GM Fun

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weird = good
strange = bad
odd = unsure/neutral

Yay for us weirdos!
Oops, sorry.

 

There are two kinds of player input into a game world, I think. The first is directive, the second is suggestive.

For example, swinging across the ravine on a vine. The directive kind of control is "I grab a vine and swing across the ravine." The suggestive kind of control is "Is there a vine or something I can swing across on?" Now, the GM doesn't have a clear picture of the ravine; he figured they'd go to get the fallen log he described a bit ago. In the directive kind of control, the player is just assuming that what he wants will be there. In the suggestive type of control, the player is suggesting to the GM that there may be another way across.

Personally, as a Game *Master*, the first kind of player just drives me nuts. He's trying to make himself the center of the game, and assuming things about the place that may or may not be true. The second kind is, IMO, simply playing the game. I didn't think about vines or other ways across, but his suggestion is a good one, so I might let it fly. It's a style thing, I suspect; some people can tolerate that kind of dictation in the game they're running; I can't.

 

I agree with you MrNexx.

 

I find that being a DM you have to be a master of BS. After taking a debating class, speaking class, and acting class being a DM can be fun if you are ready with basic information about your NPC and from there just go with the flow or your players. It makes the game a whole lot better and easier for you and your players.

 

I have been in much the same as Atari man, Very few players around, and few of them dedicated. Also, noone have ever wanted to be the DM, so i was teh one that "had to take a hit" for the group. And everytime i try to sugest we rotate this role, nobody shows up, so im kinda stuck with beeing DM.

Dming can from time to time be amusing, but all in all i would prefer to play. I usually do small adventures, something that can be played over an evening or three. Often using premade adventures, and just add some BS to it as we go along. Improvising and making things up on the fly is the part i like the most about beeing DM, sitting preparing an adventure and writing backgrounds and stuff (for anything else than my own characters) is so boring i almost cancel our playing days :-/

And you wouldn't belive the amount of different/weird players i have had. I have had everything from powergamers, roleplayers, rulelawyers thinkign they are roleplayers, wannabe powergmers, people whom after the 10th round in combat still dont remember what dice to use to initiative, attacks, and saves. etc. in the same groups. In my experience, nothing is more random than a D&D group...