Are you a Player or GM?

[Spinachcat]

I have a theory. I suspect that the majority of online gamers are GMs and that few people who only play RPGs are actually involved in the online community. Maybe I am wrong. Let's see.

BTW, why do you GM so much?

Or why don't you GM?

Or why don't you play more instead of GMing so much?

What's the most fun for you? GMing or playing a PC?

EDIT: Let's keep this to the last 10 years of gaming. So it's 1999 to now so we can focus on the era of active online communities.

 

[Nightchilde-2]

I have a theory. I suspect that the majority of online gamers are GMs and that few people who only play RPGs are actually involved in the online community. Maybe I am wrong. Let's see.

BTW, why do you GM so much?

Or why don't you GM?

Or why don't you play more instead of GMing so much?

What's the most fun for you? GMing or playing a PC?

GM. I've always been the GM, since I started gaming. It just feels more "natural" to me than playing.

Also, probably a control freak issue.

And I'm a major rules lawyer, so might as well put it to proper use.

 

[Scribble]

I'm amost always the GM. I like to take a turn as a player every so often, but it's usually very short lived, and I start getting ideas for a new campaign pretty quickly.

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

BTW, why do you GM so much? I think I GM so much because we play at my house and I have a ton of RPG books. Additionally, I'd like to think that my players actually enjoy my games

Or why don't you GM? Occasionally, I like to take breaks and let others GM. Helps me avoid burnout.

Or why don't you play more instead of GMing so much? I also think time is a factor. Apparently, I have more time to come up with games. The times I do get to be a player, I really enjoy it and tend to immerse myself in the character.

What's the most fun for you? GMing or playing a PC? Probably GMing. I really like to see players overcome obstacles and come together as a team. Plus, its fun.

 

[Mallus]

BTW, why do you GM so much?

I like to talk and make things up. I get to do much more of that as DM.

Or why don't you play more instead of GMing so much?

Right now I'm taking a little hiatus from DM'ing, after running the same campaign for almost four years. But I'll be back in the saddle soon, taking a turn DM'ing our new 4e game as well as finishing the four year-old 3.5e one.

What's the most fun for you? GMing or playing a PC?

While I love some of my PC's (Yatagan, Shiraz, Joseirus, here let me tell you about them...), in the end DM'ing is more satisfying.

 

[greatamericanfolkher]

Because of someone I used to play with (who I don’t play with anymore for a very long story) I started DMing before I ever got to play. I enjoy DMing for the most part. I’m lucky enough that almost everyone in the group runs a game, so I also get ample opportunity to play.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

I prefer playing, but usually end up GMing because I have more Organization ranks than most gamers.

TS

 

[Alaxk Knight of Galt]

I'm a player more then 50% of the time (I'd say I GM/DM about 20% of the time, varies depending on the group).

I actually enjoy both. I typically get the DM itch about once a year or so. I enjoy DMing a game for about 6 months to a year. After that, I'm ready to lay down the extra work involved in DMing and go back to being a player for a while.

Being a player is easy, you show up, put on a funny hat, eat some pizza, and roll some dice. Being a DM is hard work because I'm anal about the stuff I create (and way, way to judgmental of it - normally I think it all sucks).

 

[Asmor]

I thought it was common knowledge that ENWorld was heavily skewed towards DMs.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I usually DM...

Noone wanted to DM D&D 3.0, so i had to...

My players seem to enjoy my DM-style

Playing D&D 3.5 as player is hard, because my playstyle is actually low powered and i and i expectother DMs to rule as i would do, sry...

I play as player in many different RPGs, but since D&D 3.5 is my favourite sytem (i haven´t played 4e enough) I am usually the DM