What Does It Feel Like To Be A Dungeon Master?

[Bartmanhomer]

Hey everybody. I've a question to all the Dungeon Masters or DMs out there? What does it like to be a Dungeon Master? Because I'm thinking of becoming a Dungeon Master someday.

[Koo Rehtorb]

Icicles on the spine of a skeleton on the subway at midnight.

[Bartmanhomer]

Icicles on the spine of a skeleton on the subway at midnight.

Oh I get it. It's a joke.

[Beans]

It depends, I think, on
1. What system you are playing
2. The people you play with
3. Your experience with DMing in general and the particular system and style of game
4. What kind of game you're playing within the system
5. some other things probably

But in my experience (with my homebrew Kamen Rider nonsense), I've found that being a DM can be both very fun and very taxing. You get to set up challenges and battles for your players to face, and you get to watch them try to deal with what you lay out before them. However, there is (and, to a degree, should be) a pressure on you to actually provide a fun game for your players to work with, and it can be a lot of work figuring out what style of play is good for you and your players and then going about it. If you're not running published modules (whether because you choose not to or your system lacks them or whatever), you generally have make everything up on your own, draw maps, etc. That can be challenging and tedious, but it can also be really fun and a learning experience.

So to sort of wrap up my long, silly ramble---DMing depends on how much you put into it, but when it's good it can be fantastic.

[RazorChain]

Wow? Difficult question.

But mostly it feels good, especially if you've mastered your craft. For me it comes effortlessly, I've been GMing for 27 years so I could probably conjure up a pretty good game on the spot with nothing but a pencil and a die.

I think my biggest hurdle when I was young was to gain the understanding that it wasn't about me, my world, my npcs, my plot but about the players and their characters. Now a large part comes from my players enjoyment, their excitement, their thrill. It's a bit like having children and to be happy about their enjoyment.

I started with a new group almost a year ago, all of them unexperienced some playing their first game and it made me realize how jaded I'd become. Now I'm revitalized just be watching them discover what this hobby has to offer.

And there is also responsibility and hard work. If you are going to start Game Mastering then hone your craft, there is a lot to learn.

[Stryyke]

This is my personal experience. Experiences vary. As such take this information as a data point, rather than the be-all-end-all.
In my opinion there are two types of DM'ing. There's the short campaign and one offs. Then there's long campaign.

For the short campaign and one-offs, the whole point is the player's enjoyment. There is little to no recruiting involved, so you end up with a wide array of people, with different experience levels. Many groups have a DM rotation for these types of games, so no one person get's burnt out being DM.

For the long campaign, I would argue that it is important that YOU, the DM, are working on something you really want to. There is a ton of work involved in an long campaign, and it's important that your morale stays high. In long campaigns, I have more stringent recruiting. So rather than focusing on balancing varied player attitudes and goals, you can find players whose personality mesh with yours and the setting.

But no matter what type of campaign, you have to be organized. Each player has to keep track of their own characters, and sometimes those characters can be taxing. The DM has to know about the PCs, all the NPCs, all the enemies, and try to keep the players on track. The DM MUST be comfortable being an authority. At any table, the DMs word is final, which comes with responsibilities. If you aren't the authority, players will run roughshod over you; and while they may think it's fun for a while, it ends up very bad for long term cohesion.

And the #1 rule of being a DM is flexibility. It's best if you can improvise around your players actions. Any DM will tell you that players have a knack for doing the one thing you hope they won't do, at the worst possible time. That lovely plan you spent 15 hours drawing up, goes out the window if the players turn right instead of left. You can look at it as a frustration, or a challenge.

The best DMs will read what I have written and be excited. Someone who will likely make a passable DM will read what I have written and accept it. You may not be suited to be a DM if you read what I wrote and think it's too much work.

I love bringing happiness to others, so DM'ing is really fun for me. It's so satisfying watching players reactions as they overcome a particularly difficult foe or obstacle. At the end of campaigns, I tend to feel bummed. Not that I don't like being a player, but I like DM'ing more. But like anything we do, it takes experience and lots of fail. If you are afraid to fail, you will struggle.

[Freed]

If I have to describe it, you're being a mega-player with way too many PCs and each has an extremely fleshed out backstory.

[OldTrees1]

On the one hand you are in control of the construction of the world. As such you feel a sense of power and excitement at the chance to show off your creativity, skill, & knowledge but also feel slightly tired from the standard you are holding yourself to.

On the other hand you are watching other players play D&D. Sure running D&D is a kind of play, but it is not the same kind of play as running a PC.


In other words: You feel a mix of "the grass is always greener on the other side" and "the grass here is green enough".

[Incanur]

Running a game resembles teaching. You put in a tons of prep time; students/players put in little or none. You develop awesome material that they only distantly comprehend or appreciate. Sometimes they don't even show up. Sometimes they forget the basics. Often they enjoy the ride, but rarely in the way you hope or expect.

[KatteLars]

Beans, Stryyke and Razorchain described my experience pretty well, I'll just add that it helps to find out your limits/ambitions in DM'ing. I'm not a huge fan of doing oneshots, but I've had to realize that my campaigns can't last for longer than a year (in real time, supposing one day of play every week). Longer than that, and I burn out. So I've gotta plan my campaigns accordingly :)

[Cozzer]

A bit like being a writer, a bit like being an actor, a bit like being a diplomat and, if your system of choice is complex enough, a bit like being a mathematician or statistician. Ratios may vary depending on your style. :P

Oh, and the "being a writer" part refers to the kind of writer who has to put out a chapter weekly even if he has no good ideas and no time to come up with some, and who sometimes discovers he ****ed himself up with a piece of canon he estabilished a year ago without really thinking about it and now cannot just un-canon it.

[hifidelity2]

Wow? Difficult question.

But mostly it feels good especially if you've mastered your craft. For me it comes effortlessly, I've been GMing for 27 years so I could probably conjure up a pretty good game on the spot with nothing but a pencil and a die.

And there is also responsibility and hard work. If you are going to start Game Mastering then hone your craft, there is a lot to learn.

I agree / in the same position – been playing for over 30 years and DMing on / off for most of that period

It has been rewarding, fun and at times tear you hair out frustrating


Start small – use a published adventure.
Start at low level.
If the players are experienced then tell them this is the 1st time and that you are doing a published adventure
Know the rules! – this does not mean every variant but the basics
If you make a mistake (e.g. forget to add the Monsters +’s tell the players and agree what you will do going forward – e.g. “from the next encounter I will be adding their +56 to hit” so they might be slightly harder to fight than you think)

Wow? Difficult question.

I think my biggest hurdle when I was young was to gain the understanding that it wasn't about me, my world, my npcs, my plot but about the players and their characters. Now a large part comes from my players enjoyment, their excitement, their thrill. It's a bit like having children and to be happy about their enjoyment.

I agree totally – both you and the players are there to have fun.
YOU are not writing a story (like a book) as the players will do the unexpected – It’s the TABLE (i.e. all of you) that are writing the story

You also can’t be too precious over your world / characters / major NPC’s

[Ninja_Prawn]

A bit like being a writer, a bit like being an actor, a bit like being a diplomat and, if your system of choice is complex enough, a bit like being a mathematician or statistician. Ratios may vary depending on your style. :P

Oh, and the "being a writer" part refers to the kind of writer who has to put out a chapter weekly even if he has no good ideas and no time to come up with some, and who sometimes discovers he ****ed himself up with a piece of canon he estabilished a year ago without really thinking about it and now cannot just un-canon it.

Pretty much this. DMing is hard: you're the director, script-writer, actor (with dozens of simultaneous roles) and the grip... you have to be able to plan and improvise. It takes vision, leadership, communication and dedication to be a great DM. And sometimes there's maths.

For Bartmanhomer in particular, I want to highlight one aspect: you need to be able to read people. The heart of DMing is providing a fun game for the players, which means you need to be paying attention to them, picking up their signals and understanding what they do and don't enjoy. Because they won't tell you - half of them probably don't even know what they want in the first place. Empathy, insight and intuition are valuable attributes for a DM so if you struggle with those things, it might be more difficult for you.

[evangaline]

For Bartmanhomer in particular, I want to highlight one aspect: you need to be able to read people. The heart of DMing is providing a fun game for the players, which means you need to be paying attention to them, picking up their signals and understanding what they do and don't enjoy. Because they won't tell you - half of them probably don't even know what they want in the first place. Empathy, insight and intuition are valuable attributes for a DM so if you struggle with those things, it might be more difficult for you.

Agreed. For example, learning how to read someones body language will significantly help/improve your DM-ing. There are a lot of free sites, tutorials and other media available on the internet which can teach it.

[Kelb_Panthera]

Sometimes it feels like you're the director of a brilliant movie.

Sometimes it feesl like you're the captain of your winning sport team.

Sometimes it feels like you're herding cats that are herding squirrels.


When things go well, it fills you with a satsifaction that few other things do.

When it goes poorly, you want to strangle your friends with their own guts.


What can I say, it's hard to put into words.

[hymer]

Hey everybody. I've a question to all the Dungeon Masters or DMs out there? What does it like to be a Dungeon Master? Because I'm thinking of becoming a Dungeon Master someday.

It feels like a horde of ungrateful simpletons are constantly either roaring their disapproval at you or showering you with indifference, while you spend every last ounce of energy, time and creativity you have trying to please them - unless you stop DMing, in which case they whine at the lack of games and shun you socially while talking about you behind your back.

Ask me again in summer, I may feel better then.

[RazorChain]

It feels like a horde of ungrateful simpletons are constantly either roaring their disapproval at you or showering you with indifference, while you spend every last ounce of energy, time and creativity you have trying to please them - unless you stop DMing, in which case they whine at the lack of games and shun you socially while talking about you behind your back.

Ask me again in summer, I may feel better then.

Good to get both sides of the story And yes hymer is right, there will be idiots, problem players and narcissists. Your job is to either reform them or boot them out of your game if they are ruining the fun for everyone.

[Darth Ultron]

Feels kind of like being an all powerful god

[Stealth Marmot]

It's like being the driver on a cross country road trip and being the only one that knows that you are so very lost, but you don't want the passengers to know so you can't ask directions.

[Lacco]

In my opinion... best summary of "What Does It Feel Like To Be a Game Master" is the Ode to the Three Ring Binder by Blackjack...



And it can be a thankless job - but if you get players who understand what it is to be a GM/DM, you usually get lots of thanks, praises and sometimes even free pizza...

[ellindsey]

Feels kind of like being an all powerful god

If that's what it feel like, you are doing it wrong. Very, very wrong.

[TheCountAlucard]

It's often somewhat like having memorized a scene from The Tempest to act out, only to accidentally end up at Improv Night, and you end up having to do a Brooklyn accent and pretend that it's set in the Hall of Justice.

It can be a bit like spinning a bunch of plates that get frustrated instead of breaking. And sometimes they hate each other.

Sometimes you feel like Hannibal, applauding the moment when a plan comes together.

Sometimes it's like trying to smash down a brick wall.

Sometimes it's like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree.

Sometimes it's like that exhilarating roller-coaster feeling.

It varies, is what I'm saying.

[Cozzer]

Oh, also like being the editor of four-to-six writers who are all writing the same story without consulting each other about where it should go. And it's your job to create something coherent and engaging from the material they produce, without making any of them feel like their input is being ignored.

[Pugwampy]

Its a labour of love and a thankless task . Yes its fun but probably not as much fun as being a player .

If everything goes off without a hitch , you can get real buzz from players interacting with your world and your creations but it can also be a knife that cuts your soul . You must be careful about investing too much emotions into NPC,s or having favorite pet monsters .

Never forget your monsters are there to get killed by players who will loot them of their magic goodies and become stronger and stronger and you must adapt .

You must learn to let go of things . You must try to say yes to any funny thing they can think up or if possible negotiate it down .

I think the most successful clubs are those that have all players rotating as DM,s every so often , if only make everyone understand how much work and commitment goes into making a cool session .

Its not rocket science being a DM . You have more then one Character or monster and make a funny story for the players . Perhaps you make a better combat scene than the story or perhaps you like making the story better then any fight . Its your preference . DM styles are unlimited .

[Delicious Taffy]

From my own experience, I can only describe it as taxing.

[Bartmanhomer]

From my own experience, I can only describe it as taxing.

So it's not as fun, I assume?

[CharonsHelper]

So it's not as fun, I assume?

It's just as fun as playing, but it is more work. Depending upon your personality, the prep can be nearly as fun as playing.

I'd also say that it's a very satisfying feeling to GM a smoothly run campaign.

[Cozzer]

So it's not as fun, I assume?

It... depends. When it's fun, it's way more fun. When it's unfun, it's way more unfun. It's more swingy.

If a session goes badly and you're a player, you just suffer through a bit of boredom and go home. If you're the GM, you've just wasted your preparation and your ego suffered HP damage.

If a session goes perfectly and you're a player, you have a lot of fun. If you're the GM and see all the players having a lot of fun, you feel like the best person ever.

[CharonsHelper]

you feel like the best person ever.

I always feel like the best person ever. Whenever anyone else does, they're deluding themselves. *nods convincingly*

[ComradeBear]

I liken it to being the mental version of running a really fun marathon with your friends.

You prepare beforehand, you get out there and do it, great things happen and lots of smiles are had, it's great and wonderful and then it's over.
And you're exhausted, with no idea how that happened.

I love GMing. My general recommendation for people who want to be GMs Someday is to take the Someday off and just start doing it.