificing for. If I was using that cult ritual chamber I described, maybe there are some magical crystals which, if broken, seriously weaken or even destroy the demon. A character who is cut down right as he shatters the crystal and sends the demon back to hell is going to feel like they really saved the day. Similarly, if that character is being more straightforward and attacking minions/cultists, maybe I could have them gang up on that character. This puts the character in serious danger, but it also means that their companions are free to destroy the crystals or focus on the demon. You could turn that into a "I'll hold them off! Get the demon!" type of moment.


3. How could use another player to help?


In the heat of this example fight I've been going with, an experienced roleplayer could definitely play up the drama of the sacrifice. It could be awesome to have a sort of "Bob the fighter! NOOOOOOOOO!" as the moment approaches. After the fight and presumed death, portraying the grief felt by the surviving companions and honoring the sacrifice made (We couldn't have done it without you. Rest in peace, brother.) can go a long way towards making the death feel worth it for the player. In an out-of-character sense, experienced players can share stories of older characters they've lost. That could be really helpful for a new player who's really feeling attached to that dead character.


4. How could you use the aftermath to teach?


I would definitely pull the player aside after the session for a 1-on-1 about what the death means and where to go from there. I'd ask about the character's contacts and friends in the setting and how they might react. That could potentially have some far-reaching impacts in the world. If the character had, say, an old wizard who mentored them as a child, maybe that wizard will go above and beyond to help the party in memory of the deceased, or maybe to help avenge them. This last point is very setting-specific, but we can also talk about what happens to the character's soul in death. Do they go somewhere that they could perhaps be retrieved from? Or maybe in a more horror-style campaign, the villains could raise/possess the corpse and turn the dead character into a tragic new villain.