What makes you happy as a DM

[just__al]

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.

This is far and away the biggest DM's tool I've ever used. It makes me estatic when my players think out loud. One, it means they are into the game enough that they aren't just waiting for things to happen to them and they are enjoying themselves. Two, having it be something "I've planned all along" makes everybody, player and DM alike look frickin brilliant.

 

[barsoomcore]

When I complete a session and I think to myself, "That was like one of Piratecat's games."

When I really HAVE had something planned for the entire campaign, and the players remember that first little hint I planted back at first level...

When my players give me thank-you cards.

Great, heroic, incredibly noble PC self-sacrifice. Gets me EVERY time.

When a player gives me a background and I can immediately see a tremendous hook inside it that will allow me to completely tear their entire world-view inside-out, destroy all their assumptions about their own character and leave them with their mouth hanging open, disbelief on their face... and they go with it.

 

[Nighthawk]

1. When the players enjoy the session and look forward to the next (and, as a bonus, also enjoy the current campaign). This is even better if they are openly talking about such things.

2. When the players let me know what they like (positive feedback) and what they don't like (constructive criticism). Also, sharing ideas and story elements with me is way cool.

3. When a session "clicks." It's memorable, that's for sure. Kudos to the players for making it happen.

 

[Kroax]

When I really HAVE had something planned for the entire campaign, and the players remember that first little hint I planted back at first level...

I experienced something like this for not so long ago. One of my players remembered an encounter wich I was certain of that the had forgotten about. I was just about to toss that plot away because no one remembered it anyway. An then...

Some more:

When the players asks repeatedly on when youre going to play next time.

Players that think your NPCs are as cool as you think they are (or even cooler).

 

[barsoomcore]

I know it can lead to bad DMing and railroading and all that, but I gotta say it:

Cool NPCs.

I LOVE my NPCs. They are the COOLEST. Definitely one of the great things about DMing is coming up with all these great people who make my world go round.

I know, I know, "kill your pretties", "don't let the NPCs overshadow the players" -- I KNOW.

But I still love 'em.

 

[Talon5]

Players that say- "that was great!" And they arn' talking about the treasure.

Players not falling to sleep at the table.

Good roll playing

No one POed at others in the group, no one stomping off because of something said.

Little off subject, but still in there- after twenty two plus years of GMing/gaming, I can count on one hand the number of times- I, as a GM have had a good time. I hate it, its like taking out the garbage, coming up with campaigns, working out details, keeping everyone from killing each other, trying to keep things smoothed over, etc. I GM for the other GM- so s/he can play.

I know there are those of you out there that love it, but not me. Congrats to all you GMs, and thank you very much for your hard work, I know how hard it is.

 

[Ferret]

Players who play like there character, who don't aim to point out flaws or test new players, who try and think like their character would.

Playsers who actually think about twhat they are doing next.

 

[Desdichado]

Little off subject, but still in there- after twenty two plus years of GMing/gaming, I can count on one hand the number of times- I, as a GM have had a good time. I hate it, its like taking out the garbage, coming up with campaigns, working out details, keeping everyone from killing each other, trying to keep things smoothed over, etc. I GM for the other GM- so s/he can play.

I know there are those of you out there that love it, but not me. Congrats to all you GMs, and thank you very much for your hard work, I know how hard it is.

We can't help it; we're control freaks at heart. If we're not GMing, we're constantly thinking about "If I were GMing, I'd've handled that this way..."

 

[barsoomcore]

We can't help it; we're control freaks at heart.

Hey, I don't let others speak for me!

Er, because I'm a control freak at heart.

Never mind.

 

[Ulrick]

I love scarying the crap out of my players.

Toward the end of one session, when they were fighting a crafty black dragon, I had them shivering and shaking, fearful for their precious characters. In the end, they beat the dragon. Barely.

Edit: I have to admit. It is a lot of fun being a mean DM.