Burning Questions: What's the Worst Thing a DM Can Do?

In this column, we take common D & D questions posed on Quora and attempt to answer them in a friendly, practical and informative way. Today's question: “As a D & D player, what is the worst thing your DM could do to take the fun out of playing?”

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I regularly DM my games—I can count on one hand the number of times I've played as PC—but the one thing that always brought me out of a game was a boring DM or a DM who was so focused on the rules, they didn't make it very fun for the players. In this case, “boring” can mean a number of different things:

1. A major emphasis or strict adherence to specific rules. I love the mechanics of D & D as much as the next guy, but an over emphasis on rules can render an otherwise fun adventure tedious.
2. The DM insists upon railroading the players and not accounting for their ingenuity. Yeah, it sucks that on occasion, the players will completely bypass that insane dragon encounter you spent all afternoon building, but you have the ability as a DM to improvise right along with them and figure out a way to work that encounter back into a new path. As a DM, always has a contingency plan for unexpected player action. It doesn’t always work, but at least we have fun.
3. A lack of energy in the game. Simply reading the box text of an adventure, without emotion or flair, puts me to sleep. The DM’s job is to engage the players. Without engagement, the game is boring and easily
4. The DM gives special treatment to another player. This has ruined far too many games in my own experience. The party is a team with each member possessing their own strengths and flaws and I’ve always had more fun when the party functions as a team, rather than individual units.

While this probably isn’t unique to my own experience, it does seem to be a common concern around my FLGS. This is a bit of an experiment and we’d love to know what our readers think about this topic in the comments. We’ll be back with another RPG Quora Question soon.

This article was contributed by David J. Buck (Nostalgia Ward) as part of ENWorld's User-Generated Content (UGC) program. When he isn’t learning to play or writing about RPGs, he can be found on Patreon or Twitter. We are always on the lookout for freelance columnists! If you have a pitch, please contact us!

 

[Hussar]

/snip

But more unforgivable than that, you straight up admit that you argued with your DM's ruling. Every other rule is a far distant second to that which you have broken with nary a thought: The DM's ruling is always right in the moment. /snip

And, to me, this is about as toxic an approach to DMing as you could possibly have. Far, far too much poor gaming has been had because the "DM is always right" even in the moment. Heck, it rolls right back to the whole "ego" thing I've been arguing. I do agree that stupidity is a close second [MENTION=29398]Lanefan[/MENTION], but, to me, it always comes down to ego. Like you said, [MENTION=29398]Lanefan[/MENTION], what the DM does after the mistake is often down to ego.

Making mistakes is perfectly fine. Hell, we all make mistakes. What is required for a good DM though is to put aside his or her ego, admit the mistake and move on.

 

[Lanefan]

FWIW, i would view the "make a perception check" a part of whatever action the player described that gave him access to the description of the room.

Am i mistaken?

Are you saying that your "make a perception check" is some new task? Or is it just a roll to determine what they see at first blush - allowing for different outcomes of "how much do we notice?"

Exactly - how much do they notice at first blush, and-or do they notice one or more less-obvious things at first glance.

It's not always necessary, of course: an empty 20x20' room doesn't usually have many subtleties going on. But sometimes it can be useful.

And, to me, this is about as toxic an approach to DMing as you could possibly have. Far, far too much poor gaming has been had because the "DM is always right" even in the moment.

If the choice is between a) an argument that wipes out half the session and b) the DM's word is law so shuddup and siddown then about 98% of the time I'll take b) just to keep the game going. The argument can happen during the week. That's what pubs were invented for, right?

Heck, it rolls right back to the whole "ego" thing I've been arguing. I do agree that stupidity is a close second @Lanefan, but, to me, it always comes down to ego.

Differences in our experiences, perhaps.

Like you said, @Lanefan, what the DM does after the mistake is often down to ego.

Making mistakes is perfectly fine. Hell, we all make mistakes. What is required for a good DM though is to put aside his or her ego, admit the mistake and move on.

Provided, of course, it really was a DM mistake in the first place. If yes, then you're right. If no, then maybe it's the player's ego getting in the way?

Lanefan

 

[Maxperson]

Heh. I haven't played in a group with only a single DM in forever. My current group of six has four of us that DM regularly. The notion that no DM=no game hasn't occurred to me in a very long time. I sometimes forget that for some groups that DM isn't easily replaceable.

But, yeah, I'll stand by what I said - every really bad DM decision boils down to ego issues.

Yeah. My group of 5 has 3 DMs. I'm the primary DM, but I get relief from the other two now and then so I don't burn out. I'm always so amazed at how easy the game gets when I sit back down as a player after a long stint DMing. Having to only worry about ONE character and no adventure building/planning is nice to experience now and then.

 

[Sadras]

Yeah. My group of 5 has 3 DMs. I'm the primary DM, but I get relief from the other two now and then so I don't burn out. I'm always so amazed at how easy the game gets when I sit back down as a player after a long stint DMing. Having to only worry about ONE character and no adventure building/planning is nice to experience now and then.

I have multiple campaigns in criss-crossing storylines amongst 8 players (the multiple campaigns became necessary due to player fall-out amongst the group, as well as a player that has health issues which crop up now and then).

I only really experience relief from one of the those players when they decided to DM.
And when they do I absolutely bathe in the ease and fun of the moment because yes, I don't have to worry about adjudication, pacing, numerous characters, ensuring an equal spotlight for all at the table and any other detail that I need to worry about.

 

[Sadras]

At our table, final adjudication will fall on the DM, but player input is expected. When I, as DM, make an error, it is absolutely ok for a player to point it out, we are all friends, so no one takes offense. If it is something that neither party can agree on, then a quick session rule is made for pacing purposes and I and/or players decide on a permanent ruling on the issue later.

A few things to keep in mind:
1. We are older and wiser.
2. We don't have as much free time anymore, and cannot afford to waste it on pointless arguments.
3. System plays a major role on how many complex issues arise, 5e is a dream to run, compared to some older editions, IMO.

 

[MNblockhead]

At our table, final adjudication will fall on the DM, but player input is expected. When I, as DM, make an error, it is absolutely ok for a player to point it out, we are all friends, so no one takes offense. If it is something that neither party can agree on, then a quick session rule is made for pacing purposes and I and/or players decide on a permanent ruling on the issue later.

A few things to keep in mind:
1. We are older and wiser.
2. We don't have as much free time anymore, and cannot afford to waste it on pointless arguments.
3. System plays a major role on how many complex issues arise, 5e is a dream to run, compared to some older editions, IMO.

Wait until you are even older and wiser, but retired. You'll find pointless arguments one of life's greatest joys! I'm not there yet by a long shot but I'm working up towards it!

 

[Hussar]

Wait until you are even older and wiser, but retired. You'll find pointless arguments one of life's greatest joys! I'm not there yet by a long shot but I'm working up towards it!

Wait, I thought that this is what these forums were for.