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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 5121606" data-attributes="member: 99">I think I'm a very good GM.  Partly that's true and partly that's the attitude I bring with me to a game because I think confidence is projected to your players and thinking you're a good GM helps make you a good GM.However I strongly feel that being a player makes you a better GM.  I would encourage anybody who wants to be a good GM to play as often as you can, preferably with the best GMs you can find.  I've been very fortunate because these types are thick on the ground at the NC Game Day, the DC Game Day and among the ENWorlders who attend GenCon.The reason I think this is important is because it makes one aware of the number one contributor to good gaming (IMHO):  Style Awareness.The way you play will almost always be reflected in the way you GM.  Being aware of that style is a very important piece of information.  It lets you know where your strength lies and also where you're likely to have blinders.I also benefit from playing under other GMs within my regular group because it allows me to observe how the other players engage with the game being presented.  I'm reasonably good at reading the group while I'm GMing but I'm juggling so much stuff in my head that I have a hard time picking up the same level of detail that I can while I'm playing.  When playing I spend the time "waiting for my turn" paying attention to what the other players are doing, which parts of the game do they "turn on" to and which parts they "turn off" to.  That is tremendously valuable information.And I think it is also good to have frank discussion sometimes about whether your perceptions are accurate.  Noticing that a player seems to really come alive when combat starts and the dice start rolling is one thing.  Having them say directly, "Yes.  The battles and strategy are my favorite part of the game." is priceless feedback.  So take some time before or after the game to have discussions like that.</blockquote>

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