What's it like to DM?

[Crothian]

Jesus, I've barely been living since 1984 (11/27/84)

we get a lot of that around here, seriously

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I'd just like to say that I think the advice to start with a published module, while not necessarily a bad idea, isn't particularly necessary.

In the end, if you can't create adventures and guide campaigns yourself, you'll be stuck with published scenarios forever- my advice is to pick up some of the classics (Masks of Nyarlathothep, that famous Warhammer FRP one- Enemy Within, Coming Full Circle...) read them to get an idea of how a good campaign would be written.

Then do it yourself- this is a vital skill, and campaigns tweaked to the characters you get are always superior than often bland "bolted on" published ones.

But- and I stress this- do not plan. Plans fail. Create situations that will adapt to PC action, not a set of stock scenes they'll follow along.

Your job is to make Points A-Z. Their job is to get from A to B to C, etc etc.

I found that preprinted modules, like I said, let me work on the mechanics. It also gave me a chance to disect the modules and see how they are put together. Reading them was one thing, but actually RUNNING them allowed me to understand their strengths and weaknesses, how the players can mess with them, and I hope will let me do a good job of putting together my own stuff.

 

[erian_7]

I've always compared it to herding cats. Loud children are one thing, but cats can be truly difficult. Especially in large groups.

Chris

Heh, heh. Since I work for EDS, I actually have a "herding cats" shirt (from when they did that Superbowl commercial). I actually do wear it sometimes when I DM...

Eric

 

[Asmor]

Heh, heh. Since I work for EDS, I actually have a "herding cats" shirt (from when they did that Superbowl commercial). I actually do wear it sometimes when I DM...

Eric

You know, it's not all that hard to herd cats, just as long as you get the teriyaki skewer in there good the first time.

 

[Emiricol]

Lots of good advice, even with conflicting opinions. There's no one "right" way, of course, so that's to be expected

For me the experience of DMing is hard to describe. I tend to "wing it" most of the time, but I keep super detailed notes (if I can ever find them, heh) so if the bar in Village A has a squeaky door the first time they go there, it will be squeaky when they come back through three levels later unless there's a specific off-camera reason why it changed.

I love modules. You see, I can whip together a compelling and engaging story, but the details of statting out 100 monsters is NOT why I DM. So, I tend to take a module, rip out locations and dungeons and their monsters, and plug them into my own plots and so on. Change a few names, add a few items if appropriate. So level 1 of Rappan Athuk might be used for the scenery of one adventure, and level 5 a couple weeks later in some completely unrelated adventure. Make sense?

Anywho. Interesting thread, and a good read

 

[Crothian]

Ya, when this finally goes away it should be archived.

I guess DM a bit and learn your style. Some people can and really need to wing the session. Some people have to have everything planned out. There are lots of way to DM and many styles. It depends on the group and the game being played. DMing also takes practice, so if the first few times you feel are not that great, just stick with it and try to make it better.

 

[Asmor]

I love modules. You see, I can whip together a compelling and engaging story, but the details of statting out 100 monsters is NOT why I DM. So, I tend to take a module, rip out locations and dungeons and their monsters, and plug them into my own plots and so on. Change a few names, add a few items if appropriate. So level 1 of Rappan Athuk might be used for the scenery of one adventure, and level 5 a couple weeks later in some completely unrelated adventure. Make sense?

Actually, that's a good idea. Would fit my "style" pretty well, I'm pretty good about getting the story and all but don't do much as far as preparing stuff. Too bad I'm running D20 Modern, not quite the wealth of modules as D&D, and not as easy to transplant things, especially since we're playing in the area we actually live.

 

[Agemegos]

Ya, when this finally goes away it should be archived.

Do we have to wait?

 

[Samothdm]

DMing is just fun. It seems to be unique as far as it goes. I can't think of anything else really like it. Perhaps writing or making a movie is, but I think you have much mor econtrol in those formats.

I got to thinking about this while on the drive home on Friday night after Crothian said he was going to start this thread. I'm sure it's been discussed before, but do most of you as DMs feel like you're secretly frustrated (or not so frustrated) writers?

You're spending all this time to create a world, characters, plot lines, etc. Even if you're using a published world like Forgotten Realms, you still have to figure out the basics of the story and add your own NPCs and such.

 

[The_Gneech]

...do most of you as DMs feel like you're secretly frustrated (or not so frustrated) writers?

Absolutely! Except it's not a secret, and I'm not frustrated.

-The Gneech