😱But Who is the Game Master?!

Out of everybody in the group, the game master, or GM, is the one who is undoubtedly going to be putting the most effort into the game. It can often feel like a bit of a drawing straws scenario where someone has to put up with the extra work so everybody can enjoy a game. Chances are if you are introducing a new game to your friends, you're going to be the one to run the game since you "know the rules" or whatever excuse your buddies come up with.

I'm here to tell you you need not fret: Becoming a GM is easy! It's becoming a great GM that's hard. I'll give you a few hints and shortcuts that can make preparing a game from scratch, potentially even for the first time, much easier.

Don't start from nothing! Chances are if you're playing this game, you love RPG games, anime, fantasy or all the above. You can steal all kinds of things from your previous experiences. You can steal characters, history, maybe even an entire world from your favorite media. Nintendo isn't going to sue you if you make your exploration game off Breath of the Wild. What they won't know won't hurt them.

Start saving now. This is not financial advice. No but seriously. I'm still assuming a bit here, but I'm guessing you use something like twitter or YouTube for entertainment. Maybe you're even the artsy type and you browse Deviant Art or Pinterest...Though those places have become AI cesspools...Anyway, you're going to want to fill your worlds with people, places and things! Find pictures and videos that inspire you. Being inspired by something is your creative brain salivating at the idea of making it your own. Whether you find pictures of old ruins you want your players to explore, an awesome monster you want them to fight, or NPCs to fill your towns with, you need these things to make the world feel great. Maybe you can even commission someone if you're feeling generous and need something specific.