Hosting D&D Game Night? Start with These 4 Key Stages

There’s a special kind of magic that happens when everyone’s around the same table.

The laughter, the shared snacks, the tension as dice roll across the wood grain—it’s a very different energy than an online game. And while I love the flexibility of virtual sessions, some of my most meaningful moments as a Dungeon Master have come from sitting down, in person, with friends who are just as eager to tell the story as I am.

But hosting a D&D night in person isn’t just about running the game.

It’s about creating the space for the game to thrive.

That means thinking about more than just maps and stat blocks. It’s about lighting, music, pacing, breaks, flow, comfort—everything that happens around the table before and after the dice hit the table.

Over time, I found myself organizing each session into four key phases:
Setup, Play, Atmosphere, and Debrief.

And when you pay attention to each stage, even just a little, your game night starts to feel more intentional, more immersive, and more fun for everyone.

Check out the video to learn more. It’s the first in a new series about hosting an in-person game session.

Hope it helps spark a few ideas for your own table.

Cheers,
Brian