What do you prefer (DM/Player/Mixture)

[scout989]

I usually play rather than DM. However, this is mostly because I know that I need to learn a lot more before I can DM a game at my standards. I'm currently playing in a game where, almost every session, I look at the DM in amazement and think "How does he come up with all this stuff? And how does he create a world with so much depth?"
Once I feel confident that I can DM at that level, I'll try to switch to a mixture of DMing and playing, because both will then be enjoyable.

 

[Rev_Spider]

I would LOVE to take a break from DM'ing, but I have the disadvantage of not trusting anyone I know to get the rules right (ok, yes, I am an ornery rules lawyer). Example: The last guy I played under hadn't ever looked at the 3.5 rules and so decided that we should pick and choose which version of feats, magic items, etc. we would use. Not owning the 3.5 books himself, we were at a significant advantage. Come to think, maybe I shouldn't be complaining...

 

[Lord Morte]

I enjoy being the DM, because it appeals to my creative side and my, for lack of a better word, domineering side . In other words, it means that I have enough control over the mood and feel of the campaign to be truly comfortable with it.

But at the same time, I wouldn't enjoy DnD anywhere as much if I didn't get to play as a player as well. I'm lucky in that regard as I can manage to play with a couple of gaming groups a week, so half the time I'm the DM but the other half I'm a player.

 

[TroyXavier]

I like to do both. I have ideas that I want to run so I DM. But I find most of my creativity comes when I play.

 

[The_Gneech]

I've never played enough. However, I keep wanting to run games as well, so I ended up voting "both."

-The Gneech

 

[Pinotage]

Definitely both. DM for the cravings I have to throw nefarious critters at my players, and player to be creative in a different way.

Pinotage

 

[Wombat]

First and foremost I am the GM.

Oh, I like to play. It is fun and I certainly enjoy it, but for every hour I have spent on the picture side of the GM screen, I have spent 20+ on the chart side. Heck, I had the nickname "the Ref" even before rpgs came out (due to miniatures battles and umpiring); rpgs just solidified my position as rules interpreter, official caller, and designer of stories and campaigns.

So while I could say that I do both, this would be a silly answer. I like playing; I LOVE GMing.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

I wasn't entirely clear on what the poll was asking. If it was asking if I like to be a player and a DM in the same campaign, the answer is "no." If it was asking if I prefer to play in a campaign and DM another campaign, the answer is "yes, I like to mix playing and DMing."

I find that I get many of my best DMing ideas from being a player. Even when the DM is as good as I am, or better, there are still times when I'll think, "Oh, I would have done this whole segment differently, and it woulda been even cooler." And then, at some point, I'll do exactly that.

On the other hand, the nasty side of the same coin is that I'm way too much of a control freak to not have an outlet for it. If it can be done better, I want to do it better.

 

[sniffles]

I've never GM'd. I'd like to give it a try to see how it suits me, but I suspect I'll always be a player first. GMing just seems like too much work, requiring organizational and mathematical skills that I don't have. Oddly, I do love designing settings, but not the technical part of assigning stats to creatures or developing a convincing geography.