Constructive Criticism for Your GM

[R_J_K75]

Mate, I could have totally wrote what you just said . I’ve played D&D for over 30 years and had a pc about 7 times.

Sometimes DMing just gets exhausting and I need a break. I often use Thanksgiving through the New Year as n excuse to take a few extra weeks off from gaming. With the holidays so close together it seems to work well enough to get my interest back. Honestly its hard to get the whole group together at that time of year.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Larnievc]

Sometimes DMing just gets exhausting and I need a break. I often use Thanksgiving through the New Year as n excuse to take a few extra weeks off from gaming. With the holidays so close together it seems to work well enough to get my interest back. Honestly its hard to get the whole group together at that time of year.

I DM once a week and it’s been constant for over a year. I’ve sacked it off a few times to recharge my batteries. Luckily my group are pretty chill with that

 

[R_J_K75]

I DM once a week and it’s been constant for over a year. I’ve sacked it off a few times to recharge my batteries. Luckily my group are pretty chill with that

We play every other week on Fridays. Up until our last game we called our games off if two or more out of 6 players (including myself) cant make the game, which isnt too often. Im gonna start running more one-shots rather than longer campaigns so we can play regardless of who shows up. I would like to play once in a while but I think a majority of my frustrations with DMing is prepping for games then having to cancel or just setting them up from session to session. Ive been thinking lately that if we could get a pick-up game during the week from time to time this might help boost everyones interest. But I guess that remains to be seen. When I was younger we played 3-4 times a week and that just made us want to play more.

 

[Nagol]

I DM once a week and it’s been constant for over a year. I’ve sacked it off a few times to recharge my batteries. Luckily my group are pretty chill with that

I took my first serious break to recharge after about 15 years of constant GMing. I find I need some way to refresh myself every decade or so. I'm beginning to feel the burn now so I'll need to talk to my players in the next year or so.

 

[Nagol]

Constructive criticism is best given to the DM in the form of dollar bills.

Preferably large denomination.

If you are unclear on how to properly do this, rehearse the following scenario.

When approaching your DM (eyes on the floor!), hold out your hand with a $50 bill in it while saying, "I hear your significant other needs a new set of dice."

I prefer smaller denoms (20s are near perfect!), just more of them!

 

[Len]

Our DM does everything right, especially not killing my character, and he's good-looking to boot.

(Yes, he does read ENWorld. Why do you ask?)

 

[Fauchard1520]

There was a piece in the Harvard Business Review about constructive criticism some years back. While it is aimed at business, it has some points worth considering. ( There’s No Such Thing as Constructive Criticism )

To wit: If your approach is, in effect, about how the other person is doing something wrong that they need/ought to change, it is less likely to be constructive. You may be far more successful with leaving the judgement of past efforts or events out of the conversation entirely, and simply talking about how cool a future state might be.

"I don't like the X we have been doing, and would prefer Y," is more prone to failure than, "Hey, I've been thinking about Y. It might be really cool to try it!"

Heh. I think I remember seeing that article!

Any chance of getting your take on what that might look like in a practice in an RPG situation?

 

[R_J_K75]

Regarding what Umbran mentioned, I took some similar courses in college and I totally translated them to D&D. Its about how to prepare, time management, knowing people (your players) knowing yourself, time management, and time management being able to adjust when your players eyes are glazing over. Alot of that can be learned from team building and leadership exercises.

 

[R_J_K75]

Getting back to Umbrans' OP, I worked at the Buffalo NY General Mills Cereal and the Four Plant. There was an Engineer there that never followed protocol when it came to upgrading the plant. He put in whatever he wanted when he wanted, and no one liked it but he got the job done. Bottom line is yo gotta be a jerk Its hard to DM. Hard job sometimes.