The DM's Percentage

[TheAuldGrump]

Bout 30% borrowed or outright stolen.

History
Documentaries
Books (more mysteries than fantasy)
Movies (not much)
No television to speak of, I haven't watched any in over a year.

The Auld Grump

 

[Algolei]

My 3E games are nearly 100% somebody else's work. I find it difficult to come up with my own stuff without killing the characters. (One random encounter with a dire ape wiped out a fully prepared 5th-level party.)

In my older edition games, I go almost completely the other way--probably at least 90% of the campaigns and adventures are my own work, from maps, adventures and NPCs right down to the individualized deities, magic items, and houserules (although I'm looking at adding some moderately accurate medieval history to my campaign, which would alter that percentage a bit). I just don't have the time or the inclination to do the amount of work it would take to create a 3E campaign with that much detail.

 

[MonsterMash]

Please excuse me Mark, but I don't understand the question. Percentage of what? Do you mean percentage of original stuff, or unoriginal stuff, or something completely different?

I'd like to vote but have been struck with idiocy.

Not so much idiocy as unclear polloptionitis.

I'm mostly influenced by the voices in my head

Yeah, I'm influenced by the voices in your head too - anyway aren't we all Piratecat so his answer will cover all of us.


Seriously though I voted 60% original/my content to others stuff as even published adventures get my modifications, but Wombat makes a good point about how can you filterout all the stuff you have been exposed to over the years. Probably even truer for us 30 somethings and olders as we've had a lot of exposure to things that may not be in the conscious levels of memory any more.

 

[Ao the Overkitty]

I'd say about 70% of my stuff comes from my own crazy mind as I try to keep myself amused. Now, I can be influenced by anything. A picture, a myth, some scenery, a conversation, etc. But, i twist it in such a way that it rarely bares any resemblance to the original product.

 

[Poster Bard]

Any DMs not chime in on this yet?

 

[Shadowdancer]

About 60 percent. I use a lot of published material, but I change everything at least a little bit to fit the campaign.

 

[Illirion]

I'm running a homebrew based on the material in the core books.

I didn't bother creating my own pantheon or planar system, cause that's just too much work and I think the game plays better when those things are taken straight from the book. I'd only go creating a custom world in that aspect if I had a truly awesome idea and a lot of time to execute it. I have however designed my own province (currently working on the maps of the other parts of the world) and I've come up with all of my own NPC's and encounters. The plotline is also most definately not ripped and has a lot of flexibility.

I can't exactly pinpoint where my ideas come from tough, but I think as long as you try to stay original and enjoyable it doesn't matter where you go to gather inspiration.

EDIT: I voted 80%

 

[Mark]

Should be a whole bunch of new DMs around that have yet to answer this poll. Any takers? (Don't forget to bump the thread, please.)