what does that look like?
it's the thing i do right most consistently, I think. to be clear, I get way more stuff wrong when I'm refereeing, and in fact I'm experiencing a bit of a slump with it overall -- haven't run a game where I felt really successful in a while now -- but these days it's second nature to be inquisitive towards my players when they pull something off.
'i cast fireball.'
'i disarm him.'
'i go around town looking for a hireling.'
'what does that look like?'
this could be misconstrued as a storygaming or improv exercise, but to me it's not. I don't ask to prod my players into being more imaginative. I ask because I genuinely want to know.
I think it is important to cultivate curiosity in all things and dnd is of course no exception. I referee because I am curious about the world that the characters inhabit. I want to see what they do, how they react and interact.
What does that look like? I want to know. I am interested, friend. I am listening to you. Tell me.