Bad DMs/GMs

[Bedrockgames]

Ben Stein

Somehow Greylord I don't think you would like hims as a DM, am I right?


"It's your turn to attack Beuller, Beuller, Beuller..."

I think Ben Stein would make an awesome GM. He would definitely be part of my gaming dream team: Ben Stein, Steven Colbert, Joel McHale, Kevin James and Tom Hanks (he must make penance for M&M).

 

[DragonLancer]

Some of this was actually written in boxed text this way. Detailed room descriptions followed by the obvious monster standing there almost as an afterthought.

The problem here is where do you put the reference to the monster. If you put it first or in the middle of the description, the players ignore the rest of the description. Seems to me that putting the monster reveal last makes more sense.

 

[Gronin]

In addition to many of the things mentioned, I once had a DM whose descriptions drove me up the wall. He once spent almost 5 minutes describing a room in loving detail, from the color and pattern of the carpet, to the figures on he mantlepiece. Then, at the end, almost as an afterthought, "Oh yeah, there's also a large black dragon sitting in the middle of the room."

While I would imagine 5 minutes was a bit much -- there is probably a pretty good chance that if the first part of the description had been "There's a large black dragon sitting in the middle of the room." The rest of the description might as well have been "blah, blah, blah" as panic ensued.

Although if such a thing were to actually happen I suppose that might reflect a very real reaction. I'm pretty sure if I saw any kind of dragon at all I'm not checking out how well the draped co-ordinate with the carpet.

Still I feel for your DM as all too often carefully crafted flavour text is reduced to "there was a dragon"

 

[MoxieFu]

His voice tone may drive me crazy.

He shows some imagination and is descriptive, so he could go either way. I'm thinking he probably would be a fine DM if he knew how to play. Take away his imagination in doing things (which could very well just be his script writers) and his descriptive ability (once again, could be scriptwriters) and yes, he'd be terrible.

I goofed. I meant the character he played in FBDO. I have to agree, Ben himself would be amazing, especially if a couple of the players were goofballs.

 

[was]

railroading, bad guys who are killed numerous time but keep instant healing to max health, dm's who allow their fav buddy/munchkin/rules-lawyer to dominate the group and practically run the campaign as a tribute to his pc's 'awesomeness'

 

[Oryan77]

Some of this was actually written in boxed text this way. Detailed room descriptions followed by the obvious monster standing there almost as an afterthought.

At the same time, you also have the players that won't let you finish describing the scene if you mention the monster to soon.

DM: "You enter a well lit room. Standing in the center is a Black Drag...."

Everyone else:

"I cast Fireball!"

"I do a called shot to the eyes with my crossbow and then hide!"

"I charge it and attack with my greatsword!"

"I play my banjo and yell out that we come in peace."

DM: "Wait, let me finish describing the scene."

Everyone else:

"NOOOOOOOOO, we need to hurry and attack while it is surprised!"

 

[Oryan77]

The rest of the description might as well have been "blah, blah, blah" as panic ensued.

I agree. One thing that stuck in my mind and still irks me thinking about it was the time one of my previous players interrupted an NPC monologue by saying, "Blah blah blah, yeah yeah, let's fight." There was a lack of roleplaying going on in the game for quite some time, so I was trying to spice up the encounter with some dialogue. The lack of roleplaying made me feel like I was doing nothing but running an elaborate chess game, and his comment didn't help.

I have to say I think the bad GM thing is way over-blown, and it is usually more of a style clash than anything when someone says they had a bad GM.

This is what I think also. I'm sure there are plenty of bad DMs, but I'm also sure that most players that complain don't realize that it is more them being problem players or that it is simply a clash of playstyles and they want to blame the DM.

 

[Umbran]

I have to say I think the bad GM thing is way over-blown, and it is usually more of a style clash than anything when someone says they had a bad GM.

Agreed.

I also think people are too quick to slap the label on. As if Good GMs apparently *never* make mistakes, have bad days, or areas of weakness?

"I once had a GM, who in a session did X..."

"Yeah, that's clearly a Bad GM."

As if one incident, in one session, brands the GM and all his other potential work - he's Bad, period, end of story. We apparently don't need to know about his other work to call him Bad, in general.

 

[Pentius]

While I would imagine 5 minutes was a bit much -- there is probably a pretty good chance that if the first part of the description had been "There's a large black dragon sitting in the middle of the room." The rest of the description might as well have been "blah, blah, blah" as panic ensued.

I didn't have a timer out or anything, but the entire group was bored until the dragon was mentioned(at which point shock took over). There's a point at which description simply becomes pointless and boring, and this DM tended to cross the line and then just keep going.

Still I feel for your DM as all too often carefully crafted flavour text is reduced to "there was a dragon"

I know that sting too, but with this approach it just gets reduced to "There was a dragon, and DAMMIT JAKE* I HATE YOU."

*Not DM's actual name.

 

[Elf Witch]

I have several peeves that I consider to be bad DMing I don't necessarily think the DM doing this is a bad DM all around just where these things are concerned.

1 Being to rigid to the point that you lose opportunities for awesomeness.

The example that comes to mind I was playing a ranger with favored enemy elves and I had a special magical bow against elves. We played for six levels almost six months and we didn't see any elves. Finally after a rough dungeon crawl with one freaking arrow left we come across some drow cultist. I fire the bow and roll a crit and then roll max damage it was a thing of beauty. I think I did something like 68 points of damage. Then the DM say you see the arrow bounce off. He had a magic item to protect him from range attacks.

The DM even showed me where it was written on his sheet. I don't care this was the time to let a player shine. I was a little bitter over this and changed characters next session because the DM told me that we not likely see many elves in the game.


2 Making one person the star and the game about them. This has happened twice and both times I really ended up resenting it.

3 Asking for back stories and never using anything from it.

4 Railroading to the point that you take away all freedom from my character. The worse was a DM who decided that my character was going to get involved with her NPC and when I dragged my feet brought a god into it and said I had to because of a prophecy.

5 Super duber NPCs who not only do everything but hold back information so that we can't solve issues on our own.