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Am I an atypical DM?
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<blockquote data-quote="Gargoyle" data-source="post: 3047869" data-attributes="member: 529"><p>This is a good point. It's hard to rate yourself as a DM, unless you've been a player in a lot of other games. I have been in a few, but I haven't played nearly as much as I've DM'd.</p><p></p><p>It could be that I'm very sloppy. If I'm that clueless, I probably don't even realized it. Ah, ignorance is bliss. Don't wake me up, and don't tell my players. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /></p><p></p><p>But I don't think so. I'm reasonably good with the rules and with running various RPGs. </p><p></p><p>It could be that I'm an "expert" with D&D. I've played in games ran by great DM's : Piratecat, James Wyatt, and other some great people no one here would know. I'm not that good. My games are not exactly well-oiled machines, and my campaign worlds are not that intriguing. If they were, my lack of modesty wouldn't prevent me from calling myself an expert, even here.</p><p></p><p>So I think I know enough to know I'm somewhere in the middle of the DM competency ladder. I know what stats are important to have handy, and which ones I can generate on the fly. For instance, I know I need detailed stats on the main villain in an encounter, but I can throw some stock stat block together for his thugs, and probably have some of those numbers memorized. Anyway, their attack rolls and AC are usually unimportant anyway since they hit and get missed on high rolls. I have one or two "interesting" NPC's or monsters per session, but yes, most of the rest are cookie-cutter.</p><p></p><p>I would say that I know my players too. I have a good idea of what their playstyle is, and how to make the game fun for them. I certainly am the number one authority on the campaign world and the adventure, since I wrote them both. </p><p></p><p>Another point in my favor, sort of, is that neither my players or I have much time to play or prepare for the game. Cookie cutter NPC's are sometimes interesting enough because we don't play all the time. Plus, we have to be efficient. When we first started playing 3E, we weren't and wasted many hours. Now we get down to the business of having fun quickly. </p><p></p><p>I'm a firm believer that I'm a fairly average DM, not nearly as bad as some games I've played in, not nearly as good as others.</p><p></p><p>One thing regarding prep time: Electronic tools help me with D&D quite a bit. If it weren't for e-tools, I wouldn't run D&D 3.5, or at least, I wouldn't use more than the core rules. If they ever produce a D&D 4th edition without good electronic support, it will be the first time I don't upgrade. I couldn't deal with more than 3.5 core without e-tools and some other stuff. I don't typically buy rules expansions for non-D&D games, so I haven't had trouble with "option proliferation" when playing other systems. This is certainly a love/hate thing for me. I love all the options, but dislike the extra time some of my players take making characters and figuring out the rules.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Gargoyle, post: 3047869, member: 529"] This is a good point. It's hard to rate yourself as a DM, unless you've been a player in a lot of other games. I have been in a few, but I haven't played nearly as much as I've DM'd. It could be that I'm very sloppy. If I'm that clueless, I probably don't even realized it. Ah, ignorance is bliss. Don't wake me up, and don't tell my players. :D But I don't think so. I'm reasonably good with the rules and with running various RPGs. It could be that I'm an "expert" with D&D. I've played in games ran by great DM's : Piratecat, James Wyatt, and other some great people no one here would know. I'm not that good. My games are not exactly well-oiled machines, and my campaign worlds are not that intriguing. If they were, my lack of modesty wouldn't prevent me from calling myself an expert, even here. So I think I know enough to know I'm somewhere in the middle of the DM competency ladder. I know what stats are important to have handy, and which ones I can generate on the fly. For instance, I know I need detailed stats on the main villain in an encounter, but I can throw some stock stat block together for his thugs, and probably have some of those numbers memorized. Anyway, their attack rolls and AC are usually unimportant anyway since they hit and get missed on high rolls. I have one or two "interesting" NPC's or monsters per session, but yes, most of the rest are cookie-cutter. I would say that I know my players too. I have a good idea of what their playstyle is, and how to make the game fun for them. I certainly am the number one authority on the campaign world and the adventure, since I wrote them both. Another point in my favor, sort of, is that neither my players or I have much time to play or prepare for the game. Cookie cutter NPC's are sometimes interesting enough because we don't play all the time. Plus, we have to be efficient. When we first started playing 3E, we weren't and wasted many hours. Now we get down to the business of having fun quickly. I'm a firm believer that I'm a fairly average DM, not nearly as bad as some games I've played in, not nearly as good as others. One thing regarding prep time: Electronic tools help me with D&D quite a bit. If it weren't for e-tools, I wouldn't run D&D 3.5, or at least, I wouldn't use more than the core rules. If they ever produce a D&D 4th edition without good electronic support, it will be the first time I don't upgrade. I couldn't deal with more than 3.5 core without e-tools and some other stuff. I don't typically buy rules expansions for non-D&D games, so I haven't had trouble with "option proliferation" when playing other systems. This is certainly a love/hate thing for me. I love all the options, but dislike the extra time some of my players take making characters and figuring out the rules. [/QUOTE]
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