Your gaming experience: are expectations matching the reality?

[EricNoah]

Think about the many games you have participated in over the years as both DM and player. Are the visions and hopes and expectations you have for the gaming experience living up to the reality?

Edit: if you care to comment, perhaps you could address factors contributing to your situation. Why do you think you have high/low expectations? What factors help make the gaming experience better or worse than expected? Etc.

 

[Whisper72]

Sorry, couldn't resist choosing the last option....

Anyhoo, it is somewhat to the point. I make a habit of not expecting too much when playing, and this usually leaves one pleasantly surprised. When I am a DM myself, the expectations I have vary widely with prep-time and effort and the general sense of 'hey, this is cool'. Usually tho, the less I prepare and the more I wing it (and hence, the less I have some sort of idea of what I should expect), the better the game goes...

 

[BlackMoria]

No. Not for the last several campaigns. As DM, I like to run a heroic campaign - real hero stuff. Unfortunately, my players are more mercenary that heroic when it come to their characters.

So my heroic campaign morphs into a mercenary campaign. For once, it would be nice for the characters to do something heroic for the sake of being heroic, instead of demanding compensation or negotiating terms of payment to do the hero thing.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

My expectation is that'll I'll enjoy myself both as a player or as a DM... enjoy some quality, sociable escapism. Have not been disappointed lately.

Although, I've run into a few odd people that don't really gel with my expectations about gamers (and even people in 1 case!). But thats another story and besides it just makes life more 'interesting'...

 

[EricNoah]

I myself have moderate expectations but am often surprised that I had a little more fun than I expected. And sometimes I have a lot more fun than I expected.

 

[dropshadow]

I chose "I have high expectations, and my experiences are usually worse than expected."

But I just think I need to learn more of what my players would like to see in a game. I end up choosing/creating a campaign that is pretty cool in my mind, but I don't think it always meets my groups expectations. I hope to get more feedback next time I run

 

[reveal]

I voted that I usually have moderate expectations and the experience is usually better than I expected.

I look at gaming as open ended. I make expectations as to how I hope things will go, but if they don't go that way that's ok as long as I am having fun. As a DM, I try to give storylines to my players that I think are cool. Sometimes it hits, sometimes it misses. But I always ask for feedback and I try to incorporate that feedback into the next session/campaign.

 

[Henry]

High expectations, average results.

One of these days, I'd LOVE to get into the "deep immersion campaign" of my dreams, with all the players participating, etc. However, I also know that not all players want the same things I do, and don't have the same goals. So in general, I get a session that is about 30% roleplay, 70% combat or strategy or puzzle-solving, etc.

And sometimes, someone will come up with a situation or a monologue that surprises me and everyone else. The most "non-roleplayer" player will sometimes wow me with an inspired action. But in general, we get what we shoot for, and I'm happy.

 

[4everdm]

I prefer to come in somewhere in the middle & leave on a high note, then come in on a high note and leave low

 

[Psion]

I have high expectations but generally don't think that my games live up to my vision.

The players' response, on the other hand, is a different story, in which I have modest expectations and better than expected results, with a few exceptions (mostly one player who is a bit impatient to get the ball rolling... see the inspiring thread.)

I guess I'm just hard on myself.