GM Types

[DrGames]

A lot has been written about player types, e.g., "power gamer", "actor", "explorer", etc., and how to best accommodate the player style in play.

I don't recall seeing as much about GM types.

Let's chat about that topic.

Here are a few off the top of my head:

(1) Entertainer - the GM is interested in having fun and in providing for fun. Consistency, uniqueness, and ego signature take backseats for this type of GM.

(2) Novelist - the GM has a story to tell. The players take part in the process, but ultimately there are wheels in motion that will continue whether the players take action or not (or in the worst cases - despite what actions the players take).

(3) Simulationist - the GM loves wargames. Ultimately, RPG sessions are contests between the GM and the players in this type of campaign. The GM can make the sessions very fairly balanced, but make no mistake in the end these sessions are competitions between the GM and the players using a fixed set of rules.

(4) Friend - this GM is most interested in having the players like and love him. He is going to give the players what they want in order to appease them. Consistency, challenge, etc. are less important than the players liking the GM.

What other types are there?

In service,

Rich
The Original Dr Games site since 1993

Check out my latest album of gamer music! Ancient Aires and Marches

[Nohwear]

The dirty GM, not to be confused with the killer GM. Wants to push the characters to their limits, but wants them to succeed.

[DrGames]

Nohwear wrote:

The dirty GM, not to be confused with the killer GM. Wants to push the characters to their limits, but wants them to succeed.

I like it!

[kyrt-ryder]

The tinkerer GM. Shares traits with at least one other type, but is frequently adjusting the rules to suit his tastes and sense of balance and or fun.

[ShinHakkaider]

Nohwear wrote:

The dirty GM, not to be confused with the killer GM. Wants to push the characters to their limits, but wants them to succeed.

That's me pretty much.

[David M Mallon]

I can't really tell with the GMs I've had, but I know what kind of GM I am. I'm a "Not Very Good At Running Games."

[wraithstrike]

The "I'm in charge" GM:
He makes up rules randomly and ignores ones he does not like even if it invalidates your character concept, without any forewarning. He also tells you how things will be and will not explain himself to you. He did all the work, and you are just lucky to play. If you don't like it he will tell you go find another table.

[MageHunter]

wraithstrike wrote:

The "I'm in charge" GM:

He makes up rules randomly and ignores ones he does not like even if it invalidates your character concept, without any forewarning. He also tells you how things will be and will not explain himself to you. He did all the work, and you are just lucky to play. If you don't like it he will tell you go find another table.

*Puts on sunglasses*

----------------------------------

I custom fit my campaigns to my players so I suppose I am the "Friend DM," though I still want to make a killer story.

[PathlessBeth]

Steve Jackson's Munchkin D20 had a classification of GMs by the types of campaigns they run:

Monte Hall--"normal," whatever the heck that means
Monte Haul--Kid gloves, things are easy for the PCs
Monty Python--A comic campaign
Monty Cargo--Heavily railroaded (they provide a sample transcript of part of a Monty Cargo campaign session, and it's a hilarious read.)
Monte Carlos--This GM is out to "defeat" the players, but always does so in a fair way.
Monte Christos--This GM is out to "defeat" the players, but doesn't care about doing it fairly. Monte Christos is the "killer GM."
Monte Cook--obvious.

[Terquem]

The "Hippie College Professor"

(*he thinks he is one of the players*)

[Gerrinson]

I guess I'm the Dirty GM. Honestly, I greatly enjoy all the ways my players devise to thwart my schemes. And on at least one occasion, I have taken several pages of notes and chucked them over my shoulder because the PCs just totally tanked hours of labor.

Not anymore though!

Mostly because the notes are now on my tablet and I will NOT toss My Precious over my shoulder.