There are all different ways to make a character inDungeons & Dragons. You can start with rolls, a character idea, or even just a vibe you want to give off, and then build a character from there.
There are a wealth of ways to play, and with that, there are also plenty of ways to DM for a party too. People who have played for long will know this,but newer fansto the game may not be aware. Depending on what is important to you and what you want to get across in a game, you’ll build the world in a certain way. Which of these best describes your DM style?
The Rules Lawyer
Not every DM style is one that people like. The Rules Lawyer is a DM archetype that most players have witnessed at least once in their time playing D&D.
These DMs focus onrules as writtenover anything else. Even when you have a cool idea that isn’t specifically stated as not possible, they’ll be quick to bring up that it isn’t stated in the handbooks. There is a time and a place to stick to your guns on rules at a table, but these DMs may go overboard from time to time.
The Pre-Planner
There is a lot of preparation that goes into even the most relaxed night of D&D. NPC names, locations, and even items in shops all can be a great thing to prepare for, but some DMs take it the extra step.
Some DMs will have a wealth of pre-planned material for every sit-down. Lists of everything you could need, backup plans, monster stats, and even pre-written details of the setting. These can be really fun DMs, as long as they aren’t upset when something happens that they haven’t prepared for.
The Improviser
On the opposite end of the spectrum from The Pre-Planner comes The Improviser. The name says it all in this DM style: the Improviser flies by the seat of their pants at all times. They have little to nothing prepared for the session, and the thing is, they might actually still run a good game.
Some DMs are just naturally good at improvisation, and those DMs that are consistently Improvisers usually have found a way to do so. They seem to just have it all in their head at all times. Just make sure they aren’t having to retcon things later on as the lore of the game gets more complex.
The Viber
Not all DMs are all business all the time. Depending on how long your party has known each other, you may become, or may even know someone more of a Viber than anything. Vibers don’t mind if the game gets derailed.
Talk about what’s going on in life, a funny story, grab a snack, or do a bit. They don’t much care. They’re focused on everyone having a good time and just hanging out. The game is just an excuse to get you all together. They may also enjoy setting up a room with decor and snacks if you’re in person, or even an online space with music, anything to get everyone feeling happy.
The Gladiator
Dungeons & Dragons is definitely one of the more combat-oriented games in tabletop roleplaying. The creators have done a good job in the newer editions, allowing DMs tosteer their campaigns away from combatif they want to, but some DMs still have that as their main goal for a session.
These DMs need to set up combat every time you meet. RP and travel are just segues into the next fight, and they will focus the rest of the game around these moments. Usually with a DM like this, their combat encounters are pretty well-thought-out, but the RP and world-building may be lacking.
The Helping Hand
This is the perfect kind of DM you’ll want or want to be for new players. DMs that are considered Helping Hands don’t much care about the speed at which D&D runs; they mostly want to make sure everyone is having a good time.
They are more than happy to point out something you may have missed when your characterhas a handy abilityfor a scenario, or to drop hints for your party as to what to do next. These DMs aren’t going to make anything too tough; they just want to make sure everyone is getting the most out of the night playing.
The Painter
Some people like to relate D&D to writing a novel, but you, as the DM, and the party as adventurers all have a hand in writing it. Those DMs that closely align with The Painter are all about building the world around the players above all else.
They focus on long descriptions of the setting, the monsters, and the NPCs that inhabit the world. They are more than happy to see the players interact with said world, and have already thought of ways the setting will react to it. These are great DMs to play with if you don’t mind a bit of a long introduction to new areas.
