D&D General Why do you prefer DMing over Playing?

[Jer]

It's funny - it's really two different games. I enjoy them both but I do prefer DMing. Mostly I think because I'm more used to DMing at this point - I became forever DM at a young age and so I have a lot of practice with it, while playing the game actually puts me outside of my comfort zone a bit.

I like the fun of creating a site/mystery/narrative and seeing how the players grapple with it. And there are lots of pieces of the DMing game that I have fun with away from the table in my own headspace along those lines.

 

[payn]

I enjoy both. Though, I have pretty high standards for GMing a game. I look for GMs that can reach that point, and many can not. Either they are too causal, unprepared, or just uninteresting. Also, I like long running campaigns, and often, they only go long if I am in the GM chair.

I also enjoy scheming and plotting, and usually players are more reactive. I like putting on many types of shoes and imaging how different types of individuals engage plots and other folks. GMing lets me do a lot of this that is, sometimes limited, and/or just more compartmentalized to a single character.

If I find GMs that can meet the standard, and have the fortitude for sticking with it, I try and stick with them as long as possible. These type of GMs can even get me to play systems and genres I dont like!

 

[Vaalingrade]

I like both, but I'm a storyteller by heart and someone who like the whole collaborative storytelling thing.

 

[Seramus]

I enjoy doing both, and feel like it's pretty important to do both to be well rounded at either role. For example, being a DM makes me much more willing to bite at plot hooks and be group-centric as a Player. Being a Player makes me much more aware of pacing and the importance of flexibility as a DM.

 

[Jacob Lewis]

Because I know that I can usually give other players a good experience and a fun time by doing what I do best. When I'm a player, the chances of me actually enjoying the game become a crap shoot.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Why do you prefer DMing over Playing?

1. The power.

2. The bribes. I accept large denomination bills and pizza.*

3. The power. I want it.

4. Screens are cool.

5. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. I love the smell of absolute corruption in the morning ... it smells like VICTORY.


*Certain styles and toppings will be met with extreme prejudice.

 

[DeviousQuail]

I like being active and DMing let's me be active during almost every moment of play. When I'm a player (been doing that a lot lately to give others a chance to DM) there are more times where I have nothing to contribute or I need to be quiet and let others do their thing.

Also the power. I need my fix.

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

I haven't been a player since the 80ies, which is fine since I love being a DM.

The first thing is creative - making a world, creating fun npcs, sketching a framework for plot and story.
And the second thing is reactive - fleshing out detail and direction from the characters actions, have npcs become flesh and blood from interacting with the chars, and keeping me on my toes improving and changing paths mid-step.

We usually have the greatest campaign focus on roleplaying, intrigue and the social pillar, which fit me perfectly.

 

[Ovinomancer]

I took a break recently from DMing a campaign, and another player took the reigns and has been doing a great job running the game. They are creative, descriptive, invite player input...

And I just am not having as much fun!

The truth is, it's a reminder that I loooooove being the DM, and only like being a Player.

I have some thoughts on why this is, but I'm hoping to hear from other people who prefer running the game.

Why do you like being a DM more than being a player?

When you become used to being the primary source of information, moving to a position where you have very limited input can be less fun. This might prompt thinking more broadly than personal appreciation and into consideration of if a better experience for players in general might be possible with a shift in how the GM's role is viewed and executed.

 

[Yaarel]

I like both, but I'm a storyteller by heart and someone who like the whole collaborative storytelling thing.

We take turns DMing, so all of us have a hand in creating the setting.

Moreover, player choices dramatically affect the setting. Often there is a quantum-observer effect, where the unexpected decision by players to go somewhere forces the DM to make something up on the fly, causing it to come into existence.

Also, the DM tries to integrate what the players care about for their characters, into the content for the adventures.