Name any amount you like. I'll take that bet. When I was last burnt out (a couple of year stretch) no one GMed at all. We played board games, chatted, etc.
I've been in groups that experienced this.
Name any amount you like. I'll take that bet. When I was last burnt out (a couple of year stretch) no one GMed at all. We played board games, chatted, etc.
Playing the first time might be difficult if you haven't familiarized yourself with the game. Even then, those who are familiar with the rules will generally hold your hand and walk you through it.Playing the first time was difficult as well.
Dm'ing doesn't have to be a huge time sink. For some reason those that sink a huge amount of time into it are idolized but that's not necessary and doesn't necessarily make for more fun adventures.
It's more fun to do something you are comfortable doing.
So, if someone approached you and said “I’m thinking of GMing a game”, what would you tell them? That it’s really hard and their game will suck until they get better?
If I want to game, I have to run. We used to have two other players that GM'd every now and then to give me a break when I need one. One of those players moved cross the country and the other burned bridges as a LARP GM with my godbrother.That’s a huge assumption you’re jumping to. I’ve spoken to people about GMing. Some have done it, but don’t want to do it again - they found it difficult, time consuming, and not as fun as playing. Others have never done it, and refuse to do it. Others have done it, and found they’re bad at it, to the extent that other players are reluctant to be in their games.
GMing is a skill, and not one everyone has. It’s not magic, and you get better with practice, but not everyone wants to. It would appear you’re fortunate enough to have numerous GMs in your local group, but as has been pointed out, that’s not the norm.
Not necessarily.If the DM leaves, then, someone else will become the DM...
I have.I've never seen a good DM who wasn't also a good player (they make some of the best because they appreciate what the other DM is going through).
Thing is, the DM has gobs more material* to haul around than do any of the players; making it far easier to just run at the DM's place - which also makes the DM the host.That’s never been my experience. Mostly we play at the house of whoever has the best house for getting together and playing at.
Actually it does, in that if he* decides he doesn't want you there you're stuck looking for a place to play.we don’t come to my little apartment when I’m gonna run a game, we go to my buddy’s place. That doesn’t make him more important than other players
I do.Because I don’t think it’s a lie. I don’t think that it is significantly harder to DM than to play.
This presumes having players who are willing to take on these sort of tasks. Not all are.There are plenty of ways to make the job easier, and plenty of ways for the group to work together. I’m personally not the rules guru at my table. I lean on one player to be my spell guru, and another for combat rules. I have another player track initiative. We divvy up the maintenance jobs of the game so that the DM can focus on the NPCs and the world as they reapond to the PCs.