Can DM's Play? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can DM's Play? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Redwolfey
08-06-06, 05:31 PM I wanted to know what you guys thought about DM's playing should it be allowed or not?
Thanks :)
TLomon
08-06-06, 05:33 PM If a DM plays, someone else needs to be the DM. Otherwise, you end up with the DMPC syndrone.
Toloran
08-06-06, 05:46 PM If a DM plays, someone else needs to be the DM. Otherwise, you end up with the DMPC syndrone.

This is not always the cast (but usually is).

The problem is that you cannot EVER lead the party or give advice on what to do. The reason is that in such situations it is almost impossible to unintentionally metagame.
Yaeri
08-06-06, 05:53 PM Plays with...?

I'm a DM. Every now and then I sit down with all my players and we play D&D. I don't immediately see anything wrong with that.
For the moment I'm playing in another DM's game. Perhaps you mean that. As DM I have read a lot of stuf that could be considered "not for the eyes of players", but so have all the other players. So no problem there either. However if you know a lot more than the other players, AND you aren't capable of not metagaming, then it could potentially be a bad thing.
Hospitaller
08-06-06, 05:55 PM This is not always the cast (but usually is).

The problem is that you cannot EVER lead the party or give advice on what to do. The reason is that in such situations it is almost impossible to unintentionally metagame.

Especially for smaller parties, DMPC can come in handy, but, again, can never instigate any sort of action or direction from the party. Leading the party by the nose is a no-no.

As an aside, the DM is playing the game along with everyone else. He's just, well, controlling the world and everyone in it, except for the PCs.
Matafleous
08-06-06, 05:58 PM I play a character in nearly all of my campaigns. My players have no problem with my characters because I simply treat them as an NPC in the party. I dont give extra knowledge to my character, special privilleges(spelling? nope not here), or plots based solely on my character.

One very important thing to remember about having a DM character is that there are really only certain roles that character can have in the party. He/she should most likely not be the party face as you already know what needs to be said to get through whatever situation you are in. The biggest no no for the DM character is the scout/stealth character. Almost all of that roles challenges are decided by you the DM and its really quite lame if suddenly the stealth guy decides to check this particular door.

But I think that as long as your characters role is primarily combat that there shouldnt be any huge problem with a DM character, and if another player has an idea that utilizes the abillities of your character thats alright too.

Personally if I didnt have my characters in my campaigns I wouldnt enjoy DnD as much as I do.
Monsco
08-06-06, 06:04 PM I do DMPC a lot in my group. nothings wrong with it, as long as my character enters a coma when they get to a puzzle. :D

the trick is to not get the characters knowledge mixed with yours. Just beacase you know where that million pp stash is, dosnt mean your 2nd level bard knows.

If your dm and then you and a player swich, its basicly the same except your bard dosn't know that the brige troll has to be killed with fire, not with a ax.

Its really easy if you know what your doing. :bump:
dunehunter
08-06-06, 06:35 PM I DM, and I play, because, well...atm, it's just me and my brother (not a lot of d&d players in the area, and we're a bit too busy too)

So I play two characters and dm, while my brother plays two characters (and sometimes dms a session or two)

Right now, we're doing an investigation, with a lot of roleplaying, and I have kinda parked my two characters somewhere, doing something else, so I can focus completely on my brother's characters, without having to worry about metagaming.

Overall, we have a pretty combat-oriented game though, so it works for us.
(Psi)SeveredHead
08-06-06, 08:35 PM My group rotates GMs, pretty much every other week. (We rotate campaigns, not just GMs.)
metamind
08-06-06, 08:39 PM My group DMPCs and rotates DMs. Now, when we DMPC, it is governed by two strict rules.

1. The DMPC may not be any more powerful than the rest of the group

2. No special treatment

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Redwolfey 08-06-06, 05:31 PM	I wanted to know what you guys thought about DM's playing should it be allowed or not? Thanks :)
TLomon 08-06-06, 05:33 PM	If a DM plays, someone else needs to be the DM. Otherwise, you end up with the DMPC syndrone.
Toloran 08-06-06, 05:46 PM	If a DM plays, someone else needs to be the DM. Otherwise, you end up with the DMPC syndrone. This is not always the cast (but usually is). The problem is that you cannot EVER lead the party or give advice on what to do. The reason is that in such situations it is almost impossible to unintentionally metagame.
Yaeri 08-06-06, 05:53 PM	Plays with...? I'm a DM. Every now and then I sit down with all my players and we play D&D. I don't immediately see anything wrong with that. For the moment I'm playing in another DM's game. Perhaps you mean that. As DM I have read a lot of stuf that could be considered "not for the eyes of players", but so have all the other players. So no problem there either. However if you know a lot more than the other players, AND you aren't capable of not metagaming, then it could potentially be a bad thing.
Hospitaller 08-06-06, 05:55 PM	This is not always the cast (but usually is). The problem is that you cannot EVER lead the party or give advice on what to do. The reason is that in such situations it is almost impossible to unintentionally metagame. Especially for smaller parties, DMPC can come in handy, but, again, can never instigate any sort of action or direction from the party. Leading the party by the nose is a no-no. As an aside, the DM is playing the game along with everyone else. He's just, well, controlling the world and everyone in it, except for the PCs.
Matafleous 08-06-06, 05:58 PM	I play a character in nearly all of my campaigns. My players have no problem with my characters because I simply treat them as an NPC in the party. I dont give extra knowledge to my character, special privilleges(spelling? nope not here), or plots based solely on my character. One very important thing to remember about having a DM character is that there are really only certain roles that character can have in the party. He/she should most likely not be the party face as you already know what needs to be said to get through whatever situation you are in. The biggest no no for the DM character is the scout/stealth character. Almost all of that roles challenges are decided by you the DM and its really quite lame if suddenly the stealth guy decides to check this particular door. But I think that as long as your characters role is primarily combat that there shouldnt be any huge problem with a DM character, and if another player has an idea that utilizes the abillities of your character thats alright too. Personally if I didnt have my characters in my campaigns I wouldnt enjoy DnD as much as I do.
Monsco 08-06-06, 06:04 PM	I do DMPC a lot in my group. nothings wrong with it, as long as my character enters a coma when they get to a puzzle. :D the trick is to not get the characters knowledge mixed with yours. Just beacase you know where that million pp stash is, dosnt mean your 2nd level bard knows. If your dm and then you and a player swich, its basicly the same except your bard dosn't know that the brige troll has to be killed with fire, not with a ax. Its really easy if you know what your doing. :bump:
dunehunter 08-06-06, 06:35 PM	I DM, and I play, because, well...atm, it's just me and my brother (not a lot of d&d players in the area, and we're a bit too busy too) So I play two characters and dm, while my brother plays two characters (and sometimes dms a session or two) Right now, we're doing an investigation, with a lot of roleplaying, and I have kinda parked my two characters somewhere, doing something else, so I can focus completely on my brother's characters, without having to worry about metagaming. Overall, we have a pretty combat-oriented game though, so it works for us.
(Psi)SeveredHead 08-06-06, 08:35 PM	My group rotates GMs, pretty much every other week. (We rotate campaigns, not just GMs.)
metamind 08-06-06, 08:39 PM	My group DMPCs and rotates DMs. Now, when we DMPC, it is governed by two strict rules. 1. The DMPC may not be any more powerful than the rest of the group 2. No special treatment