Comments on: Get Out of Your GMing Comfort Zone http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone Game mastering advice, ideas & resources • Dedicated to helping GMs Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1830 Martin Tue, 11 Apr 2006 13:38:49 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1830 Ken, that's a great topic for a future TT post -- thank you for bringing it up! Ken, that’s a great topic for a future TT post — thank you for bringing it up!

]]> By: Ken Newquist http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1829 Ken Newquist Tue, 11 Apr 2006 13:13:52 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1829 For me, the problem isn't getting out of my GMing comfort zone, but getting the players out of their <em>playing</em> comfort zone. My players aren't all that interested in trying out new systems -- we've done it a handful of times, but only a handful. I'm not sure how to get them to try other things -- my thinking now is that perhaps I could try a once-a-quarter one-shot, with the few interested players from my group, and a few new players rounded up from outside of the campaign. For me, the problem isn’t getting out of my GMing comfort zone, but getting the players out of their playing comfort zone.

My players aren’t all that interested in trying out new systems — we’ve done it a handful of times, but only a handful. I’m not sure how to get them to try other things — my thinking now is that perhaps I could try a once-a-quarter one-shot, with the few interested players from my group, and a few new players rounded up from outside of the campaign.

]]> By: Chris http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1793 Chris Fri, 07 Apr 2006 15:35:31 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1793 My comfort zone would be published adventures. I always want write and do my own but lack the confidence. I'm going to give it a shot though with a Spycraft 2.0 game I'm about to run. I hope it goes well. My comfort zone would be published adventures. I always want write and do my own but lack the confidence. I’m going to give it a shot though with a Spycraft 2.0 game I’m about to run. I hope it goes well.

]]> By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1791 Martin Fri, 07 Apr 2006 05:02:15 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1791 I love hearing everyone's stories about pushing their GMing envelopes -- thanks for sharing them! I love hearing everyone’s stories about pushing their GMing envelopes — thanks for sharing them!

]]> By: Patrick http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1779 Patrick Thu, 06 Apr 2006 12:25:33 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1779 That's all right, ScottM. I completely understand. No, really, it's all right. I'll live on after being laughed at. You don't need to disguise it. It's cool. :) LOL Martin: No, I never tried that site before. Thing is I don't have time for two games in a week (I use to do that - had a psion in an Eberron campaign. That was a lot of fun), but I just couldn't keep up with the other group, although it was insanely fun. That’s all right, ScottM. I completely understand. No, really, it’s all right. I’ll live on after being laughed at. You don’t need to disguise it. It’s cool. :) LOL

Martin: No, I never tried that site before. Thing is I don’t have time for two games in a week (I use to do that – had a psion in an Eberron campaign. That was a lot of fun), but I just couldn’t keep up with the other group, although it was insanely fun.

]]> By: Troy Taylor aka Carolina http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1778 Troy Taylor aka Carolina Thu, 06 Apr 2006 03:59:30 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1778 My DMing comfort zone is straight-up D&D dungeon crawl. Last winter we broke from our D&D Mode and ran a two-session adventure ripped straight from the Michael Crichton novel "Congo" with the Modern rules set. It took a thorough re-reading of the novel, not to mention picking out the key "scenes". So instead of the PCs going through a dungeon step-by-step, the adventure was presented in an episodic fashion --- leaping from scene to scene. It was my first try at scene-to-scene adventuring, rather than following a map. We had a blast. By the time we got to the lost city in the jungle, we constructed the city out of empty soda cans from the previous session. My DMing comfort zone is straight-up D&D dungeon crawl.

Last winter we broke from our D&D Mode and ran a two-session adventure ripped straight from the Michael Crichton novel “Congo” with the Modern rules set.

It took a thorough re-reading of the novel, not to mention picking out the key “scenes”. So instead of the PCs going through a dungeon step-by-step, the adventure was presented in an episodic fashion — leaping from scene to scene.

It was my first try at scene-to-scene adventuring, rather than following a map.

We had a blast. By the time we got to the lost city in the jungle, we constructed the city out of empty soda cans from the previous session.

]]> By: ScottM http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1777 ScottM Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:51:44 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1777 (Wow that was disjointed. The first sentence should be: "I was laughing with recognition at Patrick's description." Sorry.) (Wow that was disjointed. The first sentence should be: “I was laughing with recognition at Patrick’s description.” Sorry.)

]]> By: ScottM http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1775 ScottM Wed, 05 Apr 2006 15:33:18 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1775 I was laughing at recognition at Patrick. I've been pushing games outside our communal "comfort zone"-- but they want the potential of long range games. (But were unwilling to consider multiple PTA seasons the same as a campaign...) I was laughing at recognition at Patrick. I’ve been pushing games outside our communal “comfort zone”– but they want the potential of long range games. (But were unwilling to consider multiple PTA seasons the same as a campaign…)

]]> By: Chris http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1774 Chris Wed, 05 Apr 2006 12:32:39 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1774 Paranoia XP. It's so vastly different from any other RPG; I think every GM and player should experience it. In my group, it has affected every other system we have used (for the positive). Oh, and it's insanely fun! Paranoia XP.
It’s so vastly different from any other RPG; I think every GM and player should experience it.
In my group, it has affected every other system we have used (for the positive).
Oh, and it’s insanely fun!

]]> By: A Different Patrick http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1772 A Different Patrick Wed, 05 Apr 2006 03:33:13 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1772 My group has tried this a few times - different games, different GMs - usually works well with experienced gamers - even when the "GM Temp" wasn't all that great, we at least learned what NOT to do - good advice!! My group has tried this a few times – different games, different GMs – usually works well with experienced gamers – even when the “GM Temp” wasn’t all that great, we at least learned what NOT to do – good advice!!

]]> By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1771 Martin Wed, 05 Apr 2006 00:58:32 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1771 lebkin: That's exactly the kind of experience I'm getting at with this post -- glad to hear it! Frank: Good point about needing a plan. That's one reason I encourage one-shots when you're breaking out of your comfort zone -- not much commitment, but a good chance of returns. Patrick: Have you tried <a href="http://findplay.anvilwerks.com" rel="nofollow">FindPlay</a>? lebkin: That’s exactly the kind of experience I’m getting at with this post — glad to hear it!

Frank: Good point about needing a plan. That’s one reason I encourage one-shots when you’re breaking out of your comfort zone — not much commitment, but a good chance of returns.

Patrick: Have you tried FindPlay?

]]> By: Patrick http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/04/get-out-of-your-gming-comfort-zone/comment-page-1#comment-1770 Patrick Tue, 04 Apr 2006 18:41:02 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=284#comment-1770 But... but... but going outside of your comfort zone is... WORK! :) Seriously, it's scary to go outside of your comfort zone, but it definatly is rewarding. Now if only I could find a group willing to do the same... But… but… but going outside of your comfort zone is… WORK!

:)

Seriously, it’s scary to go outside of your comfort zone, but it definatly is rewarding. Now if only I could find a group willing to do the same…

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