Support your local DM...

[johnlewismcleod]

I would like to begin with: THIS IS NOT DIRECTED AT ANY PLAYER IN PARTICULAR. Please don’t clutter this thread with defensive responses in the assumption that it is directed at “you”. If “you” do, then “you” are missing the point entirely.

DMing is a tough job. If you think it is easy, please submit a DM application immediately and join the team so you can show us what we’re doing wrong.

There are many, many more DM’s on the DM roster than are willing to get ingame and actively spice up our world for us.

I have been DMing for a while now and I have a theory as to why this is: DMing is hard work. It’s more fun to play and one gets much less grief playing.

I also think I have a solution: DON’T GIVE YOUR DM’s GRIEF.

I think this simple rule of thumb might be effective for the following reasons experience has revealed to me:

1) DM’s aren’t “out to get PC’s”, they are actually IG because they are trying to entertain players.

2) DM’s aren’t perfect, but we really do try our best to be as close to perfect as we can.

3) DM’s have feelings just like ordinary people. When a DM is hectically trying to manage a quest and a player begins throwing about complaints and accusations, it hurts the DM’s feelings. There are few wounds more keen than being slapped in the face while trying to do a favour for someone.

With those few observations mentioned I would like to proceed to offering some further exposition on my general rule of thumb:

If you think a DM has or is making a mistake, please take a count of ten and a few deep breaths before spamming the tell channel about it. Please consider that unless you are in a single PC quest, what you are actually doing is crippling the DM’s ability to manage the quest. Not only are you confusing and distracting the DM, you are impacting the other players involved while the DM has to stop action to respond to your "grievance".

Please ask yourself: Is this really a critical issue that is worth potentially ruining the immersion and fun for all the other players, or can you just PM the DM later and offer some welcome and helpful advice that he or she can consider when he or she is not frantically trying to entertain a group of PC’s?

If, after considering the issue carefully before spamming the DM, you feel it is critical to have the issue addressed immediately, please be respectful and patient.

Remember that the DM is already multi-tasking at the time and may misunderstand or miss the tell entirely. Don’t assume the DM is negligent, stupid, or inconsiderate. Repeat the tell respectfully if you think the DM didn’t understand.

Please emote that you have a critical issue for all present so that the other PC’s know to stop and wait, otherwise the continued action of the other PC’s will only make it more confusing for the DM.

If you encounter a fellow player that is griefing a DM via tells, in IRC, or flaming the forums, please do not encourage the player. Tell the player that the DM is only human and is doing the best he or she can to make ALFA fun for everyone.

You can say this with confidence, BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS TRUE.

While we joke about DM’s dropping dragons and lightening bolts on abusive players…the dirty little secret is that we don’t. We try to not take the attacks and insults personally and soldier on as best we can until we inevitably join the ranks of the DM’s that don’t DM.

Please help keep ALFA fun for all…support your local DM.

[fluffmonster]

Don't think its just you or anything...this has been the biggest single factor behind DM burnout for a very long time. Matter of fact, I've written this response to more than one thread just like this one.

Personally, I think the best response is to tell players that are in such a mood to put a cork in it until the session is over in no uncertain terms and be prepared to back it up if they get too unreasonable...but I'm a bastard so take it for what its worth.

[Lucifer]

I personally have to say i've never truly had a Bad time with a DM session in ALFA..there was one..and I'll say it plainly that the server wasn't prepared to handle at High Hold..but that was as much hardware as anything else..And I still enjoyed it..22 players and DM's in one place..everyone interacting..even with Bad Laag it is an experience...Look for the Fun even in a bad situation people..Thank The DM..when you see them and it is a small ad-hoc affair..do treat them as a friendly player when it won't break immersion..Their NPC's are your fellow players too. So since it is never said enough..Thanks to all the DM's and all the staff..I enjoy your magic

[NickD]

This is about me, isn't it?



Actually, I am occassionally guilty of the above, both in game and in the forums.

I always regret it afterwards. I think I owe Rotku in particular more apologies than I have given him.

I was fortunate that in my brief experience as a DM in NWN1 ALFA, I had only good experience with players. Even if they never did what I expected of them...

[Blindhamsterman]

I too am on occasion guilty of complaining, I don't do it publicly but probably shouldn't do it at all!

Just gonna say here that I am very greatful to those people that chose to take on the often weighty mantle of DMing on our servers!

While I don't want to DM (mostly because I think I wouldn't do it justice now, Id be too likely to annoy people with overly hard situations knowing me in PNP..)
I always offer to help with anything else, so please just ask if theres things needed

Couple of Cheers to Everyone that Does step up to DMing

Hooray!

[maralten]

While I do agree with the general sentiment and all, the "please submit a DM application immediately and join the team so you can show us what we’re doing wrong" is a bit misleading, since to be a DM here you apparently need to be at least "2 months old", and not having had an active character in the server you intend to DM for the last 30 days, if I read it correctly. I might even give it a go once my current character dies or I grow tired of it, but I highly doubt I will be accepted after certain frictions I've had here.

Like I said, you guys are doing a great job, I'm sure we all appreciate it's a pretty hard platform to DM in, and nothing like PnP with a reduced party. You have to fight with the Aurora engine, and a large number of independent players, and technical issues messing things up when you're not in control of every roll, and on top of that actually think up of something interesting to do, which is the hardest part of it sometimes when players (I include myself here) don't come up with things they want to do in the world.

Also I know I sound like a criticizing bastard sometimes. Rest assured it's just a matter of English being my second language.

[oldgrayrogue]

DMing is indeed very hard work. Much more involved than simply playing one PC both behind the scenes and in game. The time and effort that goes into developing plots, building areas, quests, items etc. for players on the toolset cannot be understated. For those who have never been behind the screen in a PW environment I can tell you that just keeping up with the dialogue of a group of players, let alone setting up encounters, playing NPCs etc can be a real challenge. When you consider that ALFA as a community has some of the most knowledgeable D&Ders among it I have ever encountered, the task for those who volunteer thir time becomes even more imposing. Yes, it is a creative outlet and can be very rewarding, but the self sacrifice DMs make for our collective entertainment should be recognized by us as players every chance we get IMO.

IMO this starts with never griefing your DMs, especially in game. To be sure I have taken issue with the way things have played out IG from time to time. Unless it is something glaring or critical to the plot or your PCs survival, a good rule is to just wait until the session is over to take it up politely with your DM. I can honestly say that the handful of times I have done this I have always been satisfied with the response. Support also means a nice pat on the back as well. When you get thanks or props as a DM it feels good. For me it was always motivating and made me want to DM. Most in ALFA do this, at the end of a session or in the forums, and its something we all should be conscious of.

[paazin]

While I do agree with the general sentiment and all, the "please submit a DM application immediately and join the team so you can show us what we’re doing wrong" is a bit misleading, since to be a DM here you apparently need to be at least "2 months old", and not having had an active character in the server you intend to DM for the last 30 days, if I read it correctly. I might even give it a go once my current character dies or I grow tired of it, but I highly doubt I will be accepted after certain frictions I've had here.

Don't be so sure, maralten. Often people who are big into questioning the status quo and offering ideas make for exciting and productive DMs, so they are eagerly accepted.

Also... just because someone hasn't been a member for two months doesn't mean they are outright rejected -- special dispensation has been granted before and if someone is interested enough, I've no doubt it can be granted again.

[Veilan]

and not having had an active character in the server you intend to DM for the last 30 days, if I read it correctly.

It's actually the other way around - after you DM'ed, and resigned, you have to wait 30 days before you can play on that server again .

If the team wants you, you can sign up as soon as your character is off the server or retired.

[Brokenbone]

A common DM burnout prevention strategy, even if it's temporary or only a standing weekly date, is to be the patron of a group of players you are guaranteed to have fun with, i.e., who've shown themselves to get along with you, and all the other things that make a gaming relationship work.

Sometimes a change is as good as a rest.

[Dorn]

This is about me, isn't it?

Typical. It's always "all about me" with Nick.