Comments on: How to Be a Bad GM: A Primer http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer 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: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-5155 Martin Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:34:24 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-5155 I love that story, longcoat. It was actually the subject of a TT post awhile back, and I'm sure it informed my thinking. I love that story, longcoat. It was actually the subject of a TT post awhile back, and I’m sure it informed my thinking.

]]> By: longcoat000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-5121 longcoat000 Mon, 30 Oct 2006 23:44:34 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-5121 Martin *must* have been thinking about this when he wrote this post... http://thingsihate.org/article/123/the_worst_dungeon_master_ever_part_one *shivers* Martin *must* have been thinking about this when he wrote this post…

http://thingsihate.org/article/123/the_worst_dungeon_master_ever_part_one

*shivers*

]]> By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-4943 Martin Sat, 28 Oct 2006 02:45:58 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-4943 Two observations from writing this post: 1. It was difficult for me to write "the players," not "your players." That's a good thing. ;) 2. I recognize some of these behaviors from my own GMing career. Not all of them, and not always to the level that I took them to here, but nonetheless: I've done some of this. I suspect many GMs have. The key is not <i>continuing</i> to do them, but using them as learning experiences. Probably self-evident, but it seemed worth mentioning. ;) Two observations from writing this post:

1. It was difficult for me to write “the players,” not “your players.” That’s a good thing. ;)

2. I recognize some of these behaviors from my own GMing career. Not all of them, and not always to the level that I took them to here, but nonetheless: I’ve done some of this.

I suspect many GMs have. The key is not continuing to do them, but using them as learning experiences. Probably self-evident, but it seemed worth mentioning. ;)

]]> By: Telas http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-4932 Telas Fri, 27 Oct 2006 22:20:24 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-4932 Don't forget - DM is nerdish for Authority Figure. Act the way you think authority figures should act - spoil the party rotten with +5 vorpals at first level, or just kill them off for your amusement. Hell, do both, and leave them really amazed! Another great way to be a memorable DM is to bury one useful hint in your fifty-odd pages of homebrew background information. Hide it well enough, and the PC will be sure to tell everyone exactly how much they enjoyed your riddles and puzzles! Finally, there is a direct correlation between the Explosion Dog and becoming editor of a major gaming magazine... Don’t forget – DM is nerdish for Authority Figure. Act the way you think authority figures should act – spoil the party rotten with +5 vorpals at first level, or just kill them off for your amusement. Hell, do both, and leave them really amazed!

Another great way to be a memorable DM is to bury one useful hint in your fifty-odd pages of homebrew background information. Hide it well enough, and the PC will be sure to tell everyone exactly how much they enjoyed your riddles and puzzles!

Finally, there is a direct correlation between the Explosion Dog and becoming editor of a major gaming magazine…

]]> By: Dave Chalker http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-4917 Dave Chalker Fri, 27 Oct 2006 17:33:24 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-4917 You forgot the clever pop culture references. Nothing makes players more excited than realizing your GMPC is really a Jedi (but in D&D!!!!) and the King is Jean-Luc Picard (but in D&D!!!!) You forgot the clever pop culture references. Nothing makes players more excited than realizing your GMPC is really a Jedi (but in D&D!!!!) and the King is Jean-Luc Picard (but in D&D!!!!)

]]> By: Heather http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-4916 Heather Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:47:56 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-4916 Hah... I remember reviewing a module once in which there were several instances where the characters would die (or grow old, or get ported instantly to another dimension) if they did the "wrong" thing, and there was no real warning as to what that wrong thing might be. That same module had the characters being passed off from NPC to NPC as though they were tourists. The basis for the story was gorgeous, and I saw the module praised merely on that basis at various sites, but I just couldn't give it high marks with problems like that. Hah… I remember reviewing a module once in which there were several instances where the characters would die (or grow old, or get ported instantly to another dimension) if they did the “wrong” thing, and there was no real warning as to what that wrong thing might be. That same module had the characters being passed off from NPC to NPC as though they were tourists. The basis for the story was gorgeous, and I saw the module praised merely on that basis at various sites, but I just couldn’t give it high marks with problems like that.

]]> By: VV_GM http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-4879 VV_GM Thu, 26 Oct 2006 21:52:05 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-4879 The funny thing is that I don't see these types of mistakes being made by beginning GMs as often as I see them being made by a veteran GM who don't consider it his or her job to serve the players. I personally think that is what the role of the GM is: a storyteller who only has final authority for the purpose of entertaining his or her audience. Lose the audience and your authority is pointless. The funny thing is that I don’t see these types of mistakes being made by beginning GMs as often as I see them being made by a veteran GM who don’t consider it his or her job to serve the players. I personally think that is what the role of the GM is: a storyteller who only has final authority for the purpose of entertaining his or her audience. Lose the audience and your authority is pointless.

]]> By: Dylan Zimmerman http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-4878 Dylan Zimmerman Thu, 26 Oct 2006 21:42:02 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-4878 Hahaha...it's scary that I remember DMing like this. *shudders* Never again, I promise! Hahaha…it’s scary that I remember DMing like this. *shudders* Never again, I promise!

]]> By: Patrick http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-4871 Patrick Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:13:30 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-4871 This is how I was taught to GM, and I'm glad that finally quality guides like this are making a comeback. This is how I was taught to GM, and I’m glad that finally quality guides like this are making a comeback.

]]> By: Rick the Wonder Algae http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-4870 Rick the Wonder Algae Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:10:35 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-4870 Ooh! Don't foget to deal with offensive and delicate subject material in the most juvenile morally objectional way possible, such as a brothel for monsters in which the enslaved workers are repeatedly abused and whose bastard children are served to the clientelle for dinner. Players dig being exposed to abominations of man and nature on a regular vomit-inducing basis. Ooh! Don’t foget to deal with offensive and delicate subject material in the most juvenile morally objectional way possible, such as a brothel for monsters in which the enslaved workers are repeatedly abused and whose bastard children are served to the clientelle for dinner. Players dig being exposed to abominations of man and nature on a regular vomit-inducing basis.

]]> By: Rick the Wonder Algae http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-4869 Rick the Wonder Algae Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:05:33 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-4869 Don't forget to completely and arbitrarily change the fundamental rules on which the game is based without notification. Also, be sure that one of your players is "The Great One", immortal and more powerful than the other PCs (only slightly less powerful than your NPC) and that the majority of the plot and action revolves around that one player. Whichever player is related to you or that you have a crush on will do nicely. Don’t forget to completely and arbitrarily change the fundamental rules on which the game is based without notification.

Also, be sure that one of your players is “The Great One”, immortal and more powerful than the other PCs (only slightly less powerful than your NPC) and that the majority of the plot and action revolves around that one player. Whichever player is related to you or that you have a crush on will do nicely.

]]> By: Gospog http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/10/how-to-be-a-bad-gm-a-primer/comment-page-1#comment-4868 Gospog Thu, 26 Oct 2006 19:41:34 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=515#comment-4868 Another piece of advice in the same vein is to make sure that other NPCs are impressed with your GMPCs above all others. Sure the Player Characters want to be heroes, but honestly, what have they accomplished so far? Not much. Your GMPC has 7 pages of back-story that proves that all the other NPCs love him. Another piece of advice in the same vein is to make sure that other NPCs are impressed with your GMPCs above all others.

Sure the Player Characters want to be heroes, but honestly, what have they accomplished so far? Not much. Your GMPC has 7 pages of back-story that proves that all the other NPCs love him.

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