D&D General Matt Colville on the “Forever DM”

[Reynard]

I think everyone should play different games now and again (go to a con!) And if they are a forever player, try running a game (do it at a con!) and if they are a forever GM they should make themselves play every once in a while (at a con!).

There is nothing worse that an insular GM who refuses to broaden their horizons and has been running the same game the same way for decades, who then tells you how perfect they are.

 

[Reynard]

He doesn’t think he’s that good, or at least not watchable during the chain.

I think Matt sometimes protests too much in the interest of humility.

 

[el-remmen]

When you're only playing 10-11 games per year, trying out a new game just to see if you like it and spending enough time to do that just isn't realistic.

I hear that as someone who does only play with two different groups every 3 to 5 weeks each (which comes to about 10 to 13 sessions a year). But we do schedule other get togethers and casual board game nights between those sessions and I would suggest trying another game during one of those times because I don’t want to give up a D&D night.

 

[TiQuinn]

It never occurred to me that people, especially here, would have such a hate on for Matt. He's basically the distilled version of the GenX GM,but who is actually good at it instead of just believing he is good at it.

I made the mistake of watching some of his Twitch streams for a bit. This video is pretty straightforward.

 

[GrimCo]

I think everyone should play different games now and again (go to a con!) And if they are a forever player, try running a game (do it at a con!) and if they are a forever GM they should make themselves play every once in a while (at a con!).

Conventions are pretty much USA thing. Outside of USA, they are rare, and most of them, only games there are d&d or PF1, with rare exceptions.

 

[Joshua Randall]

Some people may just respond: Cool, but i'm out, call me when you go back to d&d.

My honest answer? "Hey, man, can you at least give it a try? Everything we do was new to us at first. I know that change is uncomfortable, that's part of human nature, but I'm really excited for this and I'd love you to join us."

If the person still doesn't want to? I strongly reconsider how much I want to be friends with that person, because FRIENDS are willing to try things with their other FRIENDS, to at least give new things a chance.

As a DM, you can always say: sorry guys, i'm burned out. Either we switch to something else, someone else picks up DMing, or we are taking pause from gaming. How long? Undefined.

In my experience in a "D&D ONLYYYY!!!!!" group, what will happen is either (A) no one picks up the baton and there is no gaming until you, the forever DM, take up the baton again; or (B) someone half-asses some DM-ing and you remember why you didn't bother to be a player.

Cynical? You betcha.

After I converted my group to D&D-mostly-but-we-also-try-other-things, now when I am burned out an need a break, someone will run a mini-series of (not-D&D) and that works great.

 

[el-remmen]

I made the mistake of watching some of his Twitch streams for a bit. This video is pretty straightforward.

Yeah. I had to stop watching those. I think that watching multiple hours of anyone extemporarily talking naughty word and getting frustrated with their audience's repetitive questions and assumptions would lead to eventually getting annoyed with things they say or attitudes they express, even if otherwise you find you generally agree with them.* I found I preferred the edited and focused videos and the bad taste in my mouth from a few of the streams did not dampen my enthusiasm for the videos - because you know, people are complicated.

I know I certainly am.

* Though I did once catch a stream where he did an awesome breakdown of the Jethro Tull discography.

 

[Reynard]

Conventions are pretty much USA thing. Outside of USA, they are rare, and most of them, only games there are d&d or PF1, with rare exceptions.

That is surprising to me, given the popularity of gaming in Europe.

 

[TiQuinn]

Yeah. I had to stop watching those. I think that watching multiple hours of anyone extemporarily talking naughty word and getting frustrated with their audience's repetitive questions and assumptions would lead to eventually getting annoyed with things they say or attitudes they express, even if otherwise you find you generally agree with them.* I found I preferred the edited and focused videos and the bad taste in my mouth from a few of the streams did not dampen my enthusiasm for the videos - because you know, people are complicated.

I know I certainly am.

* Though I did once catch a stream where he did an awesome breakdown of the Jethro Tull discography.

I started watching when he was doing his MYMNOS (Movies You May Not Otherwise See) stuff and he streamed, with commentary, the entirety of Casablanca. It took two streams to do it because he was stopping every few minutes or so to break down the scenes, and it was really fascinating and entertaining stuff. It doesn’t exist anymore - the possibility of a takedown meant you either watched it live or you didn’t watch it - but it was one of the best things I’ve seen streamed.

I think the problem became that he was starting to feel very much like a puppet for people on the streams, he’d get into any topic, and his personality - at least that onscreen - is extremely opinionated. And when it starts bumping up against that fanbase and chat stream, you REALLY saw Angry Matt.

I’m not sure what he gets out of it personally, but business wise it’s almost certainly the reason he was able to start MCDM and build a following. Problem is that following is a beast that needs feeding with content over and over.

 

[AlViking]

I hear that as someone who does only play with two different groups every 3 to 5 weeks each (which comes to about 10 to 13 sessions a year). But we do schedule other get togethers and casual board game nights between those sessions and I would suggest trying another game during one of those times because I don’t want to give up a D&D night.

At the moment we do get together with some friends for games, but it includes spouses that are not at all interested in TTRPGs and it's pretty hit-or-miss who can make it. I would also say that it just depends on the group. If you have a busy job and especially if you have kids? A game night can be a luxury a lot of people can't afford. Maybe at some point I'll float the idea on an off-night if anyone is interested but at the moment it's really just a question of finding time. Well, and I'm an introvert by nature so sometimes I just want a quiet night at home.