After being DM can PLAYING ever be as good?

[KB9JMQ]

Started gaming with the Red Box. Never was a player until 3E came out.
Now we rotate DMing between 3 of us. I love playing but I am happy when it is my turn to DM.
I like to learn from the other DMs and watching what goes over well and what doesn't. It makes us all better in the long run.

 

[sckeener]

A DM that changes standard monsters, traps, and effects so that you're never quite sure what you've run into when you see it for the first time.

agreed. I do this all the time. I've got players that read the MM books and memorize them. If I didn't change around the monsters they'd know everything. Usually though all I have to do to throw them off the track is just come up with a different description for the monster.

the OP I think is more of a problem when you have a bad or average DM. If they DM does a good enough job to throw you into the setting, then the mechanics don't matter as much.

 

[Ltheb Silverfrond]

When I started the game, I started as a player. Every DM I had for several years had a certain style. (The cinematic, story & character development oriented style, with very little combat) Unfortunately, no one in my current RP group has that kind of style, so whenever I play, I find myself a bit 'underwhelmed' by whoever DMs. I guess I just have high expectations for games.

 

[Anticitizen One]

I prefer to DM, but I still have a lot of fun playing. I haven't run a game in about 2 years because I just don't have the time to commit to running a good game these days, but the itch is still there. I am currently playing in a RttToEE campaign and it's been a pretty good time so far. I do feel a bit limited with only having one character, but I am sure the high lethality of the adventure will take care of that soon

In the long run, I think DMing is more satisfying and rewarding, while playing is more relaxing and a heck of a lot easier.

 

[Gundark]

After reading a lot of the post here I can say that I can understand what is being said by a lot of DMs. I am more critical of DMs now, it was hard for me to shut up when a DM made a decision I wouldn't have done if I was the DM.

I think I could enjoy being a player in a pre-made adventure path (AoW, ST, RHoD or whatever) as long as the DM didn't do one of the following, a) hand out too much treasure and disrupt balance (this annoys me) b) takes it easy on us (this is my ultimate annoyance with playing, it's grounds for me to quit the campaign if done too much). I couldn't be a player in my group without a premade path as I find that when someone else DMs (in my group) they tend to "wing it" too much (I hate this too).

 

[Harmon]

Not sure it fits with the thread so apologizes in advance

Players that also GM can be of great help to the GM, dropping little notes about monsters abilities "don't forget that Trolls regenerate- you have not mentioned it yet." A good Player would have have a confused character about certein abilities- "we take this creature out, but it won't stay down- how do we kill it?" While the Player knows its a Troll and knows how to kill it.

 

[Arashi Ravenblade]

In my experience being a player is not as fun as DMing. I started out Dming 3e and 3.5, and when someone else decides to run im always disappointed.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Once you become a DM has it affected your enjoyment as a player in later games?

Yep.

 

[Treebore]

The only problem I have had is that by being DM I have a definite preference for how the game is run.

So my difficulty has been finding DM's who run games in a way I can like.

The only exception I have to this is when my kids DM me. Since it is a learning experience, and they want me to tell them my opinion, I play in their games.

Which are actually very good on ideas. They just need to learn to control themselves and not speed up our progress, etc... to get to the "good parts". Plus they are getting a good handle on balancing encounters, etc... So eventually I will enjoy their games a lot.

I am very much a "don't let the rules get in the way" kind of DM, so when a game session bogs down because of strict adherence to the rules, it really irks me. I find my enjoyment for 3E goes way up when we ignore AoO micro management of the combats.

The only AoO I like is for when they run away, and I don't allow a feat to negate that AoO.

My kids like them, so I spend a lot of time grinding my teeth waiting for battles to be resolved, at higher levels.

I never had your problem with monsters. I made myself not memorize any of the monsters. So when I do remember something I'm OK with it because I can mark it off to hearing things in bar room stories, bardic tales, etc....

So those are my "issues" as a result of being a DM so much of the time.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

I both play and DM. I enjoy both immensely. So... Yes?

Later
silver