dungeon master
Tabletop campaign referee
A dungeon master is the person who runs a tabletop role-playing game, especially Dungeons & Dragons.
The DM creates the fictional world, controls non-player characters, narrates events, and adjudicates rules while players make choices for their characters: Our dungeon master spent weeks preparing the campaign.
The role requires improvisation, storytelling ability, and fair judgment.
Outside gaming, the term occasionally appears in BDSM contexts for someone who oversees activities in a dungeon space.
Organized effort toward goal
- questSeeking journey for something
- playerGame participant
- sessionScheduled time for activity
- adventureRisky exciting undertaking
module · sourcebook · rulebook · character sheet · dice · d20 · initiative · encounter
Sports rule enforcer
- adjudicatorOne rendering formal decisions
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
- rulingsAuthoritative decisions on matters
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
interpretation · balance · difficulty · fudging · rules lawyer · table talk · metagaming · player agency
Account of events
- worldbuildingConstructing imaginary universes for fiction
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- charactersPersons in a narrative
mythos · tale · saga · improvisation · description · atmosphere · pacing · dialogue
Legendary fire-breathing reptile
- wizardPractitioner of sorcery
- sorceryPractice of dark magic
- tavernPublic drinking establishment
- paladinHeroic knightly defender
orc · goblin · dwarf · elf · magic · necromancer · castle · artifact
Arranging for future events
- mapmakingCreating geographical charts
- notesBrief written records
- prepReadiness work, abbreviated
- terrainLand's physical features
props · miniatures · tokens · handouts · contingency · pacing · scheduling · plot hooks
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
adventure · module · sourcebook · rulebook · character sheet · dice · d20 · initiative · encounter · party
referee
Sports rule enforcer
- adjudicatorOne rendering formal decisions
- moderatorOne who presates proceedings
- rulingsAuthoritative decisions on matters
fairness · interpretation · balance · difficulty · fudging · rules lawyer · table talk · metagaming · player agency · consequence
narrative
Account of events
- worldbuildingConstructing imaginary universes for fiction
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- plotStoryline or land parcel
characters · mythos · tale · saga · improvisation · description · atmosphere · pacing · dialogue · backstory
dragon
Legendary fire-breathing reptile
paladin · orc · goblin · dwarf · elf · magic · necromancer · castle · artifact · enchantment
planning
Arranging for future events
terrain · props · miniatures · tokens · handouts · contingency · pacing · scheduling · plot hooks
- storytellingstorytelling, story, tale, narrative, narrator
- dungeonoubliette, cell bars, torture chamber, chains, prison cell
- fantasy rolesarcher, barbarian, sorceress, mage, wizard
- Nerdsnerd, geek, dork, dweeb, brainiac
- roleplayroleplay, acting, character, cosplay, D&D
- dungeon crawlersloot, treasure chest, monster, trap, boss
dungeon masterplayer
Game participant
player character · PC · party member · adventurer · hero
dungeon masterplayer
Game participant
audience · follower · participant · reactor · character actor
master, dungeon, mastermind, mastered, masterful, mastering, masterly, dungeons, masterminds