The role of Dungeon Master has always been my favorite part to play. It's not that I don't like playing a character, and it's not the power of being in control of the whole game. No, what I like is being immersed in all aspects of the adventure and the careful orchestration of it's events. I like being able to see how all parts of a story move together and affect the outcome for the players. Granted, there is a lot of work involved and you sometimes have to deal with some um, "interesting" personalities, but it can be worth it.

Every dungeon master has their own style of planning events, telling stories, and interacting with players. That's part of what makes role playing games so much fun. Over the years of Dungeons and Dragons, and all my successes and failures as a DM, I have learned a few things that seem to make the game easier to manage, and more fun and engaging for the players who are embarking on their latest adventure.

1. Plan ahead

Players hate watching the DM read books, jot notes, and fumble around behind their screen. It's frustrating and boring. Once you lose control of the flow of the game, it can be difficult to recapture your audience's attention. In addition, lack of preparation can turn a three hour gaming session into a six hour marathon.

If you are designing you own campaign, it may help to go so far as to pre-roll all monster stats and keep a list. If there are rules, items, or monsters descriptions, or spells you think you'll want to refer back to, tab them in the rulebooks. The quicker you can answer questions, the more you will be able to keep up the momentum.

2. Know your setting and the rules associated with it

See number 1 above. Also, to be able to provide a rich and engaging backdrop for your campaign, it helps to know the ins and outs of the setting. Small details and nuances make the world seem more alive to the players.

3. Know your players and their characters

If your players hate the campaign, sessions will not go well. Trust me. Cater to your players' interests and styles of role-playing when designing a campaign. Know the characters, too. It helps to ask players to give you basic character stats to help you keep track of their progress through the game and make any adjustments you need. Knowing the characters can also make interactions with NPC's smoother. By having the information ahead of time, you can avoid "You have that skill? Then she didn't ambush you" scenarios.

4. Help your players

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