Rotating GMs - Advice Wanted

Kallatari · 08-16-2020, 02:35 PM

There was an old table-top RPG called "Rune" based on the Rune RPG video game (basically a melee FPS). It was a hack-and-slash Viking-based game, and the tabletop RPG was specifically designed for rotating GMs.

I never actually read it, so I can't say for sure how it plays out, but from my memory of the reviews I read at the time (I think it was in the 1990s), they way it worked is that each player effectively GMed one "level of the dungeon". whether an actual dungeon level, or the next part of the wilderness for overland journeys (e.g., the Forest of Darkness vs the Impassible Mountains, etc.). They had a certain number of "GM points" to build the traps, monsters, etc., and I think hard rules on the loot to give.

While they GMed, their character became an NPC.

What I found interesting is that after each "level", those who weren't the GM judged the dungeon level they just played, how fun it was, etc. and then they collectively decided the amount of XP the GM's character received for it based on how well he GM/designed his "dungeon level." A GM who favored his own character to shine or retrieve loot that favored him was typically dinged at this point.

Since you made this post in DFRPG, which is also hack-and-slash focused, the concept could be easily adaptable. Keep the "primary GM" as the one responsible for town, the major NPCs, and the major storyline. He sets the players up for their mission, and then the other GM takes over the dungeon.

For example, the primary GM has the town church send the PC to the Tomb of Bob the Devourer to retrieve the sacred chalice. He then hands that over to the player who is the next GM who designs the tomb, the challenges, etc. that the players need to defeat to regain the sacred chalice.

The primary GM keeps the overall campaign story going, and the other players take on the extra work of designing dungeons, monsters, etc., which is also a lot of work.

And they can work a bit together behind the scenes...

"Thank you for accepting this quest. I need you to go to the.... um, Mark, you're the next GM... what type of dungeon did you make?"

"an abandoned mine infested by monsters"

".. to go to the abandoned mine and retrieve the lost gem of stars."

And I agree with Xlyce's post: have a clear "loot amount" per dungeon. For example, no more than $1000 per PC in loot for the entire dungeon level... so a group of 5 PC will get $5000 in loot, whether that's 5000 copper coins, a single magical item worth $5000, or a mix of coins and items that total $5000. Pick an amount that works for your campaign, giving an amount that balances out with the fact that the players might not find everything or be able to bring everything back, and what their likely costs/expenditures linked to the adventure will be. Likewise, you may want to make some concessions as to what counts and what doesn't; e.g., perhaps all the cheap weapons and armors of the hundreds of goblins don't count in the total, otherwise you'll exceed the allowed total really quickly.

08-16-2020, 02:35 PM	#1
Kallatari Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ottawa, Canada	Re: Rotating GMs - Advice Wanted There was an old table-top RPG called "Rune" based on the Rune RPG video game (basically a melee FPS). It was a hack-and-slash Viking-based game, and the tabletop RPG was specifically designed for rotating GMs. I never actually read it, so I can't say for sure how it plays out, but from my memory of the reviews I read at the time (I think it was in the 1990s), they way it worked is that each player effectively GMed one "level of the dungeon". whether an actual dungeon level, or the next part of the wilderness for overland journeys (e.g., the Forest of Darkness vs the Impassible Mountains, etc.). They had a certain number of "GM points" to build the traps, monsters, etc., and I think hard rules on the loot to give. While they GMed, their character became an NPC. What I found interesting is that after each "level", those who weren't the GM judged the dungeon level they just played, how fun it was, etc. and then they collectively decided the amount of XP the GM's character received for it based on how well he GM/designed his "dungeon level." A GM who favored his own character to shine or retrieve loot that favored him was typically dinged at this point. Since you made this post in DFRPG, which is also hack-and-slash focused, the concept could be easily adaptable. Keep the "primary GM" as the one responsible for town, the major NPCs, and the major storyline. He sets the players up for their mission, and then the other GM takes over the dungeon. For example, the primary GM has the town church send the PC to the Tomb of Bob the Devourer to retrieve the sacred chalice. He then hands that over to the player who is the next GM who designs the tomb, the challenges, etc. that the players need to defeat to regain the sacred chalice. The primary GM keeps the overall campaign story going, and the other players take on the extra work of designing dungeons, monsters, etc., which is also a lot of work. And they can work a bit together behind the scenes... "Thank you for accepting this quest. I need you to go to the.... um, Mark, you're the next GM... what type of dungeon did you make?" "an abandoned mine infested by monsters" ".. to go to the abandoned mine and retrieve the lost gem of stars." And I agree with Xlyce's post: have a clear "loot amount" per dungeon. For example, no more than $1000 per PC in loot for the entire dungeon level... so a group of 5 PC will get $5000 in loot, whether that's 5000 copper coins, a single magical item worth $5000, or a mix of coins and items that total $5000. Pick an amount that works for your campaign, giving an amount that balances out with the fact that the players might not find everything or be able to bring everything back, and what their likely costs/expenditures linked to the adventure will be. Likewise, you may want to make some concessions as to what counts and what doesn't; e.g., perhaps all the cheap weapons and armors of the hundreds of goblins don't count in the total, otherwise you'll exceed the allowed total really quickly.