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1 year ago ::
Apr 02, 2012 - 7:26AM
#271
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I didnt start DMing with DnD, i started with old World of Darkness, a system which leaves much, including interpretation of the characters' rolls, up to the DM. Those core books had excellent instructions on how to be a DM, and it brings me to my advise: Do some reading. There are tons of articles, on these forums, on other forums and websites and in other books for both DnD (all editions) and for other systems that will load a newbie DM with all the knowlege he needs to know to run a good game.
That being said, i feel "DM empowerment is the only way anything in a game gets done. DM fiat can (and should) be applied liberally, and sometimes you have to tell a rules lawyer who argues that his character cannot possibly be stunned, or that his character really hit the dragon to STFU and deal with it. Im the DM and I said so.
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1 year ago ::
Apr 02, 2012 - 9:08AM
#272
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Date Joined:
Feb 25, 2012
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I really like the DM being empowered. I'm not sure what the alternative is. Having everything the DM can and should do in the books? When I play, I want to play the game that particular DM has created. If DM's are left unempowered, I fear that would lead to more games being basically the same. Playing a dozen games with a dozen different DM's is likely to get you a dozen different game experiences. I wouldn't want to any sort of handicap on what the DM can offer me. I want her to have absolute freedom to show me her vision.
Now this isn't to say I won't totally **** up her vision with my character's actions. She has no control of my character. This is the most sacred ground where the DM may not touch... unless of course, you're being charmed/dominated/mind controlled/possessed by cursed item or something. Which is honestly fair gaming, since these things can't happen in a vacuum. These things are happening at the behest of some evil guy, or the product of a cursed item. Sounds like storyline hooks to me, I certainly wouldn't be upset. Unless the DM is going to walk me through the whole game dominated... But that's just silly!
Basically unless the DM is going craaazy lengths to make the game stupid, players should humor the DM. Not to say you can't argue or challenge the DM, I do all the time. In my previous dominated example, I'd probably be a little vocal like "Whaaat? *looks to party* sorry guys, this isn't me! *looks to DM* who is thissss? Some evil guy? What is happening to meeeee?" and I'd expect my DM to look at me with a slight smile as if she knows something I don't. And so I'd wait patiently. This isn't DM fiat, this is the DM creating things in her world that are interacting with us.
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1 year ago ::
Apr 02, 2012 - 9:14AM
#273
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Date Joined:
Feb 25, 2012
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Just another thing I thought of. It bugs me when DM's say my character does things for me. Even Chris Perkins, the Creative Designer guy for WotC, who DM's all the celebrity games does this. After a player killed a stirge on the robot chicken game, chris perkins was just kinda like "You kill it! It falls on the ground and you squash it under your foot." Things like that bug me a little. I'd be like "um.. I didn't say I squash it under my foot.... I just attacked it." Another example is when DM's say "You travel all the way to the black tower" instead of "So, do you travel to the black tower?" and then telling us what we see, not what we do. Some DM's like to force little actions on you. "So the next day, you wake up in the inn, eat breakfast, and head on your way" instead of "what do you do when you wake up? Go downstairs, eat breakfast?" I can narrate my own actions thank you very much.
It's really trivial, but it kinda bugs me.
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1 year ago ::
Apr 02, 2012 - 9:29AM
#274
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DM empowerment is a good thing. DMs that abuse that power is a bad thing. I could quote Ben Parker at this point in time, but I won't. Suffice it to say that it is important that those are two entirely separate things and that they should not be mashed together into one thing.
The more and more power you remove from the DM, the more and more the game becomes a computer game.
All that being said, I think it is also important to empower the players as well as the DM.
Reflavoring: the change of flavor without changing any mechanical part of the game, no matter how small, in order to fit the mechanics to an otherwise unsupported concept.
Retexturing: the change of flavor (with at most minor mechanical adaptations) in order to effortlessly create support for a concept without inventing anything new.
Houseruling: the change, either minor or major, of the mechanics in order to better reflect a certain aspect of the game, including adapting the rules to fit an otherwise unsupported concept.
Homebrewing: the complete invention of something new that fits within the system in order to reflect an unsupported concept.
Default module =/= Core mechanic.
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1 year ago ::
Apr 02, 2012 - 1:49PM
#275
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I have experienced more problem players then I have problem DM's.
Like Shasarak, I've encountered many, many more spoiled, primadonna players than I have tyrant DMs.
In fact, in a quarter-century of playing D&D, I don't think I've ever played under a tyrant DM. On the other hand, there's always some player--that one guy--in the group who seems to set out to cause problems for everyone else at the table.
Thus, I prefer to see the rules set the power firmly in the hands of the DM. Maintaining order at the table for everyone is more important than pleasing one spoiled brat player.
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1 year ago ::
Apr 02, 2012 - 8:24PM
#276
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Date Joined:
Oct 28, 2008
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I have experienced more problem players then I have problem DM's.
Like Shasarak, I've encountered many, many more spoiled, primadonna players than I have tyrant DMs.
In fact, in a quarter-century of playing D&D, I don't think I've ever played under a tyrant DM. On the other hand, there's always some player--that one guy--in the group who seems to set out to cause problems for everyone else at the table.
Thus, I prefer to see the rules set the power firmly in the hands of the DM. Maintaining order at the table for everyone is more important than pleasing one spoiled brat player.
This has been the case for me too. The problem players far outnumber the tyrant DMs.
Most of it is simple numbers: 1 DM to 3 to 12 players in a group. There's just gotta be a bigger chance for a problem player.
I think the reason the tyrant DM gets so much press is this: If you have a problem player that won't go away, as another player, you can pretty much ignore him. However, a player can't ignore a problem DM. A DM can dismiss a problem player, but it is much more difficult for players to dismiss a problem DM. Therefore, a problem DM "contaminates" a group of 3 to 12, whereas problem players tend to be ignored.
The fact is, a DM needs to have authority. As Jharii mentions, it isn't the needing or the use of the authority that is the problem, it is the abuse of it.
The mark of a good DM is in knowing when to enforce his will and when to stand behind a decision he made. A DM without a "Backbone" is worthless. The mark of a good DM is also knowing when to back down and bend, or even to temporarily surrender control when needed. A good DM knows when he is right and he admits when he is wrong.
A DMG can give advice on how to resolve many issues and adjudicate tricky situations, but as to the above "marks of a good DM," such is mostly learned, often the hard way, as no manual can teach that. A good DM is not born, they are made---> but good rules, players and tools help. 
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1 year ago ::
Apr 02, 2012 - 11:45PM
#277
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Date Joined:
Oct 19, 2008
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I have experienced more problem players then I have problem DM's.
Like Shasarak, I've encountered many, many more spoiled, primadonna players than I have tyrant DMs.
In fact, in a quarter-century of playing D&D, I don't think I've ever played under a tyrant DM. On the other hand, there's always some player--that one guy--in the group who seems to set out to cause problems for everyone else at the table.
Thus, I prefer to see the rules set the power firmly in the hands of the DM. Maintaining order at the table for everyone is more important than pleasing one spoiled brat player.
This has been the case for me too. The problem players far outnumber the tyrant DMs.
Most of it is simple numbers: 1 DM to 3 to 12 players in a group. There's just gotta be a bigger chance for a problem player.
I think the reason the tyrant DM gets so much press is this: If you have a problem player that won't go away, as another player, you can pretty much ignore him. However, a player can't ignore a problem DM. A DM can dismiss a problem player, but it is much more difficult for players to dismiss a problem DM. Therefore, a problem DM "contaminates" a group of 3 to 12, whereas problem players tend to be ignored.
The fact is, a DM needs to have authority. As Jharii mentions, it isn't the needing or the use of the authority that is the problem, it is the abuse of it.
The mark of a good DM is in knowing when to enforce his will and when to stand behind a decision he made. A DM without a "Backbone" is worthless. The mark of a good DM is also knowing when to back down and bend, or even to temporarily surrender control when needed. A good DM knows when he is right and he admits when he is wrong.
A DMG can give advice on how to resolve many issues and adjudicate tricky situations, but as to the above "marks of a good DM," such is mostly learned, often the hard way, as no manual can teach that. A good DM is not born, they are made---> but good rules, players and tools help.
I would trade all of you three. I think I god your Karmic end of the Bad DM spectrum. I've never had a good one. Ever. Tyrants or idiots, all.
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." --Bill Cosby (1937- )Vanador: OK. You ripped a gateway to Hell, killed half the town, and raised the dead as feral zombies. We're going to kill you. But it can go two ways. We want you to run as fast as you possibly can toward the south of the town to draw the Zombies to you, and right before they catch you, I'll put an arrow through your head to end it instantly. If you don't agree to do this, we'll tie you this building and let the Zombies rip you apart slowly. Dimitry: God I love being Neutral. 4th edition is dead, long live 4th edition.Salla: opinionated, but commonly right. fun quotes
Show
You have to do the work first, and show you can do the work, before someone is going to pay you for it.
If you can't understand how someone yelling at another person would make them fight harder and longer, then you need to look at the forums a bit closer.
quote author=56832398 post=519321747]Considering DnD is a game wouldn't all styles be gamist?
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1 year ago ::
Apr 03, 2012 - 12:07AM
#278
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Date Joined:
Oct 28, 2008
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"I would trade all of you three. I think I god your Karmic end of the Bad DM spectrum. I've never had a good one. Ever. Tyrants or idiots, all."
Seriously? You never had a good DM?
That totally sucks. I take it you exclusively DM now, to avoid the tyrants?
This makes me wish you lived nearby so that I could run for you and show you a game not ruled by a tyrant, but one ruled by players, story and fun.
*** I apologize if this double posts, for the first one seems to have vanished***
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1 year ago ::
Apr 03, 2012 - 12:36AM
#279
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Date Joined:
Oct 19, 2008
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"I would trade all of you three. I think I god your Karmic end of the Bad DM spectrum. I've never had a good one. Ever. Tyrants or idiots, all."
Seriously? You never had a good DM?
That totally sucks. I take it you exclusively DM now, to avoid the tyrants?
This makes me wish you lived nearby so that I could run for you and show you a game not ruled by a tyrant, but one ruled by players, story and fun.
*** I apologize if this double posts, for the first one seems to have vanished***
Never, yes I 'only" DM, and I live in Washington. 
Though I'm gonna try and remember the game I'm supposed to be in this next Sunday as a player . . .
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." --Bill Cosby (1937- )Vanador: OK. You ripped a gateway to Hell, killed half the town, and raised the dead as feral zombies. We're going to kill you. But it can go two ways. We want you to run as fast as you possibly can toward the south of the town to draw the Zombies to you, and right before they catch you, I'll put an arrow through your head to end it instantly. If you don't agree to do this, we'll tie you this building and let the Zombies rip you apart slowly. Dimitry: God I love being Neutral. 4th edition is dead, long live 4th edition.Salla: opinionated, but commonly right. fun quotes
Show
You have to do the work first, and show you can do the work, before someone is going to pay you for it.
If you can't understand how someone yelling at another person would make them fight harder and longer, then you need to look at the forums a bit closer.
quote author=56832398 post=519321747]Considering DnD is a game wouldn't all styles be gamist?
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1 year ago ::
Apr 03, 2012 - 12:43AM
#280
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I'd invite you to my Friday night game but we already have 6 players crowding into our small apartment and I don't know how driving to Tacoma would work for you, Kalnaur.
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