Stupid Dungeon Master Syndrome

[Chimera]

I won't call it stupid DM syndrome, because that's a pretty harsh word, and I didn't and don't hate the guy. But probably the worst session I've ever played involved the party searching an ancient ruin, that had nothing in it. No monsters. No treasure. No traps. No riddles. Nothing. And yet we spent four hours laboriously exploring this ruin, with the DM drawing out each room in succession...

Hmmmm....wouldn't call it stupid either. Annoying, certainly. Boring, definitely. A new group I just joined a couple of months ago spent about an hour and a half doing the same thing, with the same results. I never said a word, but in my head I was begging the guy to throw in a trap, a single gold coin, something! Or heck, end our misery by saying "It appears obvious that these ruins have been looted beyond hope of finding anything" so that we wouldn't waste any more time.

 

[doghead]

Quite in-character, my druid said, "I don't think I can serve my god or nature by dying, senselessly. I think we should report this to someone who can handle it, and get out of here with our hides." The DM looked noticeably upset by that comment. As the game session ended, he said, "You guys can leave this quest, if you want. But you'll each have to give me a pretty good reason why you're willing to let Dracoliches take over the world..." Obnoxious.

Ou. This one sent shivers down my spine.

Unfortunately I think that I am the worst DM I have to endure. :\ I feel that my timing (I'm only playing pbp at the moment) is too narrative like and my games are too restricting. At least the players can leave the game.

 

[Castellan]

Unfortunately I think that I am the worst DM I have to endure. :\ I feel that my timing (I'm only playing pbp at the moment) is too narrative like and my games are too restricting. At least the players can leave the game.

Since you're trying to evaluate your own performance, I suspect you aren't THAT bad. At least you're interested in making the game better. And PbP games tend to be more narrative-heavy -- well, the ones I've played in or paid attention to are, anyway.

Why not try emailing your players? Ask them a few simple questions like, "How do you like this game so far?" and, "Are there areas you think I could use improvement?"

Be prepared for all kinds of answers. Some players will be truthful, others will be nervous about criticizing the DM. Constantly remind your players that you want to be able to provide an entertaining game for them. Even if they don't say much right away, by reminding them occasionally that you want their input, you can be sure that someone will eventually come to you with an idea or a concern.

Smile... You're trying to be a good DM, and that gets bonus points in my book!

 

[doghead]

Hey Castellan

Thanks. I don't want to hijack the thread, so I won't go into details other than to note that I make a point of telling players in the first post that feedback is welcome, and have asked for it on several occasions. More than that could become irritating I suspect. I like feedback (and ultimately its the 'negative' stuff that makes you better), input and idea bouncing. Sometimes you get a bit. Other times you don't.

cheers

the head of the dog.

 

[Vocenoctum]

One major piece of advice to my fellow GMs:

Don't use antimagic.

It never helps. It only pisses off the PCs. If you're going to have antimagic, hint at it well in advance, so the PCs know what they're going into.

I won't say forewarn, or never use, but certainly use it sparingly.
One DM, who is otherwise superb, took fiendish delight in depriving us of weapons. Disintegrating them, sundering them, grabbing them and running off...

Any action that nullifies the PC's should be used sparingly IMO.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Okay worst ever campaign begining -
our group was part of an army in the sort of middle ranks 3rd lvl ish
and the army is destroyed by a large red dragon, we have a few actions, but are basically left for dead on the battlefield - this is fine, not to bad for a beginning
As survivors we straggle into the woods and camp, we are ambushed by an orc tribe, who open fires on our mostly sleeping camp - after fighting for 45 minutes we are finally killed. It turns out it was a dream, and we wake up just as the arrows begin to fall again, so we fight smarter and after taking out the leader of the orcs we try an bluff the others - no dice, and we are killed again. Once again a dream, and as we start packing up the DM mentions we need to negotiate with the orcs or we won't be able to surrive the comming encounters.

What about orc arrows in the middle of the night says Negotiate?

 

[Evilhalfling]

A Con Game - which we called the marathon rotational -
I was there when it started I made a 1st level thief, a friend made a martial artist - after being joined by a 8th/7th drow elven thief ( got a love 1st ed twinking) we were shepearded around by the Dragon Master (DM) and his girlfriend (as ultra powerful characters of course) I abandoned the game. I showed up again after about 8 hrs had passed. The group was still playing, with different people, players wandering in and out. I sat down again playing the same PC - the party was bsing chased by 5 of nine existing death knights - and we were pretty sure the other 4 were waiting for us somewhere, we found an enormous cave full of gold, magic items, and assorted jewlery - the players looked at each other and announced that we were backing out slowly and apologizing to tiamat for bothering her lair. the DM looked crestfallen and asked if we were sure.
other PC "If this is Tiamat's Lair or if we touch nothing and leave quickly?"
Me "yes to both"

 

[Dinkeldog]

I had a random green dragon jump out of the river in a forest, eat my horse, and then go bounding away into the forest beyond the path. I think I lasted one more week.

I was first level. The other guy was second.

 

[Piratecat]

The new villain in the game I'm running is a white dragon dracolich with the swarm-shifter template (Blizzard of undead snow);

Sorry to hijack, but where is this template from? Thanks!

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Sorry to hijack, but where is this template from? Thanks!

Swarm Shifter is in Libris Mortis, IIRC [/hijack]