The feel of playing the game -- DM POV vs. Player POV

[haiiro]

As a player, I'm a lot more immersed in the moment (at least when I'm really into my character), and I rarely think long-term. I also tend to crack a lot more jokes. Interestingly, I don't tend to visualize things right away, either -- images will come to me later in the session, or after it's over.

As a DM, my mind is in one of two states: relaxed and enjoying what the players are doing, or racing a mile a minute in all directions trying to make complex decisions quickly. I visualize things on the fly, but I'm not as immersed in the moment -- there's a definite level of detachment. Partly this is due to the fact that I've visualized parts of the adventure beforehand, but partly it's because I'm constantly trying to convey my mental picture of events to the players.

I like both, and you're right: they're distinct and different from one another. For me at least, this can be generalized to most RPGs, not just D&D. Great question -- I've never seen you start a thread that was anything less than surprising and insightful, Quasqueton.

Edit: In general, I DM much more often than I play. That seems worth indicating, as I think my perspective might differ somewhat if things were the other way around.

 

[hong]

When I DM: "Hey, remember the time I killed Mike's PC in one round? That was so funny!"

When I play: "Hey, remember the time Mike and I killed the balor in one round? That was so funny!"

 

[James Heard]

I talk less when I'm a player, because I have to remind myself to shut up and let other players say things. I take better notes as a player, because I'm not juggling people's spotlight time and I'm talking less. Strangely enough, I have to restrain myself from killing people's characters about an equal amount. I lose more friends as a player than I do as a GM, because my characters are often less pleasant than I am - and that's not a whole lot.

 

[Patman21967]

Well, I look at being a GM, alot like being a narrarator of a story. I'm not really "playing" as much as am trying to tell a story. I know many GM's who put their PC's on what we call "the ride" . In other words, you have to do the exact thing the GM has thought up, to stay on the adventure. To me, being a good GM means being able to adjust on the fly, and come up with another reason for the characters to find the clues. And be ready to adjust your story to their actions.

 

[Campbell]

I liken GMing to being a politician. While I might have my own agenda to pursue, I am primarily a servant to me contituents. As a politician I must place their interests above my own, but this also means that I have the autonomy to make crucial decisions as long as it improves the experience for the players. The responsibility that I have to the players imparts the oppurtunity to shape the campaign into an entertaining experience that also benefits me. In addition, popular sovreignty prevails.

I liken being a player to being a political activist. While I lack the ability to shape the campaign world as I would sometimes like, I also am not nearly as responsible for those with divergent interests. Additionally, any impact that I might have is trully enjoyable since I don't need to consider all of the angles. As long as I'm willing to be civil and make comprises with the politician and my fellow citizens, I can pursue my agenda pretty much single-mindedly. Finally, because I lack crucial information, I do not need to feel overwhelmingly stressed out about the current state of affairs.

I believe that I've stretched the political ban as far as it stretches.

 

[Steverooo]

As a PC, I am proactively active, making plans to handle various situations, choosing equipment, attempting to milk clues from the stingy Universe, gain information, allies, resources, treasure, power, etc. I am attempting to overcome any obstacles, and all comers, by dint of my meagre abilities.

As a GM, I am unconcerned with finding information, clues, treasures, foes, ways & means of overcoming obstacles, and just watch what and how the PCs do it, while trying to keep them busy and un-bored, when it gets too hard.

 

[The_Gneech]

As the GM, I am the one who makes everything happen; as a player, I have to hold back something awful to keep from stepping on everyone else's toes. I have a very tactical mind, and as such I keep wanting to tell people, "You can hit this guy easy -- do Power Attack! No, no, no, don't waste your fireball on a single foe -- blast the group of mooks over there with it! Rogue, what the heck are you doing up front with the meatshields? Get yourself into sneak attack position, are you nuts?"

This does make me a good party leader, but it can also make me a crashing bore. As the DM, I can let the tactical mind loose.

-The Gneech

 

[fredramsey]

When I play, I sometimes wish I had never DM'd in my life. I really have to bite my tongue sometimes (I have DM'd a LOT more than I've played).

When I DM, I have to bite my tongue again, when players don't see something I think is "obvious"...

 

[dagger]

I feel disorganized and sometimes flustered while I DM. My players say when I DM that they have a lot of fun and I seem to be organized. Its wierd....

 

[howandwhy99]

As a DM: I feel responsible for giving others the game they want to play. I endeavor to fulfill the fantasies of everyone around the table, but only partially my own. I direct things. I think a great deal about aspects of the game you would not want to as a player; things like pacing which I hope to hide from players' perception.


As a Player: I am trying to be my character. I try and enjoy myself and make jokes. I try and determine what I would think my character would do, but also what I think would simply be fun for everyone to do. Lastly, I try and purposelly stop metagame thinking.