I sit more often than I stand, but often when I'm really getting into running a scene heavy on RP, I will stand and walk and move.

When I ran 3e I used to stand a lot (necessary for moving around the minis, etc.).

Now that I run OD&D I sit all the time.

I sit probably 75% of the time.

Quote from: OneTinSoldier;316024Likewise.



Exactly.

Seriously, this doesn't have to be a "We vs. They" kind of thing. Standing does not have to denote lecturing. The DM often has a lot of things to attend to to, from props to location of minis to using, say, a white board (if he's lucky enough to have the space). I don't get when people look down their noses at others for doing something they don't do, and ascribe unpleasant comparisons. It's the same thing that crops up when GM screens are discussed - somehow it gets turned into some sinister tool of player oppression. Christ on a crutch, it's just what people are comfortable using or doing, not some fundamental difference in ethics.

Quote from: ColonelHardisson;316068Seriously, this doesn't have to be a "We vs. They" kind of thing.

What? It does if you GM the Gary Jackson way, i.e. it's the GM vs the Players. Which after all it IS a game and you've got to know when you win!...

like most, i tend to sit most of the time.

when i want to make a dramatic point or speech, or i just want to break the rhythm of the game and make PC's think something may be going on, i'll stand an pace around the table.

David

Quote from: OneTinSoldier;316024Likewise.



Exactly.

Btw, I really like your username there Billy Jack...

I sit.

Hi all...

New to the forums, but I've been lurking for a while. I thought this was an interesting question...

It's odd... when gaming with my regular group(s) I always sit during most of the session.

However, when I DM  at a convention I almost always stand. I'm not sure why... maybe it's the comfort level at home, or maybe there's so much noise at cons that I feel the need to stand in order to be seen and heard... I'm not sure.

In a regular game group your status is established and you rarely have to remind them of it, in a con game they're all strangers so you must stand while they sit; being higher shows social dominance. That's why kings have thrones, after all.

That is why you stand up at a con game, you're uncertain of your status and trying to establish it.

When you are standing it's easier to grab a player, bend them over the table and hump their hams to establish that you are the alpha geek.

Quote from: narpet;316119Hi all...

Welcome, narpet.

In my most recent campaign I found that I tended to sit with the players when heavy GM input was needed - fights, NPC interactions, exploration, anything else where I'd need to regularly describe stuff. I would stand up and actually walk over to the kitchen area when the players got deep into debating their next move, for three reasons:

a) I'm of the belief that if all the players are busily talking to each other then the smart GM leaves them to it until they start going in circles.
b) It gave me a chance to prepare snacks and drinks.
c) It gave me a chance to go over and note down the various NPCs' plans before the players decided on their course of action, to reassure myself that I wasn't letting my GMly knowledge of the player's actions colour the NPC actions too much.

Mostly sit of course, but standing at certain moments is a useful GMing technique.  It allows for better voice projection, it alleviates back pain, it can be used to emphasise drama and danger.  One GM I knew would go round behind players and put her hands on their necks to scare them!

I mostly stand because I can't be bothered to sit in one place for that long.

I'd say I mostly stand, but it's about 55/45 at most. It depends on the environment too. In one group I stand nearly all the time, another I sit the majority of the time. Depends on the table and the seating, etc.