Know the solution to the big mystery plot, along with at least one possible way the group can reach it, ahead of time, so all the clues line up.

Not lay too much angst on any one player. Unless they asked for it.

Have a good enough idea of the location around them that they can stall the group with something shiny or an interesting NPC while they fill out the rest.

Always look at a player suggestion (or at least, one that isn’t directly against the rules) twice before declaring it not an option.

Be willing to deal with someone solving a problem in a way that isn’t the standard.

Be willing to tell That Player with an uncanny ability to jump into the spotlight that she should give someone else a turn for a little while…

…or that Plan A isn’t going to work, if it really shouldn’t succeed.

…or Plan B, for that matter. She’ll get to one that should work eventually.

Have enough world that people can immerse themselves properly, even if it is just little details and a few names of legendary figures.

Be willing to negotiate suggestions for little details, traditions and names of legendary figures if there aren’t already too many.

…I’m probably missing a few.

I really don’t care if the DM’s a rules omnibus or not, and I’ve no problem with not being allowed to interrupt NPCs (the farther into their speeches the antagonists get, the more snarking material I have, and I’m not going to want to interrupt the ones I respect unless it’s urgent) as long as they won’t interrupt me either. Fair, right?

Now to plan my next adventure, “Tarrasque Island”

The O’s last post: Follow the Yellow Cat Road

However what players should hope for and expect is a DM who takes responsibility of running a fun game.

Not necessarily a mind-blowing, never-before-seen gaming experience. But always fun. And fun can be had through the PCs adventures or thourgh real-life social interactions.

Yax’s last post: World domination… Check!

Even so, having a PC interrupt the major campaign speech in 2E to ask if he ‘edge into charge range’ followed by an echo from each other player certainly grew to be frustrating.

Instead of bogging it down with tables and crap, they instead made it about making the story work. All the other stuff is in the PHB or MM, so you’re in good shape. Is there stuff I’d like to see there but isn’t? Yep. But it’s really one of the minor quibbles about the DMG.

Part of the reason is that the 4th Edition DMG, as you pointed out, makes the DM a player in the game, not the ref. While the ref shirt will still have to be worn from time to time, it’s still about the DM having fun.

FWIW, I agree with what you’ve said, except about the list being tongue in cheek. That’s the truth and we all know it

“IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:”

The rest here: http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_if.htm. Good GM advice, all of it

I reckon a good GM is one who shares the burden and fun of the game with the players. I’ve known GMs who were utterly amazing at creating entire worlds full of adventures – and then consequently treated the players like visitors to his invented Realm. That might be great world-building, but it’s not good Games Mastery. When it comes to the game, sharing is the best way to maximise the enjoyment, every time.

(Did I really write the words “maximise the enjoyment”? Sheesh.)

“…Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a GM, my son!”