Balance. It is certainly an aspect of the game you will often work towards getting right.
That means it’s a balance of primarily three key elements of play.
Exploration. Role Play & Combat.
During a gaming session, you will want to strive for equilibrium among all three elements, while at other times, the focus may shift to one specific aspect. Occasionally, gameplay may involve differing combinations of any of these elements.
When The Session Focus Is Exploration.
In what is an absolute hallmark of Dungeons and Dragons, exploration often involves characters venturing into unknown (or known) areas of the world, uncovering hidden secrets, and interacting with the game world.
For example, a group of adventurers might embark on a quest to explore a mysterious ancient forest. As they navigate through dense foliage, encounter strange creatures, and decipher cryptic symbols on ancient ruins, the players engage in the exploration aspect of the game.
This could lead to the discovery of valuable artifacts, lore about the world's history, or even encounters with non-player characters (NPCs) who hold vital information or present unexpected challenges. Exploration in this manner encourages creativity, problem-solving, and immersion for the players into the rich tapestry of your game's campaign.
When The Session Focus Is Role Play.
Another distinction of Dungeons and Dragons is, that roleplay involves players taking on the personas of their characters and interacting with the game world and its monsters and NPC’s.
Imagine a scenario where a group of adventurers enters a bustling city in search of information about a plot to poison the city’s beloved Queen. During roleplay, each player speaks and acts as their character, engaging with non-player characters (NPCs) such as city guards, innkeepers, or suspicious figures in dark alleys.
Through dialogue and character interaction, you as the DM will draw from the player’s ways they negotiate for information, gather rumours, or attempt to persuade others to aid them in their quest. You as the DM can encourage your player’s creativity, improvisation, and the development of unique personalities for each character, enriching the narrative and deepening the overall gaming experience for all.
When The Session Focus Is On Combat.
The cornerstone of Dungeons and Dragons, combat occurs when characters engage in physical conflicts, typically with monsters, enemies, or hostile NPC’s.
For example, imagine a party of adventurers stumbling upon a group of menacing goblins while exploring a dark cave. In combat, players take turns describing their characters' actions, such as attacking with weapons or casting spells, while you narrate outcomes and tell the players of the actions of the opposing goblins.
Combat in D&D adds a strategic and tactical element to the game, requiring players to make decisions that impact the outcome of the battle (and you the DM as the opposing threat the players must overcome) and contribute to the overall progression of the story.
Finding A Balance With All Three Is Certainly Challenging.
The balance of all of these makes for an exciting session of gameplay for all.
Some sessions you run as a DM with be a hallmark of all three, on other occasions it’s more of a focus of one in particular with a flavour of the other two.
So much can drive the reason for any of the three palates to mix as they do. Some days may make sense, other times, it just seems like serendipity.
The key element here is finding what balances these three as best practice for you as the DM and a preference of play that you will find your players will want to become accustomed to playing.
That is where the balance will be a hard one to figure, but you will be given enough time, play and lots of communication to strike the right balance.
With this, it will need time to find the ‘right way to play’ so ensure you are aware that the way the game is meant to be played is part of the discovery for you as a new DM.
