As covered in a previous article of mine (What Are Tabletop Role-Playing Games And How Do I Start Playing), I mentioned that there are typically two roles in a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) – Game Master / Dungeon Master (GM/DM) & Player. This might be a bit confusing because wouldn’t a GM also be a player in this game? Yes, that is technically true; however, the GM ends up having all the behind the scenes information about the campaign, the game, and has a different role in comparison to the players. Let’s delve into that.
What Does a Game Master or Dungeon Master Do? Why Are There Two Terms?
The reason why I keep mentioning Game Master and Dungeon Master terms is because some games use the term Dungeon Master (DM) and other games use Game Master (GM). One of the games that notably use the term Dungeon Master is Dungeons and Dragons 5e (D&D 5e), while a game that uses the term Game Master is Pathfinder 2e. Fun bit of trivia: Pathfinder 1st edition actually derived from Dungeons and Dragons 3rd edition! Although today, Pathfinder 2e and D&D5e are different games with very different mechanics.
So what does a GM or DM do in a game? A GM, unlike a regular player at the table, is in charge of setting up the story that the rest of the table will be engaging with. That includes non-playable characters (NPCs) or characters that the players will interact with such as a storekeeper or guard, as well as developing and fleshing out the world so the players have material to interact with. You will be juggling multiple characters, keeping track of multiple story beats, ensuring continuity, playing referee, etc. Most of this will be improv, so being able to think quickly and react quickly to players actions or words will be important. And unlike players, you will most likely have to do some preparation before and after game sessions.
I’ve always said that GMing/DMing is like herding cats. More often than not, players expect the GM to be on top of setting the schedule and the GM has to be willing to check in with players for their schedule, their feelings about the campaign, their progress in creating their characters, etc. It is a fair bit amount of work, but a certain subset of people will find that very rewarding when all is said and done.
I am what you call a ‘Forever DM’. Now, depending on who you talk to, this may be said with sadness, frustration, etc., but I personally really enjoy being a DM. Being able to bring joy to your table via the world that you have fleshed out, the multiple characters you have brought to life for them to interact with – it’s truly wonderful, but undoubtedly also frustrating during the process. There are ways to mitigate the frustration and ensure a smoother process in scheduling and a better table atmosphere, which I explore in a future article.
So are you up for the challenge?
So What Are The Challenges Of Being A Player?
Players play one character only during a campaign usually. There are some campaigns where the DM allows you to change characters per session, during a session, etc., but let’s stick to the standard of one player one character. Players will create a backstory for the character, following whatever rules or setting the DM has given them, fleshing the character out as best as they can. So how or why can this be more challenging than the DM’s job, where the DM has to juggle multiple characters?
Players have to work on being consistent with their role-playing with their one character. Every decision they make, the changes they undergo, need to be taken into account as their characters grow. They have to be aware of what the GM is saying, what picture the GM might be painting for them, what clues about the story might be revealed and act accordingly. The players, unlike the GM, do not have all the information at their disposal, so they play with a sense of anticipation and trepidation (at times). That can be absolutely nerve-wracking! You don’t know if a decision you make can cause an absolute ripple effect down the line. I know I prefer being a GM because I have all the information at my fingertips (except of course what the players are thinking or what they might do next to surprise me :D)
I have a huge amount of respect for players, as a Forever DM myself. Good players bring their all into the character they play, and good players find opportunities to interact with the DM & other players. They give the DM material to work with – changing the world and the story as they exist and go through the campaign. They ensure smooth interactions just as the DM does, but on the other side of the coin. Without good players, a DM will have difficulty having fun.
If you enjoy exploring a world that someone else has set up for you, looking for opportunities to change the world, grow in this world as a character, interact with fellow players and the GM, then you might be suited for being a fantastic player at a lucky GM’s table. And if you’re looking for tips on becoming a better player either for your current or future game, look forward to a future article I will be writing soon!
So, Game Master / Dungeon Master or Player?
Let’s summarize quickly with a quick pros and cons list.
Game Master & Dungeon Master
Pros
– You know the entire campaign background (or you get to make it up)
– You set the pace for the campaign and the game
– You get to play multiple characters simultaneously
– You get to do a lot (and I mean A LOT) of improvisation
– You get to watch all the emotions of your players as they experience the world and story you’ve set up for them for the first time
Cons
– You have to do prep work before and after game sessions (creating maps, characters, settings, scheduling, etc.)
– You have to keep track of multiple characters and their motivations or how player characters interact with your NPCs
– You have to be really quick thinking in reacting to players
– You don’t get to experience the campaign as if you’re in the dark about what’s going to happen next
– You are at the whim of the players and player cohesion
Player
Pros
– You focus only on your own character and playing only one character
– You don’t have to do prep work before or after sessions outside of the first session of creating your character
– You get to experience the story the Game Master / Dungeon Master has crafted, allowing you to theory craft in anticipation with your fellow players
Cons
– You don’t know the entire story so choices made are made in the dark
– You don’t get to switch between many characters on a whim in a campaign, thus locking you in one character. If you’re the type to get bored of a character, it may be difficult for you to be a player.
– You are dependent on a good GM/DM. They have to be able to manage a table of players while managing the campaign story beats.
I hope this has been helpful for you in deciding whether or not you would like to give the role of a Game Master or Dungeon Master a go! Thank you for reading and I’ll see y’all next time!