Be a Dungeon Master
Design and run a simple tabletop adventure: draw maps, create characters and monsters, set challenges, and guide friends through imaginative storytelling and cooperative play.
Step-by-step guide to Be a Dungeon Master
How D&D's New Starter Set Helps You Become A Dungeon Master
Step 1
Gather all the materials onto a table so everything is ready to use.
Step 2
Pick a theme for your adventure like spooky castle jungle or space station.
Step 3
Draw a rough map of the adventure area on a sheet of paper using a pencil.
Step 4
Add three important landmarks on the map and label each one with a short name.
Step 5
Make a name card for each player by writing their name on a small piece of paper.
Step 6
Choose a simple role for each player and write it on their name card like hero healer or scout.
Step 7
Write "HP 6" on each player name card to give everyone the same starting health.
Step 8
Pick or draw three monsters and place a toy or coin next to each one to act as a miniature.
Step 9
Write a hit point number next to each monster so you know how many hits they can take.
Step 10
Write two challenges or puzzles on sticky notes and stick them near the landmarks that will hold the challenges.
Step 11
Decide the turn order by having each player roll the dice and then write the order on a piece of paper.
Step 12
Lead players through the first room on the map and describe what they see so they can choose actions.
Step 13
Place a sticker or coin as treasure on the map where players earn it and tell everyone what the reward does.
Step 14
Share your finished map characters and story on DIY.org so other kids can see your Dungeon Master adventure.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of dice, toy miniatures, stickers, or sticky notes if we don't have them?
If you don't have dice for deciding turn order use numbered paper slips or a phone dice app, replace toy miniatures with buttons, LEGO pieces, or coins, stick challenges on taped paper if you lack sticky notes, and use coins or colored paper as treasure instead of stickers.
What should we do if players keep losing track of HP or the map gets messy during the game?
If players lose track of the 'HP 6' written on name cards or the map becomes messy, place a coin or button as a damage token next to each name card and keep a small damage column on the edge of the map to mark hits clearly.
How can I adapt the adventure for younger children or make it more challenging for older kids?
For younger kids simplify the drawn map to one room with two landmarks, use picture monsters and lower HP like 'HP 4', and for older kids add extra monsters, higher hit point numbers, and more complex puzzles written on sticky notes.
How can we extend or personalize the Dungeon Master activity before sharing it on DIY.org?
Customize your adventure by decorating the three important landmarks with colored pencils, giving each of the three monsters a backstory on its name or coin, creating special treasure cards that explain what the sticker or coin reward does, and photographing the finished map, name cards, and monsters to upload to DIY.org.
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Facts about tabletop role-playing games
🎲 Dungeons & Dragons, the game that popularized tabletop role-playing, was first published in 1974 and kicked off the hobby.
👥 Groups often play with about 4–6 players so everyone gets a chance to shine during an adventure.
🗺️ Many DMs draw maps and battle grids by hand—simple sketches help players imagine dungeons, towns, and secret passages.
🎭 Playing tabletop RPGs can boost creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving through cooperative storytelling and role-play.
🧙♂️ The term "Dungeon Master" (DM) comes from the original D&D rulebooks and names the person who runs the game's story and rules.
How do I guide my child to design and run a simple tabletop adventure as a Dungeon Master?
What materials do I need to be a kid-friendly Dungeon Master?
What ages is running a simple tabletop adventure suitable for?
What are the benefits of having kids be a Dungeon Master and run tabletop adventures?
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