bad dms [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

bad dms [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
guru7892
11-02-03, 08:50 PM for you what defines a bad dungeon master?
for me its someone you can manipulate and will allow anything in his campaighn, even if he doesnt fully understand how it works. also the mst important point of mine is, they dont react well to what the players are doing ie he expects the expected, when are party does the most unconciveable things,aka he overprepares and think will act semi normal when half ar party is a bunch of crazed lunitics.

also i think i could do better
but he wont let me try, i think

but thats just me what would your worst dm be like?
Potion Smuggler
11-02-03, 09:09 PM I hate it when dungeon masters:

1) Frequently threaten karmic wrath on the PCs for not doing what the DM wants, and not in a joking way.

2) Have too much story, and not enough action.

3) Don't really do any roleplaying of their own. I understand some people are shy, but simply saying things factually, out-of-character all the time detracts greatly from the atmosphere.

4) Over-use one theme a little too much in their campaign. Some DMs are obsessed with Book of Vile Darkness fare (since it is such a cool book, after all), while others might have you spending way too much time fighting vampires, for instance. Campaigns that revolve around a single situation all the time aren't typically thrilling.

5) Are too "hard-core." Examples include making PCs start with NPC classes, roll 3d6 for abilities (which leads to massive imbalances between characters, as well as characters that are generally super-crappy). I also tend to get annoyed when the campaign ALWAYS starts at Level 1. There is only so many times you can design a 1st-level character before it gets monotonous.

These are more pet-peeves than signs of bad DMs, though.
Star Warrior X
11-02-03, 09:22 PM The worst sign (and a sure-fire one that I think anyone can agree with) is a lack of knowledgeability concerning the rules. This is not necessarily as much of an issue if the players are new as well, but having a knowledge oof the rules that is less than what the players expected (or worse, less than the players' knowledge) is generally not a good quality in a DM.
Northen_Spur
11-02-03, 09:24 PM an easly intimidated, too generous Dm is a good dm if your a Munchkin or like comedy style DM "I just created a woopie cussin of death fog" everytime someone sit on it you hear a farting sound then the room fills up with toxic gas!

A Dm has to be somewhat strict and keep the game controled if not player would treat every shop like the Magical wal mart. Demanding everyitem available on the list.

My frist mistake as a GM was in Shadowrun, I permited a player to buy a Militairy grade portable Rocket laucher. First thing he did was drive up to Lone Star Hq, and attempted to blow it up.

A good Dm, also has to be able to admit he's made a mistake or misinterpreted a rule.

As Stated above a Dm should roleplay and incourage it.
guru7892
11-02-03, 10:56 PM Originally posted by guru7892
for you what defines a bad dungeon master?
for me its someone you can manipulate and will allow anything in his campaighn, even if he doesnt fully understand how it works. also the mst important point of mine is, they dont react well to what the players are doing ie he expects the expected, when are party does the most unconciveable things,aka he overprepares and think will act semi normal when half ar party is a bunch of crazed lunitics.

also i think i could do better
but he wont let me try.

but thats just me what would your worst dm be like?

just as a note that is my opinion of my dm last year i got a pm that said he made changes, so now have to go to another session befor i can insult, i mean suggest improvements

i need to stop insulting my dm
gleep
11-02-03, 11:18 PM A bad DM is one that isn't entertaining. A bad player is one that isnt entertaining.

I would also consider players that took advantage of a DM's shortcomings to be bad players. Just as I would consider a DM that took advantage of players' shortcomings to be a bad DM.

"Good, evil, what is difference? I have root."

--gleep
Dasein
11-02-03, 11:46 PM My frist mistake as a GM was in Shadowrun, I permited a player to buy a Militairy grade portable Rocket laucher. First thing he did was drive up to Lone Star Hq, and attempted to blow it up.

Ahhhh.....Shadowrun. If I offerred my players access to milspec weapons, they'd be fools to take them. Far smarter to stick to the Predator 2 and Smartgun, since everyone uses them, and its best to be indistinct. But I digress...

As for bad DMs, I think it ultimately co es down to having fun. If the players and DM are enjoying themsleves, then the DM is doing a good job. However, the converse isn't true - a DM might be excellent at running one style of game, and the players might want to play another. Players looking for a serous roleplaying campaign might not like a DM who runs much more of a tactical combat campaign, and vice versa.

Dasein
The_EvilDungeon_Master
11-02-03, 11:57 PM Originally posted by guru7892
just as a note that is my opinion of my dm last year i got a pm that said he made changes, so now have to go to another session befor i can insult, i mean suggest improvements

i need to stop insulting my dm

Yes, considering you haven't been to a single D&D session this year.

I think a bad DM is one that doesn't make you laugh at all.
Or if They overdo on the Hack&Slash Or overdo on the roleplay
Feyd Rautha
11-02-03, 11:57 PM DM's that charge money

DM's that don't know the rules (Rule 0 being the most important)

DM's that get a crush on one of the players (or are married to them/seeing them/bribed by them) and thus design the entire campaign to suit them and throw up obstacles if you don't do things the way the player's character suggests.

DM's that aren't as hardcore about gaming as me.

Feyd
PenderGrass
11-03-03, 12:04 AM but he wont let me try

Who the heck is this guy????

Gee... don't think he let me try either - in fact, I don't think I ever asked him if he would let me be a DM........ but I am.

And you should be too (if you seriously want to be).
Aucturos
11-03-03, 12:21 AM IMHO, a bad DM is simply a person who doesn't want to DM, but would rather be the uber-player in the campaign, but has to DM to be it. You know the one NPC that will never die... Ever. From anything.

Also, DMs who frequently change houserules back and forth to their own advantage are quite annoying...
Xavim
11-03-03, 01:19 AM Nothing infuriates me more than a DM who makes arbitrary rules denying things without any reason whatsoever.

The "No because I say so" syndrome.
It drives me up the wall and I make sure to never use it in ANY of my games. If I ban something, I have a damned good IN GAME reason to.

Arg, nothing worse than a DM on a powertrip.
I'm also a huge enemy of "DM Vengence" and anialating the players because they did something you didn't like. If they're playing correctly then so should you. Making a 20th level Paladin appear out of nowhere to hack up your players when they mess up is just plain stupid and childish and gets under my skin.

*sigh*
sorry folks just needed to vent there.:angel:
Daydreamer
11-04-03, 12:23 AM I find i like a strict dm. I like a dm who forces pcs to abide by good playing. NO metagaming munchkins, powergaming etc. I like dms who tailor rules to not let characters get very powerful. i hate when my pc can swath through an army of orcs single handly and for always retire them when they can as ridiculous. But overall the dm needs to know the game he wants to produce and be good at it ie. knows how to convey that feel and element. Hence the pcs need to want to be a part of that game so it is a very reciprocal relationship.
Ack'noth Necrom
11-04-03, 12:50 AM IMO there is only 2 ways to be a bad DM.

1) Abuse of players. Any DM that puts forth physical, mental, and/or phsycological abuse toward the players is just a bad DM and will never become a good one.

2) Abuse of Power. Any DM that gets the "Im the DM im always god and i dont have to listen to anyone" syndrom is a bad DM.

As far as the not fun thing some people said. You should discuss that problem with your DM. Speaking as a DM myself i dont know what every players want untill they talk to me. Remember we may play psions but were not mindreaders :D
Skyrocket
11-04-03, 01:18 AM The DM who thinks that if he kills the party he "wins." I don`t mind a challenge but when the DM is trying ecterminate your characters you`re in a bad spot.

Also, the DM who doesn`t plan very well. I`ll give you an example.

Me: What`s the name of the king around here?

DM: Uh...King Bob.

And let us not forget the DM who gets pissy when the PCs spoil his carefully made plans by doing something he didn`t think of beforehand.
Vaalingrade Ashland
11-04-03, 01:48 AM Bad traits:
- Doesn''t RP the NPCs

- Guns for things fairly earned in game.

- Uses DM vengence.

- Tries to take over PCs without permission.

- Hurts suspension of disbelief in non-entertaining ways:
DM: You open the door that been sealed for centuries and are confronted by a weretiger barbarian. Oh, and make a fort save, the air is stagnant.

- Gives grief for choice of character. Or hoses characters he doesn't like.
DM: I hate when you play rogues. Every bad guy is going to be wearing fortified armor that dissolves when they die.

- Nerf-herders
DM: its too easy to heal, so now healing potions only do minimuum healing.

- DMs who don't know rule 0 exists.
DM: You want to tye a smoke stick to yourself? No. Its not in the rules.

- DMs that don't like player generated plot.
DM: What do you mean you ask the serving wench to go on a walk?! Love intrest?! Bah! You're a hero!

- DMs who tell you how to play your character
DM: what do you mean you refuse to pay him? You have to, Vaalingrade would definately pay him.

- Me vs. Them
DM: HA! I know this will kill you!
Me: Why don't you just fell my PC with a conginital heart defect, jackass?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
guru7892 11-02-03, 08:50 PM	for you what defines a bad dungeon master? for me its someone you can manipulate and will allow anything in his campaighn, even if he doesnt fully understand how it works. also the mst important point of mine is, they dont react well to what the players are doing ie he expects the expected, when are party does the most unconciveable things,aka he overprepares and think will act semi normal when half ar party is a bunch of crazed lunitics. also i think i could do better but he wont let me try, i think but thats just me what would your worst dm be like?
Potion Smuggler 11-02-03, 09:09 PM	I hate it when dungeon masters: 1) Frequently threaten karmic wrath on the PCs for not doing what the DM wants, and not in a joking way. 2) Have too much story, and not enough action. 3) Don't really do any roleplaying of their own. I understand some people are shy, but simply saying things factually, out-of-character all the time detracts greatly from the atmosphere. 4) Over-use one theme a little too much in their campaign. Some DMs are obsessed with Book of Vile Darkness fare (since it is such a cool book, after all), while others might have you spending way too much time fighting vampires, for instance. Campaigns that revolve around a single situation all the time aren't typically thrilling. 5) Are too "hard-core." Examples include making PCs start with NPC classes, roll 3d6 for abilities (which leads to massive imbalances between characters, as well as characters that are generally super-crappy). I also tend to get annoyed when the campaign ALWAYS starts at Level 1. There is only so many times you can design a 1st-level character before it gets monotonous. These are more pet-peeves than signs of bad DMs, though.
Star Warrior X 11-02-03, 09:22 PM	The worst sign (and a sure-fire one that I think anyone can agree with) is a lack of knowledgeability concerning the rules. This is not necessarily as much of an issue if the players are new as well, but having a knowledge oof the rules that is less than what the players expected (or worse, less than the players' knowledge) is generally not a good quality in a DM.
Northen_Spur 11-02-03, 09:24 PM	an easly intimidated, too generous Dm is a good dm if your a Munchkin or like comedy style DM "I just created a woopie cussin of death fog" everytime someone sit on it you hear a farting sound then the room fills up with toxic gas! A Dm has to be somewhat strict and keep the game controled if not player would treat every shop like the Magical wal mart. Demanding everyitem available on the list. My frist mistake as a GM was in Shadowrun, I permited a player to buy a Militairy grade portable Rocket laucher. First thing he did was drive up to Lone Star Hq, and attempted to blow it up. A good Dm, also has to be able to admit he's made a mistake or misinterpreted a rule. As Stated above a Dm should roleplay and incourage it.
guru7892 11-02-03, 10:56 PM	Originally posted by guru7892 for you what defines a bad dungeon master? for me its someone you can manipulate and will allow anything in his campaighn, even if he doesnt fully understand how it works. also the mst important point of mine is, they dont react well to what the players are doing ie he expects the expected, when are party does the most unconciveable things,aka he overprepares and think will act semi normal when half ar party is a bunch of crazed lunitics. also i think i could do better but he wont let me try. but thats just me what would your worst dm be like? just as a note that is my opinion of my dm last year i got a pm that said he made changes, so now have to go to another session befor i can insult, i mean suggest improvements i need to stop insulting my dm
gleep 11-02-03, 11:18 PM	A bad DM is one that isn't entertaining. A bad player is one that isnt entertaining. I would also consider players that took advantage of a DM's shortcomings to be bad players. Just as I would consider a DM that took advantage of players' shortcomings to be a bad DM. "Good, evil, what is difference? I have root." --gleep
Dasein 11-02-03, 11:46 PM	My frist mistake as a GM was in Shadowrun, I permited a player to buy a Militairy grade portable Rocket laucher. First thing he did was drive up to Lone Star Hq, and attempted to blow it up. Ahhhh.....Shadowrun. If I offerred my players access to milspec weapons, they'd be fools to take them. Far smarter to stick to the Predator 2 and Smartgun, since everyone uses them, and its best to be indistinct. But I digress... As for bad DMs, I think it ultimately co es down to having fun. If the players and DM are enjoying themsleves, then the DM is doing a good job. However, the converse isn't true - a DM might be excellent at running one style of game, and the players might want to play another. Players looking for a serous roleplaying campaign might not like a DM who runs much more of a tactical combat campaign, and vice versa. Dasein
The_EvilDungeon_Master 11-02-03, 11:57 PM	Originally posted by guru7892 just as a note that is my opinion of my dm last year i got a pm that said he made changes, so now have to go to another session befor i can insult, i mean suggest improvements i need to stop insulting my dm Yes, considering you haven't been to a single D&D session this year. I think a bad DM is one that doesn't make you laugh at all. Or if They overdo on the Hack&Slash Or overdo on the roleplay
Feyd Rautha 11-02-03, 11:57 PM	DM's that charge money DM's that don't know the rules (Rule 0 being the most important) DM's that get a crush on one of the players (or are married to them/seeing them/bribed by them) and thus design the entire campaign to suit them and throw up obstacles if you don't do things the way the player's character suggests. DM's that aren't as hardcore about gaming as me. Feyd
PenderGrass 11-03-03, 12:04 AM	but he wont let me try Who the heck is this guy???? Gee... don't think he let me try either - in fact, I don't think I ever asked him if he would let me be a DM........ but I am. And you should be too (if you seriously want to be).
Aucturos 11-03-03, 12:21 AM	IMHO, a bad DM is simply a person who doesn't want to DM, but would rather be the uber-player in the campaign, but has to DM to be it. You know the one NPC that will never die... Ever. From anything. Also, DMs who frequently change houserules back and forth to their own advantage are quite annoying...
Xavim 11-03-03, 01:19 AM	Nothing infuriates me more than a DM who makes arbitrary rules denying things without any reason whatsoever. The "No because I say so" syndrome. It drives me up the wall and I make sure to never use it in ANY of my games. If I ban something, I have a damned good IN GAME reason to. Arg, nothing worse than a DM on a powertrip. I'm also a huge enemy of "DM Vengence" and anialating the players because they did something you didn't like. If they're playing correctly then so should you. Making a 20th level Paladin appear out of nowhere to hack up your players when they mess up is just plain stupid and childish and gets under my skin. sigh sorry folks just needed to vent there.:angel:
Daydreamer 11-04-03, 12:23 AM	I find i like a strict dm. I like a dm who forces pcs to abide by good playing. NO metagaming munchkins, powergaming etc. I like dms who tailor rules to not let characters get very powerful. i hate when my pc can swath through an army of orcs single handly and for always retire them when they can as ridiculous. But overall the dm needs to know the game he wants to produce and be good at it ie. knows how to convey that feel and element. Hence the pcs need to want to be a part of that game so it is a very reciprocal relationship.
Ack'noth Necrom 11-04-03, 12:50 AM	IMO there is only 2 ways to be a bad DM. 1) Abuse of players. Any DM that puts forth physical, mental, and/or phsycological abuse toward the players is just a bad DM and will never become a good one. 2) Abuse of Power. Any DM that gets the "Im the DM im always god and i dont have to listen to anyone" syndrom is a bad DM. As far as the not fun thing some people said. You should discuss that problem with your DM. Speaking as a DM myself i dont know what every players want untill they talk to me. Remember we may play psions but were not mindreaders :D
Skyrocket 11-04-03, 01:18 AM	The DM who thinks that if he kills the party he "wins." I don`t mind a challenge but when the DM is trying ecterminate your characters you`re in a bad spot. Also, the DM who doesn`t plan very well. I`ll give you an example. Me: What`s the name of the king around here? DM: Uh...King Bob. And let us not forget the DM who gets pissy when the PCs spoil his carefully made plans by doing something he didn`t think of beforehand.
Vaalingrade Ashland 11-04-03, 01:48 AM	Bad traits: - Doesn''t RP the NPCs - Guns for things fairly earned in game. - Uses DM vengence. - Tries to take over PCs without permission. - Hurts suspension of disbelief in non-entertaining ways: DM: You open the door that been sealed for centuries and are confronted by a weretiger barbarian. Oh, and make a fort save, the air is stagnant. - Gives grief for choice of character. Or hoses characters he doesn't like. DM: I hate when you play rogues. Every bad guy is going to be wearing fortified armor that dissolves when they die. - Nerf-herders DM: its too easy to heal, so now healing potions only do minimuum healing. - DMs who don't know rule 0 exists. DM: You want to tye a smoke stick to yourself? No. Its not in the rules. - DMs that don't like player generated plot. DM: What do you mean you ask the serving wench to go on a walk?! Love intrest?! Bah! You're a hero! - DMs who tell you how to play your character DM: what do you mean you refuse to pay him? You have to, Vaalingrade would definately pay him. - Me vs. Them DM: HA! I know this will kill you! Me: Why don't you just fell my PC with a conginital heart defect, jackass?