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Keeping interest in DMing a game
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<blockquote data-quote="Whisper72" data-source="post: 4150954" data-attributes="member: 17339"><p>Well... maybe not directly handy tips, but it sounds to me as if the actual DM'ming bit is costing you energy rather then providing it for you.</p><p></p><p>Maybe, the 'stress' of DM'ming is simply not for you, or you need to find a way of DM'ming where you get to do the 'fun stuff' which gives you energy and minimize the 'chore' bits where you lose energy.</p><p></p><p>Just some quick observations based on your post, I may be wrong here:</p><p>- to me it sounds as though you dislike all the score keeping, tracking of stuff and generating encounters</p><p>- you like to maintain a story line, and dislike it when PC's get side trekked, especially since this means additional generation of sub-plots and encounters</p><p></p><p>Some thougts:</p><p>- have a plotline that is so ffing obvious that the PC's will follow it. This is not necessarily the same as railroading, and even though railroading has a (somewhat deservedly) bad name, there is nothing wrong with a nice railroad ride if all players are having fun and agree that it is the way to go</p><p>- try to stay a way from strict plotlines, DM more free form with only a rough overall idea in mind. Have the PC's actions steer the story and use the posts of the players to feed your further crystallizing of thoughts</p><p>- stay away from modules 'as written', PC's will surely do things 'not in the book'. Use modules only to take apart, use maps, NPC's, subplots etc. as ideas, small side treks</p><p>- read up on the 'lazy DM advice' on this board, forgot who posted it, but it has tons of good advice on prepping just enough to be prepared</p><p></p><p>Maybe the PBP format is the problem. Don't know the frequency you play at, but maybe it is too slow and you lose energy? Maybe it is too often and you don't have enough time?</p><p></p><p>Key is to figure out what elements of DM'ming are the ones that get you going, and try to keep as close to that style as possible.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Whisper72, post: 4150954, member: 17339"] Well... maybe not directly handy tips, but it sounds to me as if the actual DM'ming bit is costing you energy rather then providing it for you. Maybe, the 'stress' of DM'ming is simply not for you, or you need to find a way of DM'ming where you get to do the 'fun stuff' which gives you energy and minimize the 'chore' bits where you lose energy. Just some quick observations based on your post, I may be wrong here: - to me it sounds as though you dislike all the score keeping, tracking of stuff and generating encounters - you like to maintain a story line, and dislike it when PC's get side trekked, especially since this means additional generation of sub-plots and encounters Some thougts: - have a plotline that is so ffing obvious that the PC's will follow it. This is not necessarily the same as railroading, and even though railroading has a (somewhat deservedly) bad name, there is nothing wrong with a nice railroad ride if all players are having fun and agree that it is the way to go - try to stay a way from strict plotlines, DM more free form with only a rough overall idea in mind. Have the PC's actions steer the story and use the posts of the players to feed your further crystallizing of thoughts - stay away from modules 'as written', PC's will surely do things 'not in the book'. Use modules only to take apart, use maps, NPC's, subplots etc. as ideas, small side treks - read up on the 'lazy DM advice' on this board, forgot who posted it, but it has tons of good advice on prepping just enough to be prepared Maybe the PBP format is the problem. Don't know the frequency you play at, but maybe it is too slow and you lose energy? Maybe it is too often and you don't have enough time? Key is to figure out what elements of DM'ming are the ones that get you going, and try to keep as close to that style as possible. [/QUOTE]
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