I am really excited about the new Rime of the Frostmaiden - I will probably not be able to play it for a while but when I do I had a thought.
I'm not to keen on DMing but what would you guys say is the best way to experience an adventure - to play it or DM it? I'm afriad that if I DM the adventure I won't be able to play it afterwards and I really love to play but at the same time perhaps the best way to experience the adventure is to DM it. Do you play an adventure after DMing it or is it "ruined" afterwards?
If you are not keen on DMing then I would say don't do it.
DMing is a labor of love. Even if you love it, you will sometimes hate it because of the work it makes you do or because you would rather "just play" for a while. If you aren't into it in the first place, you will never make it through those periods.
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Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I'd second BioWizard, if you arent invested youll burnt/lose interest almoat immediately. Even those who are keen take effort some weeks to stay interested. [Or at least that is my expirence]
However if you want to DM and excited for an adventure id say do it as a player first and then a DM if you feel you'll want to be a player eventually. It is hard to intentionality forget stuff you know.
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All posts come with the caveat that I don't know what I'm talking about.
DMIng can be fun but it is a very different experience from playing. You get a completely different experience of any module or content you run.
One of the goals of DMing is creating the game experience for yourself and the players. DMs are usually looking for something fun, challenging and memorable for the players. Taking a module and translating it into that experience can itself be challenging and fun.
A DM can play content they have run before. Different DMs may run things a bit differently but in general you will already know many of the answers so you need to take care not to answer them most of the time for the other players. On the other hand, you can also make the game run more smoothly by supplying subtle hints to the other players so the DM doesn't have to. I've played content I have either run or read previously and still had a good time playing. The role playing was about the same but I couldn't contribute as much to puzzle solving. On the other hand, when my character made in character decisions, I often had a better idea of likely consequences than I would otherwise.
DMing something gives a much more in depth knowledge of the material, all the paths that could be taken, everything that is missed on a failed die roll, everything the party could run into but doesn't. Playing it, you see the DMs interpretation and application of the content.
In your case, since you don't sound keen to DM it ... I'd just wait and play it. If you are then curious about what you missed read it after and then run it for another group later if you want to experience it again from the other side.
Thank you very much for all the good advice and answers, the personal experience especially!
The thing is that I will probably not be able to play the adventure unless I DM it, but I feel that I should keep my cool and wait for the opportunity to experience the adventure as a player!
I will probably not be able to play the adventure unless I DM it
Lots of us are in this boat. I would not be able to experience D&D right now if I were not the DM. Given the choice of DMing or no D&D, I will DM.
It's fun to do, but it is not the same as playing and I would think that DMing your way through an entire adventure would make it rather hard to enjoy as a player unless the other DM heavily modded it. You know all the spoilers.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I would echo the sentiment that if you don't want to DM, then don't feel like you need to - although if you think it's something you might like, and it's just a daunting idea, then maybe consider it. Many DMs got started because no one else in their gaming circle would do it, and now they've got years of experience under their belt.
But make it your choice.
Personally, I would farrather DM than play - although I think playing occasionally is important as it keeps your DM chops sharp as you experience how other people DM, and maybe learn a thing or two.
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Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
I would say play it, then DM it. That way, you can experience it both ways, instead of DMing it first and then quickly solving all the problems when you play.
I think if you wanna dm, run something you’ve played or have no interest in playing do you can kind of get the feel for it so if you don’t like it, you don’t also risk not being able to play frostmaidan if you dm it
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Hi!
I am really excited about the new Rime of the Frostmaiden - I will probably not be able to play it for a while but when I do I had a thought.
I'm not to keen on DMing but what would you guys say is the best way to experience an adventure - to play it or DM it? I'm afriad that if I DM the adventure I won't be able to play it afterwards and I really love to play but at the same time perhaps the best way to experience the adventure is to DM it. Do you play an adventure after DMing it or is it "ruined" afterwards?
If you are not keen on DMing then I would say don't do it.
DMing is a labor of love. Even if you love it, you will sometimes hate it because of the work it makes you do or because you would rather "just play" for a while. If you aren't into it in the first place, you will never make it through those periods.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
"I'm not to keen on DMing"
I'd second BioWizard, if you arent invested youll burnt/lose interest almoat immediately. Even those who are keen take effort some weeks to stay interested. [Or at least that is my expirence]
However if you want to DM and excited for an adventure id say do it as a player first and then a DM if you feel you'll want to be a player eventually. It is hard to intentionality forget stuff you know.
All posts come with the caveat that I don't know what I'm talking about.
DMIng can be fun but it is a very different experience from playing. You get a completely different experience of any module or content you run.
One of the goals of DMing is creating the game experience for yourself and the players. DMs are usually looking for something fun, challenging and memorable for the players. Taking a module and translating it into that experience can itself be challenging and fun.
A DM can play content they have run before. Different DMs may run things a bit differently but in general you will already know many of the answers so you need to take care not to answer them most of the time for the other players. On the other hand, you can also make the game run more smoothly by supplying subtle hints to the other players so the DM doesn't have to. I've played content I have either run or read previously and still had a good time playing. The role playing was about the same but I couldn't contribute as much to puzzle solving. On the other hand, when my character made in character decisions, I often had a better idea of likely consequences than I would otherwise.
DMing something gives a much more in depth knowledge of the material, all the paths that could be taken, everything that is missed on a failed die roll, everything the party could run into but doesn't. Playing it, you see the DMs interpretation and application of the content.
In your case, since you don't sound keen to DM it ... I'd just wait and play it. If you are then curious about what you missed read it after and then run it for another group later if you want to experience it again from the other side.
Thank you very much for all the good advice and answers, the personal experience especially!
The thing is that I will probably not be able to play the adventure unless I DM it, but I feel that I should keep my cool and wait for the opportunity to experience the adventure as a player!
Thanks for all the good input!
Lots of us are in this boat. I would not be able to experience D&D right now if I were not the DM. Given the choice of DMing or no D&D, I will DM.
It's fun to do, but it is not the same as playing and I would think that DMing your way through an entire adventure would make it rather hard to enjoy as a player unless the other DM heavily modded it. You know all the spoilers.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
If you're willing to play online, then there are usually any number of groups looking for more Players.
Check out the forums here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/looking-for-players-groups . If you hang out an ad, you will probably find a group that's looking for Players who will run that module.
I would echo the sentiment that if you don't want to DM, then don't feel like you need to - although if you think it's something you might like, and it's just a daunting idea, then maybe consider it. Many DMs got started because no one else in their gaming circle would do it, and now they've got years of experience under their belt.
But make it your choice.
Personally, I would far rather DM than play - although I think playing occasionally is important as it keeps your DM chops sharp as you experience how other people DM, and maybe learn a thing or two.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Careful not to say that too loudly or you will be mobbed by people who want you to DM for them. ;)
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Right. I love both, don’t get me wrong, but if I never got to play that would suck eggs.
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No worries - I'll just point them to my postings here on the forums and say "are you really sure you want to play with me as DM?".
That should scare most of 'em off ;)
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
I would, but I doubt we live near each other.
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I would say play it, then DM it. That way, you can experience it both ways, instead of DMing it first and then quickly solving all the problems when you play.
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I think if you wanna dm, run something you’ve played or have no interest in playing do you can kind of get the feel for it so if you don’t like it, you don’t also risk not being able to play frostmaidan if you dm it