Ever had a game stolen from you?

[darjr]

I was going to not post cept to say that it is usually the other way round. I'll show up as a player and end up GMing anyway. Note, not by 'stealing'. Usually the GM will burn out and the choice being run or find another game.

But I HAVE had this happen, now that I think about it. I was getting back into the hobby and was going to run GURPS. I had a couple of players and they were interested, until we started making characters. The first gal, I think, was confused and didn't realize that GURPS wasn't the game she originally thought it was, her friend really didn't like character creation, her character was cool and she liked it but I don't think she'd ever do that again.

Anyway the next session they discussed meeting this great COC GM and my game was set aside.

I just went with it, the GM was great, and Call of Cthulu rocks. My schedule did prove to not work out however.

I don't know if it was 'stolen' but I do think they were very politely telling me 'no, thanks'.

No big deal.

 

[Achan hiArusa]

The person who took over is into "system mastery" and his characters are always builds. He plans his build at 1st level and it doesn't matter what happens in the game to his character he always sticks to his builds (for me builds are good for making a new character because it speeds up character creation, but after that point it depends on where the story takes me). When I ran a playtest of a new character class, he refused and stuck to his tried and true Paladin build. House rules are anathema because they will screw up his build. He runs games the same way. If he can't make an effective build for a game, then his character is ineffectual and suicidal. The other guy isn't nearly as forthright, but the more standard the game, the more comfortable he is, but he is also good at gamebreaking builds, to the point that the rest of the players once told him to get rid of his character.

We've talked. I've spent hours over the table and going out to lunch. I've conceded and given in more than once. But it really comes down to he wanted to control the game.

The original game was Traveller: Interstellar Wars with the Earth of Transhuman Space replacing Terra. I gave them a universe to explore with leads on several stories and a basic mission to explore, spy, and commit small acts of espionage. They didn't like it, it wasn't railroady enough, and I don't railroad. So we changed to Star Wars Saga edition and we got through one session before all this stuff started to happen.

 

[Camelot]

On the side, at reading the thread title I thought you meant that your players took your campaign story and used it in another game, and my response would be "Good DMs borrow, better DMs steal, and the best DMs modify." But that turned out not to be the case. Ah well, I'll have to save my wisdom for another time. =)

So, it sounds like your players don't like your DM style. However, they invited you back to play in their game the way they want it to be run. That must mean that they like you as a person, just not as a DM! So don't be insulted, you should be glad that your friends are enjoying the game now, and that they're giving you an opportunity to enjoy the game too. Just let them know that you'll be doing a lot of roleplaying and storytelling. You need both narrativism and gamism in a good game.

 

[amerigoV]

The original game was Traveller

There is the culprit. I am convinced that Traveller is a game that is meant to be owned, not played. Through extensive anecdotal evidence (and I, of course, ignore anything to the contrary), I have never heard of anyone who has actually played this game for more than 3 sessions.


It does sound like quite a group dynamic mismatch. Based on your description, the clash was envitable. So either roll with it (and mess up his campaign with some hardcore roleplaying) or seek those that might be better aligned. And don't take it personally - life it too short.

 

[Achan hiArusa]

No, I've had someone run a sequel to my Dallas by Night game after I had graduated college and left town permanently. I came back to visit about two years later and heard all the stories, that was somewhat flattering (because I was not aware of it).

Yeah, my Thursday night Scion group is a much better match. I give them a plot hook with a lot of leads and they will turn it into a story and a night of fun. They aren't chess players when it comes to their characters only looking toward "what would my character do?" when it comes to the next knack or birthright and give a lot of material for the next game just by speculating (the Sunday group would tell the one person who did that "Shut up! You'll give him ideas"). Same with my old Torg group (which used to be weekly until I moved out of town, now its once every two months when I have time to drive 4 hours), except they avoid combat like the plague.

I remember the last time I played in one of his games (actually it was with a like minded GM). I ran a gumshoe in a Tri-stat Pulp Cthulhu game. I had all the investigative skills and social interaction skills that were missing from the rest of the party. The GM took a look at my character sheet and said, "rework the character, he doesn't fit, you need to give yourself a decent attack." So I made my gun a portable cannon. He said "Okaay, I guess that works."

 

[Blackbrrd]

I would try it out as a player and see if I liked it.

There are some DMs that are incompatible with some groups, but don't take it as an insult, you just don't have the same mindset. I have played with such a DM the sessions he ran were terrible, while he is a great player and very much appreciated as one.

Personally I would LOVE if one of my players kidnapped my gaming group and set himself up as a DM and invited me to play. You get to play just as much, but without the prep time.

 

[lkjopajdowma]

They didn't like it, it wasn't railroady enough, and I don't railroad.

If they want to be railroaded, why not? Wouldn't you have far more narrative control in that way?

I know some players hate being railroaded, but really, if that's what your players want--one "choice", a clear goal, why not go for it?

(I'm honestly curious on this point.)

 

[Joshua Randall]

I've had a game "stolen" from me. It was right after 3e D&D was released, and I spent a long time preparing a campaign to DM. About 3 sessions in the players basically kicked me out so another guy could become DM (even though he never expressed interest during the planning phase).

It was embarrassing and aggravating. But, I did get 1 player to continue in "my" campaign, and it turned into a great game.

So the point of this story is, you never know where great gaming is going to come from. It could come from you and 1 or 2 other people playing the game you want to play... because people's playstyles are different, and not everyone will want to play the same type of game.

 

[Achan hiArusa]

Because I just can't do it. As soon as one of the players does something interesting I want to follow the consequences of it and it bothers me not to do so.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Play in game for a bit and observe. If everyone in the group seems to be having a good time then ask yourself: Could I run a game like this? If not then you may want to look for another group to run for.

If you are unable to enjoy even playing in the new game then perhaps a new group is inevitable (in order to enjoy gaming).