A tabletop role-playing game always has one person who takes on the role of game master. Many people are afraid of this and shy away from the supposed responsibility you have to bear, all the rules you have to familiarise yourself with!
But ultimately the same applies here as in many other areas of life: No one is born a master. And with practice, experience comes naturally.
If you don’t want to embark on the adventure of game management without support, we have summarised a few offers for you in Bern and the surrounding area that can make it a little easier for you to get started.
Workshops
Beginners
From playing to GMing – A TTRPG workshop
You want to run a tabletop role-playing game like D&D, but don’t know where to start? With little tips & tricks, we want to support you on your way to finding your very own style, strengthening your confidence that what you do is the right thing, and encouraging you to find your very own way. Your individual style will ultimately be what makes your sessions a special event.
🗓️ The workshop is held at irregular intervals.
Next date is: 13. April 2025 13:30 to approx. 17:30
🗺️ Katakomben & Lindwürmer, Güterstrasse 49, 3008 Bern
📝 Register via MeetUp
Advanced
From Game Runner to Game Master
This course is divided into four lessons designed to help aspiring and experienced Game Masters improve their skills based on insights from The Alexandrian and The Angry GM. The lessons cover fundamental GM roles, game structures, and techniques for spotting and fixing issues in published materials.
🗓️ The course is held at irregular intervals.
Next date is: 5. April 2025 18:00 – 13. April 2025 20:00
🗺️ Katakomben & Lindwürmer, Güterstrasse 49, 3008 Bern
📝 Register via MeetUp
Master’s Talk
The Master’s Talk is an event, where GMs can come together, support each other and be able to talk through these issues with peers, for the well-being of our GM community.
Every time there’s space for 15 people in the Erupt Lounge Living Room, separated from the normal bar and game activities.
Whether it’s a small presentation about something you’ve learned, a series of questions you are struggling with or simply to enjoy being able to talk about all those plot twists you can’t share with your players, there’s space for it here.
🗓️ This event is held every second Wednesday of the month 18:30 – 20:30
🗺️ Erupt Lounge, Parkterrasse 14, 3012 Bern
Coaching
Trial by Fire
Have you played with a game master and you like their way of running games?
Why not ask them if they would coach you and show you how they prepare an adventure, what tools they use and what tricks they have learnt over time. And maybe they’ll even take part in your first round so that they can support you with rules questions or help you if you’re unsure or feel stuck.
You can find out how such coaching could be organised on the TrialByFire.Quest website as soon as it goes online in the middle of the year.
Hands-On
GM-only Session
Five GMs meet up and play five sessions. Everyone takes on the role of game master once. And after the adventure, everyone discusses what they liked and what could be improved. And as all players are also game masters, you can benefit from the experience of the others.
Interested? Then stay tuned, more information about these rounds will follow soon.