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Great GMs Require Great Power

Started by RPGPundit, March 04, 2008, 10:00:02 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Blackhand

Blackhand 2.0 - New and improved version!

James McMurray

Quote from: Blackhand"I am GOD here."

Hey, no wonder my lawn doesn't look nice anymore. Get back to work!

Gunslinger

I think Uncle Ben said it best.
 

Dr. Tran

Anybody in a position of power who wants that power for its own sake is automatically suspect at least, if not actually the wrong person to have it.  I don't know exactly what he means by "no matter how good they may be at their chosen art" though.  Those seem to be poorly chosen words.

I'd hope Spinach Baron is talking about the kind of GM like Dexter from Dexter's Laboratory (D&DD).  Overbearing, maniacal and bloodthirsty.  The kind of GM who uses the screen to lie about damage so he can kill characters for the raw pleasure of doing so.  

No matter how good a such GM is at portraying his game he is failing at everything short of Paranoia.  If the game in question is Paranoia though, then things might just be going rather well.  Or possibly Burning Empires.  I understand that game is pretty much "GM vs Players... FIGHT!" in its intention with the GM actually trying to win.
 

James McMurray

Quote from: GunslingerI think Uncle Ben said it best.

"Eat my rice"?

Gunslinger

Quote from: James McMurray"Eat my rice"?
That works too.  :haw:
 

blakkie

Quote from: Dr. TranOr possibly Burning Empires.  I understand that game is pretty much "GM vs Players... FIGHT!" in its intention with the GM actually trying to win.
Bloodthirsty is definately supported, although they need a good amount of skill and some luck to pull off killing PCs.

Overbearing and being a cheating bastard not so much supported.
"Because honestly? I have no idea what you do. None." - Pierce Inverarity

RPGPundit

Quote from: StuartWhy did you post 2 threads about this?  I suggest you lock one so that discussion stays focused in one thread, rather than back and forth across two.

They're two different threads. One is about what makes a GM bad. The other one is about the statement: To be a great GM, you must believe that Power ultimately rests with you.

RPGPundit
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Quote from: walkerpAnd I'm just going to start attacking you for keyboard courage.  You use language online that you would never use to someone's face.  I suggest you start toning it down, because it's weak.

You don't know me in real life.

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RPGPundit

Quote from: James McMurrayIt seems you've misinterpreted the original statement. There's a huge line of difference between thinking GMs should have power and wanting power for its own sake.

No, there isn't.  The original poster of that thread obviously believes that GMs being empowered is bad, so of course any GM who wants power (and which of those evil bastards don't, eh?) will want it "for its own sake".
This analysis of his perspective is proven where, a few moments later, he explicitly states that NO OTHER FACTOR mitigates this. Any GM who believes that the GM should have the ultimate power in a gaming group is a BAD GM, according to this fuckwit, even if he wins a goddamn pulitzer for how great his game was.

RPGPundit
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ARROWS OF INDRA
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LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

RPGPundit

Quote from: CallousJames makes a good point.  The exact phrase and context matters.  GMs IMHO should have power.  They are the ultimate arbitrators in game.  But GMs who seek power over other people (and get their rocks off that way) in a RPG setting by being dictatorial dicks are true pisslapping cunts.

I'm fairly certain that's not what that post was talking about. Otherwise it would have just stopped at saying: "GMs who want power just to lord it over people are bad GMs".

He wouldn't have said "GMs who want power for its own sake are bad GMs EVEN IF EVERYONE LOVES THEIR GMING AND THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT DOING IT". That last bit implies that the GM isn't using his power to "lord it over" people, and that the poster just has a huge beef with GMs having the ultimate power in the game, period.

RPGPundit
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you\'ve played \'medieval fantasy\' until you play L&D.


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Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

jhkim

Quote from: RPGPunditNo, there isn't.  The original poster of that thread obviously believes that GMs being empowered is bad, so of course any GM who wants power (and which of those evil bastards don't, eh?) will want it "for its own sake".
This analysis of his perspective is proven where, a few moments later, he explicitly states that NO OTHER FACTOR mitigates this. Any GM who believes that the GM should have the ultimate power in a gaming group is a BAD GM, according to this fuckwit, even if he wins a goddamn pulitzer for how great his game was.
Link?

walkerp

Quote from: RPGPunditYou don't know me in real life.

This is real life.
"The difference between being fascinated with RPGs and being fascinated with the RPG industry is akin to the difference between being fascinated with sex and being fascinated with masturbation. Not that there\'s anything wrong with jerking off, but don\'t fool yourself into thinking you\'re getting laid." —Aos

Ian Absentia

Quote from: RPGPunditYou don't know me in real life.
Do you know you in real life?

!i!

RPGPundit

Quote from: jhkimLink?

I don't link to RPG.net. However, here is the entirety of his post, word for word:

Quote from: Some shithead from RPG.netI know for certain, that any GM that adheres to the phrase "power for powers sake" is a bad GM, no amtter how good they may be at their chosen art.

That's all that comes to mind off of the top of my head.

That's his entire post, from the thread "What Makes a Bad GM?".  No one called him on it, a few people congratulate him later on in the thread.

RPGPundit
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you\'ve played \'medieval fantasy\' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.