DMing: where's the fun?

[Aeolius]

Where's the fun? Right here:

I-ma-gi-na-tion....

I enjoy the process of creation; devising new locales, critters, NPCs, magics, and more. My last two games have been set underwater, so I've really taken to immersing myself in liquid space.

I side with those who find NPCs to be their own PCs of a sort. I've had one NPC in all of my games since 1995. She's as close to a Mary Sue as I get, I suppose.

Steve Martin once said "I don't need you. I can do this act alone. I often do.". On the one hand, I agree. I would still work on undersea D&D materials and information about hags, even without a current campaign. It's my "fun".

On the other hand, I like the serendipitous synergy of "co-authoring" my setting with my players. I set the scene and have a few notes in mind. They ad-lib and stomp all over my ideas, taking the game in directions I never dreamed. And I love it.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Do you drive a white '92 Astro Van with flames painted on the side and a vanity plate that says, "IH8DMS"? Cause some guy wearing a black hoody with an eyepatch & a big scar on his cheek came pretty close to running me over this afternoon with that exact vehicle.

No - I have been a long standing member in the DMs club.

Neither do I wear hoodies (you know we used to call those sweatshirts) an eyepatch (would get in the way of my glasses) or have any scars (at least not that you can see; and if you can, I'll be calling the cops now.)

But I do have an associate named Guido....

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the funnest parts about being a DM...the fame, the riches, & the women.

I DM for the fame:
I'm known all around my area as being the worst DM to play with. The truth is, they just suck & can't kill my awesome NPCs.

I DM for the riches:
I'm the first to help myself to the Cheetos & soft drinks that I don't even chip in for. I also don't buy my own books, I just borrow them from the other players...you save tons of money that way.

And I DM for the women:
My mom brags to all of her friends about how creative I am. I also get a lot of girls checking me out when I'm wearing my wizards outfit at the mall.

There's a few other perks to DMing, like killing PCs, railroading, & arguing about rules in the middle of a game. But nothing beats the Big 3.

You are a bad, bad man.

The Auld Grump, and you know it!

 

[Celtavian]

re

I derive satisfaction from DMing when I have an interesting idea for an adventure or I find a good module that looks like it will be fun to run.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

If/when you DM, what part of DMing is most fun for you?

I love it when a plan comes together.

Or the players totally derail it.

I like thinking up events and NPCs that the PCs can interact with, and seeing how they do it and what they come up with it. I like it when other people have fun thanks to me.

I like plots and stories.

Should DM duty be rotated so no one has to shoulder the burden alone?

That's what we do.