There are probably hundreds of really great game masters out there that we don’t know about because they never stream their games. I’m still amazed by the effort my first DM put into the story we told together.
At the end of the day, *the* most important audience is your table.beyond that, a great home GM might struggle on camera!
I got to GM my first game for a live audience this past week—I'd done streamed one-shots in the past—and it's a completely different experience. I have mad respect for the folks who run their games live every time.
— Justice Ramin Arman ➡️ PAX Unplugged (@justicearman) October 29, 2021
Though my experience is mostly online, the way that I approach prep for a streamed game is very different from the way I would prepare for my home group.
At any given time, you may be thinking about viewership, tech, audience reactions, session timing, etc. That said, you can *also* learn a lot from your local GM! Some of the best tips I've gleaned for my home games have come from watching seasoned convention GMs wrangle a group of complete strangers into a cohesive, punctual story where everyone gets a chance to shine.
— Justice Ramin Arman ➡️ PAX Unplugged (@justicearman) October 29, 2021
That said, you can *also* learn a lot from your local GM! Some of the best tips I’ve gleaned for my home games have come from watching seasoned convention GMs wrangle a group of complete strangers into a cohesive, punctual story where everyone gets a chance to shine. The best part is, no matter where you're running a game—live or recorded, at home or on Twitch, over a podcast or at your local game store—the players still come first. Start there, and you'll never be led astray. ❤️
— Justice Ramin Arman ➡️ PAX Unplugged (@justicearman) October 29, 2021