DMs: How do your players show their appreciation for what you do?

[DungeonmasterCal]

Mine just say, "Thanks! We had fun!"

I think I would not be comfortable with extravagent presents like you describe. After all, I'm doing it for fun. That should be it's own reward.

Well, I have to say the presents were all complete surprises. The table came the first Christmas I'd been back after moving away for a year. They barely gamed at all during the time I was away, and it was a nice feeling to know I was appreciated.

Most of my (current) players have been with me since the mid 80's. I was on summer break in college, some of them were just getting out of high school. We gamed through college, moved around a bit, and then about 7 years ago most of us found ourselves back together in a different city altogether. Fate, I suppose. We're all adults now, some with kids, some married, some still single. All of us professionals with little time to get together like we once did. But when we do, it's always fun.

A couple of my players make a nearly 6 hour round trip drive for every session, and that's very rewarding, just knowing they'd do that. Our campaign message board has been a little slow (but so has gaming), and the online roleplay they do warms my heart. They've nearly always been supportive of my incessant rules-tinkering, and very patient with my odd schedule that sometimes makes me cancel games at the last minute. They keep coming back, and more so than the table and the tickets, that is the greatest reward I can receive. Guys, if any of you are reading this, thanks.

 

[Americano]

My group's only been togethr a couple months now, so I can't say I've gotten anything more than a few thanks, with one exception.

One of my players paid me a great compliment following a recent session. They had just finished The Sunless Citadel module and were moving on to their next adventure when I had Meepo, the pathetic yet lovable kobold from the Citadel rejoin them, saying he wanted to go with his friends. The player told me that after that session when he was going to sleep he felt very happy that Meepo would call the party his friends. I consider that the nicest thing anyone's ever said about my game - that he appreciated that much the effort that goes into roleplaying an NPC well.

 

[Duncan Haldane]

I'm currently running my players through Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil.

It's been a tough, long slog. I think we're about two thirds of the way through now.

I started running longer sessions about six weeks ago when we restarted after a long break due to the christmas period, and they have been going well. We now play for about six hours with a dinner break.

We take turns cooking dinner, and that seems to be going well too (one player is rather limited in what he will eat, but he has said he is happy to take care of himself).

However, I've recently started talking about what we would do after this campaign. I'm an avid collecter of scarred lands material, and we did try a campaign in that world for a few months a couple of years ago.

But now all the Player Guiders books are out - five books, and I've got five players. So they decided amongst themselves who would get each book, and they have all read through the material in their book for stuff for their character. They are already talking about it and looking forward to it.

That, to me, is pretty amazing. I'm very happy at the moment with the pattern we have got into, and once one player finishes his thesis (June-July, I'm told), it should be really good for a while.

Duncan

 

[Emiricol]

Most of us know that DMing is a lot of work for little reward. We concoct the adventure, roll up encounters, perform impromptu characterizations, and usually end up cleaning up after the players. But sometimes they'll surprise us. For instance, Christmas 2001 my players pitched in and bought a wonderful drop-leaf table (hardwood with chairs!) that I've used every session since. This year, they pitched in and purchased a 4 day trip to GenCon Indy, all expenses (except food) paid for my birthday.

Has anyone else out there had a similar experience?

My players show up week after week. That's about all the thanks I usually get It's enough for me. Although a trip to GenCon would rock...

 

[Nightchill]

Mine say "thanks" at the end of each session, but it's difficult to get them to take a deep interest outside of game sessions.

Ah well.

 

[S'mon]

One player brings pizza - _good_ pizza - every week (yum!). Strangely, he's the only regular player who's never had a PC death IMC in two years... coincidence, of course.

At the pub I let the players buy me drinks and rarely reciprocate, I feel it gives them a chance to show their appreciation.

Conversely, when I'm a player I bring a few biscuits (cookies) or somesuch most weeks, though the other players snag most of them. I fetch the DM's tea (and that of other players, at a lower priority), try to keep her cup filled, and provide her with cardboard & plastic miniatures on request so she doesn't have to worry about that. I'll let her know if a game is particularly brilliant, but if a session drags a bit I'll tell her that too, so that's just honesty/bluntness (which is ok, Stalkingblue is German) rather than flattery.

 

[Silver Moon]

One of my players married me. Does that count?

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Hmmmm...

Well one couple that I game with bought me a Borders/Amazon Gift Card for my birthday knowing that it'd go to buying books to support the game (very tricky that but I am thankful).

I don't generally have to buy the beer though I have on occasion.

I'm just starting to convince some of my players to put up some of the money to help me buy more stuff. If I felt really gutsy I'd probably set up some sort of monthly membership dues kind of thing that we'd use to buy all of our gaming books with but right now I don't think it would fly.

I don't know... sometimes the "Great Game!" at the end of a session is all that is required.

 

[Darmanicus]

I buy the beers every week.

 

[diaglo]

Mine just say, "Thanks! We had fun!"

I think I would not be comfortable with extravagent presents like you describe. After all, I'm doing it for fun. That should be it's own reward.

ditto.



but since they were/are friends outside of gaming we sometimes exchange gifts that are RPG related.

i have bought minis and dice for my friends.

and they have bought whole games(Gamma World 1ed, Boot Hill, Star Frontiers), modules, or sourcebooks for me.