Why all players but no DMs?

[DonTadow]

Being a good DM is having what you need for the job. I run high level games with ease, partly cause of the investment I've put into my setup. I have a huge database of artwork, a have a very good combat tracking program that deals with a lot of the intalginables, which allows me to concentrate on the stuff that matters to my -layers which is keeping the story and ongoings of the games. NPC statting is a breeze these days. NPC designer is a cheap 20 bucks and can stat npcs designed how you like for three different system. Dundjinni is a greatm apping program with a big community and los of downloadable maps for paid users.

The tools are aout there for the DM these days so its pretty much an esxcuse to use the work as a reason for not wanting to dm. You eihter like doing it or you don't.

 

[scourger]

But yeah, getting all the gear and stuff together for the NPCs can be a pain... That is part of the reason I am drifting towards ...Savage Worlds (...rules light...).

Exactly. I had a great time with Savage Worlds. Even with the "right" tools, like a module, etc., D&D just gets too complicated. I think it's really why nobody I know will DM it.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Who's the Master?

Everyone says they like to play D&D but nobody wants to DM it.

I actually prefer DMing to playing, however I do take brief (player) stints to recover from DM burnout.

-Samir

 

[Lordgrae]

I prefer to play over DM. I enjoy the concept of advancing my character, collecting loot, being heroic, etc. But I don't mind DMing, so when ever I'm trying to get a group together, I generally volenteer to DM. I do prefer to run pre-written adventures, and I should note, I miss the Box sets from 2E.

Grae

 

[reanjr]

That may sound like a lot of "minutae" bit it is all stuff you need to consider when creating a 18th level wizard. How common are they in your world?

Generally the number of NPCs of a particular level can be expressed by the equation:

N = d*A / (|L - P| + 0.1) * R

where,
N is the number of NPCs
L is the level of the NPCs
d is the population density of the region the party is in
A is the are of the region the party is in
P is the average level of the party
R is Reanjr's constant. This value varies by campaign but is generally in the range (0.1, 0.8)

Strangely, with high values of R, there can be more NPCs than there is population. This rarely bothers anyone and it can easily be explained that the current number of NPCs in the region is due to the PC Attraction effect, wherein creatures and NPCs are invariably drawn towards PCs from distant lands.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Heck, need an NPC fully statted? The NPC wiki has somewhere near 1000 NPC's right now, sorted by level. What more do you need?

Don't forget the sample NPCs with every single PrC WotC prints. Not all of them are the "best" way to get into the class I suppose, but they are there.

 

[frankthedm]

High-level D&D becomes more like a superhero comic book than a traditional sword & sorcery fantasy, and if the DM takes this to heart and runs with it then running the game at such levels becomes much easier, IMO.

IMO thats a deal breaker. If a book, game or movie changes genre halfway through, I find a new one.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I usually DM for my group. Latley another member of our group has started to really take a shot at DMing.
I'd prefer to play about 50% of the time and DM the other 50% (not the same game though). It looks like my ideal might finally be attainable.

The longer you DM the easier it gets too. I can fully stat out a high level character very quickly these days, as long as I have some general idea what kind of NPC I'm trying to make.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

While I prefer to play if given the chance, I also enjoy DMing very much. There is a certain thrill to running a game that goes really well, where you know everyone had a great time, that playing does not give you. That, conbined with the enjoyment I find in crafting plot points, and role-playing outlandish NPCs, makes DMing very rewarding.

On the Piratecat Scale, I'd be a DM 4 / Play 6.

Recently, our gaming group's main DM's workload (i.e. job responsibilities) increased, and in order to give him more time to prep for our regular D&D game, as well as a chance to play, I started running an alternating week Star Wars d20 game. And I have to say it's been fun getting back in the saddle, though I probably wouldn't be satisfied if I were the sole GM for our group.

To the OP: I haven't really seen a greater reluctance to DM D&D specifically versus other games, though I've definitely seen a reluctance to GM in general, as opposed to play.

 

[catsclaw227]

On Piratecat's scale I am an 8:2 GMer. It's strange, because with the players we have, we're all clamboring to get our chance to GM. We have like 4 or 5 among us and with rotation, that doesn't leave much time for each of us. We have the opposite problem, too many chefs in the kitchen.

The average DnD combat lasts 5 rounds. 10 rounds is a very long one. Thus, the only thing you need when statting up an enemy wizard is 5 spells plus buffs. Add in three or four more spells just in case and you're done. Doesn't matter what level the wizard is now, you only need to be concerned with a small handful of variables.

Unless you truly need to, there is no reason to do a full makeup of an 18th level wizard NPC. It's not important. Figure out the tactics of the encounter first and then tailor the spells to that. If you want the wizard to summon lots of fodder then stand back and blast, have two or three summon monsters ready (the stats are available online), the DC's for a couple or three more spells and then simply repeat. The only thing you need now are the buffs on the wizard.

This is exactly what I do. I was reading this and listen to the concerns of others recanting the problems with high level prep. I actually find that low-level prep is trickier, since you have limited resources to draw from (can't really scale DOWN a mummy very easily) and balancing the sense of wonder and fun factor is tougher.

I believe that the mid-levels are easiest.

Learn to use a computer. Have a stat block prepared and simply cut and paste it into your adventure text. Fill in the blanks. Repeat as needed.

I think that people who complain about the mass of work needed to DM fail to take advantage of the huge amount of shortcuts there are.

Heck, need an NPC fully statted? The NPC wiki has somewhere near 1000 NPC's right now, sorted by level. What more do you need?

I agree 100% -- I use DM Genie and NPC Designer and it takes me about 15 mintues to create a FULLY statted high level NPC and put him in into play. I also use the stat-block shortcut and initiative cards. The WIKI is a huge help and the many-many-many books I have are chock full of NPCs encounters, etc.