"those challenges" eh?
That's a very vague and open-ended term. What does "challenge" mean? Learning a new game system? Getting better at improv? TIme management?
To be honest, learning game system is something that everyone at the table needs to do, not just DM. Coming to a gaming, without doing basic, like learning at least basic rules of the game you are about to participate in, is plain rude. Improv is a challenge, some people just aren't good at it. Time management, again, is responsibility of the whole group, not just DM.
Some people have crippling social anxiety. Some have cognitive impairments (temporary or permanent) such as dislexia or discalcula. Some have trouble improvising and can only handle more railroad-y modules. Some people are autistic and have difficulty reading their players' expressions and emotions. Some people are from different cultures where socialising is different and follows different queues or mannerisms. These are all barriers that can ruin DMing for people.
Just like in basketball, being shorter doesn’t mean you can’t play-it just means you’re working with a disadvantage in a system built around certain physical expectations. DMing can be the same way, you’re just operating in a framework that isn’t designed with your strengths and needs in mind. Or in this case, it unfortunately, targets your weak spots. So, you need to find way to circumvent or overcome those problems and have have fun.
Anecdotally, I know people who have given up on GMing because the "challenges" that they faced were simply un-fun. They play RPGs for entertaintment, not to train their skills or to "build character".
The harsh reality is that not everyone will be good at everything and that includes DMing. Some people face barriers that make it harder or less enjoyable, and that’s okay. It doesn’t make them ‘bad’ players, it just means their strengths lie elsewhere, and the healthier choice is to focus on the parts of hobby they enjoy.
Those "how to be a better GM" books might seem redundant and useless to certain crowds, but to others they're most welcome, or even needed.
True, specially for people who have disadvantages you mentioned in the beginning of your post.
I agree. I’ve seen a few friendships/friend groups blowup over a TTRPG.
Over game? Out of curiosity, were those adults, or kids/teens? I mean, friendship breaking over something happening in make pretend game is serious stuff.
I pondered this when watching a recent Colville video where he stated he didn’t understand how a referee couldn’t run an TTRPG that they wanted to just because their players said no, all we will play is D&D.
Yes, and he also said - DM is one who decides what to run. Which isn't really true. It's agreement between players and DM what system is used. If there is no agreement, both sides can just walk away from the game. And i say this as someone who walked away from gaming with close friends for over a year, cause they wanted to play only D&D and i wanted to play anything but D&D. So they played D&D and i didn't play anything.
He seemed so perplexed by this situation and I was just watched him like he lived in an alternate universe.
I believe this is a fairly normal situation (which is why he addressed it) and I can see why it is frustrating for him as a person that wants people to play a game besides D&D. But it was so weird to see him baffled that someone who runs games couldn’t run draw steel because their players wouldn’t participate.
Probably because his group is mostly people who are gamers and interacts mostly with gamers. There is difference between gamer and people who like to play games. And with surge of popularity, there are influx of new people who are not gamers, but who like to play some D&D. If DM isn't up for some D&D, cool, they will find something other to do. I have feeling Colville is guy whose main (or only) hobby are ttrpgs. But there are loads of people for whom D&D is just one of the hobbies.
