Game mastering (also called gamemastering, and shortened to GMing), is the act of running a roleplaying game for a group of players. The game master (GM) describes the world for the players, plays the supporting cast and generally has fairly strong narrative control over what happens during the game. Sound like a balancing act? It is -- but it's a rewarding one!
GMing can be a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun -- you get to create adventures for the rest of your gaming group, play the role of tons of different characters and come up with wild ideas for your game.
Need a more thorough definition than that? Check out the Wikipedia entry for game master (which will also lead you to an explanation of roleplaying games).
Whether you've just started out as a GM or have been running games for years, there are lots of resources available to you online. If you've got questions about how to tackle a situation in your game, need a fresh jolt of inspiration or want to discuss the craft of game mastering with fellow GMs, this lens is a great place to start!
Links for GMs
- Burning Void
- Articles on a wide range of topics related to GMing.
- EN World
- A great place to ask questions, and learn from fellow GMs.
- Gnome Stew
- A multi-author game mastering blog written by GMs, for GMs.
- Roleplaying Tips
- A free weekly e-zine with tons of useful tips for GMs and players.
- RPGnet
- Active forums, reviews and other resources.
- Treasure Tables
- A weblog for GMs, offering tips, ideas and advice about game mastering.
Books for GMs
Advanced Gamemaster's Guide
Amazon Price: $25.04 (as of 07/11/2009) 
Gamemastering Secrets Second Edition
Amazon Price: $34.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
GM Mastery
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Robin's Laws of Good Game Mastering
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
Looking for Players?
- NearbyGamers
- Sign up for free, then use Google Maps to locate players in your area. Simple, useful and effective.
