Play or GM?

[JoeGKushner]

One thing I've frequently seen said about 3e, is that it's hard to GM and no one wants to GM it.

I'm not saying it isn't hard. There are a lot of rules and variables to keep track of. Creating NPCs and unique monsters is time consuming (but once you're done with it, the reuse factor is awesome!)

Having said that, I havent' found it a problem to find people to GM and had to actually wait for my opportunity to GM.

My current Tuesday group has Scott, a GM of a few Forgotten Realms games. Eric, a GM of a few lower powered Forgotten Realms Game. Bec, a GM of an Iron Kingdoms/Forgotten Realms hybryd game. Angel, a former GM of numerous Scarred Lands campaigns. This doesn't count the people who were in planning stages of their own campaigns before school took them out of the game.

My Saturday group has me and Angel in it, and our GM Ted, whose been doing a great job with Midnight, and another player, Brandon, who finished a Conan arc not too long ago. Not d20, but Conan OGL is pretty similiar in terms of combat complexity and making NPCs, etc...

So are there a dearth of GMs?

 

[JimAde]

In my experience, yes. I very rarely get to play characters because nobody else in my (small) group will run a game. I believe I've convinced one of my players to actually take over my Champions game (which should be cool) but he hasn't actually run it yet.

 

[eris404]

LOL! I'd never know it. In our group, practically everyone wants to run a game.

 

[delericho]

So are there a dearth of GMs?

No, but there's a shortage of good GMs. But then, there's always a shortage of good GMs.

 

[billd91]

LOL! I'd never know it. In our group, practically everyone wants to run a game.

Same here, but I suspect I'm unusually blessed with a gaming group of older players with lots of RPG experience both in front of and behind the screen.
On the other hand, I've always been in groups with multiple people willing and able to run games whether those games be Villains and Vigilantes, Chill, GURPS, Top Secret, Call of Cthulhu, Paranoia, Gamma World, and so on. Maybe it's partly a question of where we live and how well gaming has taken root over the decades. There certainly doesn't seem ot be a dearth of gamers in the southern Wisconsin area.

 

[Rel]

Our group is about 50% "potential GM's". Those outside that 50% have almost never run games and have no desire to run 3E or any system.

In many ways I think the more codified system of d20 makes it easier for novice GM's to get started. There is certainly a lot of material to absorb but if you've been a player for a while then you know about 75% of it already.

 

[Desdichado]

Everyone in my group has run at least one d20 game for the rest of the group, and for other groups, and would gladly and willingly do so again. And they're all good GMs.

My group may be odd, but we're completely the opposite spectrum of the situation you describe, Joe.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

No, but there's a shortage of good GMs. But then, there's always a shortage of good GMs.

Key Phrase:

Good DM's.

That part of the reason I've spend 99% of my time DMing and rarely play anymore.

The other part being time constraints.

But, overall, the number of competent DM's seems to be in short order. (not good, not, great, just competent). I put myslef in the Good Bracket (not great, but I have my moments and could mayber become a great DM, I just lack the time to do it properly).

 

[Nebulous]

I'd say there is a shortage of good DM's. It takes a lot of hands-on experience to run a good game, and from what i've seen people either a) don't want to take the time, or b) don't want to be in the center of attention. For me, i enjoy taking the time crafting stories and rules and encounters, and i love when a group of people is paying attention to what i've crafted. Hell, it's the ONLY time i'm ever extrovertive.

 

[StupidSmurf]

It is said that doctors make the worst patients.

It is also said that the chefs and restaurant managers make the worst customers.

I'm a GM, pure and simple. I enjoyed my tenure as a player for a couple of years, but ultimately I belong on the DM's side of the screen. It's where I'm happiest and most in my element. Too often, if someone else is running, I can't help but mentally dissect what they're doing and whether or not it's good. There are exceptions. My wife is a great Cthulhu Keeper, but she doesn't run often, so I'm not called upon to be a player often, maybe once a year at the most.