Finding a DM. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Finding a DM.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
fates
Oct 17, 2010 7:21:44 Greetings fellow adventures. Me and about 4 friends have been trying to start playing D&D for a few months now, we have the books we need, we got the models, the interest, the dice and the dungeon tiles. So what is the problem you ask? We have no DM. And rather to make the situation worst not a single other player in the group has any talent or desire to DM. I myself am decent enough at it but I really prefer playing compared to DMing. So how would you guys recommed finding a Dungeon Master in this wide world. Because ive run out of people within my group of contacts as available options.

Small note: I live on the Gold Coast, Australia.

Second Note: Failing a way to find a DM any way to Mind Crush someone into the mindset of a DM?
#2
pluisjen
Oct 17, 2010 7:29:47 Find local gameshops and post a notice. That might net you a DM, if you're lucky.

But the best option would probably be to DM yourself, or to rotate the duties. Each week, one of you DMs and the others play. Works best with an episodic system where rotating out characters is fairly easy.

DMs can be pretty hard to find.
#3
Cohen95
Oct 17, 2010 10:26:00
Another option, if the FLGS doesn't yield, is to rotate DM on a slightly longer scale. My group does this, we all like to play, and three of us don't mind DMing, but we don't want to go week-to-week rotation, because it doesn't feel as permanent.

What we do instead is each DM runs a level or two (about 2-4 months), and then we rotate, with each DM telling a different part of the group's story. Think of it as rotating each "season" of episodes, instead of just each episode.

I sympathize, finding a DM can be tough, especially if you find one that ends up feeling like he's doing you a favor just showing up, and starts lording the game over you.
#4
lordkobold
Oct 17, 2010 15:28:33 If you can't find a DM the DM Guide has a Couple Suggestions on how to play without one, though I'm not sure how effective or enjoyable it is, I believe how it works is you build a random dungeon as you go then you use a Encounter Deck for Random Battles, page 195 describes it in more detail

Hopefully you'll find a DM though
#5
ladypants
Oct 17, 2010 19:56:57 I don't know what your time constraints are, but I ended up doing two games. One that I run, one that I play in. If noone but you is willing to run this game, you could just go ahead and run it and try to find a second group to play in if you are still itching for some pc time. I think sometimes it's intimidating for a dm to come to a pre-assembled group with their choice of game picked out already. I had to broaden my horizons a bit, the game I run is 3.5 but I just jumped into a homebrew sci-fi game knowing absolutely nothing about it because I couldn't find anything else! Hope you find a simpler solution, of course!
#6
guest2072367202
Oct 17, 2010 22:50:39
Small note: I live on the Gold Coast, Australia

Try asking around in the Black Dragon Gamers, Australia group (I haven't been able to find a larger Australian DnD group on these forums).
#7
fates
Oct 17, 2010 23:04:35
Try asking around in the Black Dragon Gamers, Australia group (I haven't been able to find a larger Australian DnD group on these forums).

Oh cheers, ill check this out now.

Thanks also to everyone else for there advice thus far. Ill be going to my local shop this saturday so hopefully at the very least Ill be pointed in the right direction to finding someone in my area.
#8
mobar2008
Oct 18, 2010 13:41:16 Why oh why can't these types of posts be for Joplin Missouri? I'm a DM that can squeeze another game in.
#9
zmortis
Oct 19, 2010 12:42:48 Another option not mentioned here yet is that if at least one of your players has access to a computer with an internet connection (how you made the post here actually) then you can look for a "remote" DM who is using a virtual tabletop software and some voice communications software. I play with a group of people in 3 different time zones using this method (w/ RP Tools Maptool program and Skype), and it greatly expands your potential play area to the point where as long as you can make the play schedules work, the person doesn't even have to be on the same continent as you. They could even be in someplace as remote as Joplin Missouri, hehe.

I hope this helps.
#10
OleOneEye
Oct 22, 2010 18:31:03
I myself am decent enough at it but I really prefer playing compared to DMing.

Everyone I've ever gamed with prefers playing to DMing, myself included. However, being the DM is far, far better than not gaming at all. Pony up to the plate, partner. I spent a decade never playing and always being the DM because that beats day dreaming about the hobby any day of the week.

#11
palomon
Oct 28, 2010 8:07:44 You have a couple online options here. Some of them may be useful, depending on the area, but they are always worth a shot. Nearby Gamers is really easy to use and fairly popular. RPG Game Find is another useful site. EN World has a new "Gamers Seeking Gamers" feature, but being new it can be a bit buggy. Some sites aren't particularly aimed at gamers but can be useful. Some cities have groups that set up a Meetup site that can be used to find groups or DMs (although it usually costs money). And you can always put up an ad on Craigslist. The usual warnings to avoid creepers applies to using it, however.

Putting up an ad or asking around your local game store is always a good idea. If the store hosts RPGA events, such as Worldwide D&D Game Day, D&D Encounters, or Living Forgotten Realms, these are great events to find a willing DM at. Another option I've heard of, though I've never tried, is going to a book store and placing ads in the D&D books. There are a few things that are unappealing about this. First, if you put your name and number out in a random public place might not be the safest thing in the world. Second, if you find a DM then you're either forced to go back to the store and take all your little slips of paper out of those books or be subject to weird calls asking if you still need a DM years later. Finally, if you're not getting permission from the store owner(s), then it seems like a good way to get kicked out of the store. However, this might be a risk worth taking (as one who has been kicked out of several stores, I'll attest that it can be easy to turn it into a fun, dramatic situation). And there is always the option of taking out an ad in the local newspaper (although at this point it might be better to use Craigslist since it's free and more people seem to check it on a regular basis).

As a further suggestion, I'd recommend meeting with any potential DMs for an informal interview before you actually agree to let them run the game. This way, you can have an opportunity to check them out in a public place and make sure they're not some random chainsaw-murderer who is attracted to nerds. Also, this will give you the chance to make sure they fit in with your group and that they understand what type of game the group wants to play.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 fates Oct 17, 2010 7:21:44	Greetings fellow adventures. Me and about 4 friends have been trying to start playing D&D for a few months now, we have the books we need, we got the models, the interest, the dice and the dungeon tiles. So what is the problem you ask? We have no DM. And rather to make the situation worst not a single other player in the group has any talent or desire to DM. I myself am decent enough at it but I really prefer playing compared to DMing. So how would you guys recommed finding a Dungeon Master in this wide world. Because ive run out of people within my group of contacts as available options. Small note: I live on the Gold Coast, Australia. Second Note: Failing a way to find a DM any way to Mind Crush someone into the mindset of a DM?
#2 pluisjen Oct 17, 2010 7:29:47	Find local gameshops and post a notice. That might net you a DM, if you're lucky. But the best option would probably be to DM yourself, or to rotate the duties. Each week, one of you DMs and the others play. Works best with an episodic system where rotating out characters is fairly easy. DMs can be pretty hard to find.
#3 Cohen95 Oct 17, 2010 10:26:00	Another option, if the FLGS doesn't yield, is to rotate DM on a slightly longer scale. My group does this, we all like to play, and three of us don't mind DMing, but we don't want to go week-to-week rotation, because it doesn't feel as permanent. What we do instead is each DM runs a level or two (about 2-4 months), and then we rotate, with each DM telling a different part of the group's story. Think of it as rotating each "season" of episodes, instead of just each episode. I sympathize, finding a DM can be tough, especially if you find one that ends up feeling like he's doing you a favor just showing up, and starts lording the game over you.
#4 lordkobold Oct 17, 2010 15:28:33	If you can't find a DM the DM Guide has a Couple Suggestions on how to play without one, though I'm not sure how effective or enjoyable it is, I believe how it works is you build a random dungeon as you go then you use a Encounter Deck for Random Battles, page 195 describes it in more detail Hopefully you'll find a DM though
#5 ladypants Oct 17, 2010 19:56:57	I don't know what your time constraints are, but I ended up doing two games. One that I run, one that I play in. If noone but you is willing to run this game, you could just go ahead and run it and try to find a second group to play in if you are still itching for some pc time. I think sometimes it's intimidating for a dm to come to a pre-assembled group with their choice of game picked out already. I had to broaden my horizons a bit, the game I run is 3.5 but I just jumped into a homebrew sci-fi game knowing absolutely nothing about it because I couldn't find anything else! Hope you find a simpler solution, of course!
#6 guest2072367202 Oct 17, 2010 22:50:39	Small note: I live on the Gold Coast, Australia Try asking around in the Black Dragon Gamers, Australia group (I haven't been able to find a larger Australian DnD group on these forums).
#7 fates Oct 17, 2010 23:04:35	Try asking around in the Black Dragon Gamers, Australia group (I haven't been able to find a larger Australian DnD group on these forums). Oh cheers, ill check this out now. Thanks also to everyone else for there advice thus far. Ill be going to my local shop this saturday so hopefully at the very least Ill be pointed in the right direction to finding someone in my area.
#8 mobar2008 Oct 18, 2010 13:41:16	Why oh why can't these types of posts be for Joplin Missouri? I'm a DM that can squeeze another game in.
#9 zmortis Oct 19, 2010 12:42:48	Another option not mentioned here yet is that if at least one of your players has access to a computer with an internet connection (how you made the post here actually) then you can look for a "remote" DM who is using a virtual tabletop software and some voice communications software. I play with a group of people in 3 different time zones using this method (w/ RP Tools Maptool program and Skype), and it greatly expands your potential play area to the point where as long as you can make the play schedules work, the person doesn't even have to be on the same continent as you. They could even be in someplace as remote as Joplin Missouri, hehe. I hope this helps.
#10 OleOneEye Oct 22, 2010 18:31:03	I myself am decent enough at it but I really prefer playing compared to DMing. Everyone I've ever gamed with prefers playing to DMing, myself included. However, being the DM is far, far better than not gaming at all. Pony up to the plate, partner. I spent a decade never playing and always being the DM because that beats day dreaming about the hobby any day of the week.
#11 palomon Oct 28, 2010 8:07:44	You have a couple online options here. Some of them may be useful, depending on the area, but they are always worth a shot. Nearby Gamers is really easy to use and fairly popular. RPG Game Find is another useful site. EN World has a new "Gamers Seeking Gamers" feature, but being new it can be a bit buggy. Some sites aren't particularly aimed at gamers but can be useful. Some cities have groups that set up a Meetup site that can be used to find groups or DMs (although it usually costs money). And you can always put up an ad on Craigslist. The usual warnings to avoid creepers applies to using it, however. Putting up an ad or asking around your local game store is always a good idea. If the store hosts RPGA events, such as Worldwide D&D Game Day, D&D Encounters, or Living Forgotten Realms, these are great events to find a willing DM at. Another option I've heard of, though I've never tried, is going to a book store and placing ads in the D&D books. There are a few things that are unappealing about this. First, if you put your name and number out in a random public place might not be the safest thing in the world. Second, if you find a DM then you're either forced to go back to the store and take all your little slips of paper out of those books or be subject to weird calls asking if you still need a DM years later. Finally, if you're not getting permission from the store owner(s), then it seems like a good way to get kicked out of the store. However, this might be a risk worth taking (as one who has been kicked out of several stores, I'll attest that it can be easy to turn it into a fun, dramatic situation). And there is always the option of taking out an ad in the local newspaper (although at this point it might be better to use Craigslist since it's free and more people seem to check it on a regular basis). As a further suggestion, I'd recommend meeting with any potential DMs for an informal interview before you actually agree to let them run the game. This way, you can have an opportunity to check them out in a public place and make sure they're not some random chainsaw-murderer who is attracted to nerds. Also, this will give you the chance to make sure they fit in with your group and that they understand what type of game the group wants to play.