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Post by Monkeyfun Dave on Feb 16, 2016 10:47:12 GMT -8
This is an open question, and is actually serious in its intent. GM-ing a game is work, both in its conception, prep and execution. It's different than being a player, and can often be a thankless job. So... why do you do it?
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Post by weaselcreature on Feb 16, 2016 11:28:44 GMT -8
Other than very occasional GMing in my youth, I didn't really start GMing until the past few years. It started out because I wanted to get our game going again.
Turns out, I enjoy it. I like throwing in little things to see if players pick up on them, sometimes it's just jokes that amuse me.
I enjoy having an idea that pops into my head come to life, and see what happens to it when it hits the players.
I enjoy exploring aspects of a setting I want to explore, without the need to hope another GM will (I'm more of a setting person than a system person).
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fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Feb 16, 2016 11:41:37 GMT -8
Because somebody has to
Which is to say, I don't enjoy GMing as much as playing. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy it, but not as much. But if I didn't take my turn GMing, I wouldn't get to play as much. Neither would I get to try out all the systems I want.
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Post by weaselcreature on Feb 16, 2016 12:23:26 GMT -8
I also like rolling dice. LOTS of dice! I get to roll them for the NPCs ALL THE TIME!
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Post by OFTHEHILLPEOPLE on Feb 16, 2016 12:38:39 GMT -8
Because it might sound pretentious, but nobody I know runs games or tells stories the way I like stories and games to be run. So I run games and tell the stories I would like to be a part of but do it for other people. Haven't had complaints yet and even got some memorable moments, like converting Jabba the Hutt to a giant corpulent cow alien and re-enacting the execution scene from ROTJ in Savage Worlds.
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Post by Forresst on Feb 16, 2016 13:20:34 GMT -8
Sometimes I have a story that I know how it plays out in my head. In those cases, I write it. Sometimes I have a story idea with no idea what the throughline is. In those cases, I run a game.
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Post by ericfromnj on Feb 16, 2016 13:46:03 GMT -8
I love it when you see the look in other person's eyes and you know they are on the journey to another world.
I love feeding threads of a story and seeing what sort of tapestry my players weave out of it.
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Post by Bill Roper on Feb 16, 2016 13:46:31 GMT -8
I love building worlds and then seeing what people do in them. Whether its something I've created from whole cloth or putting some new corners into an existing universe, I greatly enjoy the aspects of creating the story collaboratively with other people. Also, there's usually some story or concept I'm itching to explore and I find it easiest to do so by offering to run a game. Another part of it is being abel to see how well I can craft an engaging framework and set of challenges for people. My main objective is to put together a sandbox that's filled with enough sand and toys so that people can get creative while I *also* get to be creative in how I react to who's pissing in the sandbox (as it were). I love being surprised by players, and some of mt greatest delights is in seeing the entire table react to something that happens.
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Raigan
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 17
Preferred Game Systems: GURPS
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Post by Raigan on Feb 16, 2016 14:31:50 GMT -8
I like to create worlds and that leads me to wanting to GM so as to see people interact with the worlds.
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Post by Kenigma23 on Feb 17, 2016 7:02:04 GMT -8
...because always? I think the first game I ever played I ran and I’ve ran them ever since (though I do get to play sometimes). Truthfully very few people in my various gamming groups ever wanted or were willing to do it and I always liked it. I think (well I know really) that I always wanted to be a writer, but I’m not that good at it (or at least not good enough to make money at it) so this was my outlet. I enjoy being creative, telling stories and entertaining… being a GM lets be do all those things. Then there are the obvious reasons of course: I have a bit of a god complex… I’m obsessive compulsive…. I have control and trust issues… I’m and ego maniac…
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Post by uselesstriviaman on Feb 17, 2016 9:43:03 GMT -8
I discovered long ago that I'm an Entertainer. That is, I have a love (and a talent?) for being the guy who facilitates and provides a good time for a crowd of people. (I think I'd do very well as a game show host.) It's why I run that crazy-ass Grindhouse and other convention games, and I tend to get a bit antsy if I don't scratch that itch occasionally. GMing fits that bill nicely.
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tomes
Supporter
Hello madness
Posts: 1,438
Currently Running: Dungeon World, hippie games, Fallout Shelter RPG hack
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Post by tomes on Feb 17, 2016 14:29:47 GMT -8
I like the aspect where you have to keep on your toes, mostly by not preparing too much, but also by possibly preparing the right things.
Mostly, I like running a game that I'd like to play in, which is to say one where the mechanics can be fun or interesting, but mostly get out of the way when needed. That said, I do like it when the mechanics stick their nose into the game, if they are there to flavor the game in a specific way (for example with the way Moves are written in PbtA games).
But my absolute favorite is when a player comes back to me a day or so after the game, and says "man, I was thinking about that game last night, and..." BOOYA. That's the best.
I like to be a player as well, but I'm a little particular about the games I want to be a player in. I don't like mechanically heavy games, or overly railroady games. I've found that I like playing GM-less hippy games with other GMs and players (both experienced and noobs) because it means we ALL get to play this thing together, and play off of each other. It's all very Greek.
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Post by weaselcreature on Feb 17, 2016 16:14:56 GMT -8
...and I tend to get a bit antsy if I don't scratch that itch occasionally. 2 fingerfulls of medicated salve should do the trick.
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Balder
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 27
Preferred Game Systems: Pathfinder, Earthdawn, Traveller, D&D 5th, Dresden Fate
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragon 5E; Call of Cthulhu
Currently Running: Savage Worlds
Favorite Species of Monkey: Japanese Macaque
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Post by Balder on Feb 17, 2016 17:02:10 GMT -8
I Gm because up until just recently I was the only person in my group willing to do it. I am rewarded when my players talk about a game session days, weeks, months, or even years later. That is my reward. I enjoy the setting of the story and then the rapid recovery when someone goes on a tangent I never expected.
It is fun being a player and seeing how others do it, but I enjoy the creation and narrative of being the GM.
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Post by Monkeyfun Dave on Feb 17, 2016 17:18:35 GMT -8
To answer my own question, I love watching my friends become heroes. I love to give them the platform to be amazing, both in their successes and failures. When I'm totally caught off guard, I am delighted every single time because they're thinking ahead of me. They're pulling something out of them that makes them amazing every single time. I've written a few adventures, but the adventure really is only as good as the people playing them. And if me running the game lets them be heroes, villains, monsters, comedians, whatever, that's the best feeling in the world.
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