[DM] Is it wrong for me to take pleasure in inflicting pain?

[der_kluge]

Ok, so I just statted out a fiendish divinely infused gargantuan spider of chaos (the stats of which I have posted in the rogues gallery). I arbitrarily assigned it a CR of 15 (certainly within the 14-16 range, anyhow). My party is 10th level, so this is going to be the BBEG for them next game, or maybe the game after that.

But, I enjoyed a bit of sick, guilty pleasure as I statted out the creature, formulating some tactical strategies in my head, thinking of ways I could inflict maximum damage to my players.

Things like, having the spider use its web ability to trap victims, and then have a spider swarm crawl all over them every round. Or, using phase spiders to dart in and out of combat, weaking the party. I mean, I can be really vicious if I want to be.

Anyway, like the subject line says, is it wrong that I take so much pleasure from this? Will it be wrong when, come game day, when I try to hide back the evil laughter as I watch PC after PC fail poison save DCs of 20, and when they no longer have the strength to break out of Strength DC 24 webs?

 

[BSF]

Wrong? That implies a values judgement. You are simply trying to "get into the feel" for the creature. After all, as a DM, you need to portray the creature as convincingly as we hope our players do their characters right? Wouldn't this monstrosity relish in the fear and pain the Characters would experience? If your players are experiencing that same fear, they are just "playing the part well" aren't they? Logically, if you are enjoying it, you are simply "playing the part well" on your end. How could your players possibly complain when you have the highest goals, portrayal of your BBEG so your players can empathize with their characters, in mind?

 

[Crothian]

No, it's not wrong at all. DM's are supposed to have fun and while we are at it; don't hide the evil laughter.

 

[barsoomcore]

In fact, I would recommend practicing your evil laughter -- it can be harder than you think to get just the right aura of menace and fiendish disdain.

 

[Nightfall]

Evil Dm Laughter is good.

Evil Dm Laughter while inflicting hordes of fiends on unsuspecting players is better!

 

[Berandor]

It would be wrong if you didn't take pleasure in inflicting pain.

Only the people with painful childhoods and sadistic streaks are fit for DM-hood.

Actually, I always imagine these plans when visualizing my NPC opponents, but I rarely use the most powerful tactic. It would be wrong

And it's so much more fun to get the players' hopes up before destroying them... :8

 

[shilsen]

Evil Dm Laughter is good.

Evil Dm Laughter while inflicting hordes of fiends on unsuspecting players is better!

Please! Evil Dm laughter is so...first edition (with apologies to Diaglo )! Making your players dig for backup characters by simply smiling quietly to yourself is where it's at.

Or stopping just when you're about to roll an attack for an NPC, looking closely at the stats, and absent-mindedly muttering to yourself (just loudly enough to be audible around the room), "Wow! I forgot about that! Oh well..." and then shaking your head ruefully and picking up a few more dice

 

[Endur]

Its not wrong to make up tactics for NPCs. It is wrong to take "pleasure" from victimizing the PCs.

The goal is to make the Players have fun. If the Players are enjoying the game, that's where the GM is supposed to get his fun.

Not from how dangerous his NPCs are.

(And I say this as a self-admitted GM min-maxer).

 

[Turjan]

I think it would be slightly disturbing if you were the only one uncontrollably laughing and dancing on the table after having killed the whole party with your big baddy. If you are able to fight that urge, you will be okay !

 

[BSF]

Or stopping just when you're about to roll an attack for an NPC, looking closely at the stats, and absent-mindedly muttering to yourself (just loudly enough to be audible around the room), "Wow! I forgot about that! Oh well..." and then shaking your head ruefully and picking up a few more dice

Heh - I actually do that a lot. I don't even do it consciously anymore. Coupled with looking at the sheet and muttering, "That's gonna hurt" while I start pulling out dice is amusing at times too.