Need of Opinions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Need of Opinions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Raust92
04-20-07, 11:48 PM Next week is going to be the starting of my eberron campaign. So I would like to know from you if it's a good idea for me to have one of my friends being the assistant DM. I asked him about it the other day told him the plot and everything. So far he has designed exceptional parts of the dungeon. I really want to know if I did the right thing or not. Even though I know it's to late to say no... Much appreciated!
~RAUST~
Macrovore
04-21-07, 12:09 AM it depends. is he a player in the same game? if so, bad idea. he's got a lot of metagame knowledge that would be nigh impossible to supress.
But if not, then it's fine. if the game has a large number of players, or you're not good at, say, running combats, then a co-dm (or assistant dm, or whatever) is handy to have. Also, you can bounce ideas back and forth and bring another perspective to the DMship.
Dragom
04-21-07, 12:29 AM Diddo, Don't hand the keys to the bannana plantation to the monkeys/
KidChainsaw
04-21-07, 03:11 AM I've actually had good experiences with a covert "co-DM" for an Eberron game. I was familiar with the game and so was my "plant", the one other player who was familiar with the setting and rules systems specific to it. He'd help with explaining things by having all the right "in-character" reactions as well as rules queries.

But I'd only give him hints on where the plot was going -- and then only rarely.

Of course, this guy is a veteran player and DM who, at the time, didn't have the time or energy to run a game himself. I guess it will depend on the player you're asking to help you DM.
Raust92
04-21-07, 02:57 PM Thank you for all of you who have posted. Second the assistant DM is not a PC. That would make no sense at all.
KidChainsaw
04-21-07, 03:23 PM Depending on what you need help with, there's no reason why this "co-DM" shouldn't run a PC. If you just need help with the mechanical aspects of the game (looking up/adjucating rules) said co-DM would probably get board and drift when things are going smooth, then find better things to do with his/her Sunday afternoons when you do need him/her.

If you need help with plot, have him run an NPC. Even better, have him run an NPC that everyone thinks is a PC...until the opportune moment (insert maniacal laugh here).
Raust92
05-02-07, 04:49 PM I finally did the dungeon a few days back, but unfortunetly the co-dming was horrible. We totally slaughtered the dungeon. I am now restarting my eberron campaign with me being the DM.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Raust92 04-20-07, 11:48 PM	Next week is going to be the starting of my eberron campaign. So I would like to know from you if it's a good idea for me to have one of my friends being the assistant DM. I asked him about it the other day told him the plot and everything. So far he has designed exceptional parts of the dungeon. I really want to know if I did the right thing or not. Even though I know it's to late to say no... Much appreciated! ~RAUST~
Macrovore 04-21-07, 12:09 AM	it depends. is he a player in the same game? if so, bad idea. he's got a lot of metagame knowledge that would be nigh impossible to supress. But if not, then it's fine. if the game has a large number of players, or you're not good at, say, running combats, then a co-dm (or assistant dm, or whatever) is handy to have. Also, you can bounce ideas back and forth and bring another perspective to the DMship.
Dragom 04-21-07, 12:29 AM	Diddo, Don't hand the keys to the bannana plantation to the monkeys/
KidChainsaw 04-21-07, 03:11 AM	I've actually had good experiences with a covert "co-DM" for an Eberron game. I was familiar with the game and so was my "plant", the one other player who was familiar with the setting and rules systems specific to it. He'd help with explaining things by having all the right "in-character" reactions as well as rules queries. But I'd only give him hints on where the plot was going -- and then only rarely. Of course, this guy is a veteran player and DM who, at the time, didn't have the time or energy to run a game himself. I guess it will depend on the player you're asking to help you DM.
Raust92 04-21-07, 02:57 PM	Thank you for all of you who have posted. Second the assistant DM is not a PC. That would make no sense at all.
KidChainsaw 04-21-07, 03:23 PM	Depending on what you need help with, there's no reason why this "co-DM" shouldn't run a PC. If you just need help with the mechanical aspects of the game (looking up/adjucating rules) said co-DM would probably get board and drift when things are going smooth, then find better things to do with his/her Sunday afternoons when you do need him/her. If you need help with plot, have him run an NPC. Even better, have him run an NPC that everyone thinks is a PC...until the opportune moment (insert maniacal laugh here).
Raust92 05-02-07, 04:49 PM	I finally did the dungeon a few days back, but unfortunetly the co-dming was horrible. We totally slaughtered the dungeon. I am now restarting my eberron campaign with me being the DM.