Ok, over the last couple of years I've come to a realization, and it may sound weird so I'm looking for anyone who is the same.
When playing roleplaying games, I absolutely love to be DM/GM and I don't enjoy it as much being anything else.
Why? I don't know really. Maybe I do have a subconscious need to be in control, but I think the real thing is that I hate feeling like I'm in competition with the other players.
This was especially egregious in some aspects of D&D 3.5 where competition to make awesome characters was fierce with so many books out there. I've also had a string of DMs who have always seen themselves at odds with the players with encounters that were designed to challenge only the most min/maxed characters.
Then again, it may just be that I find roleplaying one personality ALL THE TIME to be incredibly boring. I love going back and forth from goblins to ancient wizards to fleeing commoners. Even if they're only on stage for a short while, I love to think of new personalities.
Anyway, psychoanalyze away!
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Overall, I prefer to DM, I like writing adventures, coming up with new NPCs, using different monsters, etc. I've ran my homebrew world for close to 15 years with dozens and dozens of players so I take a lot of satisfaction from that.
Once in a while though, I do like to switch to player, even just for a few short adventures, just to have a little breather.
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You're not alone.
I prefer the role of DM over that of player. One of the things I like about being the DM is that I'm so much more "in the know" with regard to the background and how events converged to bring that group of adventurers to that point at that time.
I do play from time-to-time, but i find DM'ing much more satisfying.
-Skeld
Same here...
I am running my own campaign world for about 25 years.
As a DM, i am very much into immersion, narration, descriptions, details, offering many options to the players.
In return i am very demanding, asking quite a lot from them : immersion, roleplaying, motivation, dedication.
My problem is that i happen to be as demanding as a player, looking for the same kind of development and options.
When it is not provided, i get very disappointed and frustrated, and lose interest in the game.
I don't play for just geting into dark dungeons, kill a bunch of monsters and grab the treasure.
I don't enjoy playing "just for the fun".
I realized a while ago that i am probably too exigent, and that my needs in the game are too high.
For many years i couldn't get satisfied as a player.
I just can't seem to find a DM giving me what i am looking for.
So the best for me is to run the game as the DM.
Contributor
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I prefer the role of DM over that of player. One of the things I like about being the DM is that I'm so much more "in the know" with regard to the background and how events converged to bring that group of adventurers to that point at that time.
I do play from time-to-time, but i find DM'ing much more satisfying.
Ditto. I'm drawn to the world-building, story-telling aspect of the game, so DMing just fits. And...it's probably a control thing, too. ;)
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I can't find a good DM. Everyone wants to run some idiotic homebrew that makes no real sense or stuff I hate playing like The Realms. The only reason I decided to DM was because I saw Paizo's awesome offerings but couldn't get anyone to try running them. I like DMing somewhat but I would rather just play in ROTRL game one week and a COTCT game the other week. I can't get a decent DM to bite so I am relegated to the task of running it myself. Even now, I run Savage Tide and have to play in a homebrew for the other game (we alternate DMs and games every week). I need a Paizo fan in my area to start a new group with.....
Delaware City, Delaware.
I enjoy beign a DM for 2 things:
1.I ENJOY creating stuff (npcs, item, creatures, places, stories, etc)
2.I like Gropu-Leading (as a DM or PC)
I love to play almost as much as beign as a DM but I have a big problem... As a DM I'm the "rules-lawer" PC and I can be quite annoying. Also If my DM overules a fair rule or tactic "just because he's the DM" can get me even more annoying... So, I'm not a very welcomed PC at my frineds tables....
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One of the things I like about being the DM is that I'm so much more "in the know" with regard to the background and how events converged to bring that group of adventurers to that point at that time.Ditto. I'm drawn to the world-building, story-telling aspect of the game, so DMing just fits. And...it's probably a control thing, too. ;)
same, especially in Golorian. I want to know the whole backstory, and the roots of that are threaded into the adventures masterfully. So even after playing a PFS adventure, I still have to buy it and read it!
I suppose I am; but I also like to play. I mostly gm.
I love to GM, but there are certain genres of game that I'm not as good at running. Happily, those genres I'm not good at I get to play in.
I definitely prefer to GM. While I get an itch once in a while to just play in a campaign, if I do so and am not currently running a game, I start getting antsy and restless.
I guess most of the Hardcore posters are DMs... Usully our breed its more obsesed with the game that -Player's Only-.
Dark, weird and control-sick breed we are... Mwahahaha
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I love to GM. I love creating interesting stories. I most enjoy a story told by many people together, like a musical jam session.
I began as a GM because I couldn't find an existing D&D group, so I started one.
I still have trouble finding exciting GMs in my area. Also, I get restless and bored if I can only play one character instead of all the NPCs!
Count me as a career DM. I like playing when I'm with people who can provide good roleplaying and satisfy my desire for immersion. But I love world building and story crafting too much. I love to know the big picture, the motivations; the history and the future. Plus, I'm a very visual person and most other people can't give visual descriptions, of places, actions, spells, or whatever, to my satisfaction, so I end up without as strong a sense of what's going on as if I were in The Chair. I also must confess that it's about the control, too. I don't trust anyone else to develop the story properly, either in preparation or spontaneously at the table. What is proper? What I think it is, of course!
I also get tired of playing the same character repeatedly. I'm a little ADD about it, and as a DM I get to switch around to my heart's content, try out as many NPC ideas as I want to, play with character concepts and builds that wouldn't hold up as a PC for a whole campaign, but make for a great BBEG in one or two fights.
And there's the whole "philosophy of DMing" thing. Basically, no one else in the group knows even a fraction as much about why a DM should do the things a DM does in the way he does them as I do, whether socially or mechanically, narritavely or in construction of the adventure. I get irked when another DM does something that's "not right," and I know I would have done it better. What's right? What I think it is, of course! I'm the DM!
Well DM'ing is actually part of my paid occupation as a youth arts worker... so...yes, I'm a career DM!
Yeah, I far prefer GM-ing, but I do get tired after a while and need a break.
And there's the whole "philosophy of DMing" thing. Basically, no one else in the group knows even a fraction as much about why a DM should do the things a DM does in the way he does them as I do, whether socially or mechanically, narritavely or in construction of the adventure. I get irked when another DM does something that's "not right," and I know I would have done it better. What's right? What I think it is, of course! I'm the DM!
I think this was a big reason I was always the DM as well.
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I think I prefer GMing. Every now and then, I start to get a craving to play a PC instead of GMing. Inevitably, though, when I am playing, I get the urge to go back to GMing, and that urge usually comes a lot sooner.
I think my ideal would be to have a game that I can GM and have a second, more casual game that I can play in. Unfortunately, I don't have enough time in the week for two game sessions :(
Yes, I am one too. I have been our group's DM since 1987. My players are still the same (with some new ones added) and as long as they are enthousiastic I will be too.
I like the sense of anticipation that preparing an adventure gives: how will the players react, will they solve it, will it be exciting, will they be surprised?
I also like the storytelling aspect of being a DM. When I am playing I immediately spot plot errors and flaws, which is why I prefer to DM. I also like to play different characters (and invent new ones).
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Career DM here too. I DM probably 95% of the time but I love every minute of it.
I really enjoy it so much simply because it lets the players and I tell a story that they want to tell and while they're telling the story I'm throwing the challenges at them. It lets me do gads of cool stuff I'd never get to do as a player (throw nifty monsters at them, stat up cool NPCs, plot twists (!!!), et cetera).
I still love to play every once in awhile though. :p
Honestly, I prefer to play, but 90% of the time I'm the GM because there would be no game otherwise.
FWIW, I'm a good GM (or so I've been told) and I enjoy it ... but it would be nice to have a few characters of my own, le sigh!
-The Gneech
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Mostly a DM here, I'm a good DM, I used to play when I had another friend who ran an amazing Vampire or Earthdawn game...it was incredible...I look up to him as a DM...we lost touch unfortunately when he went overseas.
So now I run a little game for my kids on occasion and I'm running a party thru The Kobold King series for Beta testing, and I'm loving pathfinder!!!
I'm a huge rule-tweaker, always have been. I came up with an interesting campaign for RoboRally even. My main problem is time, having 9 year old twins is tough on that. (yeah their birthday was yesterday!) HUZZAH!
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Aye...Career! I find if I dont, most groups I get involved with fall apart. After a few months they get bored and move on. I havent found but a few DM's that have the....Charisma? Play Style? I dont know what else to call it...to keep a group together over a long term.
I do enjoy playing, and get into characters easily though...and If a DM ever comes along that can do more than create cookie cutter adventures, Im all in.
(Charlotte NC)
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Contributor
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My main problem is time, having 9 year old twins is tough on that. (yeah their birthday was yesterday!) HUZZAH!
Amen! As many on the boards know already, I have 6yo twins. I can't wait to start a regular campaign with them. I just hope I can keep them interested in gaming.
Congrats on surviving 9 years! ;)
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I started DMing when I was like 18, it was my homebrew campaign and i've been hooked as a DM ever since! I enjoy the aspect of DMing, the multiple presonalites, knowing the ending, and seeing how the Players get there. I love the story telling aspect (which is one of the main reason's my wife says i'm a good DM), though I haven't had a group as that which I started with.
I do enoy to play, but as with the Military moving all the time, I've found to get the game i'm looking for I have to be the DM. And i've found those more experienced players I get in a group they seem to enjoy my DMing style. Which again sticks me as the DM. Though recently i've talked one of my friends into a running a game and thankfully it's Vampire. I love my D&D, but it's nice to get out and play something else.
Hopefully my next assignment will be closer to more Pathfinder players!
And there's the whole "philosophy of DMing" thing. Basically, no one else in the group knows even a fraction as much about why a DM should do the things a DM does in the way he does them as I do, whether socially or mechanically, narritavely or in construction of the adventure. I get irked when another DM does something that's "not right," and I know I would have done it better. What's right? What I think it is, of course! I'm the DM!
Ooh this is interesting, tell me more about the way a DM should do things, and why. Not so much with construction of the adventure ( i reckon I have learnt a lot from reading the paizo adventures) but socially, mechanically and narrativley.
Werecorpse- DM'ing since 1980
Owner - Johnny Scott Comics and Games
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It looks like I'm in the minority here. I like to DM and play equally. I rotate DMing in my current group, and play when I'm not running the game.
I get great satisfaction out of doing both, and I think splitting time helps me become better in both capacities.
As a player, I can run with a character concept and just focus on the game. I can also pick up some techniques on DMing from the other DM, and pick up on some preferences and play styles from the other players in the group that I can incorporate into the games I DM.
As a DM, I get to throw myself into multiple roles, throw challenges at my players, and apply some of the things I learned while being a player.
In either case, the rotation helps keep me (and our other DM) fresh, and also allows us some additional prep time between campaigns so we can do our best to make things memorable for our players.
Generally, we switch off based on party level or adventure path. For example, I DM'd Savage Tide, and when the path was over, my buddy began DMing a Dungeon Crawl Classics campaign. Once the DCC is over, I'll run Rise of the Rune Lords, and he's already on deck for Curse of the Crimson Throne.
I guess being a Career DM or Player isn't my bag - I like doing both!
Ok, over the last couple of years I've come to a realization, and it may sound weird so I'm looking for anyone who is the same.
When playing roleplaying games, I absolutely love to be DM/GM and I don't enjoy it as much being anything else.
I love DM/GM/Ref'ing, and my players love and have loved it.
It is a match made in heaven.
But, I started as a career player, the story of how it came to pass in those days of yore that I became a GM/DM is contained here:
Go to Rich's DMing Horror Story.
In service,
Rich
Go to The Original Dr. Games Site.
And there's the whole "philosophy of DMing" thing. Basically, no one else in the group knows even a fraction as much about why a DM should do the things a DM does in the way he does them as I do, whether socially or mechanically, narritavely or in construction of the adventure. I get irked when another DM does something that's "not right," and I know I would have done it better. What's right? What I think it is, of course! I'm the DM!Ooh this is interesting, tell me more about the way a DM should do things, and why. Not so much with construction of the adventure ( i reckon I have learnt a lot from reading the paizo adventures) but socially, mechanically and narrativley.
Werecorpse- DM'ing since 1980
Anyone who is an active member, or actively reads, the boards here at Paizo and has learned from all the excellent advice and discussions contained therein knows as much about it as I do; any who do not think this describes them will be better off pursuing that path than looking to me.
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Hi, My name is Jon Shade, and I am a career DM. I haven't been able to play for over 7 years now. But I have DM'd the entire time.
For the last 18 years I have been running an ADnD campaign for the same group of players. Every once in a great while, I will get to play. Usually if I can find another group to play with.
I have recently become fairly involved with our local Game Day and am pushing the Pathfinder Society as much as I can to get some interest going, so maybe I can play in a couple of games. I just ate a couple of scenarios for the team at the last Game Day.
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When me, my brother and his friend first opened the 3.5 box 4 years ago, we drew straws to see who would DM. I got the short one. I've been a DM ever since. The others try occasionally (The group has grown to include another friend, my bro's GF and occasionally guest players like my cousin and my friend), but I'm the only one out of us that enjoys it as much as playing, so I'm "the DM". Judging by what my players tell me, I'm a good one too. So I guess you can count me in the Career DM's group for the long haul.
And while I do occasionally give advice, I never try to tell other DMs what is "right" or "wrong" (unless it's in the rules and he's misinterpreting it, and never in front of his players), since it's my belief that there is no right or wrong when it comes to storytelling and gaming, so long as your players are having fun.
Recently, My frind and I reached an agreement where I'll run a BattleTech campaign for him and he'll run a Western campaign (with lovecraftian undertones) for me. That way I can get all my playing out without having to sit through one of my players lookign at me for revenge.
Ditto. I'm drawn to the world-building, story-telling aspect of the game, so DMing just fits. And...it's probably a control thing, too. ;)I prefer the role of DM over that of player. One of the things I like about being the DM is that I'm so much more "in the know" with regard to the background and how events converged to bring that group of adventurers to that point at that time.
I do play from time-to-time, but i find DM'ing much more satisfying.
I have exactly the same issues. I love the deep immersion that DMing can give and have been frustrated over the years in groups as a player when the DM just doesn't "get" it. I can overlook other plyers who just don't understand how to really immerse themselves, but a DM that doesn't understand how to get deep into the world and story is like watching a bad movie.
That said, from time to time I have been able to find a really special group that has both high caliber players and a stellar DM. There's nothing else like it. I've just started playing with a new group and I have really high hopes for it. The DM has a ton of qualities that I look for in a high quality DM and I can already tell that at least one of the other players knows how to play (when I say "knows how to play" it has nothing to do with rules and everything to do with bringing the story alive).
Over the years, I found that a high quality gaming group has to be cultivated over time. You have to go through several iterations, skimming the best players/DMs from one to the next and straining out the others, until you have the 5-7 members that just totally work together.
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I have been noticing a disturbing trend on the boards lately. A few so-called experts have been complaining about the abundance of bad DMs stemming from 3.5. They seem to be operating from the perspective of the player, as if the game is all about them and fulfilling their desires.
I honestly think these people have never run a game. I find DMs to be the most fair-minded of gamers.
I honestly think these people have never run a game. I find DMs to be the most fair-minded of gamers.
Ditto!
I prefer to DM, although I do honestly enjoy playing as well on occassion. When playing D&D I almost always DM, but in other game systems I play as a player more (In the last 5 years I do not think I have been a player in a D&D game of any edition... while I have DMed games of all editions except pre-Moldvey OD&D durring that time, but I have been a player in Call of Cthulhu, Runequest and Traveller games during that time).
It seems like the only time I'm ever a player is in play-by-post games here. I taught all of my players for the most part; most never had a game before me. I enjoy DMing but sometimes I don't want the responsibility. And I do have an attention problem; I get tired of one campaign after a few months and want to try something different. Or my players don't like what I'm doing or we just get sick of it. So I've never actually "finished" a campaign, which is a bit sad.
Friends once told me that it was no surprise that I DM-ed, they said something about a god-complex ;>
I do think that the best combination is to DM and play. You cannot improve as a DM if you don't see what other DM's do, you can steal their greatist hits and avoid their pitfalls.
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Absolutely a career DM. I have gotten most of my group into gaming, I am the only one interested in spending money on the game, and if I didn't DM, I wouldn't ever get to play at all. But that is fine with me because I voraciously read anything that has to do with gaming as soon as I get it, spend my spare time creating characters and scenarios, and constantly drawing up new lands. In fact, because I couldn't ever stick with one land to develop, I finally decided (about 7 years ago) that my campaign world is a long ribbon that overlaps itself fourth dimensionally (kinda like a tesseract). From space it would kinda look like a ring, but you could never truly circumvent it, you would constantly be coming upon new continents.
But I do enjoy playing, just never get to.
Honestly, I prefer to play, but 90% of the time I'm the GM because there would be no game otherwise.
Same here. I DM because I must, not because I want to. I'd much rather play.
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I prefer to GM, and do so most of the time. Right now, with about five on-going campaigns in my group, I'm GMing 4 of them. And I'm fine with it. I love GMing far more than playing. I find I get bored fairly quickly when I'm playing! Here I am with only one character who has one personality (not counting schizophrenic PCs I've made in the past...); it feels like there are so few choices!
But when you GM, you have an infinite amount of NPCs with an infinite amount of personalities, quirks, details. You have worlds to describe, battles to play-by-play, and monsters to throw at your group. There's so much that you can do, and I love that freedom.
I also like being the host, and that's part of the GMs job as well. Even when you're not in your own home, you control quite a bit of what happens in the evening. So maybe GMs are control freaks? I don't know.
Maybe GMs are people who realize that they can help create the most fun atmosphere around the table. They have the skills to produce a fun world for their players, who can be immersed. The GM gets to provide the fun. For everyone else and himself.
That's why I love GMing.
Ive been DMing for 23 years now.
Players will only respect you when you thrash them to within an inch of their lives and only let their best ideas and rolls save them.
Then they will stop arguing and pay attention.
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I have been a DM for 27 years now. I love to play, but I like the moment of realization better. That special moment when the players find out the twist to the story that they have been a part of. There's nothing better than seeing grown adults with the twinkle in their eyes of children on Christmas morning. I like to know, to anticipate, when that moment is coming, which is a big part of why I like to DM.
Why? I don't know really. Maybe I do have a subconscious need to be in control, but I think the real thing is that I hate feeling like I'm in competition with the other players.
I'm definitely a career DM. I've got a few years of experience. There's nothing like the thrill of watching player's eyes go large at a most interesting moment in the game.
That said, I've enjoyed playing more and more as I've gotten older. Why? Because I learn new tricks and techniques from watching other DMs and from being part of the group, not the focus of it. In the quiet, windless moments when the spotlight is elsewhere, a tiny whisper of insight often tickles your mind.