I've been PFSing as a player for over a year and for the most part really enjoyed it. I'm considering starting to make the jump into GMing scenarios (I've done it for a brief home brew campaign and thought it was fun).
If/when I make the plunge I would make the following requests at the beginning of any scenario:
1) Please know your character. Given that I am relatively new I will be ignorant to questions unless I've seen that same issue come up in prior scenarios. If you have a ? then look it up between turns if at all possible.
2) Avoid distractions (cell phones, side conversations). As a new player it is really annoying when people stop the game to go on a tangent about a different character than they are playing or about a different scenario. I understand during breaks it's fun to chat about those things, but not during combat or box text description.
3) The more the PC's metagame the more I would have the NPC's metagame.
4) Announce who's on deck in an effort to keep things moving.
5) Keep a track of what bonuses are in play right now so you avoid the whole "16 attack...miss...nope 17...still misses...wait the bard is singing, 18? Roll for damage."
6) Keep track of various special abilities that have limited uses per day (channels, rage rounds, etc) as very often it doesn't appear that the players do so.
7) If there are various checks that everyone in the part needs to make at a specific time (perception, will saves) have them roll them before the scenario even starts and then just announce if people see/hear things. I had a GM ask everyone to roll 5 perception checks and 3 will saves before we even got started. He kept track of it on a note card and then he'd describe what happened during the scenario. It was awesome and I thought really added to the experience (and prevention of metagaming).
Is this too over the top/bossy? Also, for the experienced GM's out there let me know if you have any tips/tricks which you think enhance the experience.
