Are DMs better players?

[eris404]

The thread on players helping the DM made me wonder about this. In our group, we have four people who have either ran a game recently or are currently running a game (we have a rotation of three games currently). We have additionally four players who have never run a game, but one of them is planning to run a game very soon. What I have noticed is that the "DMs" of the group tend to be more involved in role-playing, pay closer attention to the DM and are more helpful to the DM by keeping track of rules, being prepared for the game and reminding the DM of rules, etc.

Has this been the experience in your group? Or have you met a DM who was a terrible player?

 

[diaglo]

Has this been the experience in your group? Or have you met a DM who was a terrible player?

my best players....have been players.

i've had mixed results with DMs as players. they tended to get out of character too easily...and start forgetting about playing their character.

 

[jgbrowning]

I'm afraid to say I'm a terrible player. Too long behind the screen.

joe b.

 

[D20 Addict]

The thread on players helping the DM made me wonder about this. In our group, we have four people who have either ran a game recently or are currently running a game (we have a rotation of three games currently). We have additionally four players who have never run a game, but one of them is planning to run a game very soon. What I have noticed is that the "DMs" of the group tend to be more involved in role-playing, pay closer attention to the DM and are more helpful to the DM by keeping track of rules, being prepared for the game and reminding the DM of rules, etc.

Sounds like a bunch of rules-lawyers. The only rule that counts is the one that is not said enough: the rules are guidelines, and the DM has the final say on what works and what doesn't.

 

[eris404]

Sounds like a bunch of rules-lawyers. The only rule that counts is the one that is not said enough: the rules are guidelines, and the DM has the final say on what works and what doesn't.

Ummm....I don't think that's what I meant. The DMs who are players in our group tend to role-play more, stay in character more, pay closer attention when the DM is talking and tend to be better prepared. For example, they have their characters' spells prepared, and if they summon monsters, they have the monster stats prepared, etc. The part about reminding the DM was about being helpful when the DM needs it, not arguing about the rules or quoting them verbatim. Sorry, that was a carryover from the other thread about whether DMs like having a little help from their players.

 

[Derfel]

I'd say its been a mixed bag in our group. One of my best players (best defined by an enthusiasm for the game, role-playing, attentiveness and a good understanding for the rules) has only attempted DM'ing once many years ago in a short, single-session Star Wars game. On the other hand, I've had some rather lack-luster player's who DM quite frequently. Another good player in my group has never DM'd, although we keep trying to convince him to run a game.

I think being a DM gives a player a greater appreciation for the amount of work placed into the game, but it does not automatically make one a better player. I DM for my own group most of the time, but personally I'm not that great of a player, tending to go off on off-topic tangents and distract from the game more than I'd like. I know the rules and enjoy role-playing, but I'd have to say most of the others I game with are better players than I am.

 

[bubbalin]

I'm not sure...

My group has 3 people (including me) who are more involved, and they also are the GMs so they know the rules better at least. Otherwise I'm not sure they make better players. As a player I find it hard to get really into character because I keep getting asked for rules and because some of the other players don't initiate anything at all. I tried to play a character who was quiet by nature, but that backfired because the other player/GM started taking over...
So I'm still stuck being a rules monkey... But my experience is that they make better players only in he sense of knowing the rules better...

 

[Count Arioch the 28t]

GOOD DMs make better players.

BAD DMs make the worst players of all.

 

[Henry]

Sounds like a bunch of rules-lawyers. The only rule that counts is the one that is not said enough: the rules are guidelines, and the DM has the final say on what works and what doesn't.

Actually, I think eris is speaking of them favorably, not in a derogatory manner.

Eris, it's been my experience too that players who at least take a few turns DM'ing are much better players than those who have never been behind the screen. This is not to say that all DM's are good players; it says only that players who have at least seen how the other half lives )) generally are more courteous and cooperative than those who don't. I encourage all players to at least take a turn sometime DM'ing a game of their own, because it adds to their experience - kind of like taking turns driving a cross-country trip instead of only being the passenger and map-reader.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Are you kidding? We tend to make horrible players. We are very certain of what "works" and doesn't, our own view of house rules, and often get irritable when another game violates those tenants. Alternately, we see paths as dead ends because they seem completely illogical or unreasonable.

I'm a bad, bad player in D&D games, but there's a lot of games I don't run that I think I'm a decent player in.