How good of a DM are you?

MetalBard · Apr 20, 2005

I've been able to keep players at the table with the same character and campaign for years at a time, so I'm not too bad. I could always improve though. I'm finding that I'm learning about improvements that I can make to my style while being on the other side of the screen.

TheAuldGrump · Apr 20, 2005

Not the top 10%, but definitely the top 20%.

The Auld Gump

Darkness · Apr 20, 2005

Crothian said:
Ya, I'm sure it has nothing with a large amount of really good DMs that hang out on the boards.

Yeah. On a role-playing message board, of all places.

Whizbang Dustyboots · Apr 20, 2005

Catavarie said:
I suck as a DM, but my freinds are all worse

You don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than the slowest guy.

Pants · Apr 20, 2005

Well, now time for me to rank myself. I picked Above Average for myself because, for whatever reason, my players want me to DM and a lot of their 'favorite D&D stories' involve my games.

However, I am very bad with prep work. So bad that I often don't do any. The only time I really do any prep work is when I'm statting out a particularly complex NPC (such as an spellcaster) or I'm mapping a dungeon. Even then, I've been known to 'wing' the abilities of high level characters and make maps 'on the fly.' Sometimes it works out, other times it does not.

Usually, I manage to run some pretty good games. When my game is on, I can do a damn good job.

When I'm not on, I'm merely mediocre (maybe a little below). Sometimes my brain just ceases to function and I can't remember important plot details or I make sloppy mistakes. Thankfully, this happens rarely and has nothing to do with my inability to get the poll up.

Unfortunately, I haven't been doing too good lately. I think I just need a break, though the only other person who does a good job DMing never seems to want to do it. :\

Maybe I deserve to be average, but I've run some pretty good games over the years, ones that the players still talk about occasionally.

Immak Antunel · Apr 20, 2005

I put average for myself, but verging towards above average. Really, organization is my only issue... but it can be a heck of an issue. Like when I accidentally missed a level on a dungeon, so the PCs fought the Big Bad a level before they expected him, hence no serious advance prep. I'm giving published modules a try now, see if that works better for me.

ElvishBard · Apr 20, 2005

Whizbang Dustyboots said:
You don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than the slowest guy.

You don't actually have to be faster than the slowest guy, you just gotta trip someone. :lol:

Wombat · Apr 20, 2005

My feeling is that I can always learn more about how to be a good GM.

Over 30 years (...nearly...) of gaming, I have constantly recieved good feedback from my players. They love the worlds I set up, like the scenarios, etc. The complaints tend to be things like, "I wish this campaign could have lasted longer". Many of my NPCs are still discussed, years after campaigns ended. So, yeah, I think I am pretty good.

On the other hand, I know that sometimes my specific plots are not as tight as they could be, that I sometimes favour one aspect of the game or the rules over others, and that sometimes the worlds I put together feel a bit too "open", as if not all the aspects have been filled in (this mainly because I put so much detail into one area or another).

I am always willing to learn new tricks. I know that my style of gaming fits very well with some people, yet does not do as well for others. I know that I should have a better knowledge of the rules. But overall, I'd say I'm happy with my place in the hobby.

Varianor Abroad · Apr 20, 2005

Wombat said:
My feeling is that I can always learn more about how to be a good GM.

....

I am always willing to learn new tricks. I know that my style of gaming fits very well with some people, yet does not do as well for others. I know that I should have a better knowledge of the rules. But overall, I'd say I'm happy with my place in the hobby.

Word.

Henry · Apr 20, 2005

I rank myself somewhere between average and good - I keep 'em coming back to the table most of the time, so I guess that counts.

The best quality of a DM to me is the ability to cater to his or her players, and give them what they came to the game for - whether a fun time, or a character reward, or a chance to kick butt.