It's twisted right, cause he should get excited when the players actually do well, and are enjoying themselves. But instead, everyone gets super depressed real fast as he plays the 'dm card' and it's nearly impossible to ever get out of the way of what he wants to do. I.E. if there is a trap, the characters WILL get trapped.
Everything seems predetermined. How on earth do we deal with this DM?
You have two options:
1. Politely address your concerns regarding the DM's railroading to him, explaining why it is detracting from your fun. Followed by ...
2. Quit letting him run games.
Who is D&D for, the players or the DM?
Yes.
It is for the players AND the DM.
The rules are for both, too - they are there to control unruly players and DMs, and to provide ways to add tension and excitement for both. The rules do provide ways to percieve, avoid, escape, survive, and/or disarm traps... if the DM is ignoring those rules, it's certainly his right as DM, but if it's ruining everyone else's fun, it's time for the players to have a chat with the DM to explain their point of view, and perhaps consider voting with their feet if the DM will not undo any house-rules that are causing players unnecessary grief.
Certainly, the game has not officially been presented as a DM vs. Player contest in many, many years... if the closet Killer DM is playing to "win" without discussing that with the players before starting the campaign as part of the game's social contract, something is wrong....
However, DMs who play to "win", or who use the DM's role the game to exert too much control over events are missing the point of their part in the game. Such a person is probably better off as a player.
Sounds like the perfect time for you to buck up and DM your own campaign.
cold harsh truth is what that is.
Thing is, this DM is solely about DMing. It's like asking a King to be a follower. (an exaggeration)
I talk to a few other players as soon as our game ended the other day, and they still seemed to enjoy themselves, even though that game was a complete re-hash of what our last campaign was. However, there was one player who was on my side of it all and agreed that these were the same ol'e tricks and things we've seen over and over again. Even though there is nothing new under the sun, the whole "Horror Fantasy" theme gets a little stale. Demons possessing people, inevitable ultimate devastation, shady character after shady character (who always betrays us). Things are coming too predictable.
But if I was to buck up and DM I feel like more of him would be destroyed, having him to play as a character.. maybe I'm just too considerate?
Thanks all who continues to respond
Sounds like the perfect time for you to buck up and DM your own campaign.
cold harsh truth is what that is.
Thing is, this DM is solely about DMing. It's like asking a King to be a follower. (an exaggeration)
I talk to a few other players as soon as our game ended the other day, and they still seemed to enjoy themselves, even though that game was a complete re-hash of what our last campaign was. However, there was one player who was on my side of it all and agreed that these were the same ol'e tricks and things we've seen over and over again. Even though there is nothing new under the sun, the whole "Horror Fantasy" theme gets a little stale. Demons possessing people, inevitable ultimate devastation, shady character after shady character (who always betrays us). Things are coming too predictable.
But if I was to buck up and DM I feel like more of him would be destroyed, having him to play as a character.. maybe I'm just too considerate?
Thanks all who continues to respond
Well, ask him. I know for sure that I love taking a long break from DMing after a succesful campaign. Come up with a new, interesting and exciting campaign idea. Something refreshingly different from what you've been playing all this time. And if he comes up with some weird character concept, try to say yes.
And btw, D&D should be fun for both the players and the DM.
Sounds like the perfect time for you to buck up and DM your own campaign.
cold harsh truth is what that is.
Thing is, this DM is solely about DMing. It's like asking a King to be a follower. (an exaggeration)
But if I was to buck up and DM I feel like more of him would be destroyed, having him to play as a character.. maybe I'm just too considerate?
Considerate or avoiding a difficult social situation?
Either way, if you reject that option, and you are still keen to find some kind of improvement in your game, you still have two solid options:
1) Talk to the current DM
2) Find a new game.
I would advise you to do one or the other, because it seems you are quite weary of the current set up, and that might cause you or the DM to over-react and argue.
The best time to raise a problem like this is outside the game, in a neutral environment when neither of you has already started a conversation about how the game is going.
Sounds like the perfect time for you to buck up and DM your own campaign.
cold harsh truth is what that is.
Thing is, this DM is solely about DMing. It's like asking a King to be a follower. (an exaggeration)
But if I was to buck up and DM I feel like more of him would be destroyed, having him to play as a character.. maybe I'm just too considerate?
Considerate or avoiding a difficult social situation?
Either way, if you reject that option, and you are still keen to find some kind of improvement in your game, you still have two solid options:
1) Talk to the current DM
2) Find a new game.
I would advise you to do one or the other, because it seems you are quite weary of the current set up, and that might cause you or the DM to over-react and argue.
The best time to raise a problem like this is outside the game, in a neutral environment when neither of you has already started a conversation about how the game is going.
I've talked to him before, and it doesn't seem to really improve much.. or it will improve for a short season and then slowly go back to the way it was.
And that's exactly it- I don't want to appear as if I am overacting and we get into this heated discussion, and then things get awkward.
Maybe that's the only solution is to just deal with it, or find a new game...
I had to deal with someone like this. After a few bad sessions, My brother and I had finally convinced the rest of the group to join with us. We basically boycotted his games until he decided to DM better (Yes, it is harsh). My brother started DMing until he got back.
It sounds like the current DM is stuck in his bad habits and isn't inclined to change for long, it doesn't sound like you are going to be able to ignore it and have fun with the other aspects of the game, and it sounds like you might not be the only player who is a bit frustrated with the DM's weird antics.
No gaming is better than bad gaming - if you've compromised as much as you are willing to compromise and you still aren't happy, you are unable to change anything you aren't happy with, and you can't find or start a group you are comfortable with, then perhaps you'll have to try an alternative hobby for a while and try D&D again later when a good group is available.
Really, if you can get enough folks together to start a different group with a new DM, that might be the best thing that is likely to happen.
It sounds like the current DM is stuck in his bad habits and isn't inclined to change for long, it doesn't sound like you are going to be able to ignore it and have fun with the other aspects of the game, and it sounds like you might not be the only player who is a bit frustrated with the DM's weird antics.
No gaming is better than bad gaming - if you've compromised as much as you are willing to compromise and you still aren't happy, you are unable to change anything you aren't happy with, and you can't find or start a group you are comfortable with, then perhaps you'll have to try an alternative hobby for a while and try D&D again later when a good group is available.
sounds like the best solution.. I'll slowly pull alway, instead of cutting cold turkey. But with the intentions of peacing out.
Thank you
Blargh. One of the DMs at my FLGS DM's like this for Encounters. It's so annoying, to the point where most of the people in my regular group litteraly argue over who has to "take the bullet" that week and sit at his table.
What I suggest doing is instead of trying to outright pull players away from his game, simply run a different game on a different day, and invite the other people from your group, including the DM. It doesn't have to be a full on campaign or anything, just a module or two. If you do a good enough job of DMing, the other DM might realize that he's been messing up, and try and change his style.
Blargh. One of the DMs at my FLGS DM's like this for Encounters. It's so annoying, to the point where most of the people in my regular group litteraly argue over who has to "take the bullet" that week and sit at his table.
What I suggest doing is instead of trying to outright pull players away from his game, simply run a different game on a different day, and invite the other people from your group, including the DM. It doesn't have to be a full on campaign or anything, just a module or two. If you do a good enough job of DMing, the other DM might realize that he's been messing up, and try and change his style.
Running a parallel game and inviting the DM to be a player is certainly a constructive way of pulling gently away - silently teaching by being a good example is a time-honored way of inspiring positive changes.