1 | Principles for Running a Game

Running fulfilling and sustainable games relies on much more than memorizing rules. Regardless of your experience level in running games, and whether you’re at the start of Hero Creation or at Doom’s end, keep the following principles in mind.

Principle 1: Everyone’s a player #

Guide, you help facilitate the game…but you’re also still a player. You’re not exempt from having fun, and the other players are not exempt from contributing to the narrative. You have different roles but everybody’s here to make stories and enjoy.

This means other players aren’t enemies or subordinates. Even if their actions accidentally topple your carefully laid-out plans, that’s okay. That’s because you should…

Principle 2: Let it go #

Give them a breathing world with leads to the main dilemma—but don’t succumb to the temptation of over-preparing for every contingency. Create beginnings. Don’t obsess over endings. Let it go.

Principle 3: Player agency, Meaning and Significance #

Create opportunities for all players to impact the story; make it a priority to nourish a sense of meaning and significance in their actions. When heroes act, make sure the world responds; when players hatch a daring plan, reward their initiative with story development even if the plan itself goes off the rails.

Principle 4: Rulings over rules #

As the guide your role involves making sure that rules are being followed. However, rulings take precedence over rules. This means if the rules need to be bent—for example, you want to subtly change an Omen or even the nature of the Doom mid-game—or decisions beyond the scope of the rules need made, you have the privilege of making a custom ruling that keeps the story interesting for everybody.

Principle 5: Simply communicate #

Honesty and open communication are better than suffering in silence alone. If you’re not sure what other players want, if somebody doesn’t seem to be engaging, if you need to take a 10-minute break, check in and ask—playing together as a group should be done atop a foundation of communication.

Principle 6: You grow through inspiration and action #

Books, films, even comedy sketches and other media can be a fantastic source of inspiration for stories and plot points. However, while you can immerse yourself in ideas and tips on being a good guide, the most effective way to grow is to just do it. But please remember that…

Principle 7: It’s OK to fail #

Despite best well-meaning efforts, mistakes are inevitable. But stories can still carry on, regardless of flaws. Your storymaking journey will only continue to bloom as you learn from mistakes, continue to run stories and become more comfortable building immersive arcs with fellow players.

※ Principle Zero: Be a respectful, compassionate human being

Enable a respectful, compassionate playgroup by being one such person yourself. This means, among other things, acknowledging diverse identities and ideas, checking in and listening to boundaries and concerns and taking a stance against bigotry. There are many other ways to be excellent, but it comes from a willingness to be a caring human being. Don’t be afraid to ask this of the other players as well. You can share this paragraph to set expectations.

※ Fostering a compassionate space

Principle Zero—being a respectful, compassionate human being—seems simple enough, but the most surprising thing is how difficult it can be in practice. Respect, compassion, and ultimately safety can mean respecting each other’s identities and boundaries, being aware of and avoiding triggers, the willingness to listen and—perhaps the most difficult—the readiness to open difficult conversations to uphold these values. If someone makes you or others feel unsafe or disrespected, you have the power to check in, reinforce boundaries, or ultimately remove a problem player to protect the space. Raising these conversations for safety can also be initiated by anyone, not just you. There’s no need to wait for the situation to escalate…a small check-in, a quick heads-up early on can help improve the group’s safety even without waiting for someone to suffer.