DMing DMs

[Silver Moon]

I DM about 2/3's of the games with our group, but also enjoy the opportunity to play. I think I am okay as a player, although I do find that I tend to get bored if the DM isn't trying to put in the full effort. The real problem I've run into is from the other players whenever we have a new DM. I'm fine with a new and different style, but the other players will privately complain to me whenever a style or gaming point is different from their expectations.

 

[Assenpfeffer]

As a GM, I note often that I have difficulty with other GMs as players. At the same time, I do the same thing as a player.

I think it has to do with thinking along the lines of "I could have done that so much cooler."

 

[Uzumaki]

Also, have any of these folks ever DM-ed for you?

Yes. At one time or another, I think they've all DMed for everyone else who will be at the table.

 

[Angcuru]

In the words of Red Mage:

'They’re jealous of your obvious superiority. They’re jealous of you and they plot against you. They’re plotting right now. You need to subtly let them know that you’re on to them. Don’t make it too obvious; just drop a few tiny hints that you’re not going to let the plotting continue.

Step one is to buy an axe.

Then carve the words “murderin’ axe” into the handle. Start bringing it to the games. If they ask why you have an axe, tell them it’s for “chopping down trees, duh.” Refuse to answer any more questions on the subject. From then on, every time they question you, calmly make your point while tapping the head of the “murderin’ axe”. Eventually they should get the point.'

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I DM 90% of the time in my group...though I'm currently a player in another game. Its not too hard to keep my mouth shut and let the DM do his game his way, its just that...well, I have a habit of using interesting tactics and combat and other things that you can tell I get from DMing.

 

[Terwox]

For awhile, one group I played with consisted entirely of people who normally dm'd -- except for the person dming, who normally played. It was a great game.

It really does lie upon the people.

 

[beldar1215]

We have a rotating DM style, so we have all DMed and played. Our group dosen't really have a problem with the multiple DM's. We understand that we all DM differently and deal with each others styles. There have been rules questions, but we try to deal with them after game.

Beldar

 

[alsih2o]

of the 6 players in my tuesday campaign (As the Two Sisters Watched, story hour coming soon ) only 1 does not usually d.m.

everyone told me as they joined "i sually d.m., but i am dying to play" and i winced, full of the worries to come, but it has been great, they grasp the rules well, without anyone standing out as a rules lawyer yet. these folks all come eager to find out things about the homebrew world and one has even asked to borrow segments of it.

in my sunday game we rotate d.m.'s and it is much more "our" game than one persons and we have few problems.

 

[takyris]

I think that a good way for a Usual DM Playing as Player to avoid causing trouble is to spell out what he's doing by the rules a bit more than anyone else.

Awhile back, I played (I usually DM), and I could tell that the player was occasionally less than sure about whether people were doing illegal things or not. He knew magic like nobody's business, since he usually played a sorcerer, but he wasn't up to speed on all the combat rules. I was playing a cleric/barbarian, a dwarf who dual-wielded a pair of warhammers. Dang, he was fun...

Anyway, I didn't want to get into rules debates with him, and he and I both knew that I knew the rules really well, so I'd just say, "Hargrf lets out a massive yell and flies across the field of battle, and when he reaches his opponent, his incredible speed and prowess lets him swing his frosty hammers not once but TWICE with amazing fury and dubious accuracy! (Okay, flying, move and attack, second attack from haste, power attack 5)."

Showing a DM that you know what you're doing by the rules makes it less likely that you'll get into stupid arguments. And if he tells me that something I want to do doesn't work, I deal with it. After all, I tell HIM that all the time when I DM...

-tacky

 

[GenLang]

Of the 8 people I play with, across two groups, four of them are GMs, and there's a core of us who play in each others games.

It's tough, sometimes. Not because of any power struggles or anything like that. On *that* score my player-GMs are kind to me. We know how tough it is to sit in the hot seat each week, and the bulk of my PCs try to not 'break the GM'. I'm blessed with good, cooperative, players.

They're also highly intelligent, sneaky, imaginative, and devious. With skills honed by GMing against other sneaky, devious, imaginative, and intelligent players.

They're fond of coming up with completely legal, yet innovative, uses for spells and items. Le sigh. On the bright side, I learn watching them and anything they can do, I can do too