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Post by ilina on Feb 17, 2016 19:04:09 GMT -8
why do i want to GM even though i don't have the chance?
1. because i am indecisive on the characters i wish to play and tend to run through enough trees to kill an entire rainforest in one decade
2. because i want to allow players to get the crazy out of their system so they can take their real games more seriously
3. because i am a walking factory that produces petite and cute anime inspired girls i need to find a game for, some of which are better suited to NPCs
4. because i'm seen as the silly girl that GMs when the real GM needs a Vacation and the players want to Run a Whimsical Power Trip they normally wouldn't be able to play
5. because i like demonstrating generosity and being able to reward cool deeds
6. because i can pile on rejected characters as NPCs, even if that means lots of small and cute anime girls.
7. because i can still create Tagalong NPCs to cover roles the party lacks without them stealing too much spotlight.
8. because i like allowing people to get their inner mary sue off their chest.
9. because i allow things most GMs won't, such as Squicky Characters or Squicky Actions
10. because i know i only need to run 3-5 homebrew sessions at a time for the players vent their desires. so Weekly William can run another Fallout knockoff in a different part of the U.S. using the Savage Worlds System and some copy pasted NPCs.
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viscounteric
Initiate Douchebag
A child's projectile vomit is a SAN check, no matter what
Posts: 23
Preferred Game Systems: Call of Cthulhu, Hackmaster, My Little Pony, Savage Worlds, Spirit of '77
Currently Playing: D&D 5e
Currently Running: BECMI D&D, Risus, My Little Pony, Call of Cthulhu, Savage Worlds
Favorite Species of Monkey: Risus
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Post by viscounteric on Feb 17, 2016 20:37:36 GMT -8
Because somebody has to...
Once the grand poobah of our high school group declared he like playing more than running games, I was thrust into the position.
Twenty-Five years later and I'm one of two people in the group that tries to get the group together to run something, and the other fella just moved back to Boston.
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Post by HourEleven on Feb 18, 2016 7:31:15 GMT -8
Mainly because I love RPGs but I don't like playing. I've finally come to that conclusion, I really don't like playing, but I love GMing.
I enjoy building a world that I know my players will have fun in. I love trying to find those NPCs and plots that will get under their skin, make them excited, angry, and any number of other emotions. I love the triumph on the players faces when they over come the obstacle or finally defeat the opposition. Seeing what they create out of the bits and pieces of narrative I throw down for them is always amazing. Much like teaching class, it's about the surprise. Never knowing exactly what they will latch onto and reacting and creating on the fly is a rush.
Yeah, it's a lot of work. And it's very much providing a service, often thanklessly, but it's completely rewarding and worth the effort. Looking back and seeing what they made; what I was able to facilitate them creating, is the best feeling.
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Post by uselesstriviaman on Feb 18, 2016 7:32:53 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. Two fingers? I don't know whether to make a scotch joke or a prostate joke...
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Post by Kenigma23 on Feb 18, 2016 8:37:21 GMT -8
2 fingerfulls of medicated salve should do the trick. Two fingers? I don't know whether to make a scotch joke or a prostate joke... Something is stopping you from making both?
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Post by Kenigma23 on Feb 18, 2016 8:41:20 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. I have to agree, one of the great joys (though I curse when it happens) is the players going off the beaten path and finding that unforeseen solution/resolution. Nothing pleases them more than when I say: “I’m sorry, you do what now?” They cackle with glee Then I usually say “I have to go to the bathroom” while I think of how the hell I’m going to handle the changes….I’ve gotten pretty good over the years at thinking quickly and adapting to the crazy stuff that gets thrown my way. (I gave up trying to anticipate it…and through that I found peace…)
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Post by Monkeyfun Dave on Feb 18, 2016 9:50:52 GMT -8
They cackle with glee. Then I usually say “I have to go to the bathroom” while I think of how the hell I’m going to handle the changes….I’ve gotten pretty good over the years at thinking quickly and adapting to the crazy stuff that gets thrown my way. (I gave up trying to anticipate it…and through that I found peace…) "Why does he keep taking the GM Guide to the bathroom?" "Not sure. I think he needs reading material."
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2016 10:16:11 GMT -8
For me a large part of it is that when it comes to storytelling I'm best at scenes and setups. I could never write a novel, I just don't have a book sized story waiting to be told, setups though,I have them by the dozen and then rely on players to show me where its going.
I also can't deny that there's an element of control to it, if I'm the GM I can lay out the scene the way I imagine it and gave NPCs react in the way that makes sense to me.
Finally, and relating to both of the above, I find it much easier to get into character with NPCs than PCs. Partially it's because they typically have to be more over the top / obvious in terms of their personality / motivation but its also because I know what's going on behind the scenes whereas as a player in more often in the situation of trying to work out what is going on.
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Post by Houndin on Feb 19, 2016 4:12:28 GMT -8
It started out as something I had to do because nobody else would. Then I found out that people were asking me to run games at cons. I have always had a self-esteem problem and it was a shock to me that not only did people talk about my games, but they did it in a good light.
Fast forward about 2 decades, I GM now because I have these kernels of story ideas, and I want to see where they go. I don't have the wherewithal to finish them myself, so I dupe players into doing it. This is the primary reason I am very low prep. I tend to improvise and react to the players after the first session or two. I find it fascinating to watch what the party does.
I guess that makes me a voyer GM.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using proboards
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outofprintGM
Apprentice Douchebag
one man's wilderness is another man's playground
Posts: 59
Preferred Game Systems: anything thts fun for the group to play
Currently Playing: D&D5E, Blood of Heroes, FFG Star Wars,
Currently Running: Blood of Heroes, Night Black Agents, Pathfinder, Rolmaster,FFG Star Wars, Monster of the week,
Favorite Species of Monkey: spider monkey
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Post by outofprintGM on Feb 20, 2016 11:30:20 GMT -8
at first i started running games because no one else was willing to back in the 80s, now i run because i am just happier to run a game the be a player
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mrcj
Journeyman Douchebag
Posts: 173
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Post by mrcj on Feb 24, 2016 12:34:10 GMT -8
Three reasons:
1. I love world building, that is the funnest part.
2. I am a control freak and sometimes feel constrained playing from the perspective of one character.
3. I create the games/scenarios/campaigns I want to play in, but when others set games in those genres I always feel a little arg.
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Post by Stu Venable on Feb 24, 2016 15:17:54 GMT -8
It's less work than writing a novel.
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Post by joecrak on Feb 24, 2016 21:14:34 GMT -8
Cause there's certain games I want to run at certain times. Sure I'd rather play them, but sometimes I want to run them.
Plus it's fun to see what happens next.
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Post by fabulous on Mar 3, 2016 5:32:19 GMT -8
I only just recently had my first real experience DM'ing outside of my friends where I did it (once) before. I did it because I found a system I found very interesting (Dread) and there was a distinct lack of horror games. I mean "Horror" Blood, guts, and gore not horror like, demons, cthulu, etc. which to me isn't horror but more sci-fi thriller ish. (Please don't hate me, just my opinion!)
Anyway... I think at least for me it was the opportunity to run a game I wanted to play. I think because of that it's easy to get invested in the game.
I wasn't really sure how Orccon was going to go in regards to running games for complete strangers, and it had it's ups and downs, but I will say for 2 of the 3 games that worked really well it was worth every hour I spent writing it, re-writing it, prepping it, test running it etc. and I didn't feel like I wasted any of it getting it ready.
So yeh, from a new GM that is my answer. Oh, and I spent a majority of my younger years on stage in entertainment until I became an adult so I really enjoy the "entertaining people" aspect of it. The Theatrics etc. is really a buzz for me too...
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Post by ilina on Mar 3, 2016 6:00:29 GMT -8
i beleive a good horror film is supposed to be written like a Suspense thriller movie. Saw isn't Horror to me, it is a Gratuitous Tasteless Gorefest. while i don't beleive just containing demons or cthulu counts something as horror either. a true horror RPG is one where both the characters and the players themselves are frightened, not simply a highly lethal Sci Fi RPG with some rules for Sanity loss. the best Example i can think of is Probably Psycho or Jaws, you don't see the Villain on Camera until the last part of the film, with the suspense building over time, this often means you need to know the fears of the player as well, as well as any childhood traumas you can evoke.
but outside of Horror, regardless of Genre, the Group shouldn't be unwilling to provide the GM some tools. both positive and negative. if your knight has a younger sister who happens to be a reputable blacksmith, expect a sidequest pertaining to the blacksmith sister. not neccessarily a kidnapping, maybe a fetch quest that comes rewarded with a masterwork weapon as a reward.
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