The DM's burden

[Zappo]

The players do have an important role in making the game enjoyable. But still, the DM is the one who, alone, has most of the responsibility.

I like both ideas of having players run NPCs (can you still call them NPCs), and having them detail areas of the world. This, however, gives them a large power that can be misused.

Do you think it would be possible to find a way to make it harder to spoil the game than it is to improve it? For example, could the players' powers be balanced against each other, so that it is in their interest and ability to prevent one of them from making a "bad" decision?

 

[SHARK]

Greetings!

Hey there Reapersaurus! What have you been up to lately? Hope all is well with you!

I would like to think it is easier for DM's to allow players to help them in stuff, but I think Reaper, that it probably has more to do with the fact that few players want to be bothered by all the time, effort, and detail of being a DM--even a "technical" one. Most are far more content with remaining players and letting the DM figure everything else out, as opposed to the DM somehow being uninterested or disapproving of ever allowing players to work on or contribute to something in a design capacity.

That's what I've seen from most players. In my experience, there seems to be about a 1-9 ratio of DM's to Players. Perhaps you can find someone who likes to DM and play, and there is the occasional person that only DM's, but it seems that most people playing seem to prefer strictly playing.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK