How to Be Dungeon Master in a D&D Game

Get the necessary equipment. There are many supplemental books in D&D but the Dungeon Master's Guide, Player's Handbook and Monster Manual are essential. You also will need gaming dice, graph paper, pencil and paper.

Learn the rules contained in the Dungeon Master's Guide. It is not at all necessary to have the guide memorized, but the more familiar you are with its contents, the less often you will have to suspend game play to look up a rule.

Interpret the Dungeon Master's Guide strictly at first. Until you become more familiar with the rules, you won't be able to predict the effects that a seemingly innocent rule change will have on game balance.

Keep game balance in mind when contemplating a rule change. This is the balance between the players and non-players and is critical in keeping the players entertained. Players will become bored by a game that is too easy or difficult.

Refrain from changing game rules in the middle of a campaign. Although the rules don't have to be realistic or logical, they must be consistent. Few things will make players lose interest in a Dungeons &Dragons game faster than rules that change from one session to the next.