Is a DM supposed to be against the party? [on hold]












9












$begingroup$


I'm a really really new player. Is it good etiquette for a DM to get upset that you're killing or beating their encounter?



A guy said he would DM for us in a one-shot. Before we ever started he kept saying and laughing how we are all going to die. Then we actually beat the first encounter and he was visibly upset (we wasn't supposed to).



So he had 2 beholders come flying at us before we could get our heads together and started another encounter after that, because we won AGAIN barely.



He said we got teleported to an enclosed cave full of gold and a black dragon was waiting for us. I actually 1 shotted the dragon with a quivering palm. He says"and out of no where another black dragon flies in" - it was an enclosed cave.



After a few turns our paladin wins with geas and commands it to sleep for 30 days.
Then a third one comes in. It was getting too ridiculous and to be honest was not fun after I realized that he didn't plan ANYTHING after the first encounter because he was supposed to kill us and literally just made up everything after the first encounter.



Is this what I should expect from all DMs?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Shocking Shane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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put on hold as unclear what you're asking by KorvinStarmast, Xirema, goodguy5, Rubiksmoose, V2Blast 15 mins ago


Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.











  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site! Take the tour. It may be better to divide this into two questions: Is the typical relationship between the players and the DM an adversarial one? and, after describing the scenario, Is this how the game is usually played? Note that it's a good idea to experience the game with several DMs—and, ideally, using several systems—before deciding if the hobby is to your liking! Thank you for participating, welcome to the hobby, and have fun!
    $endgroup$
    – Hey I Can Chan
    52 mins ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    This post looks like it would fit better on a discussion forum. We have a curated list here.
    $endgroup$
    – KorvinStarmast
    50 mins ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    How did you determine that the DM was making everything up on the spot? Did they admit as such, or is that a conjecture on your part?
    $endgroup$
    – Xirema
    49 mins ago






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    At what level is this, that you one shot Dragons and defeat Beholders, and yet are very new to the game? :o
    $endgroup$
    – BlueMoon93
    39 mins ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Honestly, this seems more like a rant than an actual question, because even as a new player you seem to already know that his DMing was likely not typical (from your description of events, at least).
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    14 mins ago
















9












$begingroup$


I'm a really really new player. Is it good etiquette for a DM to get upset that you're killing or beating their encounter?



A guy said he would DM for us in a one-shot. Before we ever started he kept saying and laughing how we are all going to die. Then we actually beat the first encounter and he was visibly upset (we wasn't supposed to).



So he had 2 beholders come flying at us before we could get our heads together and started another encounter after that, because we won AGAIN barely.



He said we got teleported to an enclosed cave full of gold and a black dragon was waiting for us. I actually 1 shotted the dragon with a quivering palm. He says"and out of no where another black dragon flies in" - it was an enclosed cave.



After a few turns our paladin wins with geas and commands it to sleep for 30 days.
Then a third one comes in. It was getting too ridiculous and to be honest was not fun after I realized that he didn't plan ANYTHING after the first encounter because he was supposed to kill us and literally just made up everything after the first encounter.



Is this what I should expect from all DMs?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Shocking Shane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$



put on hold as unclear what you're asking by KorvinStarmast, Xirema, goodguy5, Rubiksmoose, V2Blast 15 mins ago


Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.











  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site! Take the tour. It may be better to divide this into two questions: Is the typical relationship between the players and the DM an adversarial one? and, after describing the scenario, Is this how the game is usually played? Note that it's a good idea to experience the game with several DMs—and, ideally, using several systems—before deciding if the hobby is to your liking! Thank you for participating, welcome to the hobby, and have fun!
    $endgroup$
    – Hey I Can Chan
    52 mins ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    This post looks like it would fit better on a discussion forum. We have a curated list here.
    $endgroup$
    – KorvinStarmast
    50 mins ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    How did you determine that the DM was making everything up on the spot? Did they admit as such, or is that a conjecture on your part?
    $endgroup$
    – Xirema
    49 mins ago






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    At what level is this, that you one shot Dragons and defeat Beholders, and yet are very new to the game? :o
    $endgroup$
    – BlueMoon93
    39 mins ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Honestly, this seems more like a rant than an actual question, because even as a new player you seem to already know that his DMing was likely not typical (from your description of events, at least).
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    14 mins ago














9












9








9





$begingroup$


I'm a really really new player. Is it good etiquette for a DM to get upset that you're killing or beating their encounter?



A guy said he would DM for us in a one-shot. Before we ever started he kept saying and laughing how we are all going to die. Then we actually beat the first encounter and he was visibly upset (we wasn't supposed to).



So he had 2 beholders come flying at us before we could get our heads together and started another encounter after that, because we won AGAIN barely.



He said we got teleported to an enclosed cave full of gold and a black dragon was waiting for us. I actually 1 shotted the dragon with a quivering palm. He says"and out of no where another black dragon flies in" - it was an enclosed cave.



After a few turns our paladin wins with geas and commands it to sleep for 30 days.
Then a third one comes in. It was getting too ridiculous and to be honest was not fun after I realized that he didn't plan ANYTHING after the first encounter because he was supposed to kill us and literally just made up everything after the first encounter.



Is this what I should expect from all DMs?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Shocking Shane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




I'm a really really new player. Is it good etiquette for a DM to get upset that you're killing or beating their encounter?



A guy said he would DM for us in a one-shot. Before we ever started he kept saying and laughing how we are all going to die. Then we actually beat the first encounter and he was visibly upset (we wasn't supposed to).



So he had 2 beholders come flying at us before we could get our heads together and started another encounter after that, because we won AGAIN barely.



He said we got teleported to an enclosed cave full of gold and a black dragon was waiting for us. I actually 1 shotted the dragon with a quivering palm. He says"and out of no where another black dragon flies in" - it was an enclosed cave.



After a few turns our paladin wins with geas and commands it to sleep for 30 days.
Then a third one comes in. It was getting too ridiculous and to be honest was not fun after I realized that he didn't plan ANYTHING after the first encounter because he was supposed to kill us and literally just made up everything after the first encounter.



Is this what I should expect from all DMs?







dnd-5e house-rules new-players problem-gm one-shot






share|improve this question









New contributor




Shocking Shane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









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Shocking Shane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 45 mins ago









MikeQ

12.4k42675




12.4k42675






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asked 59 mins ago









Shocking ShaneShocking Shane

461




461




New contributor




Shocking Shane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor





Shocking Shane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Shocking Shane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.




put on hold as unclear what you're asking by KorvinStarmast, Xirema, goodguy5, Rubiksmoose, V2Blast 15 mins ago


Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.






put on hold as unclear what you're asking by KorvinStarmast, Xirema, goodguy5, Rubiksmoose, V2Blast 15 mins ago


Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.










  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site! Take the tour. It may be better to divide this into two questions: Is the typical relationship between the players and the DM an adversarial one? and, after describing the scenario, Is this how the game is usually played? Note that it's a good idea to experience the game with several DMs—and, ideally, using several systems—before deciding if the hobby is to your liking! Thank you for participating, welcome to the hobby, and have fun!
    $endgroup$
    – Hey I Can Chan
    52 mins ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    This post looks like it would fit better on a discussion forum. We have a curated list here.
    $endgroup$
    – KorvinStarmast
    50 mins ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    How did you determine that the DM was making everything up on the spot? Did they admit as such, or is that a conjecture on your part?
    $endgroup$
    – Xirema
    49 mins ago






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    At what level is this, that you one shot Dragons and defeat Beholders, and yet are very new to the game? :o
    $endgroup$
    – BlueMoon93
    39 mins ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Honestly, this seems more like a rant than an actual question, because even as a new player you seem to already know that his DMing was likely not typical (from your description of events, at least).
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    14 mins ago














  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Welcome to the site! Take the tour. It may be better to divide this into two questions: Is the typical relationship between the players and the DM an adversarial one? and, after describing the scenario, Is this how the game is usually played? Note that it's a good idea to experience the game with several DMs—and, ideally, using several systems—before deciding if the hobby is to your liking! Thank you for participating, welcome to the hobby, and have fun!
    $endgroup$
    – Hey I Can Chan
    52 mins ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    This post looks like it would fit better on a discussion forum. We have a curated list here.
    $endgroup$
    – KorvinStarmast
    50 mins ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    How did you determine that the DM was making everything up on the spot? Did they admit as such, or is that a conjecture on your part?
    $endgroup$
    – Xirema
    49 mins ago






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    At what level is this, that you one shot Dragons and defeat Beholders, and yet are very new to the game? :o
    $endgroup$
    – BlueMoon93
    39 mins ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Honestly, this seems more like a rant than an actual question, because even as a new player you seem to already know that his DMing was likely not typical (from your description of events, at least).
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    14 mins ago








3




3




$begingroup$
Welcome to the site! Take the tour. It may be better to divide this into two questions: Is the typical relationship between the players and the DM an adversarial one? and, after describing the scenario, Is this how the game is usually played? Note that it's a good idea to experience the game with several DMs—and, ideally, using several systems—before deciding if the hobby is to your liking! Thank you for participating, welcome to the hobby, and have fun!
$endgroup$
– Hey I Can Chan
52 mins ago




$begingroup$
Welcome to the site! Take the tour. It may be better to divide this into two questions: Is the typical relationship between the players and the DM an adversarial one? and, after describing the scenario, Is this how the game is usually played? Note that it's a good idea to experience the game with several DMs—and, ideally, using several systems—before deciding if the hobby is to your liking! Thank you for participating, welcome to the hobby, and have fun!
$endgroup$
– Hey I Can Chan
52 mins ago




2




2




$begingroup$
This post looks like it would fit better on a discussion forum. We have a curated list here.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
50 mins ago




$begingroup$
This post looks like it would fit better on a discussion forum. We have a curated list here.
$endgroup$
– KorvinStarmast
50 mins ago




1




1




$begingroup$
How did you determine that the DM was making everything up on the spot? Did they admit as such, or is that a conjecture on your part?
$endgroup$
– Xirema
49 mins ago




$begingroup$
How did you determine that the DM was making everything up on the spot? Did they admit as such, or is that a conjecture on your part?
$endgroup$
– Xirema
49 mins ago




4




4




$begingroup$
At what level is this, that you one shot Dragons and defeat Beholders, and yet are very new to the game? :o
$endgroup$
– BlueMoon93
39 mins ago




$begingroup$
At what level is this, that you one shot Dragons and defeat Beholders, and yet are very new to the game? :o
$endgroup$
– BlueMoon93
39 mins ago




1




1




$begingroup$
Honestly, this seems more like a rant than an actual question, because even as a new player you seem to already know that his DMing was likely not typical (from your description of events, at least).
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
14 mins ago




$begingroup$
Honestly, this seems more like a rant than an actual question, because even as a new player you seem to already know that his DMing was likely not typical (from your description of events, at least).
$endgroup$
– V2Blast
14 mins ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















9












$begingroup$

No, quite the contrary. The introduction of the Dungeon Master's Guide contains some relevant guidance.




You're the DM, and you are in charge of the game. That said, your
goal isn't to slaughter the adventurers but to create a campaign world
that revolves around their actions and decisions, and to keep your
players coming back for more! If you're lucky, the events of your
campaign will echo in the memories of your players long after the
final game session is concluded.




and further down:




The success of a D&D game hinges on your [the DM's] ability to
entertain the other players at the game table. Whereas their role is
to create characters (the protagonists of the campaign), breathe life
into them, and help steer the campaign through their characters'
actions, your role is to keep the players (and yourself) interested
and immersed in the world you've created, and to let their characters
do awesome things.




If a DM is running the game in such a way that takes away the players' fun, s/he is doing it wrong. Taunting the players, becoming upset when they succeed, and throwing out continuous obstacles intended to turn successes into failures certainly fall under that category to me. You said it yourself, "It was getting too ridiculous and to be honest was not fun..."






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$









  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @T.J.L. updated per your feedback.
    $endgroup$
    – mdrichey
    16 mins ago



















7












$begingroup$

To answer your last question first:




Is this what I should expect from all DMs?




No, this is not what you should expect. To be honest, if this was typical behavior, it's pretty unlikely that people would still play Dungeons and Dragons. There was a time when it was pretty common to have an antagonistic style between DM and players - Gary Gygax, for example, was famous for this kind of style; however, his encounters were intended to be solvable, just very hard to solve.



That said, that style of play definitely is the minority now. I'm sorry that this was your first experience with my favorite hobby, and I hope that it hasn't ruined it for you.



If you're still interested, I'd recommend looking for a local hobby shop that runs D&D Adventurers League, as I've had good experiences with that program. Pathfinder Society is another organized play league you might be interested in as well.



As suggested by commmenters, I'd highly recommend checking out Critical Role for an idea of what a more typical session would be like.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    By way of counter example of better gaming experiences, you might suggest the OP look for recordings of online groups that play the game well like Acquisitions Inc, Critical Role, etc.
    $endgroup$
    – Rykara
    41 mins ago






  • 6




    $begingroup$
    I don't think Critical Role shows the idea of what 'a typical session' is. They are professional voice actors and they receive money for that. The level of roleplay expected of a typical session is not near of what Critical Role shows... A better wording would be "well-produced" or something along those lines.
    $endgroup$
    – Kuerten
    33 mins ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    Critical Role is advertising. This is like saying "To get an idea what shooting hoops at the park with your friends should be like, watch an NBA game and then do what those guys do."
    $endgroup$
    – Mark Wells
    30 mins ago






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    Yeah, CR definitely isn't a "typical session"; it's not even everyone's idea of an "ideal session". Relevant series of tweets by Matt Mercer.
    $endgroup$
    – V2Blast
    25 mins ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    I think Puffin Forrest might give a better idea of how a typical campaign might play out. His stories don't come from a professional group and are full of players (or the dice) not acting according to a dm's plans. It is definitely not an adversarial situation between the players and dms.
    $endgroup$
    – MrSpudtastic
    25 mins ago



















6












$begingroup$

No, a DM is not meant to be adversarial to the players. It says so both in the Lost Mines of Phandelver adventure booklet (from the 5e Starter Set), and in the official Dungeon Master's Guide:




You’re the DM, and you are in charge of the game. That said, your goal isn’t to slaughter the adventurers but to create a campaign world that revolves around their actions and decisions, and to keep your players coming back for more! (DMG, p. 4)




That being said some groups may enjoy a challenge where the DM plays a harsh game. But that is something that must be agreed upon by everyone beforehand. In my experience (limited to my own Dungeon Mastering and the several podcasts I listen to), DMing is about creating interesting and immersive stories for your group.






share|improve this answer










New contributor




Falconer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






$endgroup$





















    3












    $begingroup$

    The DM's role depends on the style of game they're playing.



    D&D is a system for playing games about exploring dungeons and fighting monsters. The DM's job is to keep the game moving, maintain some coherent ruleset, and try to manage an enjoyable game for the participants.



    Beyond that, most other factors of the resulting gameplay will vary by the players, the DM, and the type of game they want to play.



    There is no single "right" way to play D&D. People approach the system with their own preconceptions, often based on memes and cultural portrayals of tabletop RPGs. They may have different assumptions about the DM's role and authority. And when the DM and players are out-of-sync about their expectations, problems occur.



    For example, if the group wants to use D&D to play a story-like adventure, the DM may act in favor of the PCs (player characters), using in-game challenges to advance the narrative and give the PCs opportunities to shine. Or, the group could agree to a "DM vs. PCs" structure, in which the DM competes against the players by trying to defeat their characters with traps and monsters. Either approach is technically valid; however, the game runs more smoothly when the players and DM agree on their expectations in advance.



    Ultimately, it's the DM's responsibility to move the game along in a way that the group has fun. Just remember that "fun" means different types of gameplay for different people, so it's best to discuss in advance what type of gameplay to expect.






    share|improve this answer











    $endgroup$




















      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      9












      $begingroup$

      No, quite the contrary. The introduction of the Dungeon Master's Guide contains some relevant guidance.




      You're the DM, and you are in charge of the game. That said, your
      goal isn't to slaughter the adventurers but to create a campaign world
      that revolves around their actions and decisions, and to keep your
      players coming back for more! If you're lucky, the events of your
      campaign will echo in the memories of your players long after the
      final game session is concluded.




      and further down:




      The success of a D&D game hinges on your [the DM's] ability to
      entertain the other players at the game table. Whereas their role is
      to create characters (the protagonists of the campaign), breathe life
      into them, and help steer the campaign through their characters'
      actions, your role is to keep the players (and yourself) interested
      and immersed in the world you've created, and to let their characters
      do awesome things.




      If a DM is running the game in such a way that takes away the players' fun, s/he is doing it wrong. Taunting the players, becoming upset when they succeed, and throwing out continuous obstacles intended to turn successes into failures certainly fall under that category to me. You said it yourself, "It was getting too ridiculous and to be honest was not fun..."






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$









      • 1




        $begingroup$
        @T.J.L. updated per your feedback.
        $endgroup$
        – mdrichey
        16 mins ago
















      9












      $begingroup$

      No, quite the contrary. The introduction of the Dungeon Master's Guide contains some relevant guidance.




      You're the DM, and you are in charge of the game. That said, your
      goal isn't to slaughter the adventurers but to create a campaign world
      that revolves around their actions and decisions, and to keep your
      players coming back for more! If you're lucky, the events of your
      campaign will echo in the memories of your players long after the
      final game session is concluded.




      and further down:




      The success of a D&D game hinges on your [the DM's] ability to
      entertain the other players at the game table. Whereas their role is
      to create characters (the protagonists of the campaign), breathe life
      into them, and help steer the campaign through their characters'
      actions, your role is to keep the players (and yourself) interested
      and immersed in the world you've created, and to let their characters
      do awesome things.




      If a DM is running the game in such a way that takes away the players' fun, s/he is doing it wrong. Taunting the players, becoming upset when they succeed, and throwing out continuous obstacles intended to turn successes into failures certainly fall under that category to me. You said it yourself, "It was getting too ridiculous and to be honest was not fun..."






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$









      • 1




        $begingroup$
        @T.J.L. updated per your feedback.
        $endgroup$
        – mdrichey
        16 mins ago














      9












      9








      9





      $begingroup$

      No, quite the contrary. The introduction of the Dungeon Master's Guide contains some relevant guidance.




      You're the DM, and you are in charge of the game. That said, your
      goal isn't to slaughter the adventurers but to create a campaign world
      that revolves around their actions and decisions, and to keep your
      players coming back for more! If you're lucky, the events of your
      campaign will echo in the memories of your players long after the
      final game session is concluded.




      and further down:




      The success of a D&D game hinges on your [the DM's] ability to
      entertain the other players at the game table. Whereas their role is
      to create characters (the protagonists of the campaign), breathe life
      into them, and help steer the campaign through their characters'
      actions, your role is to keep the players (and yourself) interested
      and immersed in the world you've created, and to let their characters
      do awesome things.




      If a DM is running the game in such a way that takes away the players' fun, s/he is doing it wrong. Taunting the players, becoming upset when they succeed, and throwing out continuous obstacles intended to turn successes into failures certainly fall under that category to me. You said it yourself, "It was getting too ridiculous and to be honest was not fun..."






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



      No, quite the contrary. The introduction of the Dungeon Master's Guide contains some relevant guidance.




      You're the DM, and you are in charge of the game. That said, your
      goal isn't to slaughter the adventurers but to create a campaign world
      that revolves around their actions and decisions, and to keep your
      players coming back for more! If you're lucky, the events of your
      campaign will echo in the memories of your players long after the
      final game session is concluded.




      and further down:




      The success of a D&D game hinges on your [the DM's] ability to
      entertain the other players at the game table. Whereas their role is
      to create characters (the protagonists of the campaign), breathe life
      into them, and help steer the campaign through their characters'
      actions, your role is to keep the players (and yourself) interested
      and immersed in the world you've created, and to let their characters
      do awesome things.




      If a DM is running the game in such a way that takes away the players' fun, s/he is doing it wrong. Taunting the players, becoming upset when they succeed, and throwing out continuous obstacles intended to turn successes into failures certainly fall under that category to me. You said it yourself, "It was getting too ridiculous and to be honest was not fun..."







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited 17 mins ago

























      answered 24 mins ago









      mdricheymdrichey

      76628




      76628








      • 1




        $begingroup$
        @T.J.L. updated per your feedback.
        $endgroup$
        – mdrichey
        16 mins ago














      • 1




        $begingroup$
        @T.J.L. updated per your feedback.
        $endgroup$
        – mdrichey
        16 mins ago








      1




      1




      $begingroup$
      @T.J.L. updated per your feedback.
      $endgroup$
      – mdrichey
      16 mins ago




      $begingroup$
      @T.J.L. updated per your feedback.
      $endgroup$
      – mdrichey
      16 mins ago













      7












      $begingroup$

      To answer your last question first:




      Is this what I should expect from all DMs?




      No, this is not what you should expect. To be honest, if this was typical behavior, it's pretty unlikely that people would still play Dungeons and Dragons. There was a time when it was pretty common to have an antagonistic style between DM and players - Gary Gygax, for example, was famous for this kind of style; however, his encounters were intended to be solvable, just very hard to solve.



      That said, that style of play definitely is the minority now. I'm sorry that this was your first experience with my favorite hobby, and I hope that it hasn't ruined it for you.



      If you're still interested, I'd recommend looking for a local hobby shop that runs D&D Adventurers League, as I've had good experiences with that program. Pathfinder Society is another organized play league you might be interested in as well.



      As suggested by commmenters, I'd highly recommend checking out Critical Role for an idea of what a more typical session would be like.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        By way of counter example of better gaming experiences, you might suggest the OP look for recordings of online groups that play the game well like Acquisitions Inc, Critical Role, etc.
        $endgroup$
        – Rykara
        41 mins ago






      • 6




        $begingroup$
        I don't think Critical Role shows the idea of what 'a typical session' is. They are professional voice actors and they receive money for that. The level of roleplay expected of a typical session is not near of what Critical Role shows... A better wording would be "well-produced" or something along those lines.
        $endgroup$
        – Kuerten
        33 mins ago






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        Critical Role is advertising. This is like saying "To get an idea what shooting hoops at the park with your friends should be like, watch an NBA game and then do what those guys do."
        $endgroup$
        – Mark Wells
        30 mins ago






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        Yeah, CR definitely isn't a "typical session"; it's not even everyone's idea of an "ideal session". Relevant series of tweets by Matt Mercer.
        $endgroup$
        – V2Blast
        25 mins ago






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        I think Puffin Forrest might give a better idea of how a typical campaign might play out. His stories don't come from a professional group and are full of players (or the dice) not acting according to a dm's plans. It is definitely not an adversarial situation between the players and dms.
        $endgroup$
        – MrSpudtastic
        25 mins ago
















      7












      $begingroup$

      To answer your last question first:




      Is this what I should expect from all DMs?




      No, this is not what you should expect. To be honest, if this was typical behavior, it's pretty unlikely that people would still play Dungeons and Dragons. There was a time when it was pretty common to have an antagonistic style between DM and players - Gary Gygax, for example, was famous for this kind of style; however, his encounters were intended to be solvable, just very hard to solve.



      That said, that style of play definitely is the minority now. I'm sorry that this was your first experience with my favorite hobby, and I hope that it hasn't ruined it for you.



      If you're still interested, I'd recommend looking for a local hobby shop that runs D&D Adventurers League, as I've had good experiences with that program. Pathfinder Society is another organized play league you might be interested in as well.



      As suggested by commmenters, I'd highly recommend checking out Critical Role for an idea of what a more typical session would be like.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        By way of counter example of better gaming experiences, you might suggest the OP look for recordings of online groups that play the game well like Acquisitions Inc, Critical Role, etc.
        $endgroup$
        – Rykara
        41 mins ago






      • 6




        $begingroup$
        I don't think Critical Role shows the idea of what 'a typical session' is. They are professional voice actors and they receive money for that. The level of roleplay expected of a typical session is not near of what Critical Role shows... A better wording would be "well-produced" or something along those lines.
        $endgroup$
        – Kuerten
        33 mins ago






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        Critical Role is advertising. This is like saying "To get an idea what shooting hoops at the park with your friends should be like, watch an NBA game and then do what those guys do."
        $endgroup$
        – Mark Wells
        30 mins ago






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        Yeah, CR definitely isn't a "typical session"; it's not even everyone's idea of an "ideal session". Relevant series of tweets by Matt Mercer.
        $endgroup$
        – V2Blast
        25 mins ago






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        I think Puffin Forrest might give a better idea of how a typical campaign might play out. His stories don't come from a professional group and are full of players (or the dice) not acting according to a dm's plans. It is definitely not an adversarial situation between the players and dms.
        $endgroup$
        – MrSpudtastic
        25 mins ago














      7












      7








      7





      $begingroup$

      To answer your last question first:




      Is this what I should expect from all DMs?




      No, this is not what you should expect. To be honest, if this was typical behavior, it's pretty unlikely that people would still play Dungeons and Dragons. There was a time when it was pretty common to have an antagonistic style between DM and players - Gary Gygax, for example, was famous for this kind of style; however, his encounters were intended to be solvable, just very hard to solve.



      That said, that style of play definitely is the minority now. I'm sorry that this was your first experience with my favorite hobby, and I hope that it hasn't ruined it for you.



      If you're still interested, I'd recommend looking for a local hobby shop that runs D&D Adventurers League, as I've had good experiences with that program. Pathfinder Society is another organized play league you might be interested in as well.



      As suggested by commmenters, I'd highly recommend checking out Critical Role for an idea of what a more typical session would be like.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



      To answer your last question first:




      Is this what I should expect from all DMs?




      No, this is not what you should expect. To be honest, if this was typical behavior, it's pretty unlikely that people would still play Dungeons and Dragons. There was a time when it was pretty common to have an antagonistic style between DM and players - Gary Gygax, for example, was famous for this kind of style; however, his encounters were intended to be solvable, just very hard to solve.



      That said, that style of play definitely is the minority now. I'm sorry that this was your first experience with my favorite hobby, and I hope that it hasn't ruined it for you.



      If you're still interested, I'd recommend looking for a local hobby shop that runs D&D Adventurers League, as I've had good experiences with that program. Pathfinder Society is another organized play league you might be interested in as well.



      As suggested by commmenters, I'd highly recommend checking out Critical Role for an idea of what a more typical session would be like.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited 26 mins ago









      V2Blast

      20.2k357127




      20.2k357127










      answered 47 mins ago









      Matt RickMatt Rick

      1,132615




      1,132615












      • $begingroup$
        By way of counter example of better gaming experiences, you might suggest the OP look for recordings of online groups that play the game well like Acquisitions Inc, Critical Role, etc.
        $endgroup$
        – Rykara
        41 mins ago






      • 6




        $begingroup$
        I don't think Critical Role shows the idea of what 'a typical session' is. They are professional voice actors and they receive money for that. The level of roleplay expected of a typical session is not near of what Critical Role shows... A better wording would be "well-produced" or something along those lines.
        $endgroup$
        – Kuerten
        33 mins ago






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        Critical Role is advertising. This is like saying "To get an idea what shooting hoops at the park with your friends should be like, watch an NBA game and then do what those guys do."
        $endgroup$
        – Mark Wells
        30 mins ago






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        Yeah, CR definitely isn't a "typical session"; it's not even everyone's idea of an "ideal session". Relevant series of tweets by Matt Mercer.
        $endgroup$
        – V2Blast
        25 mins ago






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        I think Puffin Forrest might give a better idea of how a typical campaign might play out. His stories don't come from a professional group and are full of players (or the dice) not acting according to a dm's plans. It is definitely not an adversarial situation between the players and dms.
        $endgroup$
        – MrSpudtastic
        25 mins ago


















      • $begingroup$
        By way of counter example of better gaming experiences, you might suggest the OP look for recordings of online groups that play the game well like Acquisitions Inc, Critical Role, etc.
        $endgroup$
        – Rykara
        41 mins ago






      • 6




        $begingroup$
        I don't think Critical Role shows the idea of what 'a typical session' is. They are professional voice actors and they receive money for that. The level of roleplay expected of a typical session is not near of what Critical Role shows... A better wording would be "well-produced" or something along those lines.
        $endgroup$
        – Kuerten
        33 mins ago






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        Critical Role is advertising. This is like saying "To get an idea what shooting hoops at the park with your friends should be like, watch an NBA game and then do what those guys do."
        $endgroup$
        – Mark Wells
        30 mins ago






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        Yeah, CR definitely isn't a "typical session"; it's not even everyone's idea of an "ideal session". Relevant series of tweets by Matt Mercer.
        $endgroup$
        – V2Blast
        25 mins ago






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        I think Puffin Forrest might give a better idea of how a typical campaign might play out. His stories don't come from a professional group and are full of players (or the dice) not acting according to a dm's plans. It is definitely not an adversarial situation between the players and dms.
        $endgroup$
        – MrSpudtastic
        25 mins ago
















      $begingroup$
      By way of counter example of better gaming experiences, you might suggest the OP look for recordings of online groups that play the game well like Acquisitions Inc, Critical Role, etc.
      $endgroup$
      – Rykara
      41 mins ago




      $begingroup$
      By way of counter example of better gaming experiences, you might suggest the OP look for recordings of online groups that play the game well like Acquisitions Inc, Critical Role, etc.
      $endgroup$
      – Rykara
      41 mins ago




      6




      6




      $begingroup$
      I don't think Critical Role shows the idea of what 'a typical session' is. They are professional voice actors and they receive money for that. The level of roleplay expected of a typical session is not near of what Critical Role shows... A better wording would be "well-produced" or something along those lines.
      $endgroup$
      – Kuerten
      33 mins ago




      $begingroup$
      I don't think Critical Role shows the idea of what 'a typical session' is. They are professional voice actors and they receive money for that. The level of roleplay expected of a typical session is not near of what Critical Role shows... A better wording would be "well-produced" or something along those lines.
      $endgroup$
      – Kuerten
      33 mins ago




      3




      3




      $begingroup$
      Critical Role is advertising. This is like saying "To get an idea what shooting hoops at the park with your friends should be like, watch an NBA game and then do what those guys do."
      $endgroup$
      – Mark Wells
      30 mins ago




      $begingroup$
      Critical Role is advertising. This is like saying "To get an idea what shooting hoops at the park with your friends should be like, watch an NBA game and then do what those guys do."
      $endgroup$
      – Mark Wells
      30 mins ago




      4




      4




      $begingroup$
      Yeah, CR definitely isn't a "typical session"; it's not even everyone's idea of an "ideal session". Relevant series of tweets by Matt Mercer.
      $endgroup$
      – V2Blast
      25 mins ago




      $begingroup$
      Yeah, CR definitely isn't a "typical session"; it's not even everyone's idea of an "ideal session". Relevant series of tweets by Matt Mercer.
      $endgroup$
      – V2Blast
      25 mins ago




      1




      1




      $begingroup$
      I think Puffin Forrest might give a better idea of how a typical campaign might play out. His stories don't come from a professional group and are full of players (or the dice) not acting according to a dm's plans. It is definitely not an adversarial situation between the players and dms.
      $endgroup$
      – MrSpudtastic
      25 mins ago




      $begingroup$
      I think Puffin Forrest might give a better idea of how a typical campaign might play out. His stories don't come from a professional group and are full of players (or the dice) not acting according to a dm's plans. It is definitely not an adversarial situation between the players and dms.
      $endgroup$
      – MrSpudtastic
      25 mins ago











      6












      $begingroup$

      No, a DM is not meant to be adversarial to the players. It says so both in the Lost Mines of Phandelver adventure booklet (from the 5e Starter Set), and in the official Dungeon Master's Guide:




      You’re the DM, and you are in charge of the game. That said, your goal isn’t to slaughter the adventurers but to create a campaign world that revolves around their actions and decisions, and to keep your players coming back for more! (DMG, p. 4)




      That being said some groups may enjoy a challenge where the DM plays a harsh game. But that is something that must be agreed upon by everyone beforehand. In my experience (limited to my own Dungeon Mastering and the several podcasts I listen to), DMing is about creating interesting and immersive stories for your group.






      share|improve this answer










      New contributor




      Falconer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






      $endgroup$


















        6












        $begingroup$

        No, a DM is not meant to be adversarial to the players. It says so both in the Lost Mines of Phandelver adventure booklet (from the 5e Starter Set), and in the official Dungeon Master's Guide:




        You’re the DM, and you are in charge of the game. That said, your goal isn’t to slaughter the adventurers but to create a campaign world that revolves around their actions and decisions, and to keep your players coming back for more! (DMG, p. 4)




        That being said some groups may enjoy a challenge where the DM plays a harsh game. But that is something that must be agreed upon by everyone beforehand. In my experience (limited to my own Dungeon Mastering and the several podcasts I listen to), DMing is about creating interesting and immersive stories for your group.






        share|improve this answer










        New contributor




        Falconer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






        $endgroup$
















          6












          6








          6





          $begingroup$

          No, a DM is not meant to be adversarial to the players. It says so both in the Lost Mines of Phandelver adventure booklet (from the 5e Starter Set), and in the official Dungeon Master's Guide:




          You’re the DM, and you are in charge of the game. That said, your goal isn’t to slaughter the adventurers but to create a campaign world that revolves around their actions and decisions, and to keep your players coming back for more! (DMG, p. 4)




          That being said some groups may enjoy a challenge where the DM plays a harsh game. But that is something that must be agreed upon by everyone beforehand. In my experience (limited to my own Dungeon Mastering and the several podcasts I listen to), DMing is about creating interesting and immersive stories for your group.






          share|improve this answer










          New contributor




          Falconer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.






          $endgroup$



          No, a DM is not meant to be adversarial to the players. It says so both in the Lost Mines of Phandelver adventure booklet (from the 5e Starter Set), and in the official Dungeon Master's Guide:




          You’re the DM, and you are in charge of the game. That said, your goal isn’t to slaughter the adventurers but to create a campaign world that revolves around their actions and decisions, and to keep your players coming back for more! (DMG, p. 4)




          That being said some groups may enjoy a challenge where the DM plays a harsh game. But that is something that must be agreed upon by everyone beforehand. In my experience (limited to my own Dungeon Mastering and the several podcasts I listen to), DMing is about creating interesting and immersive stories for your group.







          share|improve this answer










          New contributor




          Falconer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.









          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 23 mins ago









          V2Blast

          20.2k357127




          20.2k357127






          New contributor




          Falconer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.









          answered 43 mins ago









          FalconerFalconer

          2275




          2275




          New contributor




          Falconer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.





          New contributor





          Falconer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.






          Falconer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.























              3












              $begingroup$

              The DM's role depends on the style of game they're playing.



              D&D is a system for playing games about exploring dungeons and fighting monsters. The DM's job is to keep the game moving, maintain some coherent ruleset, and try to manage an enjoyable game for the participants.



              Beyond that, most other factors of the resulting gameplay will vary by the players, the DM, and the type of game they want to play.



              There is no single "right" way to play D&D. People approach the system with their own preconceptions, often based on memes and cultural portrayals of tabletop RPGs. They may have different assumptions about the DM's role and authority. And when the DM and players are out-of-sync about their expectations, problems occur.



              For example, if the group wants to use D&D to play a story-like adventure, the DM may act in favor of the PCs (player characters), using in-game challenges to advance the narrative and give the PCs opportunities to shine. Or, the group could agree to a "DM vs. PCs" structure, in which the DM competes against the players by trying to defeat their characters with traps and monsters. Either approach is technically valid; however, the game runs more smoothly when the players and DM agree on their expectations in advance.



              Ultimately, it's the DM's responsibility to move the game along in a way that the group has fun. Just remember that "fun" means different types of gameplay for different people, so it's best to discuss in advance what type of gameplay to expect.






              share|improve this answer











              $endgroup$


















                3












                $begingroup$

                The DM's role depends on the style of game they're playing.



                D&D is a system for playing games about exploring dungeons and fighting monsters. The DM's job is to keep the game moving, maintain some coherent ruleset, and try to manage an enjoyable game for the participants.



                Beyond that, most other factors of the resulting gameplay will vary by the players, the DM, and the type of game they want to play.



                There is no single "right" way to play D&D. People approach the system with their own preconceptions, often based on memes and cultural portrayals of tabletop RPGs. They may have different assumptions about the DM's role and authority. And when the DM and players are out-of-sync about their expectations, problems occur.



                For example, if the group wants to use D&D to play a story-like adventure, the DM may act in favor of the PCs (player characters), using in-game challenges to advance the narrative and give the PCs opportunities to shine. Or, the group could agree to a "DM vs. PCs" structure, in which the DM competes against the players by trying to defeat their characters with traps and monsters. Either approach is technically valid; however, the game runs more smoothly when the players and DM agree on their expectations in advance.



                Ultimately, it's the DM's responsibility to move the game along in a way that the group has fun. Just remember that "fun" means different types of gameplay for different people, so it's best to discuss in advance what type of gameplay to expect.






                share|improve this answer











                $endgroup$
















                  3












                  3








                  3





                  $begingroup$

                  The DM's role depends on the style of game they're playing.



                  D&D is a system for playing games about exploring dungeons and fighting monsters. The DM's job is to keep the game moving, maintain some coherent ruleset, and try to manage an enjoyable game for the participants.



                  Beyond that, most other factors of the resulting gameplay will vary by the players, the DM, and the type of game they want to play.



                  There is no single "right" way to play D&D. People approach the system with their own preconceptions, often based on memes and cultural portrayals of tabletop RPGs. They may have different assumptions about the DM's role and authority. And when the DM and players are out-of-sync about their expectations, problems occur.



                  For example, if the group wants to use D&D to play a story-like adventure, the DM may act in favor of the PCs (player characters), using in-game challenges to advance the narrative and give the PCs opportunities to shine. Or, the group could agree to a "DM vs. PCs" structure, in which the DM competes against the players by trying to defeat their characters with traps and monsters. Either approach is technically valid; however, the game runs more smoothly when the players and DM agree on their expectations in advance.



                  Ultimately, it's the DM's responsibility to move the game along in a way that the group has fun. Just remember that "fun" means different types of gameplay for different people, so it's best to discuss in advance what type of gameplay to expect.






                  share|improve this answer











                  $endgroup$



                  The DM's role depends on the style of game they're playing.



                  D&D is a system for playing games about exploring dungeons and fighting monsters. The DM's job is to keep the game moving, maintain some coherent ruleset, and try to manage an enjoyable game for the participants.



                  Beyond that, most other factors of the resulting gameplay will vary by the players, the DM, and the type of game they want to play.



                  There is no single "right" way to play D&D. People approach the system with their own preconceptions, often based on memes and cultural portrayals of tabletop RPGs. They may have different assumptions about the DM's role and authority. And when the DM and players are out-of-sync about their expectations, problems occur.



                  For example, if the group wants to use D&D to play a story-like adventure, the DM may act in favor of the PCs (player characters), using in-game challenges to advance the narrative and give the PCs opportunities to shine. Or, the group could agree to a "DM vs. PCs" structure, in which the DM competes against the players by trying to defeat their characters with traps and monsters. Either approach is technically valid; however, the game runs more smoothly when the players and DM agree on their expectations in advance.



                  Ultimately, it's the DM's responsibility to move the game along in a way that the group has fun. Just remember that "fun" means different types of gameplay for different people, so it's best to discuss in advance what type of gameplay to expect.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 10 mins ago

























                  answered 23 mins ago









                  MikeQMikeQ

                  12.4k42675




                  12.4k42675















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