Nu-D&D has a DM crisis because it misinforms as to what a DM is. RU-vid, Twitch, WotC, and 3rd parties give the impression the DM is a novel writer or movie director. That massively over complicates the role. It is not the DM's job to tell the story, that is what the dice are for. The DM is a narrator for what the dice reveal or determine. If the DM wants to indulge their creativity they can be a world builder. That doesn't have to be complex either. Start small, use generation tables, expand with as you gain experience.
Would help if the dm has an actual clue what they’re doing! Getting bored so they jump settings where someone else is running their game despite them being set on entirely different worlds as a plot point, but why bother with such things when you can’t even run one shot games properly either!
Dungeon Master Requirements: Want-To Prime requisite: Imagination Hit Dice: 1d6 Maximum level: 14 Armour: Any, including plot Weapons: Any weapons, including Lachober Fudgery and Are-You-Sure +3 Languages: Alignment, Common, Puns, and the Same Three Accents which are Actually Movie Character Impersonations
Seeing and hearing the enjoyment of the players in the game you are running is a helluva drug. On the flipside, if the players can't be bothered to clear their schedules to show up, that tends to tank the creativity.
Great point about the DM getting to play everyday! That’s exactly what sucked me back into DMing. I was stuck as a forever-DM for 20 years straight, and for long I lamented it, always wondering “What is it like to sit at the other end of the table?” Now that I’ve finally had the chance to be a player in a game over the past year and I finally got a taste of what I was missing, it made me all-the-more eager to get back in the DM’s seat.
I would give this video a superlike, if I could. I have been DM'ng for 38 years, and it is a labor of love. Players really don't appreciate all the effort/or money that is sunk into this hobby. I don't think that AI will replace the DM any time soon, but who knows. Thanks for another amazing video.
I’m in my 37th year of DMing with 35 with the same group (we’ve been playing since we were in middle school). Labor of Love doesn’t quite cover it. I write the vast majority of my own content with some prepared content thrown in. I use some AI to augment my own work but we’re a long way off from having it replace human DMs. My players know how much time I put in but still don’t quite have an appreciation for the investment of oneself in the build out of interesting and engaging worlds.
My wife wanted me to run Starfinder, no problem, everyone had a book or access to the book We only game every two weeks for about 4 hours a game, Finally, everyone leveled up, and the next gaming session, no one, not one updated their characters, no one reached out to ask about updating their characters, no one seemed concerned about it, I was and still am crushed, did I fail so poorly as a GM, I kept reminding my wife about it, she is on facebook constantly with her friends In The group, .... Am I asking too much, hoe much hand holding must I do?
@@stefanjakubowski8222 did you make it clear you expect them to level up between sessions? for example, in my game I don't expect PCs to do that (AD&D) and let them use the session to level up and do treasure splits, etc. I don't mind as I see that as part of the game and its very quick compared to say 5e or Pathfinder. We also play weekly for 4 hours. If you told them to prep between each session, then yeah, they are being thoughtless and ungrateful and taking you for granted. Typical of players (my wife plays with me and she sometimes falls into this habit which I correct).
@solomani5959 yeah, I explained they leveled up, and what to do, ....I still feel responsible for being a bad GM. It is the first time in decades I feel this poorly about it...
During the Age of Covid, I was tasked with running a campaign on a VTT for some friends who have never played DnD before, it sapped my creativity and motivation to continue the game. I've never ran a game on a VTT before, but it was extremely overwhelming and cumbersome. I had to sadly axe the game and move on. Mainly because they wanted me to buy digital books/invest into the VTT to make their player experience better. Fast forward to this year, my old friends who I've been playing TTRPGs with since 1997 got together and started a in person BECMI campaign. Its the most fun I've had GMing a game in a long while.
It may sound silly, but one of the most hurtful things I've had happen as a DM was in a 5e campaign when I asked my friends to level up by themselves between sessions just to have more time during game night. Not a single one of my 5 players did. I ended up spending one and a half hours looking at my friends mumbling to themselves trying to choose their new spells and abilities. It made me see how thankless DMing can be sometimes. I had to write an adventure, draw a map, read and alter stat blocks, clean my house before and after the game and they couldn't even be bothered to take half an hour out of their week for our shared hobby. It's not that it's a lot of effort, it's that it's disproportionate.
It is completely understandable that this would hurt your feelings. On one level it’s the lack of willingness to do anything. On another level it’s a willingness to let you suffer through a dull half hour while they do something that they could have easily done on their own.
The best table rule I've ever encountered - and have adopted is that "Every one takes a turn behind the screen". It doesn't have to be in the same campaign, or it could be one shot when the regular DM needs a break, but this makes every player appreciate what it means to DM a game. And I've noticed a difference between Players with and without "screen time".
I tend to agree with your assessment of DMs for Hire, and why I don't think I could do it. I've thought about it, but the constant worry that I'm delivering the product they want would deminish the experience. Kudos to those who can do it, and do it well, but not for me. As for DMing in general, yes, it's super rewarding, and doesn't have to be the workload slog that most people think it is. You can bring a good game with moderate prep that doesn't eat up any more time than you want to (or are able to) put into it.
I think there’s only so much of a concept of it being a slog due to the increase of people anticipating a Critical Roll/Dimension20-type pre-planned plot-heavy game, rather than embracing more sandbox/emergent narrative gameplay. I’ve noticed a lot of people that want the DM to do *all* the heavy lifting of not only crafting a world, but every storybeat within it (this seems to mostly be a problem with 5E, but I’ve noticed it started rearing its head even back in the 3.5 days). So there’s an influx of players who heap all the responsibility of the game on the DM, and by proxy a heap of would-be DMs that are overwhelmed by the preconceived demands of the playerbase. I think the further you move away from 5E, the less of a problem this is, as I’ve noticed far more people in the “old-school” gaming communities, or the more niche RPGs, tend to be a lot more down for emergent gameplay and narrative, as well as eagerly helping the DM do some of the worldbuilding, and actively wanting to build the story together through in-game actions. (Take all this with a grain of salt, of course. This is all just through the lens of my quite narrow perspective.)
@@fletcherw32 I don't disagree, I just don't want to do it myself. I am happy running my personal games for players who aren't customers. I certainly don't cast judgment on those who do or can make a living from it.
@vore You're not wrong here. But 5e isn't necessarily the culprit - the narrative based sessions have been a thing for a long time. Even as a kid, I would craft stories for my players rather than just let things play out. The issue, as you say, is in player expectation where they haven't seen a more emergent style of play - and think that plotting out the beats is how it's done. One can only show players (and DMs) other styles... and hope it catches on. 🤔
@@Merlinstergandaldore That’s actually precisely what I’m in the process of doing for my new group, and so far they’re loving it! :D Seeing all the lil gears turn in their head, and how excited they get to thoroughly plan things and try out all new whacky ideas is so fun and rewarding for me. The only games they’ve ever played in have been plot-heavy, pre-written 5E games, and I’m slowly starting to open their mind to the alternatives!
This video did resonate with me to an extent. I was definitely that DM that bought all the campaigns and books for my players, along with the subscription fee to add lighting and sound. I would also put in that effort to create note card sized explanations for all the rules, to include stuff like how darkness affects darkvision or how suffocation/drowning works. I stopped all of that because of 2 different circles of players. The 1st online group decided they wanted a super power fantasy. I was nice and gave them access to my whole digital collection of books till they started to bad mouth me and my DM style where actions actually have consequences. Second group decided they wanted to run their own organized play and said “we got enough DMs right now. Wait till after we publish our organized play rules for DMs”. Every week they are still asking the same people to DM but now don’t have enough to run new games or fill in when people are sick. No organized play rules for DMs are posted after 3 months of running weekly games.
My experience is that players also don't remember details later. All that work, lost to the mists of forgetfulness. But they remember their characters, & they remember having a great time getting to be them. My mom told me once: Your friends won't remember what you said to them or did for them, they will remember how you made them feel.
I’ve been playing since the purple (?) box and DMing since the red box. Everything you said is spot on. I’ll only add that in my experience there is a big crossover with a project manager skill set - thankless job, never get credit, get all the blame, organizational skills, stakeholder management, time management etc.
This video summarizes the issue very well. I'm lucky enough to DM for a group that both shares in the financial burden & shows appreciation for the amount of work I put into the game. One of the players even ran a two-shot recently, with another planning to run an adventure in the coming weeks. This video made me appreciate my gaming group even more than I already did!
Being a GM has long since become my main creative outlet. Even when I'm on a break (as I am right now), I'm still jotting down ideas, fleshing out locations, testing mechanics, thinking about histories, and so on. Most of that work never gets used, and I'm okay with that. I still enjoyed creating it, and now and again I enjoy going back through my files and revisiting old campaigns or ideas. That said, the killer of my enjoyment is usually real-world stuff, as you mention. Scheduling is not the worst, but it's recurring. Trying to cater to players with very different tastes is harder to deal with, but it crops up less often.
The only thing I find a tough pill to swallow is player apathy. If I'm making all this effort to bring something of quality then the least my players can do is turn up ready to play.
My group actually had this talk some sessions ago, the topic brought up by the players. I was very grateful for that. My response was about the same as yours and you sum up the joy of DM'ing perfectly IMO. . Also I am thankful for my players, as they are validating the economic investment I put into books and supplements. If I had no one to DM for I probably wouldn't have the joy of buying and reading through all the creative splendour I find in modern OSR RPG publications, kickstarters and old retro stuff. Shelf is getting richer and richer with quality books. I can see my self on my deathbed to my kids: "Treasure the books! Keep making your saving throws and never quit DM'ing!!"
Amen. I let, even requested, that my players create their own homw worlds as part of their backstories, to participate in some laying foundations for future adventures. Who did it? The hardest part of GMing is managing expectations.
"Play every day"....that says it all for me as a D&D DM. The thrill of developing nations, histories, multiverses....cutting and pasting from published materials aplenty while adding dashes of homebrew....I obtain adventures and supplemental materials for the enjoyment of the reading and the synthesizing of adventure paths in my head. If those paths are never ultimately played, then ok. But if they are, then so much the better.
Long ago, I forever DMed for a group in which I poured all my creativity and drive--and they couldn't care less. At least, those that could stay awake. One player's eternal refrain was, "Why are we doing this?" Another's was "What's going on?" in the middle of combat. Worst of all, I felt like I was being taken for granted. Talk about ramming your head on the (gaming) table. After years of frustration, I finally walked and never looked back. What kept me going through the lean years was a second group I had on the side, where the players were engaged and always ready for the next session. (And one where I could finally play for once). Years later, I was contacted by two of my old-timers from my old nightmare group, stuck with the dubious honor of being forever DMs in my absence (and by now equally burned out). They quit, and the first thing they did was reach out to me. We take turns running a variety of games so none of us ever burn out. (As for purchasing supplements...I wish I could post pictures of my 1E/2E/3.0-3.5 libraries ... Lots and lots of 💵)
This was a good one. And to answer your question I do feel appreciated. I run 3 games, and all 3 are with lifelong friends and family I'm running all of them side by side in Mystara so i can have players swap between party and days if scheduling becomes an issue. We are using 5e rules (it just the system my players prefer. It makes little difference to me )
I like DMing (or planning campaigns as I'm not running the game in our group right now) because I love all the extra stuff, PCs get 13 classes, lots of combos of race subclass mulitclass etc, but the DM gets 100s of NPC stat blocks to use as is or build off of in any way they like. In my group we have some newer players but mostly veterans who have played off and on for 20-30 years, a great thing about the experience level and tendency to optimize the party is that the DM doesn't have to fret as much about balancing a combat encounter and you're free to basically play as any group of NPCs that are interesting to the DM. I think the DM getting to have fun exploring all their extra options in this way is a great perk of DMing.
I have known responsible players who contribute money and dinner for the time, space and materials the DM invests. Not as payment/profit but as a recognition of and contribution to the collective use of resources.
Very well analyzed and said. The external confirmation of the quality of your work is definitely a major driving force, as well as the satisfaction of creating a unique experience for the table. Looking at the bookshelves behind me, a lot of confirmation is needed to compensate. ;-)
Loved the video! I have been a forever GM for nigh on 25 years now, and if there is one thing i've spent most of the more unenjoyable hours on, is player and character clashes. Sometimes people's playstyle don't mesh, which is fine, but sometimes things just escalate to a really shrill level. The amount of "couples therapy" i've conducted during my life as a GM, far exceeds that of all of my friends put together, i suspect! The whole: being an anchor for a group of friends can be just as demanding as creating the plot, people and places of the game. Great vid! :) ❤
Working on an open table setting to forever GM. It’ll be my first time GMing. As long as I get to play outside of solo play I will be happy. Thank you for the discussion. Great food for thought and a valuable discussion to be had.
Modern DMs, "5E D&D has too much stuff!" Me, *Laughs in GURPS* My take: It's not GMs that make most campaigns fail. If anything it's lack of preparation and even participation on the players. Don't expect the GM to spoon feed the players everythng. A real RPG is not like playing Skyrim or World of Warcraft. It requires frontloading your character and actually playing a role and not a human in a comstume. Even if your player is a human you cannot play that character like a 21st century person at a renn fair. GMs too have forgotten the frontloading it takes to run a game. In my own weekly game I have had to invent multiple planets with their own histories and cultures, all the while trying to make them both foreign to modern perspectives and interesting enough to engage the players. Playing an RPG well is not just buying a gazeteer and a module or two and going at it. Being a GM requires effort and committment.
The path and disappointment that is the doom of the DM is not lightly undertaken but you are the builder of worlds and destroyer of Empires.... it has it’s compensations
It's not the rules of 5E that is causing a lack of dungeon masters for that game. Its the overall game and the newer crop of players being cultivated by wotc. I would agree that a game master in general is at their best when surrounded by the right players. It's a cooperate venture and if you don't gel with the group its not going to work.
I consider the following to be the key to a successful group: *- a similar style of gaming.* They have a preference for the same things in an RPG, meaning they enjoy a certain mix of the three, exploration, combat and social interaction. They similarly approach each other. Also, the level of threat, danger and "fantastic realism" the players long for are alike. They look for and accept the same tropes like: Is there slavery,? Is it a "good" feudalism or "bad" *- similar expectations to playing.* What they want from the game is similar, i.e. they all want to drive the story forward, they all want mostly the meeting with friends, they want to just enjoy a time to be over-the-top heroes, they all just want to flee to a simpler world where everything is black and white, they want a game with their characters in backstabbing political intrigue etc. *- similar humour, similar in their general view of life and the contents of their game.* Humour is self-explanatory but the view on life is not. They need to have similar views on what is and is not acceptable as a topic of play and very importantly why it is. If those three do not fit, the group respectively the players will suffer either disappointment, disinterest or dissent.
There is a lot here. And I agree. I'd share this video, but I think my players would see it and think I was angry. But as a DM with an almost 6 year streak, I am well kept. But I gather that is rare. I've had scheduling conflicts regularly for the past 20 years with my players, and I think scheduling is the worst part of the hobby.
It's a real shame about the DM shortage, because I think simply getting into it seems a lot harder than it should be with all the content available online now. You don't need fancy maps, elaborate player backstories, or completely original worlds. Most players really just want a simple, fun fantasy adventure that starts in a tavern where they slay dragons, delve into dungeons, explore the world, and get rich.
I agree. Personally I believe less people want to invest their time in it due to there being other distractions. Couple that with scheduling issues and it can seem an unattractive prospect.
Nice discussion. There will likely only be a fraction of the community truly dedicated to the logistics of the game and being DM, there may be an easy path to just play it online in what is little more than a videogame, but at the tabletop with good DM and players, any RPG is magic.
Mix of my own life situations and uninterested family and friends has mostly sidelined my d&d play over the years. But I was asked to sponsor the new D&d club at the school I teach at and because of your channel I will be running a Becmi game!
It nailed this subject perfectly. Im currently creating a massive campaign world spanning across two planets its been years of my life creating and im stuck with no players mostly due to lame or lazy excuses. Sometimes i wonder why i bother but in truth its a compulsory activity. I just hope that one day ill get to share it.
A well timed video. Our group just recently lost two players to real life conflicts. Thankfully, other players were keen to continue, so we're moving forward with a 3 PC group. That being said, I do agree with your points on game nights being a shared responsibility schedule wise. I've started to tolerate the idea of cancelling game night for other things much less. Whilst I understand something important will disrupte the flow of a calendar, seeing the joint game night as 'first-to-go' when others have it as a social highlight of their week just won't do. As for DM'ing and why, I think my biggest draw is the exploration of the emergent narrative. I've done the big campaigns where I plan stuff out and run it as a game, but hell is that exhausting. Over the last few years I've really been trying and exploring the oracular powers of the dice, and using our innate apophenia to build and construct a whole world and extrapolate potentional narrative beats that otherwise wouldn't have existed. To use a quote; "Many Heads are better than One, but the Dice are Gods unto Themselves," - Someone, probably, somewhere.
I have had to take a step back from DMing as my group really did not buy into the game I was trying to run. I still collect stuff to run but I am not sure whether I can face it.
In my research for this video, I came across Dungeon Master training courses, if you can believe that! The hobby is being used by entrepreneurs positioning themselves as experts to deliver, probably, a sensationalised version of the game. Very sad.
Dungeon Master Training Course? You mean the Dungeon Master book from Mentzers red box, right? There are several companies around my area that prey on newcomers to the hobby offering "paid Dungeon Masters". $20-$35 per session. Ridiculous. I want to set up shop next to them and have a completely free game, making sure the poor saps that are paying know that what they're doing isn't normal.
This just brings wholly to mind just how hard it can be to keep at it, when you've had a player cancel two or three sessions in a row, or when nobody can remember those things that live so vividly in your mind, in and out of session. But, despite being a Forever DM, I have to say the praise does make it feel worth all the trouble, when it comes.
This does resonate with me incredibly! Having groups cancel on me less than half an hour before a game or players just cancel to join another game table without even so much as a message are still the worst experiences I've had in this hobby so far. Incidents like those make me feel like a doormat, there for people to step on.
What a great video! It makes me want to film my own video as a response, but I'll suffice to just thank you for your content. It's really good stuff and helps keep the flame alive for old school gaming.⚔🔥👏
Speaking on behalf of all DMs, I think - You're preaching to the choir! Having said that it's great to have a good group of players. They help bring your NPCs to life. Make the world you created seem real. Defeat the evil plots of your villains. A good group can make it all worthwhile .
Been DM for 25 years or so. My problem is that I never get to play with the players I enjoy playing with anymore, so I have to settle for online strangers. Some are great, some are horrid, but it seems that my games are disposable online. I've been ghosted so often it boggles the mind. The few who gave an exit interview vastly improved my future player retention time, time but I still lose them. As an aside, while I loved it so much, Pathfinder 1e was a much larger time sink than 5e has ever been. 5e isn't that bad compared to it and 3.5.
@@forpenpaluse3339 I changed campaigns too often, too many house rules, I'm rude. The first one, I learned techniques for living and loving in the now, which I'm still working on, but it has improved many aspects of my life. The second one, I warn people that they should expect me to be inconsistent with the rules and be okay with that, but also if there is a rule they need me to retain cause they love it, I can work with them on that, the third one, I learned to listen, take note of player micro complaints, be open to being wrong, be open to change, apologize for outbursts of emotions, and engender an environment that invites players to feel safe criticizing me. And to explain that my ADHD means I am prone to saying things that sound mean, and to call me on it, because I want everyone to have fun, and never intentionally want someone to be hurt.
I've had some good campaigns and some amazing sessions; but I have never once in my 40 years of gaming had a player that either read the handbook or thought about / communicated about the campaign or their character while not at the gaming table. Despite always having a good time, it can really make you question all the effort you put into being a DM.
The whole "pay to DM" stuff is weird and foreign to me. I'm coming back to RPGs after like 13 years away and half the games I see now charge money to play, I guess because they're trying to turn it into like how streaming took off and let people play videogames all day and make money doing it. In my day we'd you know, chip in for books or materials, bring snacks/drinks and throw in a few bucks for a pizza, but we'd never ever pay every session just because. it seems like more people are treating D&D like something to profit off of by running games for randoms than trying to make actual friends. Charging money because you have no connection to the players other than them showing up to your game kinda defeats the purpose of the majority of games to me.
WotC talking about the DM shortage for 5e is honestly just that meme of Eric Andre shooting someone and then asking who killed him. Of course, in this case, the "someone" is the myriad DM's tools that D&D had in previous editions. 4e in particular had an absolutely incredible amount of tools for the DM to use, ranging from clearly defined monster roles to advice on how to deal with specific player approaches. I genuinely feel like I got more confident in my skills after reading through both of the 4e DM Guides. What does 5e have? The words I have come to loathe the most in the entire English language: "the DM decides", "at the DM's discretion", and "the DM's choice".
We aren't as rare as the community likes to say we are. It's propaganda to support interest in VTTs which they can monetize at their whims. I've been a DM since Moldvay. I've played dozens of games as a Player too but it's being the guide and cruel tutor of a band of reckless adventurers that's been the most fun. My sensibilities and play styles have shifted from RAW to RAI to RoC. I've probably cycled through more than a full hobby store's worth of product and have emptied at least one stationary aisle or two over the decades of exploring games, writing up characters and settings and creating my own battle maps and game props. I didn't get into Dwarven Forge style of tables but there were literal armies of miniature. I didn't start making terrain until I entered Warhammer 40,000 and there has been lots! Strangely though, I never used it in RPGs. Something about the 2d 25mm square maps or just minis in a marching order feels better. Anyway. I play solo now and I absolutely enjoy the fact that if he can't make game night, chances are I'll still be prepping for when he can.
I don't want to admit it, but I am addicted to the potential praise of my players. You bring up some very solid points about the effort, time, and investment, both financial and emotional, that goes into running a game. I have grown to tell people who might want to play, that the goal is to have fun, but it is a serious game. Would be players need to be able to commit themselves to not just showing up, but involving themselves in the game as well.
As a long time DM, I stand by the most important rule: Players are responsible for scheduling. I can and have knocked myself out trying to do all the scheduling for the group, but it is exhausting and taxing. Players need to have some skin in the game, and the least they can do is figue out together when to play and commit to it. I flat out refuse to schedule. Players need to discuss and figure out a time that works (usually the same time every week, but it can be flexible), and let me know at least three days prior who is coming. The hardest part is holding the firm line. If they lapse and don't tell me until two days prior, sorry, that doesn't work. Once they miss a session or two because they didn't let me know within my stated time limit, it never happens again. I use this method for many reasons. Most importantly, I use it as a way to judge interest. If peeople want to play, they make it happen. If they don't, then it isn't a priority. Really simple. Also, it gives me breathing room to prepare everything, as I only prep for the next session. It also gives players autonomy in the party decision. Sometime they elect to not play for a week or two if they are missing a couple members, depending what is going on in the campaign, and sometimes they are cool with doing some stuff on the side with less players or different characters. I think it also helps the party cohesion, as the players are accountable to each other outside the game. It is also one less thing I have to deal with, which is always a plus.
I started playing in 1988 or so, with BECMI, then 2E, then a big break until 5E launched and I got my kids into it. While I had usually been the permanent DM in the group, I'm lucky to trade the work with a couple of friends. We definitely have the challenge of fitting a regular game into our busy lives. The more I've played 5E published modules, the more it makes me think that the earlier style of play (being more improvised and list scripted) was perhaps the way to go. A lot less preparation was needed. Just make it up as you go. That seems to make the job of being a DM a lot less difficult, and more enjoyable on my end. I don't have the time to create a completely immersive campaign world like some well-known professional voice actors. I just don't have the time (nor likely the skill). But, I still have fun!
I look at the "What-See" product as D&D in name only. It's totally different not only in rules but in mentality as well. That being said, it is something I want nothing to do with at all. I first became a DM in the early 80s because I was the only kid with the books. Over time I truly discovered the art of it and enjoy it immensely. It isn't about money, it is about creating something that allows a choice, few select people in my life to enjoy. I couldn't do this for money nor could I do it for people I otherwise have no connection with.
I'm my groups DM, the goal is to have fun same as the players. I buy the minis and books because I get a smile on my face when the monsters come out to play. Despite the time sink I enjoy the creative aspects of it and when my players come up with stuff or make suggestions I find ways to bring it into the game because then we both get to go "Ah ha!" For me it's therapeutic, we all have stresses in life, so just for a little while. Lets forget them and be someone else, lets not be ordinary but extortionary. I may not get to be the hero in the game, I'm the villains, the monsters and the things that fill mortal hearts with dread that's my job and my fun. I give the players a reason to be heroes and test themselves against those that would see them fail and I smile when they succeed and triumph over the dark schemes I set against the party. But I'll work very hard to make the players feel like they are the heroes set against insurmountable odds, the deck is stacked against them. That way the victory tastes sweeter and importantly that it's earned. I absolutely get a manic high when we run a good game night, I get very animated and tend to get very excited, which is not normal for me, my players have told me, especially when I go off script and either just run with what the players are giving me or it's time for some payoff from a lot of build up, usually it's a confrontation with a powerful villain or a twist that I've hinted at but now it's revealed.
On the subject of those paid D&D game, I get their existence and all, but I think that they are ultimately bad for the hobby because 1. It makes it harder to find willing DMs as a beginner, 2. It alters the relationship between GM and players. 3. I am all for things being free whenever possible, as both a long-time GM and player myself. When something is free, it becomes something truly special, and it means that both sides really only owe each other respect and nothing more. And what we really want at the end of the day is to have some joy in life and be respected.
DMing is a hobby unto itself for me. Even in times when I have had no games and not even any players available, I am still world-building, homebrewing, hous ruling, etc. Making monsters, itenms, world, countries, religions, etc. I have far more campaigns developed than I will ever have time to run them. I dream that after i pass, my gamer kids will fight over who gets my stuff and especially my notebooks.
Prepping for RPGs and running them is one of those hobbies that I can spend countless hours in without a care in the world. helps to have good players haha
What's funny is that the reason why I left 5th edition. Was not because there were too many rules. But too few. And rules about the wrong things. I think this stems from the game sitting at a weird midpoint between rules light and rules heavy games. And depending on your style not the beneficial midpoint. In my opinion its current state. There are too many rules for you to feel comfortable just winging stuff a lot of time. On the flip side there aren't enough rules for you not to have to wing it.
Hi, I’ve been dming a homebrew Shadowrun campaign for over a year so far. And it is a huge time sink because I want to be prepared for everything, every eventuality, everything my players might be trying. I want to be able to just turn to the section of my prep and continue smoothly. I know that this is in now way realistic, but it is the bar I set for myself, the quality I want to achieve. One of my players said: “I find it sad that we miss so much of the stuff you prepare” But to me that is what makes the world feel alive and lived in. You need some loose ends. My players will probably never look into the movie project of the dragon Nebelherr, but I planned and prepared movie posters and trailer announcement non the less, because if they want to look into it, I have it ready and I know how the world will react when the movie never comes out. So in essence, yes I feel like my players value all the effort I put in, and my games are better for it ^^
Love this! My games are similar. There’s a lot going on that the players don’t see, but it’s all nebulous anyway, so that I can morph it in response to the players’ actions and develop the game around their decisions. So, they may think there are things they are missing in the campaign world, but as DM I try to ensure they encounter them at the right time. After all, the players make the campaign, the DM provides the stage.
Playing BECMI starting in the late 80s the idea that there would be a dedicated DM for a group was a foreign idea to us. We had no "big brother" or "older friends" to introduce us to the game, which seems the common story. We would flesh out the known world together and each of us would set up individual adventures. The DM for that adventure (usually 1-4 sessions) would have their character sit out while they ran it. Next adventure would be someone else. Until, I got back into the hobby recently (8 years ago) I thought that was the norm. Honestly, I like it better. It will always seem strange to me that there are players who are not DMs.
@@becmiberserker Most of us moved away and remote play wasn't an option in the mid 90s, so it just kind of died. Otherwise, I might have done the same. ... I suppose I am mostly DM now in phase 2 of my D&D career, so maybe I am doing that.
Pretty well timed topic, being as GM's Day is this coming Monday (3/4)! 😁 As one who has also been by my choice a "Forever GM" for 40+ years, I have some definite thoughts on this subject. First, while the glut of new players in the recent RPG boom may certainly have an impact, the simple truth is that there have ever been more players than GMs. This issue has been discussed in the hobby forever, not just recently. Furthermore, you literally talk about what it is that you get out of GMing, while at the same time casting it as a "selfless" pursuit. I get a *lot* of joy and satisfaction out of showing my friends a good time through my primary creative outlet (another thing I get from it - flexing those creative muscles). That is in no way selfless, which it would only be if I was doing it *solely* for them, and receiving nothing in return for my efforts. Additionally, to be blunt, a fair amount of your issues here (Pro GMs & VTT maintenance complaints particularly) sound a lot like the classic (and rather dull), "Things were better in my day" complaints offered by many people who begin to feel left behind as their hobby, and the world around them change and evolve. I get it, as I'm getting old, and it does get tough to keep up, but the effort is generally worth it, and shaking your fist impotently at the universe, by nature, serves no good purpose. Based upon a number of things said here, it sounds like you have experience with ungrateful players, who don't consider the time and effort you put into the game. That is unfortunate, as no GM deserves that. I consider myself fortunate that mine make clear to me routinely that they do appreciate me, and the work I do to bring my absolute best to the Table.
Thanks for the comment. I did caveat the ‘selfless’ thing with being akin to the feeling you get when someone likes a gift you gave, but I take your point. As for the “better in my day” observation, I’m not immune to falling down that rabbit hole, but it was furthest from my mind here. Everything is changing (see my old man shouts at clouds video) but I don’t rail against that. It’s the way it is and always has been. The point I was raising (rather than an issue) is that there is more a DM has to do, and yes that can mean VTT stuff. However, I use a VTT every week and things are much better these days because of that facility, even though the role of the DM includes this extra work. I hope that helps clarify my point.
@@becmiberserker Apologies for any misinterpretation of your statements or intent. I think that the removal of "GM Mystique" is a key element to bringing new GMs into the fold. We have to make them aware of the fact that while yes, there is more effort required by the GM, it's not as hard as it is often made out to be. That false impression of intense difficulty has kept a lot of folks uninterested in giving it a shot, who might otherwise be fantastic at it!
There's a modern school of thought that treats DMs as if they were simply one more player at the table. I believe the idea behind it to be "fairness", as if benefitting a DM over a player in any aspect was somehow immoral. Since I moved recently to a new country, I am grateful enough that I managed to form a group to play in person here, but they have that individualistic mentality. I try to be reasonable and give in as much as I can while still having fun, but I do admit it is at times frustrating that they do not try to make more of an effort to compensate the work I do on their behalf. Well, most of them have not been playing for a long time, so they probably do not understand the effort behind DMing. As you said, there is no perfect group. :) Excellent video again, Berserker! It indeed resonated with me.
I had a good group years ago, when I lived in a different part of the country. It was comprised of people who weren't tainted by social media or streaming culture, because neither had bothered too much with RPG's at that point. Moving to a big city, which was supposedly full of "Nerdy" gamer-types, ended up being a huge mistake for a number of reasons. For one thing, every self-proclaimed gamer I met was someone who had a video game background and wanted to do what people on podcasts or Twitch were doing. They had a warped understanding of tabletop roleplaying games, and their expectations were for an experience consistent with trends rather than anything I was used to in my nearly thirty year history in the hobby. Everything I tried to do with 5th Edition wasn't, "Correct" to these people, and many of them, especially those who had zero experience with the hobby, felt comfortable telling me that their favorite podcast did things differently and that's how they expected things to work. When I tried to run older versions or other games the response was either silence or questions about why I wasn't running 5th Edition. DM-ing can be such great fun, and it is very rewarding. Unfortunately, the player base has been overwhelmed by deficient casuals who want tabletop video games and rides around the block on the bandwagon. Also, that meme around the 9:30 mark makes sense, except I have used Knights of the Dinner table and other gaming comics and movies (Dead Gentlemen Productions' movies) instead of memes.
No, i dont value DMs. I dont know any. Would, absolutely. But i dont and i dont have time to find a good one. It takes just as much of my time to find a person like you as it does to work, take care of a family of 6 and do many many chores. I literally spent the entire day at the doctors office and setting up home equipment. All the time. I would love to have DnD friends. But i wont be harassed by idiots who think they are special because they make a life out of playing games. I have my own life and i love DnD but im not here to pamper your as.
How many years did the Average DM play before they started DMing? I know it took me a few years of regular play before i felt comfortable enough to DM, and it would reset every edition change. I think the influx of new players are experiencing something like that, wanting to play and grow comfortable with the system before DMing, but the 'shortage' in DMs has made that turn around slow. in truth, i think there are more DMs now than there have been in decades, it is just that the demand for them outpaces the supply, and there is also the fact that some people, like me, only DM for friends now. Makes that turn over a little more sluggish. I used to DM for anyone, but then i got tired of randos throwing tantrums when i subverted an trope, or used a different version of a mythology than the one they expected. After a few years of that, i decided to take a break, lost my touch after a few years, and am now having to adapt to a new way of playing. Sometimes passion isn't all it takes, it takes, it takes passion that is appreciated. Thank your dungeon master, in what ever way you can.
I live in a geographically large, low population state where on averages a resident will read 1 book just inside of 2 years and about 20% read at the 6th grade level. I use the Roll20 VTT. I use my hands and body when I communicate and so the online medium definitely sandbags my style. If someone lives around a lot of players, well fine and dandy! Get after ir there Tex. But lets realize that this is not an inborn quality of your being, right? I also think something might be said about encouraging and mentoring players who want to ref. They might say something about an idea which references their character and/or a facet of the game world like "would it be possible to meet purple elves that can do red magic and blue magic?" You're line is/might be "well I don't think it's something I wanna do, or not right now per se, but thats a neat idea for someone to have in their game for sure. You should use your good idea for a campaign world of your own. I run on Saturdays but we can join heads on mondays and Thursday's and I'll show you some badic chops; I think you would be a fine DM. I can play on Fridays and I think Jack would be open to check it out too." Idk, just my thoughts.. Thanks for the video my man, you're large and in charge broham!
Wow! For someone like me who has trouble comprehending the expanse of the US, it’s easy to overlook these issues. Sounds like you’re doing what you can there to ensure you all have a good game when you can.
I am a professional Dungeon Master and I enjoy running the games more now than when I was just doing it as a hobby. Players that pay to show up are more dedicated and appreciative than casual players who are not near as invested.
A lot of the fault for DM burnout can be attributed to the current culture of D&D. It is a simple system, The mechanics however are drowned in hours of filler text. Filler text that convolute the mechanics to a point that they become a form of "code" that dare a DM forget, he will be scolded for not following the DMG bible. On top of that many DMs have a constant feeling of self-doubt about their DMing skills and not a fault of the game, and they create this vaccum of emotions that either make them gatekeepers of the game, or they homebrew the hell out of the game, not so they add new content, but fix the system. The fault can't fall squerly on the DM however, The reason DMs Like to run games for new players more than seasoned players is due to their new sence of wonder, this feeling that they can attempt anything and do not become jailed in the jumble of code the book developers have added. D&D 5e is not a TTRPG and it's not the D&D that became popular all those decades ago, Its a Video Game masquarading as a TTRPG
The more I learn about old school systems, the more I agree with your final point. The structure of 5e incentivizes players to NOT roleplay anything past a silly voice. Why make the effort to come up with a persuasive argument when I can roll a persuasion check and effectively control the persons mind? Why use your own critical thinking and context clues to help inform you if an NPC is lying to you when you can roll an insight check and have your own personal lie detector? Whenever I hear this brought up, the same argument always takes place. “Well what if my character is more charismatic than me? (smarter than me, more wise than me, etc)” as if that’s an excuse to not roleplay the character lol
@@uriahedwards games such as 5e are designed to offer gradification in the shortest time possible, while players can get away with the least effective tactics available and survive as long as they have hit points and spell slots
You say "football" we say "ske-joold" -- whatever. You know, *theoretically* I don't object to the idea of a paid DM, in the right circumstances, even tho I can't see myself doing it either as DM or player. But the ones I've seen look like guys with business degrees trying to sell you a timeshare. I can't imagine their games would be anything more than sanitized, predictable, cookie-cutter adventures that run like clockwork. It's just sus, that's all.
The biggest thing I disagree with is the paid dm is not soulless. Getting paid for what you love to do is amazing. Getting paid for your passion is great and allows you to do more. I can't devote as much time to running games and drawing because it doesn't currently pay my bills. It does however allow me to invest a little more into those passions and I get another book or maps or minis or terrain to immerse the people that play with me. I get occasionally commissioned to draw a player's character or scene or big bad for another dm. It's not soulless but a fantastical boon to get paid to run.
DMing is not a selfless activity. Or if it is, you should stop. You said one sentence about how you enjoy playing the game 24/7 then the next sentence is that being a DM is selfless. Which is it? If you want to be a DM you enjoy it. If you enjoy it, it's not selfless. I think if you are doing something you enjoy but you want others to view what you are doing as pure altruism, that's unhealthy.
Altruism: disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others. Selfless: concerned more with the needs and wishes of others than with one's own; unselfish: “an act of selfless devotion" I rather think I was correct in my use of the word. Indeed, I enjoy being concerned with the needs and wishes of others. In my opinion, I think it’s a healthy outlook. Nothing unhealthy about it.
@@becmiberserker Can I ask you to see where I am coming from and approach it like that? It's not a personal attack. It's an honest to god caution that doing something that you feel is for others and not for yourself is a path to burnout, feelings of underappreciation and resentment? And if it is for yourself, own that as a sign of self-reliance, not needing to point to your own altruism and imply some kind of debt of gratitude that you are probably owed but is rarely going to get paid. That's a cursed magic item if ever there was one.
@@apjapki Hey I’m cool with your original comment and didn’t see it as a personal attack. Honestly. 🙂 I just disagree. Apologies if it came across as such. This is a poor platform for constructive discussion.
