How good of a DM are you?

[lukelightning]

I rate myself "just average." If we had categories to rate, I'd say above average in storytelling/plot, but below-average in actually running the game; I'm a bit disorganized, and not 100% up on the rules: I'm running a Star Wars game and while I'm familiar with things like the force feats and powers I still need to look them up frequently.

 

[Rel]

I can't rank anyone whom I've only played with once at the top of the pack, but die_kluge was definetly better than a lot of GMs.

In a few days you'll have played with me as GM twice so I'd love to hear your analysis of my skill. I love getting criticism when I can because I don't become a better GM by hearing "Your game was GREAT!" (Though it does feel good.)

As for how our curve is forming up, I'm not surprised or puzzled by it. In addition to Psion's two reasons I would add:

3) GM's who are below average may not even consider themselves GM's anymore. If they tried it and did poorly perhaps they left the GM chair never to return and primarily think of themselves as players.

4) People who truly feel that they are only average or "bad" GM's might be more reluctant to respond to such a poll due to feelings of inadequacy.

I'll bet you'd get similar results if you asked "How would you rate yourself as a sex partner."

 

[diaglo]

I suck at the rulz. but i make up for it by doing more legwork.

kinda like bowling. i've had the same bowling average for the last 19 years.

i fall into the same ruts. do the same things. and even when i try something new i still have the same avg.

not the best. but my team seems to rely on my steady avg.

i have met some referees well below the avg. and a few well above. almost like having an epiphany. they seemed to klick into a certain... je ne sais...ya know.

 

[Psychic Warrior]

2) DMs are arrogant and/or don't have a good estimation of their abilities.

Yeah - that's what I used.


I rate myself as average. I have awesome sessions and I have abyssmal sessions. My players seem to like both kinds so I have to average myself out to average.

 

[Psion]

Let me refine my estimate a little bit.

I think I am pretty good sometimes. I don't think I am currently "in the zone" as it were. At one time, I had players commuting from Alexandria and Manasses (~1 1/2 hour away) and had players requesting extra sessions on Saturdays.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I voted that I kind of suck, but I have good sessions. My group apparently disagrees with me and say they enjoy my DMing, but I think I'm not all that good and that I have a huge amount of room to improve. I think my group just has not had many experiences with a really good DM, so they don't have a good reference to rate me against.

 

[freebfrost]

To be perfectly honest, I voted in the awesome category.

Why? With 25 years of DMing experience, and I still have more players that want to play than I have space to support, so I must be doing something right!

Seriously, part of being a good DM is listening and observing. What scenes get the players excited? What plotlines seem to pique their interest? Are they having fun or sitting there looking bored? I make sure to keep my players engaged and give them what they need to be challenged and have fun. I regulary poll my groups and get their feedback on the games too, just to make sure I haven't missed anything.

Now, I do have off games - we all do - but I would say that 95% of the time when I am at the game, I am at my best. My players have a great time, I have a great time - and we make adventures worth retelling for years to come. Who could ask for more?

 

[iwatt]

I voted pretty good but last night ......sucked.

I was tired, just about to catch the flu (southern hemisphere) and losing interest in running SWd20. It showed.

 

[Goblyn]

On a scale of 1 to Cool, I still rate a 'Super Awesome'.

On DMing though I was nice to myself and rated me average. I simply don't have a lot of 3e DMing experience.

 

[Raflar]

I voted "pretty good" mainly because I never get to play.. (well I can count on one hand the number of times this past year (12 months) and they were all one shots)... so either I'm 'good' or my players really hate it..

Although lately I notice that my DMing has really started to suck, I think subconsciously I'm not trying so that they will step up and take over... several times I have told them - "If you don't like what I'm doing then you take over".... (DM Burnout anyone?).... I'm starting to sound bitter... :\

I think I can be very good when I try... my players say my accents/voices have gotten a LOT better (I've been acting in theatre for the past year so that helps) and I only have 2 players so I can really focus on the players/characters... I would probably suck with a large group. I'd really like to be on the player's side for awhile (like a real campaign) just to see the other side again. Easier to see what I'm doing wrong.