DM or GM?

[S'mon]

GM; for every game.

 

[S'mon]

2.) I prefer Host, because both of the "* Master" titles imply inherent superiority (and I'm above putting myself above others, does that even make sense?) and "host" is a more accurate description of what I'm doing.

While there are games where it makes sense to regard the GM as merely one player among the group, like the banker in monopoly, in a regular RPG like D&D it's vital that the GM has authority as master of the game. Good players recognise this and defer to the GM, good GMs use their authority wisely, neither abusing it nor denying it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I use both...DM when playing D&D (whatever version, from whichever side of the screen) and GM when I'm playing anything else.

 

[Zhaleskra]

Hm, I thought you play a game. And you lead a game, not a play. I always thought "a" play is something you connect to music as in "The play of Daniel" from Pro Cantione Antiqua directed by Mark Brown. But my english isn't that good.

In German <you play a game> is "Du spielst ein Spiel" so it's the verb and the Noun using the same word. Maybe you can say <you play a play> but it isn't something I heard of 'till now.

Game Master == Spielmeister, translated literally.
Play Master sounds really odd but would mean the same.

That's a good reason to stick with MASTER == MEISTER or HERR.

As I said, it's been a while since I've used German. I only remember "spiel" as play, which you have shown to be the source of the confusion. Literal translations do tend to mess things up, for example, fan-subbed anime.

I'm also surprised by the number of responses to a part of my explaination of my vote. Given what I've seen, I don't think I can create a "better" abbreviation than GM. My GM stands for Games Master because I run more than one game.

 

[megamania]

I use the terms interchangably. DM / GM in most cases people either know what I mean or just go with it.


For an amusing aside....

Had a friend (non-gamer) walk into the middle of a conversation. He heard GM mentioned and asked-

"Since when do you talk about cars?" [GM=General Motors....nascar fan]

What life we lead....

 

[SuStel]

Whatever, so long as it isn't a proper noun. Dungeon Master and Game Master are proper nouns. Referee and judge are not.

Or do you refer to players as Players?

 

[Aloïsius]

MJ. which would be the french translation of GM.

 

[Jaguar]

I like GM because it doesn't remember S&M leather and chains.

 

[robberbaron]

I generally use GM, mainly because I don't associate myself with the image of a short, bald geezer with a funny voice in a crap cartoon.

I often use DM on ENWorld, though, just so everyone knows to what I am referring.

 

[meomwt]

Not bothered!!