So... have you read the Game Mastery Guide?
If by "how to make a campaign/module" you mean how to build your own content, well, the easy answer is to prepare for a whole lotta work. That will include drawing maps, writing up plot lines, designing individual encounters, etc.
If you've read the GMG, then you should have the basics to try a one-shot session with a couple of simple encounters to get your feet wet.
Exactly.
Start small, with some light pre-made adventures.
When you've run a few and figure out your style and rhythm, then you can get a bit more grandiose.
The best way to keep it fun is to not take it too seriously at first. Putting pressure on yourself with an ambitious project is a sure fire way to take things too seriously.
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I want to know how long an action description is
Check out the Community Use package, in particular the Game Record Sheets download, which includes a cheat sheet that covers a lot of the common questions on how long a typical action takes, along with other bits (like Combat Maneuvers, etc.)
I need tips on how to DM how many monsters in an encouter, should I rail or not rail or any other ideas you have please.
Check into a first level module, Crypt of the Everflame or one of the other introductory adventures. "Crypt" even includes some sidebars explaining the things you'll want to be paying attention to or introducing to your players. They also start out by introducing probably the best number of monsters in your first encounter: one. :)
Oh, and be sure to bring snacks. You'd be amazed how much snacks improves the session dynamic...
The first thing that you have to make clear is what the point of the game is.
Is the fighting, dungeon crawl and hacknslash wow style?
Is it roleplaying?
Is it roleplaying with the necessarily encounters?
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Would anyone help with other ideas or guides please.
when you make something in a game. there will be a three questions, when what and where? like a town per se. when was it made? you could say after a war survivors of pillaged towns came together and made a new home. where? could be wherever you like but think of how the geography will be. like mountains forest,marshlands and plains. then what kind of town is it? Merchant town, Port town. you just have to have the will to make and it will something of stepping stone to making you an awesome DM.
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It might seem silly, but keep a journal. As a Dm I have always found, after a while there is a pattern to what players enjoy.
For example on the oceanic game I run, the party enjoys quests that involve deep sea dives but hate exploring deserted islands. So I create a pattern for games so the good games feel great especially after a bad one.
Recurring villains and character based stories also become easier to keep track of. But write it as points not as an actual "Dear Diary" journal. Have a review of your game and include what some of the players felt about the game.
Just long enough that you have fun describing it and they have fun listening.
Have faith in yourself, act confident even if you aren't confident. Trust your players, they usually are pretty cool. Fun is first, and yes sometimes you just need to overrule something and move forward. Don't get stuck in the rules, and most importantly, be yourself.
I'm probably going to be gong against the grain here, but here's how I learned to GM (keep in mind that I learned before there were guides):
Just do it.
Grab an adventure. Read it. Make sure that your players have appropriate level characters. And go for it. You are going to make mistakes. Probably a lot of them. Don't worry about it. Roll with it. The only rule you need to memorize is the circumstance bonus/penalty of +/-2. Use it when looking up a rule will take too long or if there is ambiguity. It will speed up play greatly and then you can do more research later.
Don't let the game get bogged down in rules discussions. If you can't resolve a question in less than 5 minutes, then tell them you are going to make a ruling for now but will look into it more after the game. I still do this and I've been running games since 1980.
Don't get bogged down in minutia, at least not right now. You aren't going to be awesome right out of the gate and having too many things to focus on will only make you frustrated. You can worry about adding in more tools later.
I wouldn't even worry about running a campaign yet. Just grab a level 1 module and start learning what it's like behind the screen. If you are comfortable enough with the system, maybe start a little higher, like levels 3 to 5. I wouldn't go much higher because you will start to get blindsided by everything the characters can do. Keep it simple while you get a grasp.
Honestly, just run it as written. If you make a mistake, roll with it. It's not a big deal. I hope that your friends don't expect perfection right out of the gate. Heck, I hope my friends don't expect perfection from me after umpteen years.
I haven't run the module. I don't know what to expect. Some things to always do:
1) Read it several times.
2) Read up on relevant sections in the Core Rule Book. If there is a section with underwater combat, make sure you understand how that works.
3) Read up on all the spells and equipment the NPCs have. Read up on all the creatures and their abilities. Actually use a highlighter (assuming you're printing this out) to mark things you are likely to forget (circumstantial bonuses and penalties for example).
4) Know what the players are bringing a week in advance. Make sure that their characters are appropriate. Make sure that they have ways to deal with obstacles.
5) Go back and read the module again.
I honestly think you are too worried about this. Run it and have fun. Don't sweat the small stuff. It will come with experience. It's always good to be prepared but you know as well as I do that players will always find a way to go in directions you never thought of. You can't be prepared for everything.
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I dont know weather anyone has suggested it, but the Beginner Box, has a nice adventure in it, complete with map, "pawns" and everything you need to run and adventure. That might be a good place to start.
I heard the beginner box was initially test run by a bunch of 12 year olds!
You can also download the 4 free adventures they used for the Beginner Box Bash
find your won rhythm try cut scenes where you explain the action in detail "the fighters silver sword deftly cuts the hobgoblins arm to pieces the hobgoblin lets out a whail of pain" tip eof stuff and then try just a simple 'you hit the hobgoblin for 32 damage he looks hurt" it all depends on your personality and your players i had a dm in college who was very story driven and combat light and i was the exact opposite very combat driven and story light. find your mix.
Stick with 20 point buy. You'll do fine.
1E stats were 3d6, in order: Strength, Intelligence, Dexterity, Wisdom, Constitution, and Charisma.
Probably not yet. There's no reason to bog you down with a ton of stuff that isn't something you need to worry about yet.
I'm assuming your players are also inexperienced, in which case, you're going to be just fine. I don't recommend running for experienced players without playing the game first.
When a player asks if something is possible, you have two potential answers:
- "Yes."
- "Roll <a skill or ability> against DC <A number that you think is fair, maybe really high for silly things>
Remember that the dice are in the game so that nobody has total control over the story. As the GM, you have a little more control, but the dice are there to surprise you. If the dice take things in an unexpected direction, be prepared to roll with it (forgive the pun).
GMing overclocks the brain. If you need time to think, ask the players for a break, or even end the session.
The Wealth-by-level table and Challenge rating are guidelines. They can be wrong. A good GM always knows the party and designs encounters accordingly.
As GM, be impartial. You're there to provide a challenge, but you shouldn't relish causing the players distress (unless it is just the right amount of distress, i.e. they are having fun in the long run). Also, if the dice turn against them, be strong and stand your ground. If you know you ran the encounter fairly, stick with it.
Don't try to solve out-of-game personality conflicts with in-game events. 90% of problems at the game table are out-of-game interpersonal conflicts, and the faster you separate them from your game, the healthier the game will be.
I am also happy to answer specific questions you might have, but I am off to eat dinner now.