I’m fond of saying that a game master’s best friend is random tables. That is certainly true. However, the best strategy a game master can employ during a session is to clearly state when it is a player’s turn and when that turn is over.
I know this sounds simple and obvious, but people who offer GM advice often never mention it. Knowing the beginning and end of a turn is key in D&D to keep the game moving.
In D&D, players have many options and need time to figure out their character’s actions. Clearly defining when a turn starts and ends creates a rhythm at the table, allowing other players to prepare for their turn.
The GM can simply state, “Okay, (insert character name), it’s your turn. What are you doing?” Then, after the player has their character act, the GM follows up with, “Great, (insert character name)’s turn is over. Now, it is (insert character name)’s turn.”
This tip should be obvious, but many GMs let the turn order slip away. It happens to both veteran and new GMs alike, and that confusion can be one of the biggest time wasters during a session.
RPG Wishlist
DMs Guild Titles
RPG News form Around the Web
D&D’s new Monster Manual makes it easier to build a world without magic
D&D Reveals 2025 Roadmap, Including The Return Of A Classic Setting
Inside Wizards of the Coast’s new gaming lair, where ‘D&D’ architects chart their course for 2025
Wizards of the Coast Has Big Plans for D&D 5e In 2025, Starting With the Monster Manual
D&D: I'm Glad I Didn't Wait For The Official Sci-Fi Take On 5E
The wildest D&D world is coming back in 2025, and I can't wait