GMMichael
Guide of Modos
The situation is dire, friends. The world is running out of GMs, and we might never get them back. Just look at the cute, little things, in their natural habitat:
Let's look at the causes, so that we can begin to form a solution:
- Not enough Dungeon Master's Guides. Lots of games put all of the rules in one book, giving players easy access to the GM's secrets.
- Rules-light games. If there are few-to-no rules, for what do you need a rules referee? Such games also facilitate low-prep, which could also mean low-need-for-a-GM.
- Narrative moves. These let players control the story, not just their characters. Formerly a GM's job.
- Fate points. These allow PCs to say, "sorry GM. We're gonna change that," thus diminishing GM authority. See also: GM Intrusions.
- Random generators. Players can create their own unexpected content with these. (Here's looking at you, OGRE!)
- Virtual Tabletops. Who needs a GM to describe a scene, when a VTT lays everything out in PICTURES!? And sometimes animated fog-of-war...
- Gloomhaven, an RPBG (...board game), is GM-less and the second printing has about $4 million in Kickstarter pledges.
Two questions:
- Would you like to see a hard line between the GM role and the PC role?
- If not, where do you draw the line?
Let's look at the causes, so that we can begin to form a solution:
- Not enough Dungeon Master's Guides. Lots of games put all of the rules in one book, giving players easy access to the GM's secrets.
- Rules-light games. If there are few-to-no rules, for what do you need a rules referee? Such games also facilitate low-prep, which could also mean low-need-for-a-GM.
- Narrative moves. These let players control the story, not just their characters. Formerly a GM's job.
- Fate points. These allow PCs to say, "sorry GM. We're gonna change that," thus diminishing GM authority. See also: GM Intrusions.
- Random generators. Players can create their own unexpected content with these. (Here's looking at you, OGRE!)
- Virtual Tabletops. Who needs a GM to describe a scene, when a VTT lays everything out in PICTURES!? And sometimes animated fog-of-war...
- Gloomhaven, an RPBG (...board game), is GM-less and the second printing has about $4 million in Kickstarter pledges.
Two questions:
- Would you like to see a hard line between the GM role and the PC role?
- If not, where do you draw the line?
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