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

[Bedrockgames]

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.

Yeah, even when I disagree with him, I find him an extremely pleasant guy who is hard to dislike.

Also I don't know how people are getting 'angry' from him. It is possible there is a generational thing going on or a cultural one where anger is expressed differently (I've encountered this for example going from one state to another in the US enough to realize tone doesn't always register the same). But to me he just seems like he is excited to talk about whatever topic is on his mind that day. It seems more like enthusiasm than anger to me. Sometimes there I sense frustration behind his enthusiasm, but nothing that makes the videos give off any kind of negative energy.

Watching this video I do think it is very interesting, and it is something I have observed in discussions that GMs who GM for groups of people who also run games, seem to have a very different experience than people who are always in the GM seat with people who pretty much remain players.

 

[Reynard]

Watching this video I do think it is very interesting, and it is something I have observed in discussions that GMs who GM for groups of people who also run games, seem to have a very different experience than people who are always in the GM seat with people who pretty much remain players.

I never really though about the idea that playing D&D (or whatever the game of choice is) with different GMs can prime you to be more accepting of the idea of trying different games. But it makes sense now that i have heard him express it.

I do think that people that refuse to try other games are missing out and doing themselves and their favorite game (presumably D&D) a disservice.

 

[GrimCo]

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.

It also depends of what level of time commitment trying something new is. I can only speak for myself and my group, but we all agreed crunchy new systems are no go. I think it's reasonable expectation that everyone reads player facing rules and learns basic mechanics of game and creates their character. For some games, it's few pages. Asking someone to try Mork Borg or Cairn isn't same as asking someone to try GURPS or Cyberpunk 2020. I totally get if someone is unviling to spend time to learn rules of new system just to try it. And don't hold it against them. Same as i don't hold it against them if they don't wanna go rafting or hiking or any other activity.

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.

And if no one picks up, you don't play until you find another group or you get itch to run. Half assing is at least putting in some effort.

 

[KYRON45]

The level of commitment you get from a casual player can be down right demoralizing to a DM that at the very least wants players to understand how THEIR character works.
That being said, you would think that people who barely know the foundations of the game that they ARE playing would put up such a wall against trying some other game that they aren't going to really invest it anyway.

TL;DR.....Players ruin everything.

 

[Reynard]

It also depends of what level of time commitment trying something new is. I can only speak for myself and my group, but we all agreed crunchy new systems are no go. I think it's reasonable expectation that everyone reads player facing rules and learns basic mechanics of game and creates their character. For some games, it's few pages. Asking someone to try Mork Borg or Cairn isn't same as asking someone to try GURPS or Cyberpunk 2020. I totally get if someone is unviling to spend time to learn rules of new system just to try it. And don't hold it against them. Same as i don't hold it against them if they don't wanna go rafting or hiking or any other activity.


And if no one picks up, you don't play until you find another group or you get itch to run. Half assing is at least putting in some effort.

I don't think it helps the situation to set such a high bar. If the GM is the one who wants to try the game, it is perfectly reasonable to have them explain the thing and bring pregens. i mean, that is essentially how ever con game runs.

 

[DarkCrisis]

I love listening to Matt. Though I rarely do.

I am a Forever DM because back in 3E no one else in my group of friends wanted to do it. I am still a Forever DM because "no one else does it right". At least, when it comes to D&D. They can GM something else. Like Vampire or Shadowrun.

Partially joking, of course but I know how I DM D&D and when I play and the DM does something a different way it just bugs me. That's on me though.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Through the magic of selective editing, I have created your new quote-worthy .signature

I'm Whizbang Dustyboots, and I endorse this message.

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

Matt often has interesting things to say, but I just can’t stand his forced voice and manners.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I want to play in a game, but wouldn't want to give up running a game to do so. So I don't think fit Matt's definition of a Forever DM. me.

Well, he's talking specifically about the people who complain about this issue to him. The people who are happy are presumably not doing so.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

This is such an important point. I've never been in a situation where I wanted to run a game for a while and the response was just "No, D&D or nothing!" I think it's because I run a game with friends who genuinely care about each other. We did a Daggerheart game last year and the GM was new and used some tech to run the game that I didn't particularly care for. BUT I had fun with friends and learned about the new game. I can't think of a situation where I wouldn't be doing that.

Same. My group does overall prefer D&D, but when I said I'd like to alternate with other games, there was no lack of sign-ups for them, although some games got more buy-in than others. But still, we're not 100% 5E.