Better part of gaming - during or after

[Quasqueton]

I've noticed a strange thing with me.

When I play as a Player, with a character, I enjoy the moment of playing. I enjoy the actual sitting-at-the-table game play very much.

When I DM a game, my real enjoyment doesn't come until at least the next day, when I can think back on the events. It seems that I'm so wrapped up in the DMing work that I don't enjoy the here-and-now of playing. But the memory of the events is quite pleasing to think on.

Anyone else have this difference in experience?

Do you enjoy the sitting-at-the-table part more, or the remembering/thinking/talking after the actual experience?

Quasqueton

 

[diaglo]

both as a player and as a referee:

the behind the scenes stuff is work for me. i pour at least 4 hours/ 1hour face to face into the game.

i get more fun from actual face to face.

edit: i want to see the work i've put in behind the scenes used. and see how it is used. can't do that without actual face to face.

 

[loki44]

Do you enjoy the sitting-at-the-table part more, or the remembering/thinking/talking after the actual experience?

It's all good...

Not currently DMing but as players we do a fair amount of chatting about the game, both in and out-of-character, between sessions. Both aspects are fun in their own rights.

 

[Gez]

The expectations and foreplay are better than the act itself, IMHO.


- Hong "IYKWIMAITYD" Ooi

 

[JoeGKushner]

As a GM, I enjoy it when, "A Plan Comes Together."

Some people are hard to perdict but when you've been playing D&D with them for a while and can pick up on their patterns and get an idea of what they do, you can really weave that into a campaign and make something that clicks to you.

Of course, sometimes the player's won't appreciate it but hey, they shouldn't have touched the "Gem of Obvious Power" in the first place!

 

[mark_j]

I enjoy the aftermath of DMing a good session more than anything. It's is hard to gauge your player's fun level during the game sometimes. Afterwards when they thank you for a great session, it makes it all worthwhile.

 

[Ravellion]

I'll enjoy myself when I see my players enjoy themselves. Prep time is cool and all, but it isn't gaming. I do really need the "creativity leak" though.

Rav

 

[Li Shenron]

When I DM a game, my real enjoyment doesn't come until at least the next day, when I can think back on the events. It seems that I'm so wrapped up in the DMing work that I don't enjoy the here-and-now of playing. But the memory of the events is quite pleasing to think on.

Anyone else have this difference in experience?

Perhaps because being the DM is a harder job than being a player, and that leeps you so busy that it detracts some of the fun. Sure, a player has to care that his character doesn't die, but the DM is often the ultimate responsible for many more thing.

Personally I often enjoy the aftermath of adventures, when the we relax at the table and exchange comments, and not rarely I reveal a lot of my background work.

 

[azmodean]

I find that I get nearly as much fun planning for a game as I do running one, but just because, as daiglo said, it takes like 4 hours of planning for each hour of gaming, I'm enjoying it the whole time, but actually running the game is much more intense.

I've never had the problem of working too hard to enjoy the game though.

 

[MonsterMash]

Both can be fun, but playing is better on the whole. As GM it can be nicer to reflect back though (less work).