Chatty DM posted an article asking us why do we run games? There are almost as many answers as there are people answering. No one else would, the ability to have a creative outlet, to give the usual guy a break.
It got me to thinking about the people I know who love the job… and suck at it. These people really ruin the game for everyone. One bad player can give the DM a hard time, annoy the rest of the group but… the game goes on. A bad Dungeon/Game Master can’t be escaped without finding a new group or having a confrontation that no one will enjoy. Often enough, such an argument won’t work anyhow, just splitting up the group and breaking friendships.
So if you’re thinking about being a Game Master, for whatever system, sit back and ask yourself why first. Then go read this article on leading covens. Alot of the same principles and questions apply to being a good Game Master.
Do you see yourself raptly capturing the attention of the players with your inspired dialogue as you bring out carefully crafter player aids? Stop. Think. The players are going to constantly interrupt your story-telling with what you think are stupid questions (So do we roll initiative yet?), lose the player-aids and play games on their cell phones during your speeches. Is it really worth the hours (yes, that’s HOURS) of prep? If so, perhaps GM’ing is for you.
Do you see yourself as a power in the group, becoming more popular as The Guy who is God? If so, this isn’t for you. GMs are rarely thanked and often complained at by players. “But I don’t get to use my +10 double-bladed Axe of Gondor! You should let me reroll that, the die fell sideways!” GMs are only as popular as the game is that week. One inspired week of the best story of your soul is forgotten the next if you can’t do it twice in a row, especially if John and Jim can’t figure out a fair way to divvy the loot.
Being a Game Master is HARD and often the only satisfaction you’re going to get will come from within yourself. So stop and think before you tell the group you want to run next week. You might have it in you to be the best GM anyone’s ever seen, but only if you’re doing it for the right reasons.
JHG Hendriks | 15-Oct-07 at 10:48 am | Permalink
I find that often the reward comes right on the heels of the complaints, as they keep coming back to play in your campaigns.
Now I know that there are some people who prefer a bad GM over staring at a blank wall, but most people just like to complain whilst playing.
ChattyDm | 17-Oct-07 at 8:12 am | Permalink
Whoa there Viriatha…. I sense you’ve had some baaaad DMs!
Oddly enough I too have had a horrendous experience with an immature and adversarial DM early in the D&D 3.0 years. You know the type who complains that the evening was too easy for the players because no characters died!!!!!!
I don’t know if you’ve ever seen this, but it puts things back in perspective:
The Worst DM ever
Enjoy!