D&D is really fun! But DMing is hard, and sometimes a session falls flat. Something happened, and you walk away feeling less inspired and maybe even disappointed. That’s okay!

Nobody is perfect, not even the greatest DMs with the best player group have 100% perfect sessions all the time.

So, let’s figure out what to do and how to improve from a less-than-ideal session.

What happened?

First, let’s sit down and think about what exactly went wrong. Sometimes, I prepare an element of the adventure that I get excited about—an NPC, for example. But when the session rolls around, that element doesn’t land the way I want it or expect it to. What happened there?

Or, was there a rules question that took a long time to resolve? An extended argument about the rules of the game can leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. A discussion that goes on too long can derail the session and take up adventuring time. How did it start? Why did it keep going?

Was there something else that derailed the action for a long time? No one can control internet connection issues or sudden interruptions, but they do happen. You can’t do anything about what’s out of your control.

What caused an issue? Was there just one problem, or was it a collection of multiple, smaller issues?

Was it really a bad session, or are you being too hard on yourself? Dungeon Mastering can feel like a lot of pressure. It’s important to make sure you’re having fun alongside your players.

What can I do about it?

Is there something you can do now to resolve the problem? If a rules discussion went unanswered, this may be a good time to figure out all sides of the issue and come to a ruling before next time.

If a particular kind of puzzle (or other situation) was more frustrating than fun, consider retooling future iterations of similar scenarios.

And, if you can’t put your finger on something to do right now (or even if you can)…

How can I improve for next time?

Take note of why something didn’t work, why an element of the game performed in unexpected ways, why the session took a different turn. You can keep that information in mind for your future sessions. This is a good way to sharpen your DMing skills!

Keep those notes in mind, but don’t take them to heart. That is, try not to get down on yourself. DMing is hard, and no one is perfect, but remember your successes, too!

Don’t be afraid to ask one of your players about how they felt the session went. Their insights might surprise you, and their perspective will certainly be different.

Hopefully, these steps can help you pick up and move forward as a better Dungeon Master! I often have to step back and evaluate how a session went once I have some time separating me from it.

Is there anything I missed, or anything else you’d like to add? Drop a comment below, and let’s talk!