Thankless Gamesmaster

Posted on 2002/09/18 15:38:51 (September 2002) by rob.

Running an RPG is a thankless task, so why bother?

A roleplaying game is enjoyed between a number of a players and a gamesmaster (GM). The job of the GM is to create scenarios, draw up equipment sheets and put together a campaign (often self-written) for the players to experience. All the players have to do is create a character and play the game. They turn up and play. The amount of effort required between game sessions (once a week) is normally nil. To run a game which discerning players will find enjoyable (no hack and slash laden underground tunnels), the GM works hard to obtain a balance between combat, intrigue, roleplaying, character development, discovery, struggles, winning and loosing. This is no mean task and takes hours to prepare before and for each week.

Being a GM is recognised as a difficult task. When others in my group are asked if they want to give it a try, most either say "No, I'm crap at it" or "I do not have time". The first one I can understand. If you've run games with the group and the sessions have been awful (due to style or method) then you may be reluctant to try again. I have no quarm with this. They've tried it: it's not for them. However, the second point really gets my goat.

"I do not have the time to be a GM".

Oh, and I do. What's more, this often means:

"I do not have the time to prepare for the game, because I would rather be playing X computer game. This game requires no effort for my enjoyment. However, I will turn up to your session that you have prepared without any effort having been put in. I want to put minimum effort in to get maximum enjoyment out."

Well, I put effort in when I would rather be playing Civ 3. This effort is for the enjoyment of other people and the statement above is by far the most selfish thing I have ever heard.

People also hint that they do a full days work and the last thing they want is to sit down and write a campaign or prepare for the next week. They also hint, that it is ok for me because I am only a student and have plenty of time on my hands. This is just plain insulting. If I confront them about it, then they will refuse to agree, of course. Who would admit to being a selfish bastard? I juggle many activities and still manage to run a blinding game that people travel 50 minutes from London to enjoy. I also work damn hard on my Phd... when I am not, I am trying to generate income by web design or phoning agencies, motivating my ATC squadron, teaching kids to fly at 616 or clubbing.

I do enjoy GMing, so the thankless task of running a good game is not so bad. I am not too bothered that none of them want to GM. As long as they recognise the work that is put in. This leads me to my biggest gripe. This is a 10 tonne gripe with moss on it.

Picture it: I am setting up a new campaign and ask players for character descriptions. For the imaginatively challenged, I even give examples of archetypes and jobs they might do. I give examples of backgrounds and possible reasons for the characters existing. I put effort into making it as easy for the players as possible. Not something every GM would do. However, out of the 5 players, I have had two responses and one person whinging about lack of time. When I confronted him, he said that he had forgotten.

The one thing a player has to do (apart from turn up and play) is to make their character. And they can't be bothered to put a bit of thought into it. All they have to do is select from the list (at the very least) and email the result. It's not bloody hard. Next time I will set the character and they will be forced to play ones I have already created, because it is beginning to take the piss.

My other gripe - connected to this - is that the players are doing me a favour: giving out their time to playtest the game. Now this is bloody stupid. The amount of updates I have done to the rules over the last 6 years is minimal. The game does not need play testing - they don't spend hours each night waiting for me to resolve rules that are not properly thought out. It runs slickly and almost transparent to the roleplaying.

I'm fed up with being the only one who puts effort in. Week after week, I try my best to put on a game for a load of players who don't really give a shit. I know it is supposed to be fun, but the fun goes both ways. There's no fun for me: working hard to create a game and then having 1 keen, 1 vaguely interested and 3 wasters to sit there and do fuck all.

I know what you mean Rob. Tabletop RPGs have always seemed a bit of an unbalanced dynamic in this respect. In LRP, if nothing else, then simply the additonal physical space, as well as the autonomy of the players makes it possible (and often necessary) to have more than one GM to share the workload. I don't know if it is so feasible with tabletop.

I guess it's just hoped that the GM will enjoy the idea of forging their own reality, and building up a story, in much the same way I guess authors and film directors do. Yes, of course authors and directors get paid, but there must be something more than just the money that drives them on. I suppose when that sort of thing gets to the point that you're just no longer enjoying it, maybe you need to take a break for a while. A large friend of mine from school, distinctly unenthusiastic about PE, once said, "They can put me out on the running field, but they can't move my arms and legs for me". I don't know how you'd go about making the players enthusiastic and therefore put more effort in. A break? A change of scenery? A change of players? It's a tricky one.

Posted by john at 2002/09/21 17:01:21.

I read your post and was about to write a proper comment. But the (the other blonde one) John has put across the point that I wanted to get to.

Rob, I once played at being a GM - DM!! - years ago. I loved the hours I spent before playing more than the actual game. I used to work through the game thinking - "yes yes yes, I can go and write some stuff about this, that and the other..."

But then I got bored with that. Or actually with the players apathy. So I quit.

I think I was a crap DM actually, so probably for the best!!!

My point is that I totally see what you are saying and I think you need a break dude :-)

Posted by rowanboy at 2002/09/21 18:28:04.

They did redeem themselves so, thankfully, I am looking forward to the session tonight.

Posted by Rob Lang at 2002/10/08 15:35:08.

i cannot used my gamesmaster 7 at the scanner ??
what will i do ???

Posted by Jeff at 2003/02/26 04:04:30.

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