Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Fencerboy 06-03-07, 10:58 PM	This just struck me randomly in the car earlier today, and I'm really wondering. Only Dungeon Masters should answer this (actually, only DMs can answer...) So, If you could change the way you got into D&D, and instead of becoming a DM, stay a player (at least for a good while), and forgo all of your DM knowledge, for the joys of being a player, and not knowing the stats (or even having a guess at what it is) of every monster, every way around all kinds of traps, perfect strategies, character optimizations, and so on. Alot of DMs got into DMing when their circle of friends got into D&D, and they picked up the robes of DMhood and filled the boots of everlasting coolness. Answer truthfully, please. For me, I probably wouldn't I actually played for two years before I began DMing, and I find that I can continue to be wowed and stumped by other, decently smart and tricky, DMs. And you?
KillerVole 06-03-07, 11:02 PM	I'd stay a DM, as I also get to play. DMing is the most fun part of the game for me.
WizO_Cat 06-03-07, 11:03 PM	Thread moved to more appropriate board.
Fencerboy 06-03-07, 11:07 PM	I considered putting it here, but I wasn't sure if you wanted this to be purely DMing issues. Anyways... Cat, you seemed to be having fun shifting threads around, so... Anyone else? *whistles*
Ongorth 06-03-07, 11:09 PM	Umm, DMs don't know any more then players. I mean, at least I don't know any more then my players. Seriously, players have access to the same stuff. Particularly getting around traps and character optimization are two things you'd think a player would be much better at then a DM, considering. I've gotten the impression that some people seem to think that DMs know more then players and I'm not sure how that happens. But, I do have a theory: 1) Many DMs only DM for people who are dumber then them. When it comes down to it, I don't know more then my players. I'm probably the dumbest person in my group (by far). But, even if you aren't dumb, there are four of them and one of you. If your players aren't outsmarting you 92.5% of the time, something wierd is going on. DMing, I figure, is really about to things. Leadership and presentation. Neither of which much knowledge. As for your question? I'm fine being a DM I guess. I've been doing it a long time. I rarely (read: practically never) actually play characters. I'm awful at it. Method acting NPCs is one thing, being a character full time is something I can't do. Personally, I don't think I'm smart enough.
Zaver 06-03-07, 11:11 PM	I did quit DMing. I don't know how you guys deal with us players and the stupid things we think are plans.
Tichrimo 06-03-07, 11:19 PM	I have DM'ed for most of my gaming "career" -- since the mid-80's... Not that my various groups of players are smarter or dumber than I am, just that I ended up as the best storyteller of the group. Improvisation is a big factor, but players need to improvise as much as DM's. The difference is, players improvise to get by a problem and potentially throw a monkey wrench/curveball at the DM; DM's improvise to keep the story moving and make the problems continue to be substantial enough to challenge the players. I enjoy the rare chances I get to play a character is someone else's game, and I endeavour to make it just as troublesome for that DM as all my players make it for me. :)
RetiredThief 06-03-07, 11:31 PM	I'd still do at least some DM'ing. It's just a natural progression for me. I'm not happy DMing 100% of my game time. But I wouldn't be happy playing 100% of the time either. I like a mix of both.
Board_Rider 06-03-07, 11:32 PM	I wouldn't change being a DM or how I started. I agree with Ongorth, not all DMs know everything. Sure, I know a lot about the rules but players can get the same knowledge. DMs, I have found, are players who worked through the kinks (I have some HORROR stories from my earlier DM days) and turned them into positives. Additionally, if they are serious about DMing, they will read the rules and try to bring their excitement of the game to the table.
Sleepwalker13666 06-04-07, 02:01 AM	This is a difficult question to answer, I enjoy playing when I have a competent DM, but if the dm doesn't know what he's doing or just isn't good at it, I would rather DM because I know I can at least have fun doing that. If I have a good dm, then I would much rather play than run. Unfortunatly how I ended up with the robes is everyone was unhappy with the way the game was going, we tried changing out dms every other game, I offered a few times but nobody would let me since I was the newest player, finally one day we got into a screaming contest and once we all quieted down and started talking about giving up Dnd, I calmly said "Well since we are pretty much going to quit this anyway, how bought I run tonight, worst that can happen is we don't have fun right?" Nobody could argue with that, and I ran the best game they ever played. After a few games I started buying books, and since I was the only one willing to further invest in books I had the most knowledge, and had already proved myself to be the most competent DM of our group, had I not started DMing, I probably wouldn't still be playing today, though 90% of the time I am still the DM.
Kaldric 06-04-07, 02:32 AM	I started as a player in 1981, and played for 17 years off and on before I ran my first full campaign. I like DMing, but I also like playing. I know the rules pretty well, but just because I'm the DM a lot of the time doesn't mean I know all about the monsters and magic items. I don't read the monster manual cover to cover. I familiarize myself with the monsters in my adventures, and the common random monsters that will show up, but that's about it. I like to avoid reading certain materials, because I eventually want to play them. Some of the new modules, for instance.
Kouk 06-04-07, 04:34 AM	I don't know, I might have stayed a player longer before starting to DM but I felt I wanted to DM. As for knowing "more" than the players, it depends on the DM but in my experience I know significantly more rules/tricks/items/spells than people who only ever are players. While I allow them access to whatever material they want, the fact is I own the most books, and I spend the most time thinking about D&D to prepare sessions. Also, when someone calls me on a rules issue I definitely look it up and remember for next time. Just being a player is easier, you only have to concern yourself about your one or two characters, and you probably don't own many books (maybe PHB, some splats that interest you) and if you don't know a rule you can just ask the other players at the table or the DM. Even if you have read all the rules for every class, you probably don't have nearly as much experience running characters of those classes because you only play as one or two at a time. Just having to stat NPCs is a good exercise for remembering rules. I also feel obligated to know all the things the player characters are capable of, so we don't have to look things up during a session. Players generally only have to keep track of what they personally are capable of, not really the whole group (unless they are helping new players, or are just nosy).
Optimized_Commoner 06-04-07, 05:20 AM	I started out DMing and never looked back. Though since you bring it up, go back and be a player? Hell no. Playing one character isn't capable of satisfying my demand for constant mental stimulation. (No, I don't have ADD, what made you think that?).
CrazyOzzy 06-04-07, 08:06 AM	I started DMing not very long after discovering the game, about 6 years ago. I had played a few games with a few different DMs and a few different characters. I started DMing because we had a small group of friends and no DM. I am so glad I did, as it helps me develop my social skills, communication, imagination, creativity... Though since you bring it up, go back and be a player? Hell no. Playing one character isn't capable of satisfying my demand for constant mental stimulation. BAM! Spot on. Although I miss developping one character to the max. It is hard to spend so much time on a single NPC, however cool he may be because of the demands of creating campaigns. I'd stay a DM, as I also get to play. DMing is the most fun part of the game for me. BAM! Same here. Also it satisfies my power need. (We all have one, don't worry, I'm no tyrant). I get to implement my ideas, my creations, my world and I get to help the players become who they want to be. What is more satisfying? If your players aren't outsmarting you 92.5% of the time, something wierd is going on. Oh my God, my players NEVER outsmart me. God, I wish they would though! I dream of it at night ; the day my players will put in some preparation for my games. Not that I am very smart, it's just that I prepare my games, they don't put any thought into their characters.
PenderGrass 06-04-07, 10:40 AM	I wouldn't mind changing how I came into gaming, it would have been fun to actually have sat down with the Big Dogs and started there (I also would have enjoyed a game or two with Arduin's creator, David Hargave). But, would I give up DMing? Hell no. I gain too much enjoyment out of the activity - this includes everything from sitting down to think up the initial setting to actually running the game at the table. My players never outsmart me, but they do have a tendency to surprise me from time-to-time. And that is nice. I like it and encourage them to think on their own. On the other hand, I doubt I ever "outsmart" them either. Actually, the whole idea of outsmarting seems odd for D&D - afterall, this isn't chess. :dragon: ****
weepingminotaur 06-04-07, 10:50 AM	I wouldn't change a thing. Recently, I've been taking a break from DMing while one of my players runs a short adventure. I've enjoyed and learned from the experience of being a player, but it's also reminded me that, when it comes to D&D, I'm best suited to being a DM. I enjoy the challenge, the control, the ability to develop interesting storylines and characters, and best of all, the chance to really entertain my players. Years of DMing have prevented me from forming serious attachments to characters -- I'm always moving on to the next neat character concept or build and I roleplay my character more like an NPC whom I expect to die at any time. But I'm happy with my D&D experience and wouldn't change it.
Geraturatu 06-04-07, 10:56 AM	The only thing I don't like about being a DM is how quickly my brain tires out and how much harder it is to Roleplay an entire world at once than one character. I always expected it to be one of the hardest things I'd do, but dang; when a player knows how to get around because they know you, it's so much harder to give them a challenge. My NPC's seem lame to me (though my players tell me I'm doing fine, and I believe one of them since they used to DM me), and my stories, no matter how much I plan ahead of time, are boring and just cause people to think: "Oh hey look, this person did that, which caused this, and hey! We have a bad guy! Good By bad guy, oh look! There's a diary in his drawer! Lame plot twist, here we come." Which of course, makes us want something more to do, so we get into arguments over the rules without meaning to in the middle of combat, which is great and all, except I know more of the rules which somehow causes sour moments (How it works, I'll never know). But to answer your question, I am considering using joint DMing with one of my solo campaigns. Which, does kinda point in the middle direction between DMing and being a player.
Kuronue 06-04-07, 12:57 PM	Go back? never. I enjoy most of all telling stories, so why would I want to sit bcak and let someone else tell it?
CCS 06-04-07, 01:56 PM	I've been a DM for as long as I've been playing these games. For better or worse I started off as such straight out of the (basic edition) box over Christmas break back in 1980. Mainly because it just happened to be my set. I'm sure if it'd been Jims books he'd have been the initial DM. (I say initial because it'd would have only been a matter of time before the challenge would have caught my interest). So a few days after ripping the wrapping paper off & reading through it all, myself, my brother, our cousin and a friend sat down & tried to play our new game. We started off with an Elf, a Fighter, and a 1/2ling aproaching the gatehouse at The Keep on the Borderlands". Over the years many more adentures followed. And we eventually found other people who played D&D. I'd say it had to be 5 or 6 years before I actually got to play this game as a player. And in that time I'd added all manner of books (mostly 1E AD&D) to my shelf. Even with a few more people now willing to run things, I still found myself as the primary DM. Again, mostly because I simply had more practice and more of the books. It wasn't untill I got to college that I can actually say that things balanced themselves out to almost 50/50 between DMing & playing. Then I sat out all of 3.0. I was still gaming, just not D&D & not as a Game Master. Last year things shifted and I had a good opprotunity to join a pair of D&D games as a player. Here we are in June of 07 and I'm playing in one of them --- and DMing the other. Do I wish I could have started out simply as a player? Sometimes. DO I wish I could avoid the call to be the DM? Sometimes. But no amount of time spent just as a player completely satisfies me. See, I'm a maker. In minitures games I'm one of those who not only builds/paints his army but also makes all the terrain. And RPG wise I've always been drawn to the creative effort it takes to present a good story. Thus I'm first & formost a DM.
Shiftkitty 06-04-07, 03:18 PM	I enjoy being the DM. My group is not dumber than I am, but I'm considered the best storyteller in the group and the best at winging it. I do my NPCs completely in character, which my players seem to enjoy immensely. I get to act (despite my insistence that I don't want to be on stage), so I never just read a description to the party. I destroyed my voice for a weekend because they insisted on taking along an NPC with a whiskey-ruined voice. (I had no excuse to not do it, and I didn't foresee the consequences...ack!) I'd probably like to spend a bit more time as a player, but for now the driver's seat seems to be my spot. Oh well. Somebody's gotta drive while the players flash everybody on the road!
Evil O 06-04-07, 03:19 PM	Hmmmmm, nice question!! I remember started off with my older brother "helping" me with a few novels, Elaine Cunningham (sorry, but the worst crap I've ever read!:mad: )and I was set and ready to go! That was back in 1986, the game was ADnD and off course I started as a player, I did not understood the Thaco system at that point, along with several other issues. It would take 4 years before I tried DMing. The groups I've played in have all had the understanding that one person might not always want to DM! So we take turns, so the next guy who wants to try can go for it! That works for us and everybody is happy, most of the time. Evil O
Andron 06-04-07, 03:43 PM	When I first started playing 25+ years ago, it was just myself and my best friend. At first we took turns playing and DMing, then as more people started playing we each took turns being the DM. There was probably a 10 year stint where I mostly played, DMing only when the main DM needed to take a break. When I got back into playing 3 years ago, I took over the job as DM because no one else really wanted the position. I've definitely screwed up DMing over the past few years, but for the most part I've enjoyed it and so have the players. I just wish I had more time to develop the campaign better. I'd probably play for a while if I could find a game, but I don't really mind. I think our group does a good job of being able to shake things up and keep each other on their toes. Half of the group works in fusion research/ computer support for the same facility, so I don't think anyone in our group is actually dumb. Even in the past when I was mostly playing, the DM was awesome and definitely kept me interested in other aspects of the game. (Besides, I was always really good at not metagaming.)
Fencerboy 06-04-07, 10:54 PM	This is a difficult question to answer, I enjoy playing when I have a competent DM, but if the dm doesn't know what he's doing or just isn't good at it, I would rather DM because I know I can at least have fun doing that. If I have a good dm, then I would much rather play than run. Unfortunatly how I ended up with the robes is everyone was unhappy with the way the game was going, we tried changing out dms every other game, I offered a few times but nobody would let me since I was the newest player, finally one day we got into a screaming contest and once we all quieted down and started talking about giving up Dnd, I calmly said "Well since we are pretty much going to quit this anyway, how bought I run tonight, worst that can happen is we don't have fun right?" Nobody could argue with that, and I ran the best game they ever played. After a few games I started buying books, and since I was the only one willing to further invest in books I had the most knowledge, and had already proved myself to be the most competent DM of our group, had I not started DMing, I probably wouldn't still be playing today, though 90% of the time I am still the DM. Oh My God! That is one of the saddest things I ever heard...:weep: A true success story though, that is really cool. Anyone else have thoughts or stories?
weasel0 06-04-07, 11:16 PM	I like the openess of power too much. Although I would very much like to every once in a while just lay back, forget my knowledge, make all the other players forget all their knowledge(which inevitably get blurted out), and be able to enjoy a game for once without at least 4(usually the same 4) ratling off stats or strategies or SLA or SNA or EAs of every creature we(or they) run across.
Disciple_of_Salsa 06-05-07, 01:04 AM	DMing all the way. I play a little bit, but mainly I DM and I enjoy it so much more than playing. I don't know ig this is becuase Dming is fun, or just because I suck at playing. My chacters die very fast. I have a graveyard in my paper folder.:weep:
KurenaiYami 06-05-07, 04:45 AM	I'm okay with the situation I have going right now. I DM, as do two of my players. The only real reason I enjoy DMing is because I enjoy playing a D&D that is closer to RAW. The others house rule a lot on the fly because they don't know the rules quite as well (not owning the books) so what they DM seems far less like actual D&D to me.
Radijs 06-05-07, 05:28 AM	I played for about a year before I bought the DMG and started my first adventure during the vacation season when our regular dm went on holiday. Now, two years later my first campaign is beginning to spill over towards the more climactic end and the PC's are beginning to realize where the true evil lies. Maybe I will take a break from the big chair for a while once the campaign is done. But that could take a long time still if the PC's continue to do strange things.
Fencerboy 06-03-07, 10:58 PM	This just struck me randomly in the car earlier today, and I'm really wondering. Only Dungeon Masters should answer this (actually, only DMs can answer...) So, If you could change the way you got into D&D, and instead of becoming a DM, stay a player (at least for a good while), and forgo all of your DM knowledge, for the joys of being a player, and not knowing the stats (or even having a guess at what it is) of every monster, every way around all kinds of traps, perfect strategies, character optimizations, and so on. Alot of DMs got into DMing when their circle of friends got into D&D, and they picked up the robes of DMhood and filled the boots of everlasting coolness. Answer truthfully, please. For me, I probably wouldn't I actually played for two years before I began DMing, and I find that I can continue to be wowed and stumped by other, decently smart and tricky, DMs. And you?
KillerVole 06-03-07, 11:02 PM	I'd stay a DM, as I also get to play. DMing is the most fun part of the game for me.
WizO_Cat 06-03-07, 11:03 PM	Thread moved to more appropriate board.
Fencerboy 06-03-07, 11:07 PM	I considered putting it here, but I wasn't sure if you wanted this to be purely DMing issues. Anyways... Cat, you seemed to be having fun shifting threads around, so... Anyone else? *whistles*
Ongorth 06-03-07, 11:09 PM	Umm, DMs don't know any more then players. I mean, at least I don't know any more then my players. Seriously, players have access to the same stuff. Particularly getting around traps and character optimization are two things you'd think a player would be much better at then a DM, considering. I've gotten the impression that some people seem to think that DMs know more then players and I'm not sure how that happens. But, I do have a theory: 1) Many DMs only DM for people who are dumber then them. When it comes down to it, I don't know more then my players. I'm probably the dumbest person in my group (by far). But, even if you aren't dumb, there are four of them and one of you. If your players aren't outsmarting you 92.5% of the time, something wierd is going on. DMing, I figure, is really about to things. Leadership and presentation. Neither of which much knowledge. As for your question? I'm fine being a DM I guess. I've been doing it a long time. I rarely (read: practically never) actually play characters. I'm awful at it. Method acting NPCs is one thing, being a character full time is something I can't do. Personally, I don't think I'm smart enough.
Zaver 06-03-07, 11:11 PM	I did quit DMing. I don't know how you guys deal with us players and the stupid things we think are plans.
Tichrimo 06-03-07, 11:19 PM	I have DM'ed for most of my gaming "career" -- since the mid-80's... Not that my various groups of players are smarter or dumber than I am, just that I ended up as the best storyteller of the group. Improvisation is a big factor, but players need to improvise as much as DM's. The difference is, players improvise to get by a problem and potentially throw a monkey wrench/curveball at the DM; DM's improvise to keep the story moving and make the problems continue to be substantial enough to challenge the players. I enjoy the rare chances I get to play a character is someone else's game, and I endeavour to make it just as troublesome for that DM as all my players make it for me. :)
RetiredThief 06-03-07, 11:31 PM	I'd still do at least some DM'ing. It's just a natural progression for me. I'm not happy DMing 100% of my game time. But I wouldn't be happy playing 100% of the time either. I like a mix of both.
Board_Rider 06-03-07, 11:32 PM	I wouldn't change being a DM or how I started. I agree with Ongorth, not all DMs know everything. Sure, I know a lot about the rules but players can get the same knowledge. DMs, I have found, are players who worked through the kinks (I have some HORROR stories from my earlier DM days) and turned them into positives. Additionally, if they are serious about DMing, they will read the rules and try to bring their excitement of the game to the table.
Sleepwalker13666 06-04-07, 02:01 AM	This is a difficult question to answer, I enjoy playing when I have a competent DM, but if the dm doesn't know what he's doing or just isn't good at it, I would rather DM because I know I can at least have fun doing that. If I have a good dm, then I would much rather play than run. Unfortunatly how I ended up with the robes is everyone was unhappy with the way the game was going, we tried changing out dms every other game, I offered a few times but nobody would let me since I was the newest player, finally one day we got into a screaming contest and once we all quieted down and started talking about giving up Dnd, I calmly said "Well since we are pretty much going to quit this anyway, how bought I run tonight, worst that can happen is we don't have fun right?" Nobody could argue with that, and I ran the best game they ever played. After a few games I started buying books, and since I was the only one willing to further invest in books I had the most knowledge, and had already proved myself to be the most competent DM of our group, had I not started DMing, I probably wouldn't still be playing today, though 90% of the time I am still the DM.
Kaldric 06-04-07, 02:32 AM	I started as a player in 1981, and played for 17 years off and on before I ran my first full campaign. I like DMing, but I also like playing. I know the rules pretty well, but just because I'm the DM a lot of the time doesn't mean I know all about the monsters and magic items. I don't read the monster manual cover to cover. I familiarize myself with the monsters in my adventures, and the common random monsters that will show up, but that's about it. I like to avoid reading certain materials, because I eventually want to play them. Some of the new modules, for instance.
Kouk 06-04-07, 04:34 AM	I don't know, I might have stayed a player longer before starting to DM but I felt I wanted to DM. As for knowing "more" than the players, it depends on the DM but in my experience I know significantly more rules/tricks/items/spells than people who only ever are players. While I allow them access to whatever material they want, the fact is I own the most books, and I spend the most time thinking about D&D to prepare sessions. Also, when someone calls me on a rules issue I definitely look it up and remember for next time. Just being a player is easier, you only have to concern yourself about your one or two characters, and you probably don't own many books (maybe PHB, some splats that interest you) and if you don't know a rule you can just ask the other players at the table or the DM. Even if you have read all the rules for every class, you probably don't have nearly as much experience running characters of those classes because you only play as one or two at a time. Just having to stat NPCs is a good exercise for remembering rules. I also feel obligated to know all the things the player characters are capable of, so we don't have to look things up during a session. Players generally only have to keep track of what they personally are capable of, not really the whole group (unless they are helping new players, or are just nosy).
Optimized_Commoner 06-04-07, 05:20 AM	I started out DMing and never looked back. Though since you bring it up, go back and be a player? Hell no. Playing one character isn't capable of satisfying my demand for constant mental stimulation. (No, I don't have ADD, what made you think that?).
CrazyOzzy 06-04-07, 08:06 AM	I started DMing not very long after discovering the game, about 6 years ago. I had played a few games with a few different DMs and a few different characters. I started DMing because we had a small group of friends and no DM. I am so glad I did, as it helps me develop my social skills, communication, imagination, creativity... Though since you bring it up, go back and be a player? Hell no. Playing one character isn't capable of satisfying my demand for constant mental stimulation. BAM! Spot on. Although I miss developping one character to the max. It is hard to spend so much time on a single NPC, however cool he may be because of the demands of creating campaigns. I'd stay a DM, as I also get to play. DMing is the most fun part of the game for me. BAM! Same here. Also it satisfies my power need. (We all have one, don't worry, I'm no tyrant). I get to implement my ideas, my creations, my world and I get to help the players become who they want to be. What is more satisfying? If your players aren't outsmarting you 92.5% of the time, something wierd is going on. Oh my God, my players NEVER outsmart me. God, I wish they would though! I dream of it at night ; the day my players will put in some preparation for my games. Not that I am very smart, it's just that I prepare my games, they don't put any thought into their characters.
PenderGrass 06-04-07, 10:40 AM	I wouldn't mind changing how I came into gaming, it would have been fun to actually have sat down with the Big Dogs and started there (I also would have enjoyed a game or two with Arduin's creator, David Hargave). But, would I give up DMing? Hell no. I gain too much enjoyment out of the activity - this includes everything from sitting down to think up the initial setting to actually running the game at the table. My players never outsmart me, but they do have a tendency to surprise me from time-to-time. And that is nice. I like it and encourage them to think on their own. On the other hand, I doubt I ever "outsmart" them either. Actually, the whole idea of outsmarting seems odd for D&D - afterall, this isn't chess. :dragon: ****
weepingminotaur 06-04-07, 10:50 AM	I wouldn't change a thing. Recently, I've been taking a break from DMing while one of my players runs a short adventure. I've enjoyed and learned from the experience of being a player, but it's also reminded me that, when it comes to D&D, I'm best suited to being a DM. I enjoy the challenge, the control, the ability to develop interesting storylines and characters, and best of all, the chance to really entertain my players. Years of DMing have prevented me from forming serious attachments to characters -- I'm always moving on to the next neat character concept or build and I roleplay my character more like an NPC whom I expect to die at any time. But I'm happy with my D&D experience and wouldn't change it.
Geraturatu 06-04-07, 10:56 AM	The only thing I don't like about being a DM is how quickly my brain tires out and how much harder it is to Roleplay an entire world at once than one character. I always expected it to be one of the hardest things I'd do, but dang; when a player knows how to get around because they know you, it's so much harder to give them a challenge. My NPC's seem lame to me (though my players tell me I'm doing fine, and I believe one of them since they used to DM me), and my stories, no matter how much I plan ahead of time, are boring and just cause people to think: "Oh hey look, this person did that, which caused this, and hey! We have a bad guy! Good By bad guy, oh look! There's a diary in his drawer! Lame plot twist, here we come." Which of course, makes us want something more to do, so we get into arguments over the rules without meaning to in the middle of combat, which is great and all, except I know more of the rules which somehow causes sour moments (How it works, I'll never know). But to answer your question, I am considering using joint DMing with one of my solo campaigns. Which, does kinda point in the middle direction between DMing and being a player.
Kuronue 06-04-07, 12:57 PM	Go back? never. I enjoy most of all telling stories, so why would I want to sit bcak and let someone else tell it?
CCS 06-04-07, 01:56 PM	I've been a DM for as long as I've been playing these games. For better or worse I started off as such straight out of the (basic edition) box over Christmas break back in 1980. Mainly because it just happened to be my set. I'm sure if it'd been Jims books he'd have been the initial DM. (I say initial because it'd would have only been a matter of time before the challenge would have caught my interest). So a few days after ripping the wrapping paper off & reading through it all, myself, my brother, our cousin and a friend sat down & tried to play our new game. We started off with an Elf, a Fighter, and a 1/2ling aproaching the gatehouse at The Keep on the Borderlands". Over the years many more adentures followed. And we eventually found other people who played D&D. I'd say it had to be 5 or 6 years before I actually got to play this game as a player. And in that time I'd added all manner of books (mostly 1E AD&D) to my shelf. Even with a few more people now willing to run things, I still found myself as the primary DM. Again, mostly because I simply had more practice and more of the books. It wasn't untill I got to college that I can actually say that things balanced themselves out to almost 50/50 between DMing & playing. Then I sat out all of 3.0. I was still gaming, just not D&D & not as a Game Master. Last year things shifted and I had a good opprotunity to join a pair of D&D games as a player. Here we are in June of 07 and I'm playing in one of them --- and DMing the other. Do I wish I could have started out simply as a player? Sometimes. DO I wish I could avoid the call to be the DM? Sometimes. But no amount of time spent just as a player completely satisfies me. See, I'm a maker. In minitures games I'm one of those who not only builds/paints his army but also makes all the terrain. And RPG wise I've always been drawn to the creative effort it takes to present a good story. Thus I'm first & formost a DM.
Shiftkitty 06-04-07, 03:18 PM	I enjoy being the DM. My group is not dumber than I am, but I'm considered the best storyteller in the group and the best at winging it. I do my NPCs completely in character, which my players seem to enjoy immensely. I get to act (despite my insistence that I don't want to be on stage), so I never just read a description to the party. I destroyed my voice for a weekend because they insisted on taking along an NPC with a whiskey-ruined voice. (I had no excuse to not do it, and I didn't foresee the consequences...ack!) I'd probably like to spend a bit more time as a player, but for now the driver's seat seems to be my spot. Oh well. Somebody's gotta drive while the players flash everybody on the road!
Evil O 06-04-07, 03:19 PM	Hmmmmm, nice question!! I remember started off with my older brother "helping" me with a few novels, Elaine Cunningham (sorry, but the worst crap I've ever read!:mad: )and I was set and ready to go! That was back in 1986, the game was ADnD and off course I started as a player, I did not understood the Thaco system at that point, along with several other issues. It would take 4 years before I tried DMing. The groups I've played in have all had the understanding that one person might not always want to DM! So we take turns, so the next guy who wants to try can go for it! That works for us and everybody is happy, most of the time. Evil O
Andron 06-04-07, 03:43 PM	When I first started playing 25+ years ago, it was just myself and my best friend. At first we took turns playing and DMing, then as more people started playing we each took turns being the DM. There was probably a 10 year stint where I mostly played, DMing only when the main DM needed to take a break. When I got back into playing 3 years ago, I took over the job as DM because no one else really wanted the position. I've definitely screwed up DMing over the past few years, but for the most part I've enjoyed it and so have the players. I just wish I had more time to develop the campaign better. I'd probably play for a while if I could find a game, but I don't really mind. I think our group does a good job of being able to shake things up and keep each other on their toes. Half of the group works in fusion research/ computer support for the same facility, so I don't think anyone in our group is actually dumb. Even in the past when I was mostly playing, the DM was awesome and definitely kept me interested in other aspects of the game. (Besides, I was always really good at not metagaming.)
Fencerboy 06-04-07, 10:54 PM	This is a difficult question to answer, I enjoy playing when I have a competent DM, but if the dm doesn't know what he's doing or just isn't good at it, I would rather DM because I know I can at least have fun doing that. If I have a good dm, then I would much rather play than run. Unfortunatly how I ended up with the robes is everyone was unhappy with the way the game was going, we tried changing out dms every other game, I offered a few times but nobody would let me since I was the newest player, finally one day we got into a screaming contest and once we all quieted down and started talking about giving up Dnd, I calmly said "Well since we are pretty much going to quit this anyway, how bought I run tonight, worst that can happen is we don't have fun right?" Nobody could argue with that, and I ran the best game they ever played. After a few games I started buying books, and since I was the only one willing to further invest in books I had the most knowledge, and had already proved myself to be the most competent DM of our group, had I not started DMing, I probably wouldn't still be playing today, though 90% of the time I am still the DM. Oh My God! That is one of the saddest things I ever heard...:weep: A true success story though, that is really cool. Anyone else have thoughts or stories?
weasel0 06-04-07, 11:16 PM	I like the openess of power too much. Although I would very much like to every once in a while just lay back, forget my knowledge, make all the other players forget all their knowledge(which inevitably get blurted out), and be able to enjoy a game for once without at least 4(usually the same 4) ratling off stats or strategies or SLA or SNA or EAs of every creature we(or they) run across.
Disciple_of_Salsa 06-05-07, 01:04 AM	DMing all the way. I play a little bit, but mainly I DM and I enjoy it so much more than playing. I don't know ig this is becuase Dming is fun, or just because I suck at playing. My chacters die very fast. I have a graveyard in my paper folder.:weep:
KurenaiYami 06-05-07, 04:45 AM	I'm okay with the situation I have going right now. I DM, as do two of my players. The only real reason I enjoy DMing is because I enjoy playing a D&D that is closer to RAW. The others house rule a lot on the fly because they don't know the rules quite as well (not owning the books) so what they DM seems far less like actual D&D to me.
Radijs 06-05-07, 05:28 AM	I played for about a year before I bought the DMG and started my first adventure during the vacation season when our regular dm went on holiday. Now, two years later my first campaign is beginning to spill over towards the more climactic end and the PC's are beginning to realize where the true evil lies. Maybe I will take a break from the big chair for a while once the campaign is done. But that could take a long time still if the PC's continue to do strange things.