| Getting into the game
Perhaps some of these are a given, but here are some things I find helpful when DMing d20 Modern
1. I always use character names, and never player names. It's just one little touch that helps people get into their characters. I never ask a player what their character is doing, I simply refer to the player as though they are the character.
2. I like to add in minor details. Adding and creating a deep setting gives the characters room to explore. Example: The sky at night has a green arch spreading from the northern horizon to the southern horizon that appears at dusk and slowly moves across the sky, disappearing at dawn. When I first described the arch, I was being artistic, but the players quickly started using it to tell time and I am certain it will play a major role in future quests.
3. i like to describe combat and give wounds. I answer questions like "What stopped the attack from being successful?" Did the character dodge, did he use his shield, did the blow glance off his natural armor, did his inertial barrier stop the attack, or did the enemy outright miss with the character having to do anything? Example: If a level one fast character with 10 hit points is hit for 8 damage, he just got seriously messed up. Depending on the source of the damage (slashing, piercing, fire, bludgening), the sort of scarswill vary, but that hit is going to leave a mark if it is not healed with magic, and sometimes I even have magically healed wounds leave trace marks.  |