Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Immak Antunel" data-source="post: 2333973" data-attributes="member: 31171">I've actually been considering putting a well-thought-out "mary sue" in my next game. I'm not worried about it being a problem or anything for one simple reason. The character will not be an idealized version of me. It will be real-life me, statted for d20 and transplanted into a fantasy setting. A first level expert, even if I were to fudge the dice in his favor, is not likely to drastically affect the PCs... especially if they're starting at 6th level. More broadly, I think most of what makes good DMing is a combination of preparedness and humility. Being too attached to specific NPCs or plots, or not even having NPCs or plots set up beforehand, seem to be the recurring issues here. Rules knowledge also falls into preparedness. And I say "humility" because it seems to best describe the difference between DM and Author. If I could write a story where my hero saves the world, I would, but for me the joy lies in creating the world, the situations, and not in running through them. The players are the catalyst in gaming, putting life into my static world. Not to say the game world revolves around my PCs, but they are the inspiration, at least indirectly, for whatever growth occurs in our imaginary world.For me, there is no story without PCs, just a slew of campaign notes. I respect what they bring to the table, just as they respect what I bring.</blockquote>