>>43310224limiting distractions is difficult but not impossible.
Some tips:
-have players use the source book
-you got alot of shit on your plate, if a rule comes up and you cant handwavium it, make a player whos turn is the furthest away examine the rulebook for you
-have a player move pieces of the monsters for you
-Give bonus's so players will want to dual attack, or more than just provide cover
-I Write up simple little mini games like lock tumblers or small mazes, then have a player *the most attentiony* become a journal maker, note taker, anything really to keep them busy.
-Never stop DM'ing. Have players bring potluck dinners, plates and eat ala'cart
-When someone looks distracted, give them some small ingame thing to do.
-Make sure EVERYONE is having a good time. Include those who often shy away, those who are LOLATTENTION WHORE THIS STORY IS ABOUT ME will get their fill, give the shy player some sort of important function in the group as well, maybe a NPC shows favor to them for their race, stature, or maybe just are both wearing the same color shirt.
-Be creative, let the players tell the story. between 8 people arguments will come up. Wing everythigng you can, let the players tell the story and you just keep moving foward.
-PREPLAN ALL COMBATS. jesus christ I cannot make this more important. Unless its the BBG, make up a few basic encounters ready to go, and fluff the rest of the shit. 5 warriors, 3 casters and a elite? Have the stats and fluff the details.
8 Bandits with short swords?
8 Mirfolk with tridents?
8 Humanoid tall goblins with mutated handclaws?
-Have six incase shit preplanned combats, and just be ready to fudge the fluff for them, always mix it up and the players will never catch on.
-Have another player draw the map for you. Fuck your details, the cartographer will put intersting shit in place for you.
WING IT MOTHERFUCKER. YOUR BABYSITTING 8 TODDLERS. JUST DONT STOP AND PUSH FORWARD. HANDWAVE AND GOGOGOGO.
you'll do fine.