Comments on: 7 Habits of a Successful Dungeon Master

By: Tryll

Tryll — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:25:37 +0000

Wow, I seem to have arrived late… All the same, I’ll throw in my two cents worth:

I agree with Will. The quality of the game depends upon the quality of everyone, not just the DM. However, it is the DM who is “in charge”. I would re-word #2 like this:

#2: Self-determination. Always remember that the quality of the game is your responsibility. If your playersâ€™ interest is waning, regardless of the reason, it is your responsibility to restore it.

By: Will

Will — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:33:51 +0000

This is a pretty good list, although I disagree with something mentioned under #2, self-determination: “Always remember that the quality of the game is your responsibility.” The quality of the game isn’t your responsibility; it’s everyone’s responsibility.

The DM has a different role in keeping the game fun, but it is no more or less important than the players’. The best games I’ve been in have had very pro-active players who, when their interest starts waning, work with the DM to “go where the fun is.” The worst games I’ve seen have a very top-down, “DM as creator, player as audience” model, which does little for apathetic players.

I guess what I am saying is that it is the DM should keep the game moving because that is his role and responsibility. The determination to have a good game in the face of difficulties should be shared by the group and not on any one person’s shoulders.

By: Scott Choroba

Scott Choroba — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:55:10 +0000

I agree with what you are saying, but most of the rules can be summed up into one. “Everything in mediocrity” To be firm, but not unmovable. To show the way, but not to force into corners.

By: Lucifer Q. Prometheus

Lucifer Q. Prometheus — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:40:25 +0000

The fact that these seven qualities apply to both successful game masters and bosses/managers does not necessarily imply that the two roles are all that similar. Correlation is not the same thing causation after all. Upon closer analysis these seven qualities will make you successful in just about any social endeavor. This works both in more hierarchical and egalitarian contexts.

If the storyteller/referee role of the game master is to be compared to that of a manager or boss, then who are the ‘employees’ in the game? Why the players of course! In my opinion, this is where the analogy fails. Unlike the average employee, the player has an equal stake in the game’s success. Rather then simply working for a wage, the player is engaged in the game it’s own sake. The game is an end in itself, not a means to an end. Secondly, the DM’s position is based on the players’ consent- not an owner’s fiat.

IMHO the DM is far more like an elected and recallable manager in an egalitarian worker-run enterprise then any kind of ‘boss.’

By: Kyle

Kyle — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:02:03 +0000

The money issues with DMing can be gotten around if you’ve got a tight group of people. We usually split the books we get evenly, so that way one person isn’t spending a bijillion dollars on stuff that’s really for everyone involved.

By: KasraKhan

KasraKhan — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:30:31 +0000

I agree with all but #5. My players bought the PHP, a $30 investment. I have about 50 books, all 3E or 3.5.

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:04:22 +0000

I have to agree with all of these statements. If you are a DM you need to be responible for what happens in your game and honestly maybe the last game I ran (3 months ago) died because I was putting too much blame on the players for the lack of escitement in playing the game out. Thanks for this it really made me realize that I took a lack position in my last game and next time I DM, I will be more prepared and not blame my players for a lack of a good game.

By: The Chatty DM

The Chatty DM — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:45:21 +0000

I have always associated being a good DM to being a good Manager.

The Entrepreneurial angle is also very fitting. Maybe I should start my own business after all…