dm assisstant [Archive] - Wizards Community

dm assisstant [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
shadow_brian22
07-02-06, 11:42 PM if im playing with a huge group and need an assisstant, how would i go about that, and wut would he do?
VrecknidjX
07-02-06, 11:48 PM What exactly do you mean? Do you mean that you have so many players that you can't handle all the DMing tasks on your own?

I have a large group (6 players usually, but as many as 10 sometimes). But, I've been DMing for 20+ years so I can handle it. And, most of my players are very experienced (some are qualified RPGA judges). So, if I'm ever getting bogged down by things, I can count on my players to help out.

For example, I needed several dozen monsters statted up before a session and didn't have time to work them all out. So I contacted one of my top players (one who is really good at keeping his knowledge and his character's knowledge separate) and asked him to stat up about 15 of them. He had lots of free time and was happy to do it. When we all got together to play, he gave me their sheets and I was ready to go.

Dave
shadow_brian22
07-03-06, 12:51 AM ive only been DMing for about 2 years now, and most of my players (about9-10) have played for 2 years or less. so we are fairly experienced but i will need help running a campaign for all of them so i think ill need help. So what should i do?
stealth_monkey
07-03-06, 01:06 AM Well, all you have to do is ask one of your players to help out

Generally, I have my partner as an assistant gm, and I assist her when she gm's. Things you can get the agm to handle might be:
- Answering unrelated rules questions from players (eg how x feat works, does y spell allow this effect?)
- Keeping track of monster hitpoints
- Keeping track of player's dm-rolled skills (search, spot, listen etc)
- Looking up references
- Handling split parties
Zheon
07-03-06, 01:13 AM 9-10 players? ive seen a game before that was a 2 party game.. take a player away, you have two parties of 4 and 5, or 4 and 4. have them meet up later and both of you DM, have him help with anything you need in the spur of the moment. find someone who wouldnt mind co-DMing.
John Paul Stoddard
07-03-06, 01:39 AM ive only been DMing for about 2 years now, and most of my players (about9-10) have played for 2 years or less. so we are fairly experienced but i will need help running a campaign for all of them so i think ill need help. So what should i do?

Obviously you will need to play with people you can trust

Appoint one player as the Group secretary..keeps track of the monetary and items found and how its dispersed and then spent...then its on the players if they lose a +2 Ring of protection if they can't remember they have it

appoint one to make maps for the records and durring the game...if they get lost it's because they screwed up and forgot

Have each write out about the area where they were raised...Then In corporate that Info into the game

Or get a laptop to use durring the game :devil: :drool:
Jaeron Dalur
07-03-06, 01:54 AM I ADM in my game. It really speeds things up to have more than one authority at the table. My duities include:
Arbitrating rules (I am much more versed in the rules than the DM and so I take care of most of the rules questions, some even from the DM).
Controlling party NPC's (Animal companions are the biggest here but also helping to arbitrate the effects of spells like charm.)
Tracking PC knowledge (effectively logging the conversations and information given out).
Stating out monsters, cities, and large battles (my DM finds large battles tedious to set up while I like it, so this works out well).

It's important to note that in all these, while the DM is still the final arbiter, I have the power to enforce what I arbitrate. Without that I might as well just be a normal player who argues about the rules. I refrain from controling monsters and non-party NPC's because I feel that it would cut into my ability to enjoy being a player (notable exceptions are the previously mentioned large battles in which I usually controll around 1/2-3/4 of the monsters with the DM controlling the BBEG and non-standard troops). If you feel comfortable delegating control of monsters to your ADM then feel free to do so.

To be an effective ADM (these are qualities a DM should look for in an ADM too), you should have enough knowledge to back up your positions on what you are put in charge of, your DM must trust you, the other players must trust you, and you have to want to do it (resentment and having fun don't go together).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
shadow_brian22 07-02-06, 11:42 PM	if im playing with a huge group and need an assisstant, how would i go about that, and wut would he do?
VrecknidjX 07-02-06, 11:48 PM	What exactly do you mean? Do you mean that you have so many players that you can't handle all the DMing tasks on your own? I have a large group (6 players usually, but as many as 10 sometimes). But, I've been DMing for 20+ years so I can handle it. And, most of my players are very experienced (some are qualified RPGA judges). So, if I'm ever getting bogged down by things, I can count on my players to help out. For example, I needed several dozen monsters statted up before a session and didn't have time to work them all out. So I contacted one of my top players (one who is really good at keeping his knowledge and his character's knowledge separate) and asked him to stat up about 15 of them. He had lots of free time and was happy to do it. When we all got together to play, he gave me their sheets and I was ready to go. Dave
shadow_brian22 07-03-06, 12:51 AM	ive only been DMing for about 2 years now, and most of my players (about9-10) have played for 2 years or less. so we are fairly experienced but i will need help running a campaign for all of them so i think ill need help. So what should i do?
stealth_monkey 07-03-06, 01:06 AM	Well, all you have to do is ask one of your players to help out Generally, I have my partner as an assistant gm, and I assist her when she gm's. Things you can get the agm to handle might be: - Answering unrelated rules questions from players (eg how x feat works, does y spell allow this effect?) - Keeping track of monster hitpoints - Keeping track of player's dm-rolled skills (search, spot, listen etc) - Looking up references - Handling split parties
Zheon 07-03-06, 01:13 AM	9-10 players? ive seen a game before that was a 2 party game.. take a player away, you have two parties of 4 and 5, or 4 and 4. have them meet up later and both of you DM, have him help with anything you need in the spur of the moment. find someone who wouldnt mind co-DMing.
John Paul Stoddard 07-03-06, 01:39 AM	ive only been DMing for about 2 years now, and most of my players (about9-10) have played for 2 years or less. so we are fairly experienced but i will need help running a campaign for all of them so i think ill need help. So what should i do? Obviously you will need to play with people you can trust Appoint one player as the Group secretary..keeps track of the monetary and items found and how its dispersed and then spent...then its on the players if they lose a +2 Ring of protection if they can't remember they have it appoint one to make maps for the records and durring the game...if they get lost it's because they screwed up and forgot Have each write out about the area where they were raised...Then In corporate that Info into the game Or get a laptop to use durring the game :devil: :drool:
Jaeron Dalur 07-03-06, 01:54 AM	I ADM in my game. It really speeds things up to have more than one authority at the table. My duities include: Arbitrating rules (I am much more versed in the rules than the DM and so I take care of most of the rules questions, some even from the DM). Controlling party NPC's (Animal companions are the biggest here but also helping to arbitrate the effects of spells like charm.) Tracking PC knowledge (effectively logging the conversations and information given out). Stating out monsters, cities, and large battles (my DM finds large battles tedious to set up while I like it, so this works out well). It's important to note that in all these, while the DM is still the final arbiter, I have the power to enforce what I arbitrate. Without that I might as well just be a normal player who argues about the rules. I refrain from controling monsters and non-party NPC's because I feel that it would cut into my ability to enjoy being a player (notable exceptions are the previously mentioned large battles in which I usually controll around 1/2-3/4 of the monsters with the DM controlling the BBEG and non-standard troops). If you feel comfortable delegating control of monsters to your ADM then feel free to do so. To be an effective ADM (these are qualities a DM should look for in an ADM too), you should have enough knowledge to back up your positions on what you are put in charge of, your DM must trust you, the other players must trust you, and you have to want to do it (resentment and having fun don't go together).