Ask a GM [07/07/08]: Motivation to be a GM

[Farcaster]

Our first question for the Ask a GM section comes from Dimthar (http://www.penandpapergames.com/forums/member.php?u=94). I thought this would make a great start to getting to know our new GM Panel.

Dimthar asks,

1) Why Did You Decide to "Play" the GM?

2) Do You Miss Playing a "PC"?

[gdmcbride]

I enjoy both being a game master and a player. Right now I am lucky enough to be doing both. Running and playing a game are not diametrically opposed ends of a spectrum. We are partners, all in this together. We are building an adventure.

But the GM does have one important duty and contribution that no player gets to make – you set the ground rules. You decide where we will begin play and how the world works. It’s like building a wind-up toy. After you set it free, you can never be exactly sure where it is going to go or how long it will take to wind down. Perhaps you try to steer it, but these contraptions are notoriously prone to jumping even the best laid tracks.

Here then is my motivation – I love seeing what players do with my wind-up toy. I’ve got a world and some conflict, sure. But how will the players respond when things spin out of control? Will they run for their very lives, taking cover from this teapot tempest? Or will they be heroes and save the town?

We’ll see.

Gary

[cplmac]

I basically became the DM by default, since when I got back home to PA, noone there knew how to run a game, but they wanted to play. Voila, instant DM.

Actually, since the DM runs the NPC's, we are actually getting to play also. It's just that at the same time, we are also the referee. I agree with mcbride, the players and the DM are partners in building the adventure together. We each build off of what the other does and says.

[Anaesthesia]

I had a similar issue as cplmac did-I could find players now and again, but no one wanted to DM. I ended up caving, and buying a DMG; and borrowing Monster Manuals the game store where we played. I do like creating some of my larger NPCs-and agree with cplmac:

Actually, since the DM runs the NPC's, we are actually getting to play also. It's just that at the same time, we are also the referee. I agree with mcbride, the players and the DM are partners in building the adventure together. We each build off of what the other does and says.

One thing that helps me is something I borrowed from the "I, Robot" movie-what the players do with "breadcrumbs" of information or coincedences I leave. Will they take things on face value or try to figure it out? Are there enough breadcrumbs to make a clearer picture? Do they suddenly remember that weird guy from the last town has information they need?

[grimwell]

Hi :)

1) Why Did You Decide to "Play" the GM?

When I was first introduced to gaming it was D&D and it wasn't with people I could game with again. So when I got home, knowing that I wanted more, I bought the "red box" and just went from there. I had to teach my friends to play, so I ended up being the GM by merit of making others play.

2) Do You Miss Playing a "PC"?

Nope. I've been quite lucky over the years, especially after high school, and there has always been someone to run a game I could play in -- while I ran a game they could play in. Tandem GM's, shifting campaigns every so often, etc. that sort of stuff can provide Heavenly breaks.

[Webhead]

1) Why Did You Decide to "Play" the GM?

For me, I think GMing was a much more deliberate choice. As soon as I had gotten a taste for RPGs via a friend putting me through a couple of rules-less D&D adventures, I realized how cool it must be to be the one to create those adventures. Ultimately, I was also the oldest of the kids in our earliest of groups and thus was deemed "most qualified" to be GM, and I ended up being the one to pick up the books, read them, and teach everybody else how to play.

I have no regrets being a GM as much as I have. To tell the truth, I love GMing and if I go too long without it, I start to get anxious, like a junkie needing a fix. I'm a story-teller at heart. I love stories and I love to create them and watch the reactions of the people who experience them. As GM, you're responsible for a much more sizable portion of the story of a game than a player portraying a single PC. It can mean a lot of extra work, but it can also bring great rewards.

2) Do You Miss Playing a "PC"?

Occasionally. I've been fortunate that there was almost always some alternate or secondary game that was being run by someone else that I got to participate in as a player. I like playing and GMing both, so it is nice to have a balance of the two when possible.

One of the biggest advantages of GMing is that you get to be the one to choose how your game comes together. What genre or system to use, what kind of stories you're going to tell, what kinds of ideas your players will consider when making their PCs. In this way, a GM may get to "play" games that he wouldn't otherwise get to if no one else in the group is willing to run them. It's the old addage that's been mentioned on the boards a few times: "You tend to run the kinds of games you wish you could play in".

[Farcaster]

Why did I decide to take up the role of Game Master? Well, at first it was a matter of necessity. It was hard enough to find other gamers anywhere near my age range when I was a fledgling roleplayer of twelve. So, you will understand when I say it was nearly impossible to find willing and able bodies to take the GM chair. It was a lot easier to induct my friends if I was willing to run the game anyway.

After many years, I found that being the storyteller was were I was most comfortable. I've actually gamed as a player with only a handful of GMs. Of the admittedly few campaigns I have played in, there is only one that I miss today. And that is a credit to how incredibly well done and enjoyable the story was. Therein lies the crux of it, I imagine. As a GM, I run a very story driven game. I just don't like episodic or poorly strung together campaigns, and I loathe modules. If I run the game, I know exactly the kind of game I am going to get...

So, do I miss being a player? I guess I don't look at it that way. I feel like I am as much a player in my games as, well, my players. I may put together a scenario for the characters to overcome, but the turns the story takes based on the direction the players choose is often as much of a surprise to me as it is to them. Not to mention the satisfaction-factor of putting together a story or memorable characters that my group talks about for months or even years to come is a real high.

[gered]

I like stories... That's really all it is for me, I am story focused in a role-playing game to the point where most PCs can get annoyed at how little hack there is. And I personally don't like the ways the rules sometimes get in the way of the story I am trying to cooperatively write with the players.

Also, I am less competitive and want a more cooperative storytelling experience, mainly where the players have some say over how the story is written and they don't assume the DM's job is to stop them or beat them.

So, because of that most games where I am a player suck for me because it's an endless chain of fights strung together with a story designed to lead to repeat combats crescendoing in a final fight and it's just a matter of figuring out which link you are on.

I've been playing with Farcaster as a player for a while now and he is great though.

[nijineko]

motivation... the elephants which lure men into diplomacy. ^^ (bonus points for anyone who recognizes the obsure bujold reference...) ;D

i'll toss in my two coppers.... i have various reasons, obvious and not so. my hobby is world-building, so gm-ing is a natural extension of that. combined with my perchant for storytelling, well... let's say that it feels pretty comfortable. i'll also toss in one of the more unusual observations on motivations that are likely common to any of the judeo-christian belief tree, or any other faith that holds certain similar beliefs. since God has declared that we are the children of same, what is more natural than children mimicing activities of the adult that they are offspring of?

i frequently play an npc party member. i enjoy playing from the different points of view simultaneously. so i don't usually feel the bite of wanting to only play. sort of like playing both sides of the chess board vs onesself.

[wizard_in_motley]

1) Why Did You Decide to "Play" the GM?

No one else was willing to run the game so being a 'take charge' kind of person, I started whipping up simple stories to run. I


2) Do You Miss Playing a "PC"?

I tried to play recently and it's just not the same. When you're running the game you are 100% occupied by what's going on, as a player I'm finding my mind wanders a lot.

Getting the NPCs to play is fine with me. I make sure they aren't a pushover for the characters, I've been told that makes things much more engaging.

[Engar]

Heh, I am not one of the panel, but being a little ornery I’ll chime in anyway...

I chose to be a GM because I was the first to have books and was excited to put them to use. I suppose some of that remains as my reason to GM today. I like to play enough not to mind working for it and someone always has to go first. I admit the control can be nice too. I get to run a game to my standards (even if I do not always meet them).

It is hard on some GMs to run a fun game with which I am very familiar. I am hard to surprise or fool since I know most monsters weaknesses and strengths whether I act on that information or not and must restrain myself from educating when I know something they might need to look up or deliberate. That said, I love playing in games I know very little about with a good GM who can make the world come to life.

[Samy]

1) Nobody else seemed to want to. Plus, that way I could have the house rules and campaign plots that *I* wanted to do. I've yet to be give the opportunity to decide the house rules or plots for any campaign I've participated in as a player. It's always the DM. So, if I like a specific kind of game with specific kind of house rules, being the DM is the best way to ensure that.

2) Yes, I'd love to be a player again, but there aren't many groups in my area, plus it would mean having to give up on being able to determine what kind of game to run. Still, I'd do it (and have done it) if I got the opportunity.

[Stormhound]

1) Why Did You Decide to "Play" the GM? At first because it looked so cool. After that, I was simply hooked. And I love the "windup toy" analogy; I feel much the same way.

2) Do You Miss Playing a "PC"? Nope. There are times I've had fun playing, mostly moments here and there, but in the case of GMing it's more like almost always having a grand time, with only some moments that were really unpleasant. With that in mind, it's pretty obvious on which side of the screen I truly belong.

[Engar]

Where the heck is Turku? Or is that Turkey? Either way if you found a group you are a star in my book! I remember long standing house rules we hashed out as a group back in 2e. Quick rulings were not up for discussion during game.

[Thoth-Amon]

I use to love playing the PC, but now i am more into world building, and that means being the DM. I believe in time, if one plays long enough, they usually will side with the GM's.

Thoth-Amon

[geekgazette]

I pretty much started GMing when I was a kid and have been doing it ever since. I have always been the writer in the group so everyone kind of makes me GM by default no matter the group or game.
I have been able to play a PC a few times in my gaming life and I do like sitting on the other side of the screen, but rarely get to do so. Somehow I get asked to run a game, everyone seems to have fun and then no one ever wants to be the GM anymore, so I get stuck with it.

[Samy]

Turku is in Finland (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=turku+finland&ie=UTF8&ll=51.508742,-45.703125&spn=74.614794,153.984375&z=3) :)

[jade von delioch]

i started to GM out of need, I had just moved to portland, oregon and couldn't find any current games of what i wanted to play. Plus i have been working on my own system that i will likely get published in the next year or two that i needed play tested.

I do miss playing, i wish sometimes that some else could run my game so i could just play. I do, however, play in a game during the week that a friend is running so i do get to play a little. but that may end here soon since i can't take my daughter everywhere it seems.

[Stormhound]

Turku is in Finland (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=turku+finland&ie=UTF8&ll=51.508742,-45.703125&spn=74.614794,153.984375&z=3) :)

Norman is in Ireland...

[MadDogMaddux]

Eh, I started GMing because there was no games running in my area at a time slot I could play. I figured at worst, my players will fire me and one of THEM will run. At best, it'll end up being a fun campaign. After I got started gearing up for the campaign, I found I'm really enjoying it!

Do I miss playing as a PC? Naturally. Fortunately, I'm hooked up with a good crew of online PbP gamers, and so get to still get somewhat of that fix - thought it's not fully the same.

[Priest]

1) Why Did You Decide to "Play" the GM?
I received my first gaming books from my father when I was 8. He was a GM for my friends and I for a while, but then he had to do another tour outside the U.S. So, I took over. I didn't know much at the time, but I tried to mimic my father. I was more of a Monty Haul version of him. This continued on and off until I met a group in High School. I was a player for a little bit, and then one day I took the spot behind the screen. I've been there ever since, with different people, and different groups.

2) Do You Miss Playing a "PC"?
Occasionally, I'll be a PC in a game, but it is never satisfying to me. I love being the guy who makes the world, who runs the stories and adventures. I love it when players come up to me and get all nostalgic about a game I ran, or something amazing they did in my game. Yeah, I was there, but those "Oh no, not another PC story" moments go away when it's someone talking about one of my games, moments later, or years later.

I'm hoping to join a group again, as I took a sad hiatus from TT gaming, though I still played online. I'll be the player again, but as soon as someone lets me run one again, I'm off like a damned lightning bolt.

[ZTORMBRINGER]

When i started there was many more obsticales to cross then just what character i wanted to play... there was racial tention and the usual Geeks vs Jocks... lol. I just happen to be both which made me cool among my geek friends and as much as the Jocks tried to turn me... well a geek... and i was proud to be one... my friends (not the Jocks) started calling me a unique geek you see... I was bused in to an all white school from the mean streets of L.A., intergration they called it... lol Well where i lived D&D was unheard... when i saw these white kids playing this game... i asked... what it was... at first a few guys were very nervous about even talking to me... i was black and they were white... and there had be people with misunderstood hate in their hearts protesting with signs telling us (black people) to go home... I don't think they like the idea of black kids going to an all white school... lol the idea that we are different automatical some how is crazy... i believe as humans we create our own respect value by our actions... never the less.
A few said that i wouldn't be interested in it... but i replied... "Well i'm am that's why i asked..." One guy took pitty on me i guess... he said... hey let him try... so i sat down and he gave me the rough draft... here play this fighter... they are the easiest to use... As a new player they figured i didn't know what to do... but the truth is I've always had an over active imagination... i was the kid who played by himself with his action figures and had ongoing story lines and every time i would play i would pick up where i left off... like "last time when we were here" lol... also... I had been watching them the whole time while i was hiding in the library... and i over heard what they were doing so... when we were playing... (i remember it like it was yesterday...) we came upon some bad men sacking and burning a town... there was a paladin with us who at that point was unsure what to do... so i spoke up... "You there! you shall pay for the evil you've done here!" I looked at the DM... I draw my sword and with a swing over my head i slam it into the guy who looks the toughest... lol All the guys looked at me in shock... and a few of the guys who weren't sure it was a good idea to let me play burst out in Rp... "Yes... brother let us give them what for" "Alright get'em"... from that day forward my life was changed, i knew this was my life... and whenever i was not playing D&D i was ****ing up... in life... and when i was, i was focus... so know i play it... I DM it, I write it... and it keeps me focused on what matters... friends and family... and living your life to enjoy it... All those guys (save one)... we are all still best friends to this day... 27 some odd years... none of them play in my game but we talk about what was everytime we get together... as you know life sometime changes people and what they once love is not so important anymore... for me... it is my life... it is what i love to do... it is my hobbie and my mental stimulance... RPG is what makes me happy. Stories the characters go through and the choices they make... wither it be for love or for war is what grips me and embraces me...

As for which one i like the most DMing or PCing? In my game... I am doing both... the only differance is as a player i only have one character... as a DM i am the world... and each voice, each emotion i get to enjoy it (selfish huh?)... but in return the players also get to enjoy it and effect those emotions and live as they see fit... but be carefull... for there is a rule that never fades "For every action there is a reaction" cause and effect...

Sorry for the long rant/testamonial... the question struck me...
*bow*


ZTORM!!!

[Obah Bason]

1) Why Did You Decide to "Play" the GM?
I like to tell stories. It is a great creative outlet especially when I don't even know what the outcome will be since the players are in control of their own destinies. What if they don't save the princess? Well, lets find out!

2) Do You Miss Playing a "PC"?
I still play, but I play Star Wars and then DM 4.0. It's kinda nice to separate 2 interests on 2 levels. I run a fantasy game, and play in a sci fi game. I rarely confuse the 2 since they are so different in both aspects.

[Talmek]

I suppose I became a GM by default. My players didn't really want to dedicate the time needed to learn the rules and I was fascinated with the books and the game mechanics (didn't matter how they played in practice). It could truly be called "Win-Win".

I don't really miss being a player. Actually, I never really got to play in a D&D campaign, just DM a few different campaigns. I did get to participate in a WoD campaign (VtM) as a player, but that was really all the experience on the far side of the screen that I have.

[chosenderrick]

I decided to become a GM because I frankly got sick of playing in games that were inconsistent with rules and fluidity of game play.

Sure everyone wants to have fun, but when it's time for game; let's focus on the game. I've been apart of so many games where the GM/DM's talk about current events, what they had to drink last night, female troubles and such the like. No offence, I don't want to hear all of that. We can talk about that the other 6 days of the week.

As it relates to the rules, I have a problem with favortism. What goes for one should go for all. I believe I'm a fair GM and will remember how it feels to be shorted or jipped in a game.

[coffeedragon]

DMing became a matter of neccessity for me. As a player, I had an insatiable need to try EVERYTHING. Every character type and variation. I was killing off my characters just so i could try something new almost every week! :lol:
As DM, I got to pick and choose as I pleased, as well as setting up the campaign, designing the world, etc. It was a match made in heaven :D

I still play once in a while and quite enjoy it because it's with the same group. I think they still tend to think of me as DM, so I sort of become the party Leader by default. :o

[bltzkrg242]

I choose to DM to get a story told.
I love to play and at times I hand over the DM reins to another player so I can get that out and about but I like the scheming and plot creation aspect and I like creating more detail to my custom world that comes with interaction with the players. The more they do, the more detail that part of Taern gets.

[Thoth-Amon]

My preference sides with GM'ing. Though i will admit that i have become tolerant of many different gaming styles due to all the playing i have done over the years.

Thoth-Amon

[TAROT]

1) Why Did You Decide to "Play" the GM?
Originally, it was 'cause it was my box, and I was the only one who had read the rules.

2) Do You Miss Playing a "PC"?
As GM, I get to look at the world through a dozen viewpoints over the course of a session, which keeps things fresh. I don't really have enough focus to maintain one character for a full session.

[Zeneak]

By the look of things a lot of people here had the same fall in as i did. For me i had a friend who had no job but had gotten me interested in playing DnD. i went out and bought the core rule book set and handed them over, rolled a character after reading through the PHB and was ready to go... but my 'DM' was infact a player through and through. so i had spent near one hundred dollars for my friend to say he couldn't do it. so i took the books and said "alright! then roll a character i'm running it."

as for missing being a player, i never got an indepth chance to play DnD as a player, i have gotten to be a player in vampire and mage the ascention recently.. but i have never yet been a player for DnD to date.

[drewshi]

My two cents:

It's the power thing, first and foremost.

I could say how nobody else wanted to do it, or that I had the most source material, or how I write in general and enjoy world building, and these are all true, but it really all comes down to control.

Since I DMed by first campaign, I've never been able to really sit still as a player.

[raven21]

I didm't decide tostart being a GM I did it out of need of a GM and yes I miss playing I would much rather play then run any day.

[Etarnon]

1) Why Did You Decide to "Play" the GM?
When I was 11, in 1977, I had just seen Star Wars. I discovered Roleplaying via Traveller not AD&D like most of those people back in the day.

I liked the idea that I could with a few dice rolls, create an entire planet. With a few more a subsector. With a calculator, and some charts I could detail that planet down to individual neighborhoods of a local starport, or detail the ecology, enough that a casual visit by PCs gave them the feel of a unique place.

So I guess, I do it because I like maps, and I like being a worldbuilder. I like working on my games, even when nobody is playing.

I like writing plots, creating NPCs, and describing space battles.

2) Do You Miss Playing a "PC"?
No, I play a PC still. I like taking a rest from all the fine detail work that I do on my own games, so that I can generate a PC, think about motivations, and goals and character, and bring a sheet, some dice, and a few books to a game, and be entertained with a lot less work.

I like seeing how each player will do things waaay different than I would, in the same situation. I like being part of a problem solving team. I like the imagined battles, whatever. I get to be an actor, in a group of performers (I've done voice acting for little internet films / sketches on youtube and such.)

[Loftower]

Why did I start as a GM? Pure curiosity, I suppose: I wanted to try it. For a long time, I wasn’t particularly good at it. I wrote my first good campaign (the first one that I would run again now), after six years of mediocrity. Since then, GMing has been more-or-less expected of me.

Do I miss playing a character? Yes. I haven’t run a PC in a tabletop game in over 10 years now. I have my NPCs, of course, and I try to RP in computer games, but it’s not the same.