Quote from: KoltarThe Analogy still works.

Oh God!! The above looks possibly "FORGE-ist" , but believe me  I don't think like those guys. I just have had some really good game sessions.

- E.W.C.

Koltar:

You're not the only one. It may not be as good as sex, but it's an awesome feeling. I call it a "GM High," and I get it after every good session - which is rather frequent with my groups!

-clash

Absolutely. This may because of the other four people in my group, they tend towards pixelbitching, pushover, "Totally character-driven!" pre-written campaigns that interest the PCs not at all but we go along with, and too casual to GM, respectively.

I mean, I like playing when it's fun, and each of them have run fun campaigns with their own unique quirks (one still gives me dirty looks over a frustrated "Christ, I don't know, we walk towards the plot!" comment, however), but generally I get my GMing rocks off when I GM, while I struggle to get my playing rocks off when I play.

Hmmm.  I guess this is another area where I'm completely different from the typical person who is hyper-interested in RPGs.

Okay - again with the shaky analogy here  :

 My campaign group has been going for close to 3 years now. We took a "break" from GURPS:TRAVELLER to do BANESTORM  for 4 months, now we are back on G:T.

 The first game sessions were tentative - but now it feels like we are trying to "satisfy" each other (players and GM) and are getting better at that and having a blast doing it.  Considering whats being said in certain threads down in the "off-topic" section   - a game campaign can be better and more satisfying  than many romantic relationships wind up becoming.


 So yeah, I LIKE being a GM.


- E.W.C.

I love to GM.

Quote from: flyingmiceYou're not the only one. It may not be as good as sex, but it's an awesome feeling. I call it a "GM High," and I get it after every good session - which is rather frequent with my groups!

I understand this and agree with it.  But for me, GMing is the very definition of the phrase "2 hours of fun squeezed into 6 hours of time," only the ratio is usually more like "30 minutes of fun squeezed into 6 hours of time."

Geez, Gabriel! That sounds painful! I wish I knew how to help you, but I don't know what you/your players are doing to make it such a chore. You do way, WAY more prep than I do, but that might be the game you are running, the expectations of the players, and/or your own tastes. For me it's about the opposite - 6 hours of fun for every 2 hours of running.

-clash

Quote from: KoltarYou also have to remember....unlike some of you - most of my players are women, and I'm also friends with all of them.  Just a different mood with women as players when the game is over.

I run 1/2 at 1/2 at times. What kind of "difference" are you talking about because I don't really see it???

Quote from: blakkieI run 1/2 at 1/2 at times. What kind of "difference" are you talking about because I don't really see it???

Neither do I, blakkie, or DavidR either, but most games are apparently short on the female side. I've seldom had that problem.

-clash

I like to GM when things are going well.  I dislike it when they don't.

For me, things go well when I can keep good notes on each session.  There's nothing like bringing back a McGuffin or NPC from 6 months ago that they had completely forgotten about.  When I can set up general situations, and the players get totally wrapped up in resolving them and pursuing their goals.  The less set-up work I have to do, the better it's going because the players are taking the lead, and I just have to react.  It's great when the PCs get into a situation from which I can see no possible escape...I'm as much on the edge of my seat as they are, and it's great to watch them figure out an escape when frankly I didn't see how they could do it.

On the other hand, when the mechanics are causing problems, when I and the players can't really decide on where the game is going or when the game has taken a turn that I dislike, or that the players seem unhappy with...and I can't seem to make it right.  At those times, it's not so much fun.

Sometimes it is possible to "Overthink" a good thing to the point where you worry about it too much.

Spontaneity can be good for the game or campaign.

 Being flexible is a good idea too.

 Be prepared for the unexpected and don't have your expectations set too high.

- Ed C.


Oh Hell!! The above thoughts and advice work equally well for that other FUN! activity.

Quote from: flyingmiceGeez, Gabriel! That sounds painful! I wish I knew how to help you, but I don't know what you/your players are doing to make it such a chore. You do way, WAY more prep than I do, but that might be the game you are running, the expectations of the players, and/or your own tastes.

Sounds like the prep is the part he likes.

EDIT: Not that overprep isn't possibily an issue (hard to tell from the info ) causing problems both from his own expectations getting let down when he gets to the table and also feeling the heat from friction with players that are reacting to the overprep.

Quote from: blakkieI run 1/2 at 1/2 at times. What kind of "difference" are you talking about because I don't really see it???

I've mostly had at least one female player, I can't say it changes much of anything.

I'm really not a fan of GMing.  At all.  In fact I find it very un-fun as a general rule and can never convince myself to make time for decent prep work.  I can get exciting about campaign or world ideas, characters and NPC's, beasties and plots, all of that jazz.  Actually running a game though?  Hell no.  I'll take playing any day of the week, month or year.

I've often wondered what specifically people don't like about GMing? I suppose game prep is the most obvious, but what exactly is it about running games that turns some folks off ?

Regards,
David R