Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xandal 04-11-06, 06:57 PM	OK, now is just anybody a DM or is it someone special because stuff about the DM has always confused me?
Ma'ElKoth 04-11-06, 07:05 PM	Okay, I'm going to assume you know nothing about the game, so if I come off as condecending, I'm sorry. PCs (Player Characters) are the people involved in the game who are responsible for only one person (their character), or at most a small group of characters (if they have followers, or if it is a small gaming group, and everyone has to double up). The DM (Dungeon Master) is responsible for, in essence, everything in the world that is not a PC. I don't know that I would call the DM necessarily "special," I've been one for far to long to be that amazed by the role, but they definitely have a lot of work to do. Are you thinking about DMing yourself? If so there are hundreds of people here who could give you pointers. Also, this post should be in "What's a DM to do?"
kelvinaw273 04-11-06, 08:24 PM	The Dm is the player whop sets out the world, arbitrates the rules and controls "everyone else" as the players control their characters. Being a DM is not easy, because in some ways he is both the Umpire, Comentator, the Opposing Team, the Allies and the bystanders all at once. His job is to make the game fun, interesting and challenging for the other players, so he has to walk a fine line. ALL DMs fall off that line at some time. Some more than others, but it happens. It happens when: 1) The DM falls into the trap of being "Opposition" and sees taking the party down as his or her challenge. 2) The DM falls into the trap of "Storyteller" and more or less dictates the entire story, with the players having no real say in what their own characters do. 3) The DM turns the PCs into bystanders by having the Allies trounce the Opposition. 4) The DM makes the game too easy for everyone, and there is no real challenge and so no real fun to be had. 5) The DM does not know the rules of the game very well, rules arbitrarily and inconsitently and generally makes the game unplayable by exerting too much 'Rule 0'. [Rule 0 is that the DM can change any rule he likes, any time he likes]. 6) Lastly, if the DM does not exert sufficient authority and does not use Rule 0 to overule disruptive players who are destroying everyone elses fun by powergaming, rules-lawyering [the art of making the rules say what they want, no matter how silly], showboating and so forth. Having said that, is you still want to DM, give it a try. Yes, you will make mistakes, but you will learn from them, and if you are self-critical and talk to your players you will quickly get good at it.
shadowfox628 04-11-06, 10:42 PM	Technically, anyone can be a DM. The DM is a special person, because they set up the story, encounters, NPCs, villians, and lots of other things for a D&D campain. Now, just to say, not everyone should be a DM. Some don't know how to do it properly, others tend to pick favorites. Some think like a PC, and others tell stories. Each DM has his/her own DMing style, but, to be a good DM, you should be more or less balanced.
Xandal 04-12-06, 06:22 PM	OK, no one except Shadow Fox interpreted my question right. I know what a DM does and have for years. I know basically what happens and have read the rule book, etc. I was just wondering if there are only people who could be a DM. I thought that it was like set in stone or something in some odd way from what I've heard from other people. But the rest of it helped so thanks, and yes I would like to DM myself.
Nate Jones 04-12-06, 11:06 PM	Perhaps this is one of those questions best off being asked to yourself rather than the members of this forum.