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Message: <blockquote data-quote="fusangite" data-source="post: 486053" data-attributes="member: 7240">I've really enjoyed some of the comments. I too have a D1000 name table, for instance. I really identify with the gradual loss of ad-libbing capacity -- especially as it pertains to NPC voice generation.I consider myself to be a great GM but a mediocre DM. Right now, I'm running D&D in order to get better at the gamemastering skills that have atrophied while I've been running rules-light, theme-heavy games. Getting back into a heavily codified system with a lot of social and scientific assumptions built into the rules has been a real challenge for me. I consider some of the games I've run to have been brilliant but none of them have been D&D. Heavily-modified Runequest and Gamma World have been the only systems with which I've been able to really do the kind of GMing I'm good at. Generally, I find there are two kinds of games -- fractal games and bitmap games. In fractal games, everything in the world is generated out of a single complex concept. In bitmap games, the world is inked-in bit by bit as though you're painting a watercolour. D&D is really only compatible with bitmap gaming, as far as I can tell. Thus ad-libbing, which I can easily do in fractal gaming is tough in bitmap gaming. Similarly, the plot always easily finds the characters in fractal games whereas in bitmap games, they have to find it.Recently, I've had trouble doing voices and characterization for female NPCs; as women become more inscrutable in my own personal world, I find it difficult to run them as NPCs. Any pointeds on ad-libbing and female characterization would be greatly appreciated.Anyway, I don't know whether I've been clear on the conceptual distinction I perceive -- or if anyone cares if I haven't. I'm a fractal GM; as such, I'm thoroughly mediocre at running D&D. Teflon Billy on the other hand, I can personally attest, is a great DM -- and the best superhero genre GM on the face of the planet. Hopefully, he'll post.</blockquote>

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