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Finding a DM

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
linkthehero74
Apr 12, 2009 20:46:48 Ok, so my group has been playing with our current DM for a year. He isn't very good as we only have 1 encounter in a session, his first story was really good, but he has lost his inspirational spark and I don't think he likes it very much. I was going to DM the next campaign, and I think I have a good story in the making, and I think I have a good knowledge of fair encounters and such, but I like being player characters. I play in Living Forgotten Realms but thats not the same as playing a player character in a home campaign.

Anyway, my question is, how do you go about finding a new DM? What have some of you guys done to make sure your game keeps going?
#2
exposed_wires
Apr 12, 2009 20:56:00 Bite the bullet and be the DM. You won't find a stranger who will DM for you that you will like right off the bat because he won't know you. Maybe your current DM just needs a break. Give him on by taking on the responsibility for a while.
#3
jonesly
Apr 12, 2009 21:02:27 My group will round-robin being GM. We've got 6 people and 5 of them are RPGA Herald GMs.

For the most part, we will tend to run with a GM until he gets tired and says so, then we will switch to the next person in line. If it's my turn and I don't have a good enough campaign ready to go, I'll go buy one of the pre-made modules and run through that.

Honestly, if you really don't want to GM, your best bet is to hit up your local game shop and put up an ad on the game board.
#4
amo_angelus
Apr 13, 2009 11:04:15 I think it's incredibly selfish to make one person GM ALL the time. There's several of you in a group, it's only fair that you all take turns. For example, what we do is one of us GMs a campaign, then the next one does. Of course this means that the previous DMs character is a much lower level than the rest. So we simply bump their character up by a few levels so the group is even.
#5
greebo69
Apr 13, 2009 12:46:23 Of course, some of us *prefer* the DM seat...;)
#6
Shiftkitty
Apr 13, 2009 14:46:29 I'd give your right eye to be a PC again.;) But I've been a DM for so long that I'd probably spend half the time thinking "I would have done it differently...". Take a turn at being DM. Give the poor guy a break. He may come back with a new verve, possibly even inspired by your game.
#7
linkthehero74
Apr 14, 2009 23:24:53 After several days of thinking about the campaign, I am kinda excited about it. I already have the first major boss in mind (A lich, inspired by the AP except), the concept of them protecting a small town, and I am starting to really get excited about it. I am not sure of the whole "who is trying to destory the world" yet but I figure it will come in time. I just need a good idea of what the party members will play so I can actually start designing. Thanks for all the posts, I guess I will be visiting the DM forum more often now.
#8
etarnon
Apr 15, 2009 3:33:22 Welcome to the life.

I'm usually the DM, and I prefer the role of DM in a group.
#9
exposed_wires
Apr 15, 2009 14:01:36 You get to use the forum just above this one now! Congratulations!

Seriously, though. Ask them for help whenever you need it. Don't let little things discourage you and be prepared to hate your smart players.
#10
E._Ravenwood
Apr 15, 2009 20:38:21
I'd give your right eye to be a PC again.;) But I've been a DM for so long that I'd probably spend half the time thinking "I would have done it differently..."

So true...
#11
yewni
Apr 15, 2009 22:15:14 I've been the DM non-stop for years now. Although, every 8 weeks or so, we run a 1 off game where we make new chars and I get to play so it's not too bad.

I prefer my side of the DM screen though.
#12
w00f
Apr 15, 2009 23:15:35 Well if you want to find a DM there's that player locator board here on the forums that allows you to try and find people in your area to play with, maybe yuo could find a DM there?

Still, it's good that you're getting excited about DMing, Dming really is fun, if in a different way, everyone who plays well should probably try it I think. Good luck on your first campaigh! :D
#13
draconascendant
Apr 19, 2009 15:37:40 I find it ironic that I myself want to get into a game, but there's no one within my local area to do so, so I'm stuck attempting to find a DM for a OpenRPG/PnPO, or IM game. It's painful to have to do so, when so few are into being the DM. I myself was the DM for a long time, before I got tired of people who didn't show up, and who constantly did the opposite of -play well-.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 linkthehero74 Apr 12, 2009 20:46:48	Ok, so my group has been playing with our current DM for a year. He isn't very good as we only have 1 encounter in a session, his first story was really good, but he has lost his inspirational spark and I don't think he likes it very much. I was going to DM the next campaign, and I think I have a good story in the making, and I think I have a good knowledge of fair encounters and such, but I like being player characters. I play in Living Forgotten Realms but thats not the same as playing a player character in a home campaign. Anyway, my question is, how do you go about finding a new DM? What have some of you guys done to make sure your game keeps going?
#2 exposed_wires Apr 12, 2009 20:56:00	Bite the bullet and be the DM. You won't find a stranger who will DM for you that you will like right off the bat because he won't know you. Maybe your current DM just needs a break. Give him on by taking on the responsibility for a while.
#3 jonesly Apr 12, 2009 21:02:27	My group will round-robin being GM. We've got 6 people and 5 of them are RPGA Herald GMs. For the most part, we will tend to run with a GM until he gets tired and says so, then we will switch to the next person in line. If it's my turn and I don't have a good enough campaign ready to go, I'll go buy one of the pre-made modules and run through that. Honestly, if you really don't want to GM, your best bet is to hit up your local game shop and put up an ad on the game board.
#4 amo_angelus Apr 13, 2009 11:04:15	I think it's incredibly selfish to make one person GM ALL the time. There's several of you in a group, it's only fair that you all take turns. For example, what we do is one of us GMs a campaign, then the next one does. Of course this means that the previous DMs character is a much lower level than the rest. So we simply bump their character up by a few levels so the group is even.
#5 greebo69 Apr 13, 2009 12:46:23	Of course, some of us prefer the DM seat...;)
#6 Shiftkitty Apr 13, 2009 14:46:29	I'd give your right eye to be a PC again.;) But I've been a DM for so long that I'd probably spend half the time thinking "I would have done it differently...". Take a turn at being DM. Give the poor guy a break. He may come back with a new verve, possibly even inspired by your game.
#7 linkthehero74 Apr 14, 2009 23:24:53	After several days of thinking about the campaign, I am kinda excited about it. I already have the first major boss in mind (A lich, inspired by the AP except), the concept of them protecting a small town, and I am starting to really get excited about it. I am not sure of the whole "who is trying to destory the world" yet but I figure it will come in time. I just need a good idea of what the party members will play so I can actually start designing. Thanks for all the posts, I guess I will be visiting the DM forum more often now.
#8 etarnon Apr 15, 2009 3:33:22	Welcome to the life. I'm usually the DM, and I prefer the role of DM in a group.
#9 exposed_wires Apr 15, 2009 14:01:36	You get to use the forum just above this one now! Congratulations! Seriously, though. Ask them for help whenever you need it. Don't let little things discourage you and be prepared to hate your smart players.
#10 E._Ravenwood Apr 15, 2009 20:38:21	I'd give your right eye to be a PC again.;) But I've been a DM for so long that I'd probably spend half the time thinking "I would have done it differently..." So true...
#11 yewni Apr 15, 2009 22:15:14	I've been the DM non-stop for years now. Although, every 8 weeks or so, we run a 1 off game where we make new chars and I get to play so it's not too bad. I prefer my side of the DM screen though.
#12 w00f Apr 15, 2009 23:15:35	Well if you want to find a DM there's that player locator board here on the forums that allows you to try and find people in your area to play with, maybe yuo could find a DM there? Still, it's good that you're getting excited about DMing, Dming really is fun, if in a different way, everyone who plays well should probably try it I think. Good luck on your first campaigh! :D
#13 draconascendant Apr 19, 2009 15:37:40	I find it ironic that I myself want to get into a game, but there's no one within my local area to do so, so I'm stuck attempting to find a DM for a OpenRPG/PnPO, or IM game. It's painful to have to do so, when so few are into being the DM. I myself was the DM for a long time, before I got tired of people who didn't show up, and who constantly did the opposite of -play well-.