D&D General The Tyranny of Rarity

[Imaro]

Why don't the other players just pick a new DM if the current one is too domineering for their tastes?
(I assume DMing isn't particularly hard or demanding to do. Because if it was then the position of DM would be more important. And that would explain why their fun might be seen as more important than the others in some senses). <- That came out snarkier than I wanted. I think it's lunch time.

This is a great point I feel has been acknowlesged but hasn't been explained or explored... if we are all equal in importance and equally responsible and doing equal work... why in general are DM's harder to come by than players?

 

[Helldritch]

Just like I said pages ago.

Just because something works doesn't mean it's perfect or near perfect.

Trust me. I work in customer side of big corporate. And I used to work for a corporation with worst product with bigger profits. You can make a lot of money with average products or a decent core if other things support you

And to this bolded part I simply answer
If it ain't broken, do not repair it.

 

[hawkeyefan]

I'm good with involving people if that works for the group (I'm always happy to get ideas to think about from players, or to contribute lots of relevant background for consideration when I am one, and have co-DMd a world in the past).

It just seemed like somewhere up thread it was mentioned by some people that a lot of players won't DM or that DMing well was hard, and I was having trouble reconciling that with DMs not being particularly special. (There being a wide range between "first among equals" and "tyrant" even if special.)

I think there is certainly a common perception that DMing is hard. And while I don’t want to dismiss the effort it takes, I don’t think it’s something that most players can’t do.

They may be scared of doing it, or they may believe it’s more than they can handle, or they may not have the time it may take to do it. And of course, for some people, it may just not be something they’re suited to.

But I think the difficulty of the role often gets overstated. More people can and should GM.

I also think that there are many people who actively enjoy the role and don’t do it out of necessity, but rather by choice.

 

[Vaalingrade]

And to this bolded part I simply answer
If it ain't broken, do not repair it.

If.

And that if is so wildly subjective as to not matter. A lot of people feel 1e's not broke, so we're way past that barrier.

 

[Cadence]

They may be scared of doing it, or they may believe it’s more than they can handle, or they may not have the time it may take to do it.

Is the fact that this is still true after all these years the game's (DMG's?) biggest failing?

 

[Maxperson]

I dunno. McDonalds is the most popular fast food in the world. Those dorks with Michelin Stars should just pack up and leave because thier food can't compare..

Yeah! Who wants to eat tires anyway?

 

[Oofta]

I dunno. McDonalds is the most popular fast food in the world. Those dorks with Michelin Stars should just pack up and leave because thier food can't compare..

If you don't like 5E there are plenty of other options. The game works well enough for me and the people I play with but no game can work for everyone.

Or are you saying that there's a reason the game would be inherently better if it were less popular? It's a game. The reason WOTC made the game was to make money. It's exceeded all expectations. Always baffles me when people think the game would have been better if they had targeted the niche that suits their specific tastes.

If you don't want the McDonalds of TTRPGs, D&D is not the right choice.

 

[Maxperson]

And to this bolded part I simply answer
If it ain't broken, do not repair it.

Yes and no. Change for the sake of change is not worth the effort and will often make things worse. That doesn't mean that fiddling with things like the setting I brought up isn't worth pursuing. Dwarves, elves, halflings and a surface that grows good aren't broken, but the quick setting blurb I came up with seems pretty interesting. If this were 20 or 30 years ago, I'd be building this setting in detail. Now I just don't have the time.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Yeah! Who wants to eat tires anyway?

You laugh, but it really is that Michelin.

 

[Maxperson]

You laugh, but it really is that Michelin.

I had no idea.