Comments on: Being a GM is Like Using a 150 Watt Bulb http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/being-a-gm-is-like-using-a-150-watt-bulb Game mastering advice, ideas & resources • Dedicated to helping GMs Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:46:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Stealing the Flashlight - Treasure Tables http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/being-a-gm-is-like-using-a-150-watt-bulb/comment-page-1#comment-3435 Stealing the Flashlight - Treasure Tables Tue, 15 Aug 2006 13:12:51 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=437#comment-3435 [...] This is a guest post by TT reader Nick Bell (who goes by lebkin in the comments). It’s brilliantly simple, and it speaks for itself. - - - - - Because being a GM is like using a 150 watt bulb, it is easy to get lost in your self-created sea of knowledge where everything seems perfectly clear. To counter this, one needs to build up a set of tools in order to understand the players’ views on what is going on in-game. The best tool is actually the players themselves. Simply put, you can find out what the players remember by stealing their flashlight. [...] [...] This is a guest post by TT reader Nick Bell (who goes by lebkin in the comments). It’s brilliantly simple, and it speaks for itself. – - – - – Because being a GM is like using a 150 watt bulb, it is easy to get lost in your self-created sea of knowledge where everything seems perfectly clear. To counter this, one needs to build up a set of tools in order to understand the players’ views on what is going on in-game. The best tool is actually the players themselves. Simply put, you can find out what the players remember by stealing their flashlight. [...]

]]> By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/being-a-gm-is-like-using-a-150-watt-bulb/comment-page-1#comment-3421 Martin Mon, 14 Aug 2006 21:20:28 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=437#comment-3421 lebkin: Thanks! I've emailed you back about your guest post. :) lebkin: Thanks! I’ve emailed you back about your guest post. :)

]]> By: lebkin http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/being-a-gm-is-like-using-a-150-watt-bulb/comment-page-1#comment-3386 lebkin Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:21:46 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=437#comment-3386 Martin: I would love to write up a guest post. I know you are at Gen Con the rest of this week. So I will send you an email, and you can get me the details of what you would like from me. Martin: I would love to write up a guest post. I know you are at Gen Con the rest of this week. So I will send you an email, and you can get me the details of what you would like from me.

]]> By: tmcdon http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/being-a-gm-is-like-using-a-150-watt-bulb/comment-page-1#comment-3373 tmcdon Mon, 07 Aug 2006 22:03:37 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=437#comment-3373 Nice analogies Nice analogies

]]> By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/being-a-gm-is-like-using-a-150-watt-bulb/comment-page-1#comment-3370 Martin Mon, 07 Aug 2006 20:38:39 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=437#comment-3370 lebkin: That's an awesome tip. Would you be interested in expanding it slightly as a guest post? Drop me a line if you are. :) (I'll be at GenCon Wed-Sun.) Karnov: I doubt that. ;) But if you do find yourself needing help with anything GMing-related, I recommend checking out our friendly forums. :) lebkin: That’s an awesome tip. Would you be interested in expanding it slightly as a guest post? Drop me a line if you are. :) (I’ll be at GenCon Wed-Sun.)

Karnov: I doubt that. ;) But if you do find yourself needing help with anything GMing-related, I recommend checking out our friendly forums. :)

]]> By: Karnov http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/being-a-gm-is-like-using-a-150-watt-bulb/comment-page-1#comment-3363 Karnov Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:54:41 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=437#comment-3363 I think my problem i have to work on is I am a 40 watt light bulb. I think my problem i have to work on is I am a 40 watt light bulb.

]]> By: lebkin http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/being-a-gm-is-like-using-a-150-watt-bulb/comment-page-1#comment-3362 lebkin Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:51:40 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=437#comment-3362 I have found it is good to wait a few days after a gaming session, then ask your players what they remember from the prior session. This will tell you where their flashlight is pointed. They will remember the elements that are important to them, and forget the boring ones. Take the things they remember and focus on them in the next session. I have found it is good to wait a few days after a gaming session, then ask your players what they remember from the prior session. This will tell you where their flashlight is pointed. They will remember the elements that are important to them, and forget the boring ones. Take the things they remember and focus on them in the next session.

]]> By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/being-a-gm-is-like-using-a-150-watt-bulb/comment-page-1#comment-3359 Martin Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:48:23 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=437#comment-3359 Both very good points. :) Both very good points. :)

]]> By: ScottM http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/being-a-gm-is-like-using-a-150-watt-bulb/comment-page-1#comment-3355 ScottM Mon, 07 Aug 2006 04:00:32 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=437#comment-3355 Of course, sometimes your also stumbling around, figuring things out. Many systems (like Burning Wheel) help highlight what the players are interested in before you begin-- but you have to remain alert and attentive to make sure their current interests are getting hit. Of course, sometimes your also stumbling around, figuring things out. Many systems (like Burning Wheel) help highlight what the players are interested in before you begin– but you have to remain alert and attentive to make sure their current interests are getting hit.

]]> By: Al http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/being-a-gm-is-like-using-a-150-watt-bulb/comment-page-1#comment-3352 Al Sun, 06 Aug 2006 20:54:47 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=437#comment-3352 I think there's a couple of exceptions in some of the games that focus on 'role' far more than 'roll'. Amber in particular. Everyone is scheming, and 'the adventure' may be a distant third in importance to the internecine politics. Many player-player interactions really don't require the GM, so they occur without the GM's knowledge. And can lead to complete bafflement on the GM's face. GM: 'Joe trips and falls almost completely off the cliff path.' Player: 'No one can see me, I give him a push. With a big grin.' GM: '... um...' I think there’s a couple of exceptions in some of the games that focus on ‘role’ far more than ‘roll’. Amber in particular. Everyone is scheming, and ‘the adventure’ may be a distant third in importance to the internecine politics. Many player-player interactions really don’t require the GM, so they occur without the GM’s knowledge.

And can lead to complete bafflement on the GM’s face.
GM: ‘Joe trips and falls almost completely off the cliff path.’
Player: ‘No one can see me, I give him a push. With a big grin.’
GM: ‘… um…’

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