Why all players but no DMs?

[Herremann the Wise]

Our group's the opposite - six DMs and only 1 pure player. Trying to get a run on one person's game can be quite a challenge. I have to say though, this situation is better than no DMs.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[The Shaman]

I prefer refereeing to playing - eight:two by the Piratecat scale.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

On the Piratcat-scale, I'm at 8:2 for gamemastering. I just wish I could finally get round to playing a game of D&D instead of just running it all the time...

 

[Seeten]

I dont enjoy DMing nearly as much as I like Playing, I am 2:8 by the Piratecat scale

 

[WhatGravitas]

On the Piratcat-scale, I'm at 8:2 for gamemastering. I just wish I could finally get round to playing a game of D&D instead of just running it all the time...

QFT ...the same here

 

[Asmor]

Keep in mind that this thread is far from representative of the hobby as a whole. ENWorld attracts far more GMs than it does players, and the players it does attract are the sorts that really get into the game and would go looking online for a forum to talk about it...

There's only one person I know in two games (one I run, one I play in) who is on ENWorld, and that's because I found him here.

That said, I would much rather play. I love coming up with characters and just the general fact that players have vastly more reward compared to the effort they put in to things. Yeah, I'm a lazy bastard. Unfortunately, I very rarely get to play. In fact, this game I'm in now is the first time I've had the opportunity to play in someone else's campaign in a couple years.

I wouldn't want to give up running games entirely, but if the opportunity arose where I'd get to play regularly for a while I'd totally take it and take a vacation from GMing.

On the Pirate Cat scale, I'd say I'm 2:8, although that's largely because of burnout... if I played more, I could see myself swinging down to a 4:6 or even 5:5.

Oh, and just to address the original question (why so many don't want to DM), I think it's pretty obvious. A DM has to be a rules lawyer, a mathematician, a psychologist, a sociologist, a writer, a teacher, well-prepared and on top of it all working with players is like herding cats.

A player just has to show up (and half the time the bastards can't do that right either).

 

[Hussar]

I'd add to the vote for running modules. Particularly the "campaign in a box" modules like the Adventure Paths or World's Largest Dungeon. All the goodness of GMing with a fraction of the work.

 

[DonTadow]

I think you have to have a knack and itch for the aspects of it. YOu don't have to love all aspects but yo ugot to love something about it. I definatly woudlnt say there is no reward in DM'n. Challenging a group of five individuals, coming up with unique stories, providing fun that will be talked about for years maybe even decades. This is way better than being a player. Few players get together and talk about how great another player was years after he's played, but you always here that about DMs.

If you're going to DM yo ugot to learn patience and pacing. Not the adventure but yourself. I like to take a break every 4 or 5 months and let someone else DM for a little while. Our group has managed to work a pretty cool rotating DM system. I still run the main campaign, but both of the other dms run offshoots. When one is burnt out, the other takes his or her place.

IF you want to do d20 without a dm, mythic adventures is a pretty interesting pdf available that allows players to play without a dm, using probability to determine things like encounters and such.

 

[Satori]

Dungeon Masters are special people. Let us have a moment of silence to honor them.

They spend their free time coming up with ways to entertain you.

They listen patiently as you, yet again, yammer on and on about your character.

They give you just enough reward to make the adventure worthwhile...yet not too much as to spoil you.

They need to play EVERY single other person in the game, while you only need to play one.

They all realize that no matter how much they might want to, they are never allowed to win.

They are benevolent gods, men among mice, self-sacrificing martyrs that are concerned only with the enjoyment of their fellow players.

 

[Agback]

What's the deal?

D&D is far too complicated. Statting NPCs is too much work, and then trying to keep track of what tactics they might use given their class abilities, feats, items, prepared spells and other options is a nightmare, especially when there is any sizeable number of them. That is the most important thing that deters me from GMing D&D. I am perfectly happy to GM certain other games.