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

[BookTenTiger]

Uh ... wow. Okay, so you think that economics ignores that there is psychology involved in supply and demand? That economics has never explored ideas like the substitution effect or the income effect? And this is before getting into behavioral economics?

And this is why we don't have nice conversations- economics is the dismal science not because it ignores what people do, but because, far too often, it tells us things about people we don't want to hear.

I assume this is some brilliant analysis of the different between price and "value," right? Oh boy.

I love you Snarf, but I would also love for this to not become a discussion about economics.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I like both, but if I'm being honest, one of the big reasons I prefer DMing is probably because I know my work ethic and that if I'm the DM, I don't have to worry about the DM either flaking or losing steam when they realize that running a campaign is work.

The past 2-3 campaigns I've been a player in have all fizzled out as the DM ghosted on us. Just a few "I'm sorry, I can't run this week" emails and then radio silence. As a DM, I know that's not going to happen - I consider DMing a commitment, and I take those seriously.

 

[payn]

I agree 100% here.

I love being a DM, but I really get the weird willies when I read about people thinking it makes them more important than the other people at the table.

I'm also an elementary school teacher. The moment I start thinking that being a teacher makes me more important than my students is when I fail as a teacher. The classroom isn't about me, it's about the students!

In a similar way, I try to make my D&D games the best possible games for the players. I find no matter my own preferences, if the players are having fun, then I am having fun. I might be running the game I wish I could play in, but if it doesn't work for the players then it drags us all down.

I cant speak for anyone but myself, but when I say my GM standards are high, I am just referring to my preferences. I do believe in constructive criticism for both others and myself. Nobody starts out a great GM, you have to learn and gain experience into how to be one.

I also think certain playstyles can be too disparate for an enjoyable game. For example, some folks like an info dump and get tot he action style of game. Just dungeon crawl, level, rinse and repeat. Nothing wrong with that, but not what I'm looking for in a game. As GM or player in such a situation I need to find out if my compromise level is within tolerance, or if its just better to excuse myself. YMMV.

 

[Guest 7034872]

I'm also an elementary school teacher. The moment I start thinking that being a teacher makes me more important than my students is when I fail as a teacher. The classroom isn't about me, it's about the students!

I have spent fifteen years as a college professor and still cannot figure out why so few teachers and professors understand this. My impression is it's worse among professors, but that's just an impression.

 

[BookTenTiger]

For myself, there are three main reasons why I prefer being a DM over a player:

1) Attention Span:

I honestly have trouble sitting and focusing while playing! I'm usually drawing in my notebook, playing with dice and miniatures, etc. In my last long-term campaign as a player, I purposefully played a wizard who never cast damaging spells because I knew I would want to take time to think about how I could use illusions and utility magic to help in combat!

As a DM, my mind is always occupied. I'm always thinking a few steps ahead, engaging with players, checking and rewriting my notes... I hardly have time to get up to pee or drink a beer (maybe there's a connection there?), and after a good session I have that wonderful tired feeling of having my mind fully occupied for a few hours.

2) Endless Creativity

I love, love, love the creativity of running a game... especially between sessions! Others have mentioned making maps, and the design aspect is really fun for me.

When I start a new campaign, my brain is just on fire with all the possibilities. It's a fun process to coral all those wild thoughts into the format of a D&D setting.

During the campaign, I really enjoy thinking through what's happened, what's ahead, and how I can adjust the game to be an even better experience for the players. It's endless creativity, and I love that.

3) Showing my Friends a Good Time

I play almost exclusively with my friends, and it's honestly one of the greatest feelings when they have a good time playing in a game I'm running. It's the same feeling I get when I invite friends over for a homemade meal (if I roll well in the kitchen), or take a friend on a special hike or bike ride. D&D gives me that unique ability to craft a really fun experience for my friends, and I love it.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I have spent fifteen years as a college professor and still cannot figure out why so few teachers and professors understand this. My impression is it's worse among professors, but that's just an impression.

Probably because the lessen age disparity makes it way more about power dynamics.

People don't need to feel the need to feel superior to children, but once you're in front of a bunch of adults, the urge to assert dominance starts to kick in.

 

[BookTenTiger]

I like both, but if I'm being honest, one of the big reasons I prefer DMing is probably because I know my work ethic and that if I'm the DM, I don't have to worry about the DM either flaking or losing steam when they realize that running a campaign is work.

The past 2-3 campaigns I've been a player in have all fizzled out as the DM ghosted on us. Just a few "I'm sorry, I can't run this week" emails and then radio silence. As a DM, I know that's not going to happen - I consider DMing a commitment, and I take those seriously.

We had this issue in our long-running weekly game, and one solution we came up with was to fully commit to the group always playing. It meant that if the DM couldn't make it to a game, even last minute, someone else would be ready to run a one-shot, or host a different game.

It honestly saved our group!

 

[BookTenTiger]

Probably because the lessen age disparity makes it way more about power dynamics.

People don't need to feel the need to feel superior to children, but once you're in front of a bunch of adults, the urge to assert dominance starts to kick in.

This is getting wildly off topic, but I've also found that education reform happens from the bottom-up. That is, new curricula, teaching strategies, or educational models will start in elementary school, then slowly trickle up to high school, then maybe (but most likely not) make it to college.

 

[Guest 7034872]

Never mind--I'm rambling now.

 

[iserith]

We had this issue in our long-running weekly game, and one solution we came up with was to fully commit to the group always playing. It meant that if the DM couldn't make it to a game, even last minute, someone else would be ready to run a one-shot, or host a different game.

It honestly saved our group!

The way my regular group does it, there are 8 members, 3 of whom DM on a rotating basis, and only 5 player seats per session. So if a DM can't make it one week for some reason, then another DM just runs their campaign. The limit on seats means that it's very rare when we don't have quorum (which we set at 4) and any above 5 end up spectating. Outside of planned Friday's off for the holidays, there's never a cancelled session.