D&D (2024) DMs, what makes running D&D fun for you?

[Micah Sweet]

DMs, what makes running D&D fun for you?

We hear alot about what players enjoy? What do DMs enjoy?

For me, it is worldbuilding and describing scenes that players interact with. So I need core rules that support homebrew settings, and mechanics that are conceptual in ways to facilitate theater of the mind.

Intuitive rules for creating balanced monsters on the fly would be nice too.

Worldbuilding and presenting a fantasy world with logical mechanics as realistic to the situation as is practical is fun for me. It's why I have a problem with systems who actively pursue a different philosophy.

 

[Micah Sweet]

For me, it is partly world-building and partly telling cool stories with my friends. Although it's also the monsters. As a kid wanting to get into D&D I loved reading about monsters and folklore, and it was a part of what I enjoy most about being a DM.

The lore is what got me into the game, and sustained my interest even when they changed it in ways I don't like.

 

[TheHand]

I love the act of storytelling, and there is little as fulfilling to me as getting to tell a tale involving strange places, harrowing deeds, and epic heroics.
I also love controlling fantastic monsters and role playing larger than life NPCs.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Telling stories using of random and unexpected input. Improvising. Inspiring others. Mentorship that becomes friendship.

 

[Zardnaar]

The crying, screaming and wailing mostly. I usually manage to pull myself togather in the first hour or so.

 

[KYRON45]

I enjoy the misery of trying to get it right. I really like arguing with pedantic players who are sure they could do a better job but never seem to offer. I love that one player that has to ignore all of the limits i put on the campaign. I never get tired of optimizers and rules lawyers who only seem to know the parts of rules that make them feel superior yet ignore any of the limits those rules might impose. I absolutely love the stress of scheduling a group of people who constantly tell me they have no life and nothing else going on.

Whenever I'm watching a movie or TV (or whatever were calling streaming shows) i always think to myself....that's not quite how I would have done that scene. I love trying to plot out story arcs based on what i think the players will do...and then adjusting to the chaos of player decision making. I love when that one player who usually just enjoys being a bystander most of the time does or says something that makes me wonder where he hides his victims.
I enjoy being blown away when the player at the table who engages with the rules the least comes up with some obscure attack combo that ends up doing more damage than the rest of the party combined.

What i really enjoy is creating stories that other people then enjoy enough to interact with. With any luck I enjoy knowing that for those few hours I've created a fun, safe environment for people to get together and laugh.