D&D General Has online play changed your DM style?

[iserith]

I suspect that I know what my post was about probably better than you do, and my post was about the "what do you do?" framing that BookBarbarian talked about in his post.

No doubt you know your intent, but we only have your words to respond to and those words certainly included more than an observation of the four words "What do you do?" as already shown above. My response was to words other than "What do you do?" as was my factual claim about Dungeon World and D&D 5e having the same basic structure of conversation for the DM and players, a claim that in your view is "downplaying" the game differences in the games. My intent, which I no doubt know better than anyone else, is not to downplay the differences as you humbly asserted, of which there are many, but to show the similarities and how someone could have derived this approach from the four corners of the D&D 5e PHB.

Come on, this glibness is being disingenuous. You know that this isn't the point I was making. It's sidestepping using "what do you do?" as an intentional part of GM framing rather than just a conversational happenstance. I'm not sure why this is something you would want to downplay since this is something that BookBarbarian found laudable about what you did.

The only thing I'm attempting to downplay is any potential claim that PBtA games and D&D 5e are somehow different when it comes to this aspect of the game. While I'm happy my example play has benefited BookBarbarian's game, I can make no honest claim to that specific thing being attributable to myself or any specific game.

To bring this back around to the topic of how online games influence a DM's style, it occurs to me that "What do you do?" or words to that effect are a must in online play because of voice technology. It's like saying "Over" on a CB radio - you're telling others it's their turn to speak so that you're not interrupting each other. This is especially helpful if you're not using video.

 

[BookBarbarian]

It appears this thread has been thoroughly derailed. I regret the part I played in this.

 

[iserith]

It appears this thread has been thoroughly derailed. I regret the part I played in this.

Nah, man, a minor diversion in the grand scheme and my last post tries to get it back on track. You're good. We're good.

 

[BookBarbarian]

You're good.

I tend to think of myself as Chaotic Neutral.

Which means I'm probably Chaotic Evil

 

[Umbran]

Your responses are incongruous with someone who also says "I really don't want to get into yet another pissing contest." Or perhaps you do, just not about the specific contest you reference above?

"I can't tell if you want to get into an ego contest, so... I'll make sure you can have one if you want it." That's your approach?

How about, instead, if you think someone's looking for a fight, rather than a discussion, you don't act to make that fight happen, hm? Thanks.

 

[Nevvur]

"I can't tell if you want to get into an ego contest, so... I'll make sure you can have one if you want it." That's your approach?

How about, instead, if you think someone's looking for a fight, rather than a discussion, you don't act to make that fight happen, hm? Thanks.

Is this type of snark really appropriate from a moderator? I've been following the discussion between iserith and aldarc with interest. I didn't think it had reached the point of requiring moderation to begin with, much less warrant that kind of response from a mod.

 

[Hussar]

Oh look, a continuation of an old argument that waged for several months. I SOOO regret my participation in it the least time around. Can we please not drag it out again? Pretty please. With a cherry on top? If we couldn't come to any sort of common ground after several thousand posts the last time around, it's really, really unlikely we will this time either.

 

[Shiroiken]

I've had to become more descriptive that I used to be during social encounters. I used to rely on gestures and facial expressions as part of my role-playing, and without the players ability to see I have to decribe it instead. Of course, I often still perform the gestures anyway, out of habit.

 

[Nevvur]

I've had to become more descriptive that I used to be during social encounters. I used to rely on gestures and facial expressions as part of my role-playing, and without the players ability to see I have to decribe it instead. Of course, I often still perform the gestures anyway, out of habit.

Thanks so much for mentioning this one!

I've been doing voice-only for my entire online play experience, and I've lately become aware how much I'm missing out by not broadcasting video to players. It's funny, because at real life tables I am a very... animated DM... but I don't get to do that in voice only games. The mere fact of you mentioning it gives me pause to reconsider video, if only so my players can get a little more info from my body.

 

[Nevvur]

This is against the rules I guess? I'm not so vested in this community that I can't withstand a warning, time out, or even permanent ban. @Umbran, I am begging you to reevaluate the criteria by which you determine to moderate threads and leave this one alone until something actionable evinces. @iserith and @Aldarc were having a heated but civil discussion.

I challenge you to find a very clear violation of the rules in the discussion between iserith and aldarc. If you can present one, I will acknowledge it. In the meantime, I request that you delete your post and the warning against mine.