How hard do you really think it is to be a GM?

RPGPundit · December 18, 2011, 05:28:49 PM

Are you of the opinion that anyone can GM? What are the basic skills require? Does the skill set required to the GM consist of things so difficult that it is a "hurdle" in our hobby? Do you think that there is a lack of GMs (or good GMs) out there; or is that rubbish?

RPGPundit

Brad J. Murray · December 18, 2011, 05:34:03 PM

Being a GM requires a desire to take a leading role and some skills for mediating communication between people. It's special but not all that special. I don't think a game can really mitigate these things unless it removes the role altogether.

Is it a barrier? Sure, I guess. But it's a core feature of this kind of entertainment, so what can you do about it?

JDCorley · December 18, 2011, 05:34:08 PM

Yes;

it depends on the game;

no;

and yes, it's rubbish.

Aos · December 18, 2011, 05:42:34 PM

I think it would be best if we could first hash out (preferably for 100-200 posts) why you feel the need to have the word "master" included within the title of your preferred role.

flyingmice · December 18, 2011, 05:43:17 PM

As a GM, I don't lead anything. I think it just requires balance, reflexes, and an appreciation of speed. It's like downhill skiing or surfing.

-clash

Kaldric · December 18, 2011, 05:45:35 PM

Are you of the opinion that anyone can GM?

Yeah.

What are the basic skills required?

Just those required to play the game as a player.

Does the skill set required to the GM consist of things so difficult that it is a "hurdle" in our hobby?

No.

Do you think that there is a lack of GMs (or good GMs) out there; or is that rubbish?

I think there's a lack of GMs and good GMs out there. But it's not because of matters of skill. It's simply because fewer than 1 in 5 players actually wants to do the work. They're capable; they just don't want to do it. I speculate that this is because few roleplaying games go out of their way to focus on making the GM position fun, rather than just focusing on making it 'less unfun'.

Pseudoephedrine · December 18, 2011, 05:52:35 PM

I don't think it's difficult, but I also think there's a paucity of advice, examples and structure to train new DMs to do it well.

Bedrockbrendan · December 18, 2011, 05:55:44 PM

I think the hardest (or at least most demanding) part of GMing is the time investment. Doing the work is a pleasure and running a game is too, but it requires time. For a lot of gamers that is probably a hurdle.

In terms of the skills required, I liken it to public speaking. A certian amount of natural talent helps but you become good by doing it regularly. Eventually your brain learns how to do all thst GMing stuff like thinking on the fly or jumping into a new character.

flyingmice · December 18, 2011, 05:56:36 PM

Quote from: Aos;495966I think it would be best if we could first hash out (preferably for 100-200 posts) why you feel the need to have the word "master" included within the title of your preferred role.

Because "Hollyhock God" is just too lame for words? :O

-clash

Brad J. Murray · December 18, 2011, 05:59:45 PM

Quote from: Aos;495966I think it would be best if we could first hash out (preferably for 100-200 posts) why you feel the need to have the word "master" included within the title of your preferred role.

Yeah, I've always preferred "referee". The whole concept of "GM" could stand a dose of humility.

Pseudoephedrine · December 18, 2011, 06:16:12 PM

Quote from: Brad J. Murray;495973Yeah, I've always preferred "referee". The whole concept of "GM" could stand a dose of humility.

"Referee" and "DM" (always abbreviated) are my preferred terms.

The Butcher · December 18, 2011, 06:18:48 PM

Being a GM requires being (1) excited about the prospect of setting up and running a world of your own for their PCs to shine (or fail miserably as the case may be) and (2) committed to the players and to the game, which includes not welshing out or dropping the game at the first difficulty, rolling with the unexpected and being honest to your players (rewarding them for cleverness, establishing meaningful consequences for failure, etc.).

The rest, I suppose, just follows.

Soylent Green · December 18, 2011, 06:20:07 PM

I think anyone who is interested enough can GM. And if you sticks to stuff well within your comfort zone and have supportive players it's not that hard.

It get's a lot harder if you want to be a more versatile GM able to run well different kinds of games and genres with different tone, pace and formats or if you have to manage jaded or more fussy kinds of players.

crkrueger · December 18, 2011, 06:31:12 PM

GMing, like anything really, isn't for everyone. As to whether it is a "hurdle" to the hobby, I wouldn't say the GMing role itself is a hurdle, I would say the lack of a number of "red box" products are the real hurdle. Lack of good GM's? Not from my personal experience in the FLGS's of the past couple cities I've lived in.

I would say there are a lack of good GMs that are willing to do open table stuff like JA and AM do. That is more of a hurdle then sheer numbers of GMs.

soviet · December 18, 2011, 06:56:36 PM

Quote from: Soylent Green;495980I think anyone who is interested enough can GM. And if you sticks to stuff well within your comfort zone and have supportive players it's not that hard.

I agree with this. I think the hobby hasn't done itself any favours by making out GMing to be this really difficult thing that only the elite can manage successfully, and also by putting such shitty GM advice in so many gamebooks.