Comments on: How to Get Rid of DM Guilt Once and For All http://www.dungeonmastering.com/gaming-life/how-to-get-rid-of-dm-guilt-once-and-for-all The D&D Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:54:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Friday Link Adventure – Nov 28 « Jonathan Drain’s D20 Source: Dungeons & Dragons Blog http://www.dungeonmastering.com/gaming-life/how-to-get-rid-of-dm-guilt-once-and-for-all#comment-9670 Friday Link Adventure – Nov 28 « Jonathan Drain’s D20 Source: Dungeons & Dragons Blog Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:19:19 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=712#comment-9670 [...] Dungeon Mastering: How to get rid of DM guilt once and for all [...] [...] Dungeon Mastering: How to get rid of DM guilt once and for all [...]

]]> By: Visionseer http://www.dungeonmastering.com/gaming-life/how-to-get-rid-of-dm-guilt-once-and-for-all#comment-6246 Visionseer Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:01:53 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=712#comment-6246 Sometimes a DM just needs to buy time. I've used "filler" sessions that take little or no preparation when I've had trouble getting the next installment of a campaign written. I've also run them so that other DMs get a break, or so they can finish their next campaign section. The idea here is to have a notebook or other record with some odd ideas and "instant RP" stuff. One of my favorites I ripped off from Star Trek. I'm referring to the classic "Transporter Accident" plot, where things get strange because of a malfunction. In D&D (and I've done it in a Neverwinter Nights session, as well, with great results), I use the old "go and fetch me the golden walnut of Fsnoivina" (Any generic fetch-it plot), with the twist that because of time constraints, the party has to be teleported to the item. Of course, the item is in an area that prevents teleportation. Quickly, before the clever player suggests they teleport to the edge of the non-teleport effect, you have the sponsor of the mission trot out his pet gnome and his teleport machine. Of course, not being magic, this will get the party there. They step into the machine... and you ask them all to be silent, as you pass out notes or whisper to each player the name of another player's PC. Then you reveal that somehow, the party has been scrambled, and each PC is in the body of another. Each player must finish the quest as the "mind" of another PC in their PCs body. It's always a hit, and funny as heck. Dwarves occupying the body of the seductress elf? Pure comedy gold. And, aside from some down and dirty encounters (just to see them try combat as other PCs with other abilities), you sit back and enjoy the players doing all the work. If it gets too silly, you can always use the "you all awaken from the shared dream" ending to the session. Also, this works best when all the players have known and played with one another for some time... The more familiarity the better. Sometimes a DM just needs to buy time. I’ve used “filler” sessions that take little or no preparation when I’ve had trouble getting the next installment of a campaign written. I’ve also run them so that other DMs get a break, or so they can finish their next campaign section. The idea here is to have a notebook or other record with some odd ideas and “instant RP” stuff.

One of my favorites I ripped off from Star Trek. I’m referring to the classic “Transporter Accident” plot, where things get strange because of a malfunction. In D&D (and I’ve done it in a Neverwinter Nights session, as well, with great results), I use the old “go and fetch me the golden walnut of Fsnoivina” (Any generic fetch-it plot), with the twist that because of time constraints, the party has to be teleported to the item. Of course, the item is in an area that prevents teleportation.

Quickly, before the clever player suggests they teleport to the edge of the non-teleport effect, you have the sponsor of the mission trot out his pet gnome and his teleport machine. Of course, not being magic, this will get the party there.

They step into the machine… and you ask them all to be silent, as you pass out notes or whisper to each player the name of another player’s PC. Then you reveal that somehow, the party has been scrambled, and each PC is in the body of another. Each player must finish the quest as the “mind” of another PC in their PCs body.

It’s always a hit, and funny as heck. Dwarves occupying the body of the seductress elf? Pure comedy gold. And, aside from some down and dirty encounters (just to see them try combat as other PCs with other abilities), you sit back and enjoy the players doing all the work.

If it gets too silly, you can always use the “you all awaken from the shared dream” ending to the session. Also, this works best when all the players have known and played with one another for some time… The more familiarity the better.

]]> By: Loonook http://www.dungeonmastering.com/gaming-life/how-to-get-rid-of-dm-guilt-once-and-for-all#comment-6141 Loonook Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:04:41 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=712#comment-6141 I have to say that this is a great article discussing a lot of topics which are near and dear to my heart as a DM and someone trying to give advice to new DMs in my own community. I will suggest this article to anyone who starts to get the ol' DM shakes and may need something to give themselves a little pick-me-up and some solid advice. I have to say that this is a great article discussing a lot of topics which are near and dear to my heart as a DM and someone trying to give advice to new DMs in my own community. I will suggest this article to anyone who starts to get the ol’ DM shakes and may need something to give themselves a little pick-me-up and some solid advice.

]]> By: Samuel Van Der Wall http://www.dungeonmastering.com/gaming-life/how-to-get-rid-of-dm-guilt-once-and-for-all#comment-6130 Samuel Van Der Wall Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:28:17 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=712#comment-6130 I have time to plan adventures and run. Sometimes I don't find enough time to solidly read through and be comfortable with a core book of rules. That is what ususally gets me in trouble. So the adventure will run smoothly, up to the point the a player wants his character to jump out of a window and dual-wield shoot his enemy across the street in the face, while falling five stories down. Then I go, "What?" I have time to plan adventures and run. Sometimes I don’t find enough time to solidly read through and be comfortable with a core book of rules. That is what ususally gets me in trouble. So the adventure will run smoothly, up to the point the a player wants his character to jump out of a window and dual-wield shoot his enemy across the street in the face, while falling five stories down. Then I go, “What?”

]]> By: Nightmare http://www.dungeonmastering.com/gaming-life/how-to-get-rid-of-dm-guilt-once-and-for-all#comment-6115 Nightmare Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:23:39 +0000 http://www.dungeonmastering.com/?p=712#comment-6115 Honestly i have never had this problem. (Maybe i'm not busy enough) but between work and school i haven't been able to play with my group in 3 weeks and it makes me feel bad because i cant game...especially when i'm at work and constantly thinking about whats next. i'm one of those DM's that always does things in my head and rarely needs paper so doing things while im bein a cashier works well. now im not that old so you older DM's probably wish you had time to do this but hey, thats life...hopefully my schedual will clear up after the holidays. Honestly i have never had this problem. (Maybe i’m not busy enough) but between work and school i haven’t been able to play with my group in 3 weeks and it makes me feel bad because i cant game…especially when i’m at work and constantly thinking about whats next. i’m one of those DM’s that always does things in my head and rarely needs paper so doing things while im bein a cashier works well. now im not that old so you older DM’s probably wish you had time to do this but hey, thats life…hopefully my schedual will clear up after the holidays.

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