As a DM I’ve spent countless hours attempting to deliver the perfect atmosphere to immerse my players into a campaign setting. I want them to feel engaged, I want them to cry, I want them to laugh, I want them to curse my name as they lie awake at night struggling over the betrayal of an NPC they fell in love with. Preparing an immersive atmosphere is essential for your player’s creativity, and it doesn’t have to be a time-consuming process. But what I’ve also discovered is that creating an atmosphere for myself as a DM before I sit down to prepare is also just as essential. It helps draw me in, and emotionally commits me to the task at hand. While I feel this process to be highly personalized to the Dungeon Master, allow me to impress upon you, adventurer, the process that has served me so well.
Firstly, I am acutely aware that preparation time is about maximizing value. The goal is to never spend longer than a 1:1 ratio of prep to actual play time. A 3-hour session should take a MAXIMUM of 3 hours to prepare (more on that in future articles). Don’t spend more than 10 minutes on this exercise.
Next, I move onto sensory atmospheric elements. I put on music that inspires me (I’ll list a couple of them at the end of this article). I have an RGB floor lap that I’ll use to create atmospheric lighting elements. I’ll get out a few of my source books, my DM screen, and some dice. Basically, I surround my senses with things I can see, hear and touch.
After that, I’m going to review my mantra. What do I aim to provide every fucking time I sit at the table? I need to be intentional about it. I need to foster it. I need to wrap myself in it like some sort of weird blanket I got attached to as a toddler and haven’t given up yet. My mantra is thus:
I am the Dungeon Master, protector of lore, and the agent of fate. I strive with every fiber of my being to provide:
- An immersive, engaging, and collaborative narrative
- A living world with real consequences and integrity
- A game that stays true to its tabletop roots
- A table that respects player agency and safety
- Challenging progression and game play that feels rewarding
Lastly, I just take a minute. I sit there in stewing in the DM mantra and sensory elements, my eyes closed, I fixate. I scour the depths of my imagination to transport me to some of my most cherished moments in the campaigns I’ve run. I feel the losses and triumphs of characters who’ve explored the worlds I’ve crafted. I remember their epic moments, and the stories that live in my memory, moments I will take to my grave with me. And then, my fellow adventurers, I take one last deep breath, open my eyes and bring my fingers to my keyboard. In that moment, there’s no place I’d rather be.
I am the Dungeon Master, prepare yourselves.
Music to inspire you:
Fantasy: https://www.youtube.com/@bardify
Cyberpunk: https://www.youtube.com/@VersusMusicOfficial
