When our forever DM had a kid I ran a side campaign for a while while he figured out how life works with a kid. He played a character a bit like Kenny from South Park so we could just kill him at a moments notice and he could jump over to child care. Then he got the itch and started DMing again.
After his 2nd kid we started switching off. So I run one week and he does it the next. Now we have 2 not-exactly-forever DMs.
Our DM was growing tired and it felt like perfect timing because I had this idea for a short campaign I wanted to try and run, so as a group we decided that we’d do a few weeks of one shots, with a new DM each time so we could all get some experience in a short and casual way.
Our existing DM offered to do the first because he wanted to try and set up a quick adventure covering some of the things he’d built for a previous campaign that we as a party had just completely skipped past. “it will take us 5 hours” he said.
That was a year ago. The 5 hour one off is now up to its 40th session, and our “tired” DM keeps finding ways to keep the story going with twists and turns and I no longer believe that he’s bored of DMing.
But it means I’ve had a full year too flesh out my ideas, so when he really is bored of running sessions, I’m feeling more than ready to give it a go.
Yeah, your DM was just testing you. He didn’t want to stop, but he wanted to see if anyone would volunteer to DM.
Don’t do that. Don’t give me hope.
Experienced could go on players who adventures decided to campaigns so run some the forever DM.
Honestly if this doesn’t happen I would consider finding another group. I’ve tried so hard to get this going in my original group but people just won’t put in the work. Kind of kills my interest in running for them. But my other group we’ve got a good rotation going so when I felt the itch to run something I prioritize them because I know they’re willing to put energy in the game. If the other one peters out then it wasn’t meant to be.
I want to do this for my DM someday, but I am such a noob to TTRPGs it feels like a pipe dream.
I’m getting to play instead of DM for the first time in years and I’m having a great time.
… But I keep thinking about games I want to DM at the same time. It’s a curse.
How about 2 tables ? Thats what I do currently
That’s what I do. The DM’s play in each other’s games and we learn so muxh from each other. Its pretty awesome
Being a player teaches whats fun for a player, or shitty.
Like skipping your turn because you did 2 lines of banter with another player in character.
Or describing everything, always, even if its not a necessity, stopping your players from inputing.
And knowing when to say yes and when to say no, but as the target of it.
I was this lucky. I hope you will be too :)
I don’t even like playing all that much and prefer DMing.
NGL DMing is a really special kind of way to play
Whereas the players roleplay one person, you roleplay a bunch
I really dig DMing but I do miss being a player sometimes
I hear the same thing echoed from a lot of DMs. Weirdly I don’t really have an itch to play at all. Like ever. Been 20 years or so.
I get to play sometimes because my one group is all DMs so between each chapter someone else does DM a 5 to 6 session adventure. But whenever I play I’d just rather DM instead 🤷🏻♂️
But it’s nice to steal some tricks from fellow DMs and it’s not like I hate playing.
Same here. I’ve been a forever DM for decades, and every time I change to be a player I just don’t enjoy it as much. DMing is fun and I love being a forever DM.
First time I meet someone who feels the same. We are from the same plane of existence it seems. The DM plane or something.
Well met, brother!
Never all players but always some players.
