D&D General Being a PC in an adventure you've already GMed

[Ancalagon]

Hello

I have recently been given the opportunity to join a 5e game where we will be playing a campaign I'm very familiar with (Dungeons of Drakenheim). The reason why I'm so familiar with it is because I'm running that campaign - we are in session 16!

This issue is not 5e specific (nor Dungeons of Drakenheim specific either), but I am sure I'm not the first who's encountered such a challenge, and I would like to hear how others have managed it...

thanks!

 

[Oofta]

I let the DM know and just did my best to play without using my knowledge of the mod. If there's ever anything that doesn't make sense, because you believe the DM misread something, don't bring it up during the game. Just go with it and mention it outside of game if you really want. One of you may have just misunderstood, but it could also just be that the DM decided to run things differently.

Look at it as an opportunity to see how other DMs work and what minor tweaks they do. Enjoy the different dynamics of playing with a different group. Do your best to not use knowledge your PC would not have, hold back a bit and let other people enjoy coming to the conclusion about some secret.

If you can't do any of that, bow out of the game and explain why. On the other hand, based on the type of module, it can be interesting and a learning experience to be on the other side of the DM screen.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Yeah, this has happened to me dozens of times over the decades of playing D&D.

I've never had a problem with it, but the best advice I can offer is to sit back and enjoy the ride. Let others in the group step up and take the lead, make most the decisions, etc. and you go along with it. If something comes up which you think your PC would really want to contribute, go for it, but of course never use your metagame knowledge of the adventure to do it.

And, of course, try your best to never ruin the surprises that are coming up, so everyone can enjoy the adventure!

 

[DND_Reborn]

One other thing I can add if you have a hard time separating your prior DM knowledge from your PC player experience is to offer to "play for some of the monsters" if the DM wants you to, especially if this is their first time or they are relatively new to DMing.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I spend most of my time DMing, so I've a hard time enjoying the player's side, even more in a campaign I know by heart. So yeah, to avoid being ''that guy'' too much, I try to take the backseat, playing a dedicated support or protector character, let the other shine. And when the game get stalled, I can gently nudge the group to continue forward in the good direction, if needed. I call it playing the DMPC: you can work for and help both the players and the DM, if desired.

 

[Oofta]

One other thought on this. When this comes up I tend to play a BDF (big dumb fighter). Which, since I DM a lot having an option to turn off my brain and walk around saying "Grog smash" can be fun. Not necessary of course, but playing a PC that should be the mouthpiece of the group would be one of the hardest to play without leading play at critical points.

 

[Seramus]

70% compartmentalize my knowledge of the campaign. 30% don't take a leadership role.

It usually ends up with me doing more characterization and less problem solving, while being very supportive.

 

[overgeeked]

Let the referee know.

Let the other players make the decisions.

 

[MarkB]

Let the referee know.

Let the other players make the decisions.

Let the players know too. When you're bowing out of the discussions of the most crucial questions of the campaign, they deserve to know why you're doing it, and you're better off not having them draw the wrong conclusions.

 

[overgeeked]

Let the players know too. When you're bowing out of the discussions of the most crucial questions of the campaign, they deserve to know why you're doing it, and you're better off not having them draw the wrong conclusions.

I have to disagree with that. Once the other players know you have insider info, they won't stop asking for hints and clues. It's happened to me too many times to count. Better to just not make decisions.