I thought this was a great video

[video=youtube_share;kwjLAC1wh7U]https://youtu.be/kwjLAC1wh7U[/youtube]

Very interesting take on the 'Matt Mercer effect' and how a player can make even the best GMs feel insecure - be sure to watch the whole video.

Have you had a player tell you how much better some other GM is? How did you react?

Quote from: S'mon;1106562Have you had a player tell you how much better some other GM is? How did you react?

I'm an excellent GM, but I'm excellent only because I've taken the time to learn from other GMs - learning from both their successes and failures, and putting those lessons into action and reviewing my own success and failures with a critical eye. Also, I'm excellent in my particular playstyle (old school, viking hat, horror oriented, high immersion, high lethality, rulings over rules, etc) and I don't deviate much from my playstyle regardless of the RPG's genre. I'm crap at running 4 color supers and my Star Wars sessions are Rogue One style. If I'm running cinematic, its never happy-go-lucky. So I know my parameters.  

However, the key rule I've learned is that not every "Great GM" is "great" for every player or every group. There needs to be synergy between GM and players for "greatness" to happen. It's so often about compatible play styles and GM/player expectations and how those balance within the group.

I've certainly had players brag about other GMs, and my first reaction is to listen. I want to know why and what that GM does, because it foremost tells me about that player's playstyle and expectations. At best, I learn a new tidbit to try out for my next session. I'm always happy to steal fun ideas.

Of course, I've had the players whose GM is "great" because their PCs never die, or lose and every adventure is choo choo train. Lots of GM's who cater to the table's wish fulfillment fantasies get declared "great" by players who want that validation.

The other side, of course, is that most players are simply not as interesting to have playing at the table as say Sam, Travis, Laura, and even Liam. So, yeah, the first person who says I'm not Matt as a DM gets a reminder that they're more like Marisha as a player.

But otherwise I agree with Spinachcat's points.

After some experiences bouncing off organised play in various forms, I've resolved not to play with people who aren't either my friends or are "vouched for" friends of friends. There's too much hard work trying to build synergy without a relationship as the foundation.

IMO, Matt Mercer does not display great GMing talent in Critical Role.

Am I the only one who has never watched Critical Role? I just don't feel like watching other people play RPGs when I can play them instead. Or at least plan for the next session.

Come think of it, maybe I just don't like watching videos. I never even considered clicking the play button in the OP. Reading is superior.

Quote from: Morblot;1106621Am I the only one who has never watched Critical Role? I just don't feel like watching other people play RPGs when I can play them instead. Or at least plan for the next session.

Come think of it, maybe I just don't like watching videos. I never even considered clicking the play button in the OP. Reading is superior.

The only episode I've ever seen was the one with Matt and Stephen Colbert playing a one-on-one session together. I thought Matt did a fine job and that watching Stephen rediscover the game was a joy in itself. The only other time I'd ever seen Matt was once when he took the Divinity: Original Sin 2 (a crpg) game master mode and run a group of people through a module he made. I admit to being pretty entertained with that one too.

That said, I don't go out of my way to watch the show. And like you I skipped the video above and went straight to reading the thread.

Quote from: Morblot;1106621Am I the only one who has never watched Critical Role? I just don't feel like watching other people play RPGs when I can play them instead. Or at least plan for the next session.

Come think of it, maybe I just don't like watching videos. I never even considered clicking the play button in the OP. Reading is superior.

You aren't the only one.

My players mentioned that and some others and I tried a few on a 10 hr drive. These were the one with the father and two sons playing. They were all right but after a few I switched to the other podcasts I had brought (Joe Rogan and Freakonomics).

I have been meaning to check the other ones out, as my players watch them and I do think I'm being measured against what these guys are doing. Maybe I'll get some tips, I'm not really against it so much as those streams not being that high on my list of entertainment choices. We are in "peak TV" after all.

I played in a convention game run by a player who had played some in the Storm King's Thunder I ran; his game was really good and I was occasionally thinking, "I should try more of that" or "I never thought to do that". And after the game he asked me what he did wrong or should improve as if he thought I were clearly better at DMing. Not as bad as the video's story but maybe if we had only known of each other through a third party comparing us...

Being compared to another GM by a player, I think I would dismiss it as "working the ref" or metagaming to influence the game, and then be bummed out over the criticism later. I would like to think that I would just be curious as to what they thought were my specific flaws which I would of course evaluate objectively. But that's easier said than done.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1106568However, the key rule I've learned is that not every "Great GM" is "great" for every player or every group. There needs to be synergy between GM and players for "greatness" to happen. It's so often about compatible play styles and GM/player expectations and how those balance within the group.

Definitely right I think! I have lots of players who like my GMing - but plenty of others try one session and don't come back. I certainly can't be all things to all people; at most I can run a few different campaigns and vary my style a bit.

Also, even if a GM is a bit rougher than me overall, playing in their game is almost always useful for things to do, and at worst, things to avoid.

Quote from: S'mon;1106662Definitely right I think! I have lots of players who like my GMing - but plenty of others try one session and don't come back. I certainly can't be all things to all people; at most I can run a few different campaigns and vary my style a bit.

Also, even if a GM is a bit rougher than me overall, playing in their game is almost always useful for things to do, and at worst, things to avoid.

I'm shocked, shocked, that such happened to you. But yeah, some players go utterly nuts about things other players don't care about. It takes a table to make a great game.

Quote from: Doom;1106663I'm shocked, shocked, that such happened to you.

Probably the lack of mage hand powder IMC.

(I kid because I love!)

Quote from: Rhedyn;1106606IMO, Matt Mercer does not display great GMing talent in Critical Role.

His capacity to improvise memorable NPCs is simply outstanding. That's the one thing I wish I could emulate about his style of DMing. He also has a related knack for bringing a location alive in a way that I have seen few DMs do. OK, that's two things I want to steal from him.

I don't think I've ever had anyone tell me that they liked some other GM better, at least not that directly.  I have had a few people strongly suggest that I sucked as a GM, and then never see them again.  

Since I know I've got a limited range but a definite style that is a preferred taste for a minority of players--but very much appreciated by that minority--I suspect my games are such an acquired taste that comparisons are largely useless.  Best I can do is find out what other people are doing, and then adapt that to my style when useful.

What I usually get is the other thing:  Players comparing themselves to me and worrying that they can't GM.  No, they probably can't GM exactly as I do, as well as I.  But they could find their own excellent style if they merely started and stayed with it.

Quote from: Scrivener of Doom;1106734His capacity to improvise memorable NPCs is simply outstanding. That's the one thing I wish I could emulate about his style of DMing. He also has a related knack for bringing a location alive in a way that I have seen few DMs do. OK, that's two things I want to steal from him.

I've been fortunate to play with DMs like that. Here's a few of their tricks.

They build memorable NPCs by combining people, often actors or real people you know. Robert De Niro as the tavern bum. Your grandmother as the temple cleric. Your high school principal as the starship captain. Its an old writer's trick of combining the real and unreal.

They research interesting real world locations. It's where nonfiction books and websites do wonders for your fiction. Many of them take copious notes (mental or physical) about places that interest them and then translate the place to the game. The internet makes this so insanely easy today. YouTube is your friend.

The best GMs I've me for interesting locales were GMs who traveled the most and used their real world experience in a place to bring it alive. But the truth is there are plenty of fascinating places near your right now that you can translate into games. Next time you find yourself somewhere interesting, drink it in. Take some notes, or lots of pictures. Do what it takes to remember the place and burn its key features into your brain.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1106932I've been fortunate to play with DMs like that. Here's a few of their tricks.

They build memorable NPCs by combining people, often actors or real people you know. Robert De Niro as the tavern bum. Your grandmother as the temple cleric. Your high school principal as the starship captain. Its an old writer's trick of combining the real and unreal.

They research interesting real world locations. It's where nonfiction books and websites do wonders for your fiction. Many of them take copious notes (mental or physical) about places that interest them and then translate the place to the game. The internet makes this so insanely easy today. YouTube is your friend.

The best GMs I've me for interesting locales were GMs who traveled the most and used their real world experience in a place to bring it alive. But the truth is there are plenty of fascinating places near your right now that you can translate into games. Next time you find yourself somewhere interesting, drink it in. Take some notes, or lots of pictures. Do what it takes to remember the place and burn its key features into your brain.

I agree with you completely: I do those things but I also see Matthew doing it with a flair that I lack. (And that's OK. I also realise I do certain things better than he does and my players, more importantly, agree.)

I've found that living in the Philippines - and riding daily through primitive villages - has really helped me add some colour to medieval life.