What makes a bad GM?

RPGPundit · March 04, 2008, 10:01:54 AM

Some dudes are trying hard to work at being a GM again and were wondering: what makes a bad GM?

They suppose that by knowing what makes a bad GM will help them to avoid being one.

So go nuts.

RPGPundit

Settembrini · March 04, 2008, 10:08:05 AM

Lack of Passion.

blakkie · March 04, 2008, 10:16:36 AM

Quote from: SettembriniLack of Passion.

Agreed, you have to be playing Pendragon to be a good GM.

jibbajibba · March 04, 2008, 10:20:16 AM

I have been a bad GM a few times normally its because of a percieved lack of fairness. A GM must not just be fair but be seen to be fair.

Blackleaf · March 04, 2008, 10:22:48 AM

A Bad GM puts their personal enjoyment ahead of the enjoyment of the other people at the table.

flyingmice · March 04, 2008, 10:33:01 AM

Bad GMs generally think they're good GMs. Bad GMs who don't think they are good GMs have the hope of one day being good. Good GMs know they are not bad GMs, but think they could be better. Good GMs who think they are just about perfect are The Pundit.

-clash

walkerp · March 04, 2008, 10:36:21 AM

Quote from: StuartA Bad GM puts their personal enjoyment ahead of the enjoyment of the other people at the table.

Yep, I think that's key. And personal enjoyment can come in many forms, it can a style preference, or type of situation preference that you think is cool but your players don't. The really great GM has a sense of what the players are looking for around the table and are able to provide the tools and stepping stones towards that.

I strive for this, but I always feel this profound gap when I try to suss out what would make the players have a good time. They seem to have fun most of the time, but I often feel that it's still too much my own ego driving things.

Blackleaf · March 04, 2008, 10:42:08 AM

I think almost anytime you have a "Bad GM" it's based in their putting their own enjoyment ahead of the other players. Creepy GM, Railroading GM, Deprotagonizing GM, GMNPC GM, I don't want to let you do that GM, I don't care about what you want to do it's about my epic story GM, GM vs Players GM, and even "I'm more important than you" GM.

A good GM is one where all the players are having fun, and want to come back next time for another game.

Haffrung · March 04, 2008, 10:48:03 AM

Having a preconceived notion of how the game should play out.

Not listening to player input.

Not presenting the players with a genuine challenge.

Playing favourites.

Focusing too much attention and energy on peripheral matters.

Ian Absentia · March 04, 2008, 11:14:43 AM

Quote from: StuartA Bad GM puts their personal enjoyment ahead of the enjoyment of the other people at the table.

Stuart has it. Whether it's excessive exposition of story, or excessive twaddling of mechanics, or excessive fudging to make things go his way.

!i!

JongWK · March 04, 2008, 11:19:07 AM

For the most part, gaming is a buyers' market. If the players don't like what the GM is offering, they will eventually walk away and find something else.

wulfgar · March 04, 2008, 11:20:28 AM

Either know the game or be willing to make up what you don't know on the fly. A little rules referencing here or there is ok, but if it gets to be a habit and takes up a lot of time it can really beat the fun out of a game. Another way to say it- if you want to be a good GM, GM a game that you know well and enjoy.

blakkie · March 04, 2008, 11:22:37 AM

Quote from: JongWKFor the most part, gaming is a buyers' market. If the players don't like what the GM is offering, they will eventually walk away and find something else.

Some markets are different than others and sometimes this takes years.

blakkie · March 04, 2008, 11:29:55 AM

Quote from: wulfgarEither know the game or be willing to make up what you don't know on the fly. A little rules referencing here or there is ok, but if it gets to be a habit and takes up a lot of time it can really beat the fun out of a game. Another way to say it- if you want to be a good GM, GM a game that you know well and enjoy.

I've been wondering about how the last sentence is put. It is possible that when the group that is playing DH gets back together I will switch to being the GM. I've never cracked the covers and won't before the session since I don't own the books and usually don't see them during the week.

wulfgar · March 04, 2008, 11:37:41 AM

Well, I'd say some systems are a lot easier to wing it than others. And if you've been playing in a game for awhile, you might be familiar enough to run a good game without ever having read through the books. But I'll stand by my point that knowing the game rules makes it easier to be a good GM. When you know the rules you can spend your energy worrying about the adventure and not trying to figure out what combat phase goes next.