GMs -- Don't we all want to roll our own?

[sgtcallistan]

Originally Posted by Luke Bunyip

Umm, should we consider pre-gen settings a resource for GMing-with-training-wheels?

On a personal note, we are just about to achieve five GM's out of five players in my gaming group. We ALL consider the solo creative aspect of setting part of the enjoyment. THEN we get to enjoy watching our friends trash it, take it apart, kill the carefully crafted NPC etc.

A metaphor could be buying a chainstore junk food meal, as opposed to cooking for yourself and friends. I'm being judgemental, aren't I...

Pre-gens could reach the level of Japanese 'table-talk' games, where (reputedly) the game is scripted. Apparently these things exist for the 'training-wheel' reason.

These could be fun for a change, too. Tho' I don't think my group would wear it...

The risk of the players trashing your carefully-constructed world and plot is irrelavent to someone having fun, and vital to prevent for 'controllers'.

Anyway; I certainly find the consensual creations more satisfying.

[Luke Bunyip]

Originally Posted by sgtcallistan

The risk of the players trashing your carefully-constructed world and plot is irrelavent to someone having fun, and vital to prevent for 'controllers'.

For me roleplaying is a cinematic journey. IMHO, the task of GM's is to try to set up interesting circumstances, settings, and NPCs with which to interact, and to cope with the chaos which ensues when you let players lose in it all. Not deal with, just cope. If the players are having fun running an orphanage, an inn, or a brothel, rather than dealing with the Big Bad, heck that is the campaign you have, rather than the soul-less scripted sketch plan you might have come up with weeks or months earlier.

The real question is "do the players enjoy playing in the setting?" If the answer is yes, then it is mission successful. If it is enjoyable for the GM, he or she might do it again some time. Like next week...