What do you like best about being a GM?

[The Hound]

OK, so there must be some reason that some of you run your own games instead of being players all the time. Is it the ability to create a "world" of your own? To make up campaigns with interesting plots and adventures? Being the chief Storyteller or Playwright? Being able to roleplay a lot of characters? The sheer ego boost of providing entertainment to several people who are hanging on your every word? Or something else?

For me its always been the first two and the ego trip thing.

For that matter, what do you least like about being a GM? Having to deal with problem players?
The amount of time it takes? Keeping records? For me it's always been the latter.

I have an ulterior motive for wanting to know - it has to do with a commercial product that I'm cooking up.

 

[scourger]

I like to exercise my creativity by GMing. Even running premade adventures is fun. I get to present the story and watch the players figure things out. Plus, it's the only time I get to play exactly the kind of game that I want to play. GMing is playing, too, after all.

The accounting and book-keeping are the least enjoyable parts. Some preparation work is fun, but it can easily get to the point that the investment outweighs the return. Other social aspects can be less enjoyable too, such as rules conflict with player(s) or player boycotts. It's a delicate balance between p-l-a-y and w-o-r-k, and I try to keep it focused on play rather than work.

 

[pogre]

The ego-side of things is big for me as well. The story is more or less the duty of the players - they lead the campaign's direction.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Old School

What can I say? I have a fondness for the classics ....

1. I love a well run TPK.
2. I hate whining players.

-Samir

 

[Crothian]

The best thing about being the DM is at the end of the night when the players are just glowing with the fun they have had and they compliment the session you just ran.

The least fun is problem players, but even more so when I fail the players. There is nothing worse then the DM ruining the session for whatever reason.

 

[Immak Antunel]

All the options, mushed together. I love worldbuilding, making up characters and plots, and entertaining people. DMing is like writing a novel, but with the players doing the hard part (making a coherent story out of the raw material I provide)

 

[demiurge1138]

Playing with all the wonderful toys. I love monsters. I love magic items. I love coming up with crazy convoluted plots, and I love helping people have fun. The problem players and poor sessions are a drag, but they come and go. But the challenge of coming up with new material, or making prepublished material come alive, is a lot of fun nonetheless.

Demiurge out.

 

[Mythmere1]

I never have to be a player with a bad DM.

 

[ecliptic]

Killing off the characters.

Hehe.

 

[LogicsFate]

Two things, I enjoy giving my friends a damn good night of gaming,

and the look on their faces everytime I deviate from the obvious. Everytime I twist the plot unexpectedly, or do something of that nature, the looks on their faces makes my laugh so hard I fall out of my chair(And somehow I'm still the best DM in the group)