Another DM (GM). [Archive] - Wizards Community

Another DM (GM). [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
StormWielder
01-03-06, 12:11 AM I need some advice on this matter. Another player has decided to start a Rolemaste campaign, while my D&D campiagn is in process. What should I do?
Lord Ian Stark
01-03-06, 12:34 AM What's Rolemaste?

Is it possible to run your game one night and his another?
MinusInnocence
01-03-06, 12:47 AM I think he means Rolemaster.

As Ian said, there shouldn't be any problem as long as the new GM doesn't intend to replace your game with his. Then again, if that's what the group wants, maybe it's for the best. Get everyone together and see what people think should be done; if it can be arranged for your games to run separately, on two different days, that would be ideal. If only one day a week is available to for RP, you can alternate; one week for D&D, the next for Rolemaster, etc.

Otherwise, the group has to make a choice. Maybe he's starting his game because no one is interested in continuing with yours. Or, maybe he hasn't even mentioned this to anyone else and he just hopes it will go over well. Maybe they don't want to play his game at all. You won't know until you talk it over.

Based on the tone of your post, I imagine he kind of sprang this on you at the last minute. Rude, yes, but not inherently bad. Give it a try, maybe his game will be a lot of fun.
StormWielder
01-03-06, 01:26 AM The otehr player, and I have some bad blood between us, so he's acting totally ignorant of the whole thing. He's trying to get everyone to quit my campaign, and join his. A few are staying loyal (enough to keep on), but some who i haven't had the chance to really weave into my campaign have joined it, and dsay they might play both. No key players have left though which is aright with me.
a_psh
01-03-06, 01:49 AM When Rolemaster breaks them or bores them out of their minds, they will come crawling back. Not "if". "When".

...

In all seriousness, starting a new game to surreptitiously derail yours is a low blow (though just plain starting a new game because someone doesn't like yours is every gamer's birthright). Anyway, this sounds like a friendship issue rather than a gaming issue.

A lot of the folks I play with are in more than one game (though none of those other games were started to spite me, of course). We schedule around each other and it works out pretty well.
KJW
01-03-06, 10:23 AM I think it is great to have players want to become DMs. With my group there are two (soon to be three) other campaigns, which I am not part of but are run by my players and involve many of my players, we schedule around one another, heck I even gave up one of my nights as DM to a player who wanted to start a campaign with me as a player (which will be my first time as a player in many years, so a little nervous actually).

On the other hand, it is very disappointing that a player would schedule a game to intentionally steal players from you. That is wrong, but the best thing for you to do is to let him try his little coup and run with the players you keep. Don't let it bother you, I think this has happened to most DMs at one point or another, and from my experience don't worry about it, most likely his campaign will fall apart. Any DM who acts this way will be a poor DM and the players will discover that in time.

Don't get angry at the defectors, but definitely reward those was remain loyal. My guess is that you might have too many players anyway and that this might be a good thing in the long run, since even with the defections you have enough to continue on. Use this time to run with a smaller group and reward those loyal players with more roleplaying and better adventures.
tsuyoshikentsu
01-03-06, 12:14 PM Don't sweat it. Unless this guy is more brilliant than any gamer I've ever met, his game will fail and everyone will go back to yours. Including, probably, him.

The reason for this is that if they ONLY reason you're DMing is to negatively affect someone, your campaing will suck because there's no creativity behind it. At its absolute shingingly best moment, it will be pure rollplay, and it doesn't sound like your players go for that.
jagraham
01-03-06, 12:27 PM The otehr player, and I have some bad blood between us, so he's acting totally ignorant of the whole thing. He's trying to get everyone to quit my campaign, and join his. A few are staying loyal (enough to keep on), but some who i haven't had the chance to really weave into my campaign have joined it, and dsay they might play both. No key players have left though which is aright with me.

Don't sweat it. If you don't get along with the guy sometimes, better that he has his own game, where he is boss. Keep your own game to 4 players and take care of them all equally and their minds won't wander.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
StormWielder 01-03-06, 12:11 AM	I need some advice on this matter. Another player has decided to start a Rolemaste campaign, while my D&D campiagn is in process. What should I do?
Lord Ian Stark 01-03-06, 12:34 AM	What's Rolemaste? Is it possible to run your game one night and his another?
MinusInnocence 01-03-06, 12:47 AM	I think he means Rolemaster. As Ian said, there shouldn't be any problem as long as the new GM doesn't intend to replace your game with his. Then again, if that's what the group wants, maybe it's for the best. Get everyone together and see what people think should be done; if it can be arranged for your games to run separately, on two different days, that would be ideal. If only one day a week is available to for RP, you can alternate; one week for D&D, the next for Rolemaster, etc. Otherwise, the group has to make a choice. Maybe he's starting his game because no one is interested in continuing with yours. Or, maybe he hasn't even mentioned this to anyone else and he just hopes it will go over well. Maybe they don't want to play his game at all. You won't know until you talk it over. Based on the tone of your post, I imagine he kind of sprang this on you at the last minute. Rude, yes, but not inherently bad. Give it a try, maybe his game will be a lot of fun.
StormWielder 01-03-06, 01:26 AM	The otehr player, and I have some bad blood between us, so he's acting totally ignorant of the whole thing. He's trying to get everyone to quit my campaign, and join his. A few are staying loyal (enough to keep on), but some who i haven't had the chance to really weave into my campaign have joined it, and dsay they might play both. No key players have left though which is aright with me.
a_psh 01-03-06, 01:49 AM	When Rolemaster breaks them or bores them out of their minds, they will come crawling back. Not "if". "When". ... In all seriousness, starting a new game to surreptitiously derail yours is a low blow (though just plain starting a new game because someone doesn't like yours is every gamer's birthright). Anyway, this sounds like a friendship issue rather than a gaming issue. A lot of the folks I play with are in more than one game (though none of those other games were started to spite me, of course). We schedule around each other and it works out pretty well.
KJW 01-03-06, 10:23 AM	I think it is great to have players want to become DMs. With my group there are two (soon to be three) other campaigns, which I am not part of but are run by my players and involve many of my players, we schedule around one another, heck I even gave up one of my nights as DM to a player who wanted to start a campaign with me as a player (which will be my first time as a player in many years, so a little nervous actually). On the other hand, it is very disappointing that a player would schedule a game to intentionally steal players from you. That is wrong, but the best thing for you to do is to let him try his little coup and run with the players you keep. Don't let it bother you, I think this has happened to most DMs at one point or another, and from my experience don't worry about it, most likely his campaign will fall apart. Any DM who acts this way will be a poor DM and the players will discover that in time. Don't get angry at the defectors, but definitely reward those was remain loyal. My guess is that you might have too many players anyway and that this might be a good thing in the long run, since even with the defections you have enough to continue on. Use this time to run with a smaller group and reward those loyal players with more roleplaying and better adventures.
tsuyoshikentsu 01-03-06, 12:14 PM	Don't sweat it. Unless this guy is more brilliant than any gamer I've ever met, his game will fail and everyone will go back to yours. Including, probably, him. The reason for this is that if they ONLY reason you're DMing is to negatively affect someone, your campaing will suck because there's no creativity behind it. At its absolute shingingly best moment, it will be pure rollplay, and it doesn't sound like your players go for that.
jagraham 01-03-06, 12:27 PM	The otehr player, and I have some bad blood between us, so he's acting totally ignorant of the whole thing. He's trying to get everyone to quit my campaign, and join his. A few are staying loyal (enough to keep on), but some who i haven't had the chance to really weave into my campaign have joined it, and dsay they might play both. No key players have left though which is aright with me. Don't sweat it. If you don't get along with the guy sometimes, better that he has his own game, where he is boss. Keep your own game to 4 players and take care of them all equally and their minds won't wander.