What makes you happy as a DM

[francisca]

To drive the players before me and hear the lamentations of their wives, girlfriends, or significant others....

Just kidding, but someone had to say it!

What do I like? I like starting a game and looking up at the clock an hour later only to find that 5 or 6 hours have actually passed.

I like it when the most memorable thing said was in-character, and not an OOC joke or comment.

At the end of the seesion, I like finding most of the snacks are still unopened and not much of the beverages have been poured out of their bottles. That's when I know that we had a good game day and we were totally engrossed in what we were doing.

These are a few of my favorite things.

 

[Henry]

What makes me happiest is players who call me a bastard with looks of admiration on their faces.

Also, it makes me happy when a player is passionately ticked off at or happy about something in the game, but who can't wait to play again next week. It means I've done my job, and it usually means we've had fun.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

All of the above. Their having fun #1, saying thanks #2, and telling a cooperative story #3.

Derivative of #3, I love it when the players look at all the stuff I've put together, and say "Whoa. This must mean this, this and this!" Then you get to nod and say "Yup." An hour later after the session ends for the evening you madly scribble down this really cool idea that wasn't how you had it all planned out before hand.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

I have to say that it is so refreshing to see people discussing what makes them happy. I get so tired of rants.

Thanks Kroax!

 

[Kroax]

I have to say that it is so refreshing to see people discussing what makes them happy. I get so tired of rants.

So do I. That's why I posted.

Thanks Kroax!

No problem

Oh, and some more highlights:

When the players spend their off-game time on the game.

When you ande your players have played for 10 hours, is exhausted and still want to go on.

When you find a new monster, PrC, magical item etc. wich fits excactly into your planned plotline and saves you a lot of work.

 

[Kyramus]

Other than thanking me for a good game, I'd say that if the Player immerses him/herself into the campaign world and come out feeling that the world is alive in some way.

One of my players talk to me out of the game and asks questions about different' places, how the people are there, what customs, etc. Which just helps develop those areas more.

One went as far as discuss the different magic types that I have in my world. I used PHB wizard, a modified version of thread and leyline magic, psionics, ancient civilization magics and Jewel Magic. It was a nice long discussion and highlighted the wonder of each era.

 

[Rel]

You know those moments where the battle is going really rough for the party. One or more PC's are down and another couple are one hit away from death. And then somebody pulls out that Trick they've been saving or that they just thought of and it might just save the party's bacon. But it's all going to come down to one roll of the dice. The d20 tumbles across the table and everybody is watching it roll forever and then...Natural 20!! Everybody is jumping up in the air and high fiving each other and yelling.

That's good stuff right there.


The only thing better is when I get to say, "Now roll to beat his SR."

 

[Beard in the Sky]

When PCs cry in fear.

Seriously, one time I was co-running a Mask of the Red Death game and after one session the four players wanted to hang around and watch TV. It was really late and I was sort of confused (and a -little- annoyed because I had to work the next day and were in my house) then I realized they were all afraid to walk out in the dark and get in their cars and drive home alone but none of them wanted to admit it to the others. THAT was gratifying.

 

[Nifft]

"Story hour" / "journal entry" writers! Ah, I so love having a record of the adventure in the PC's words. It gives the PCs a better voice, and it helps everyone remember everything that happened.

They make the game better and my job easier.

-- N

 

[diaglo]

To drive the players before me and hear the lamentations of their wives, girlfriends, or significant others....

great minds and all.


what makes me happy as a referee?

1) hearing that the players want to come back next session. even after they've killed 5 of their characters this session.

2) getting together with family and friends over a game. whether it is D&D, poker, Monopoly, bridge, pinocle, Trivial Pursuit, etc... and having fun. instead of sitting in front of the vidiot box or going off on individual outings. basically quality time.

3) trying new spins on old situations.