How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM Brevity: Say Less To Do More
Feb 12, 2026
A dive into why DMs feel pressure to fill silence and how less narration can boost player involvement. Tips on resisting over-explaining and letting players steer scenes. Advice for using pauses to craft stronger reactions and for layering short descriptions to cut prep time. A practical challenge to practice two- to three-sentence responses and build comfort with quiet at the table.
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Brevity Reduces Performative Pressure
- Saying less as a DM can create more impact by removing filler and performative pressure.
- Tanner realized performance can lead to overcompensation and excessive talking that harms the game experience.
Tanner's Novel-Length Texts Reveal Over-Explaining Habit
- Tanner shares his personal tendency to write long text messages when clarifying complex ideas.
- His wife teases him about the novels he sends, illustrating his habit of over-explaining in life and at the table.
More DM Talk Means Less Player Agency
- When the DM talks more, players talk less and the game becomes less collaborative.
- Tanner cites conversational principles: asking about players and letting them fill empty space increases engagement.
