Topic: Are you primarily a player or a GM?

[Cory Magel]

I've only just blatantly walked out on one game.  Back in our D&D days one of the group members decided to run a game.  When I came to roll up a character I was handed three d6 to roll stats.  I did so, they kinda stunk.  We were used to using the optional system when you picked what you wanted to be and your stat rolls were weighted in that direction, but I decided to be a good sport.

So I asked if we were allowed re-rolls.
   Nope.
Could I assign them as I see fit?
   Nope.  In the order rolled.
Can I swap 2 for 1 on stats?
  Nope.  You got what you got.
But I wanted to play a melee fighter of some sort.
   Sorry, with your stats you're going to have to play mage.
Seriously?  That sucks.
   That's how my game works.
Well your game sucks (and I left).

I later heard the opening scene of the game was the party being Fire-balled in the darkness.  One player was killed, one went down, another was left with only a few hit points.  One or two of the players that went down had to wait like 4 hours for the fight to be done and get healed.  They didn't return.  So I am pretty sure a dodged a bullet on that one.

[Peter R]

I never really got the rational behind restricting classes. Sure Paladins are rare but PCs represent probably less than 0.1% of the population.

[Cory Magel]

Yeah, there really no point in a character creation system where you can roll up a character with stats that doesn't let you play what you want.  We called them "Farmers" when we played D&D.  "Hey look, I rolled up another farmer!  He goes on his merry way..." (start rolling again).

[damage]

A skype game might work, but only so long as the connection is good. It still wouldn't be as good as face-to-face, imo though.

The RMFRP game I GM has been running (in various forms) since the mid 90's. A few years back, I moved to another country, but that didn't stop the game. Skype gaming works fine for us!

All of the players are in a lounge room in Australia, with the GM (me) on the big TV screen, Skyping in from New Zealand. For quiet asides to a player, the player goes into the study and I Skype into there for a quick chat. I've tried a few of the online tools, but I've gone back to just sketching maps on a bit of A4 and holding that up to the camera as required. A decent omnidirectional mike on the player end is essential.

As good as actually being there? No, but it's pretty close. I do think it wouldn't work as well if all the players were Skyping in from different locations as well as myself, but the fact that they still all get together in the same place, with the same junk food and social interaction, really seems to make it work.
And I'm not sure it would work as well if I was a player, rather than the GM, and the GM and the rest of the group were in one location that I was Skyping into remotely.

You do need a reasonable internet connection for this. Skype's pretty good at handling problem connections, but we have had one or two games that I've needed to stop early due to persistent problems, and I don't think we've ever had a session where I haven't needed to hang up and call back once or twice.

But all in all, I've found it works quite well.

Regards,

 - David.

[Warl]

We have done the "All players and Gm on a Oovoo video call (Oovoo allows up to 12 connections at once for free) as Well as we have also had Players join the my local home FtF game via the same Oovoo program and it has worked out well.

Doing the same using a Virtual table top has work very well as well. been doing virtual table tops now for over 10 years.
We use a Separate voice program from VTT, but Free site programs like Roll20 have the Video conferencing built in. 

I have even considered using Virtual Meeting programs for the game, but I like to have my maps Premade and love the fog of war and so forth. Even if I went back to being able to run a FTF game, I would still use the virtual table top for maps. I have it set up to my 40" LED tv and it has worked that way well in the past for my FTF games.

[Azaghal]

Right now I am the GM. Maybe some day I won't be the only GM but oh well.

[Warl]

welcome to the forums Azaghal

[Peter R]

Welcome Azaghal.

[Rose]

I was a player back in 93, and once I started buying RMSS I became a GM. Though I have not touched the books in almost seven years, my oldest daughter wants to learn. Thankfully, while sorting some old garage clutter I found a disc of my old RMC books, and now have the books to make her chuckle or cringe at the number 66.

[Spectre771]

I was a player back in 93, and once I started buying RMSS I became a GM. Though I have not touched the books in almost seven years, my oldest daughter wants to learn. Thankfully, while sorting some old garage clutter I found a disc of my old RMC books, and now have the books to make her chuckle or cringe at the number 66.

A warm welcome to you and your family.   It's a great feeling having family game night and everyone playing RM is my family.  It's a blast, helps us bond, teaches cooperation, and it's great to be able to share and to create new memories while gaming.  My 12 year old daughter wants to be GM now so I let her help me set up the campaign plot for the one I am running for the gaming group I meet with on Mondays.  She's having a great time going through the books and learning what the stats mean and how each creature stacks up against the party. 

Keep in mind, at the end of the first night she played, when she was about 8 years old, she grabbed the pen from me, drew a new map, drew a goblin and some trees and told me that one more goblin was getting away and that *I* had to roll initiative to go get him!

[Peter R]

I'm impressed for my party drawing their swords is their answer to everything right now.

[trechriron]

I GM because it's my calling. :-)

I do play in a few games, but mostly I'm super picky. I get bored fast. I have one person who I play with when he's in town, and outside that I generally organize, GM and evangelize (prognosticate?).

Just read through most of RMU and I've very impressed. So I'm poking about the boards to take the pulse, and see what's up.

I would posit that most of the people you find online are UBER. The serious enthusiasts (like me!) who dig a little deeper into this fine hobby. Most players use "player finders" and Meetup to find games, then happily play them. :-) This is IMHO, IME, etc.

[Druss_the_Legend]

i GM in my group but the players have had experience as GM of other games. so we share the GMing but i am the exclusive RM GM. here is a link to my campaign which we have restarted after over a 20yr break!
http://www.ironcrown.com/ICEforums/index.php?topic=15580.0

[Peter R]

I just read your campaign background, very good! I have noticed with my little experience of pbp gaming that the NPC interactions are better and add more to the game than they have in true face to face games so what you said about pre-scripting was interesting.

[Druss_the_Legend]

I just read your campaign background, very good! I have noticed with my little experience of pbp gaming that the NPC interactions are better and add more to the game than they have in true face to face games so what you said about pre-scripting was interesting.

Hi Peter. Yes playing online does have a different feel and i agree that PCs get a bit more of a chance to shine and develop a bit more depth, perhaps because you have more time to develop them offline for each session and i think that depth is needed to ground the players in the setting.

I have found it useful to have npc allies for my players who can offer suggestions for decisions for their characters. Sometimes these can be conflicting (between NPCs and btween players and NPC's - just like in real life people will disagree about things). In my Thieves World campaign the pcs have sided with a group of mercenary types called Hawkmasks. These hawkmasks are part of a larger group working for a crimelord and essentually function as the crimelords enforcers around the city and are sent on jobs of a criminal nature. The pcs are lower level than a few of the more experienced Hawkmasks and therefore are lower on the pecking order and get told what to do most of the time however one pc is moving up the ranks and is 3rd or 4th in command so he gets more say in decisions. The two Hawkmask captains occasionally disagree on what the group should be doing so it sometimes falls on the pcs to cast the deciding vote. Its created an interesting dynamic within the group where 3-4 characters (one pc and 3 NPC's) are leading the group and get input into big decisions that effect the whole group.

I am quite proud of the fact that many of the NPCs interacting with the pcs are my own creations. There are a few more powerful guys the players have heard of but not met yet. I find it is important to play npcs as realistically as possible and keep them true to their goals and motivations, often these motivations involve money or power so its not that hard to imagine how the would behave.

[Druss_the_Legend]

EDIT: ...i agree that NPCs get a bit more of a chance to shine and develop a bit more depth...

[Presidion11]

In the past I tended to GM RM mostly. More recently I run a RM game and play in one. I like having the option of character time - a game night where I don't have to run the show is always nice.

As a side note, I pretty much refuse to GM D&D / Pathfinder any longer. I have played in several games in recent years mostly because the rest of the group prefers GM'ing Pathfinder systems and I enjoy our game nights. I also figure it is polite to participate, etc.

One of the group says "Dude, it's like D&D is s--- for you compared to RM." I would not go that far, but he is basically correct. I just can't do it...

[jdale]

I'd play a lot of different games (some under protest)...  but if I run the game, I pick the rules.

[Peter R]

I'd play a lot of different games (some under protest)...  but if I run the game, I pick the rules.

I totally agree. Especially when you consider the hours of prep that as GM you need to commit to.

[Druss_the_Legend]

to me the prep as GM is sort of a labour of love. its hard work but u know it is going to pay off down the road. its quite important to stay in tune with your players so you can focus ur prep around the areas of your world u expect then to visit. having comprehensive resource books to support your world is the secret to easing the prep. i dont think players really appreciate how much thought and time goes into crafting a vibrant roleplaying setting. letting different people in ur playgroup GM will show them how much work it is tho.

I'd play a lot of different games (some under protest)...  but if I run the game, I pick the rules.

I totally agree. Especially when you consider the hours of prep that as GM you need to commit to.