Greetings!

Welcome New Players. I’m so happy to have you here with us. Let’s make this a good experience.

Disclaimer: This is my approach. Your Game Mastering style may be different. That’s cool. Mine is not the only way. Please do what works best for you and your group.

Maybe you’re an old hat behind the screen with new players or possibly a new Game Master with new players. With the arrival of the new 2024 Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook and soon Dungeon Master’s Guide (for all of us peasants,) we’re probably going to be seeing a lot of new players entering or maybe returning to the hobby. Here are a few tips on making new in-person players welcome at the table:

  • Try to make them as comfortable in their physical environment as possible.
    It might sound weird, but we’re all a little on edge when we don’t even know where to hang our hat. Obviously, it’s a lot easier while playing in a public space, but if the game is taking place in someone’s house or apartment, there might be some new environment jitters.
  • Remind the new player to bring snacks, drinks, etc depending on what the house rules are.
  • Invite/fill them in on Session Zero if they weren’t there. There could be additional concerns.
  • Help them make their first character.
    Some players may surprise you and show up early with their first character all ready to go. Most players will probably need some help or at least someone to look the character over and make sure all of the details are in place. Some players might need help deciding what kind of character they want to play. (*More on that in upcoming articles.)
  • Consider getting a set of dice where each die is a different color for new players to use until they get used to which dice they need to roll.
  • Try not to use “gamer speak” too much for the first few sessions.
    We old timers sometimes forget that regular people think “AC” refers to a voltage or Air Conditioning. There might be several times where the Dungeon Master/Game Master has to stop and explain abbreviations anyway. Jumping in somewhat cold not knowing what all of the monsters and species are on top of a ton of game jargon can be overwhelming for some new players.
  • Kindly remind veteran players to be cool.
    Try to keep the cross-table out of character talk unrelated to the game to a minimum. Stay away from inside jokes. Save the player stories and long anecdotes for after the game or before the next one.
    Yes, screw around and have fun like normal, but try not to confuse the new person too much. Be nice. Otherwise they might not come back. Yes, shenanigans are okay in moderation.
  • If everyone else has characters already made, or an established campaign, make sure to introduce both players and characters.
    Name plates in front of everyone can be helpful. Remind everyone to try to be distinct when they’re talking in character and not. This will help the new player get a feel for the flow of the game and how being in character works.
  • Remind the whole crew that everyone has different play styles.
    Some people do the voices and grand gestures while others describe what the character is doing. As a DM/GM try to distinguish the in game “your character” from the out of game “you.” (This one can be challenging.) It’s to try and help the new player get used to character vs out-of-character.
  • Help them with rules and calculating bonuses, etc.
    This one’s kind of a no-brainer, but there are going to be new players that have never picked up the Player’s Handbook before. They might not know to calculate their To Hit Bonus, Skill Modifiers, Armor, or whatever. They might not remember they have spells or what the spells do. It’s okay if their first half dozen combats aren’t precise, concise, rigorous, and tactical compared to the rest of the group. They’ll get the routine eventually.
  • If possible, try to talk to the player after the game or before the next session.
    The intention is always for them to have fun and come back for the next session. The player might have questions they didn’t get a chance or were too embarrassed to ask in front of the group. As the DM/GM, we can’t guarantee they will have fun, but we can try to make the game as fun and inviting as possible.
  • Make sure you have their contact information if you don’t already in case things get cancelled.
  • Try to make yourself available sometime between sessions to answer questions, etc if they need any additional help. New players might not know they need accommodations for something when they first arrive that can be sorted out before the next game session.

Thank you for being here today with me. I appreciate you. Please embrace the things that bring you the most joy.