Is your D&D game truly yours?

Dungeon masters, when you run a group of players through a D&D campaign, who’s story do you consider it to be?

Is it your campaign?

Many of us have heard of the two main types of campaigns: railroad and sandbox. There are other variations, most lying somewhere in between, but these are the two that generate the most press in D&D circles.

There are pros and cons to both, and there really isn’t a right answer as to which is best. Ultimately it all comes down to what you and your players agree is the best approach for the table.

Did you notice that last part? “The best approach for the table.”

This implies that what you create as a DM isn’t soley about you. It’s also not soley about the players, either. If you are a story teller using your D&D game as the medium, that’s okay as long as you declare it to be such and the players are cool with it.

If you are just someone there to roll dice for monsters and describe what the players see and the responses to their actions, that’s cool, too (as long as you declare it yada yada).

A truly enjoyable D&D game serves everyone at the table.

The players need to have a good time, of course, but so do you, the doughty Dungeon Master. Burnout occurs very quickly in DMs that aren’t enjoying themselves.

Some DMs go through 10 or more hours of work and preparation for every hour of game play. If they’re loving every minute of it, that time can truly fly by.

Some prep for 15 minutes before each session and that’s all that’s required.

In the end, your play style and prep style don’t matter in terms of what’s right or wrong, what’s best or worst, as long as both you and your players are having a good time — and in a way that is optimized for everyone’s preferences.

So is it YOUR story? Is it YOUR campaign? Yes and no. You are the creator, so in that sense it’s yours, but because it is a dynamic creation that gets its breath of life from you AND your players, it’s more than just yours.

The best D&D game is one that is joyfully and enthusiastically owned by everyone at the table.