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Great DM, crappy friend vs. good friend, crappy DM
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<blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 5072133" data-attributes="member: 18280"><p>If it took you that long, you have the patients of saints. Life is way too short to play with <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />s, even if they are great DMs.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>You didn't say what system that you are using, so I'm not sure how much prep work is required for a competent game. But, you might consider shifting systems to something like Labyrinth Lord for a while, because prep is so much faster than D20/3e/4e/Pathfinder.</p><p></p><p>Something that is easier and, frankly, more fun to prep might make all the difference.</p><p></p><p>Another tact, regardless of system, is that <em><strong>everyone</strong></em> takes responsibility for the game, not just poor "Ted". If your game isn't awesomeness with an extra layer of awesome sauce, it might be because "Gary" has been doing so much of the heavy lifting that the other players have forgotten how to invest on their own.</p><p></p><p>Stop "wandering, texting, whatever". Make that a group decision, and stick to it. You want the game to be great? Make "great gaming" the group's responsibility! Try things because they're fun, not just because they're optimal, and be ready for great stories to arise. Go out looking for them.</p><p></p><p>Make sure "Ted" knows what you want. Telegraph your ideas. "Wouldn't it be great if....." If "Ted" is willing, get the group together to create a shared world in which to adventure. Don't worry about devising stats....worry only about making maps, making history, and making adventure hooks. Share it with EN World. When other people say "Hey, that's cool!", beam with pride.</p><p></p><p>The single key element to a great RPG campaign? <em><strong>Everyone invests!</strong></em></p><p></p><p>By all means look for materials to help "Ted". But, remember, these are gifts, not chains of obligation around his neck. Basically, you have to build "Ted" up. Focus on the good stuff. Tell him what you like about each game. Minimize the bad. Give him the same respect-as-DM you gave "Gary", and all the respect-as-person "Gary" failed to earn. </p><p></p><p><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px">If you want "Ted" to invest in DMing, you will need to make that investment pay off.</span></strong></em></p><p></p><p>And you can do that. It is in your best interests to do that.</p><p></p><p>What you should not do is go crawling back to Gary. Better to never play again. <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/erm.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":erm:" title="Erm :erm:" data-shortname=":erm:" /></p><p></p><p></p><p>RC</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Raven Crowking, post: 5072133, member: 18280"] If it took you that long, you have the patients of saints. Life is way too short to play with :):):):):):):)s, even if they are great DMs. You didn't say what system that you are using, so I'm not sure how much prep work is required for a competent game. But, you might consider shifting systems to something like Labyrinth Lord for a while, because prep is so much faster than D20/3e/4e/Pathfinder. Something that is easier and, frankly, more fun to prep might make all the difference. Another tact, regardless of system, is that [I][B]everyone[/B][/I] takes responsibility for the game, not just poor "Ted". If your game isn't awesomeness with an extra layer of awesome sauce, it might be because "Gary" has been doing so much of the heavy lifting that the other players have forgotten how to invest on their own. Stop "wandering, texting, whatever". Make that a group decision, and stick to it. You want the game to be great? Make "great gaming" the group's responsibility! Try things because they're fun, not just because they're optimal, and be ready for great stories to arise. Go out looking for them. Make sure "Ted" knows what you want. Telegraph your ideas. "Wouldn't it be great if....." If "Ted" is willing, get the group together to create a shared world in which to adventure. Don't worry about devising stats....worry only about making maps, making history, and making adventure hooks. Share it with EN World. When other people say "Hey, that's cool!", beam with pride. The single key element to a great RPG campaign? [I][B]Everyone invests![/B][/I] By all means look for materials to help "Ted". But, remember, these are gifts, not chains of obligation around his neck. Basically, you have to build "Ted" up. Focus on the good stuff. Tell him what you like about each game. Minimize the bad. Give him the same respect-as-DM you gave "Gary", and all the respect-as-person "Gary" failed to earn. [I][B][SIZE="3"]If you want "Ted" to invest in DMing, you will need to make that investment pay off.[/SIZE][/B][/I] And you can do that. It is in your best interests to do that. What you should not do is go crawling back to Gary. Better to never play again. :erm: RC [/QUOTE]
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