Interview With a Dungeon Master | George P.

1. When did you start playing Dungeons and Dragons? What Version?
3rd edition in 2004. Played with my dad and his friends who have been going since the 80s and 1st edition.

2. What was your first character?
The Elf Ranger Elassar. He had favored enemy undead and magical beasts. Huge Dex bonus that at some point I couldn't profitably wear armor.

3. Favorite DnD Moment?
The Balor fight in my Ebberon campaign.

4. Do you play any other RPGs?
Computer RPGs and other games that are nerdy but not as much as I play D and D.

5. Do you prefer being a DM/GM or a PC?
PC with a good DM or a DM with new PCs so I can teach. Overall I am a character builder at heart. Min maxing is my game!

6. Do you currently run a campaign? If so how often and what's it about?
Not currently but it just ended. It was about an ooze that was sentient and taking over worlds and using it's inhabitants as an army to fight new worlds.

7. What does a good DM/GM have to do to be considered a good DM?
He has to facilitate fun in the group while also challenging them to solve problems and be creative. But fun is the main point in my opinion.

8. Do you have any advice or encouragement for our followers who may have not ever tried a pencil and paper game, and might want to give it a go?
If you have the desire to play a game like Skyrim or Dragon Age but want to be able to customize everything and not be refined to the walls of a program this is for you. It takes creativity and imagination to a whole new level because you can do anything you want.

9. Do you have any parting thoughts on the subject you would like to share?
It is not for everyone but I think many people have a stigma against the game that is unwarranted. There are strange people who do everything in the world and you can't always associate their hobby with their actions. It's a creative game that will stretch your imagination and make you appreciate storytelling and adaptability.

Thanks George for your insight into you experience as a DM and with your RPG experience. As usual, if there are questions you'd like to ask a DM, please leave a comment and who knows it might get added to the next IWADM!

If you would like to apply to be the next featured DM for IWADM then fill out this form, or click the 'Apply Now' button on the top-left of the page!

Interview With a Dungeon Master | Brandon M.

1. When did you start playing Dungeons and Dragons? What Version?
Early 2000's, at age 14, I played DnD 3.5 for the first time.

2. What was your first character?
A Half-Elf Druid with a wolf companion was my first character ever.

3. Favorite DnD Moment?
Although I would not recommend doing this too often so as to avoid player frustration, I did find particular enjoyment when I placed a moral quandry in front of my players, hoping them to find a mutual decision, only to have all but one of them turn on each other due to conflicted interests. Unexpected roleplay relevant pvp is exciting, so long as the players don't take it personally.

4. Do you play any other RPGs?
I've dabbled in many different RPGs, such as Runequest, Call of Cthulhu, Star Wars RPG, and others, but I always come back to DnD 3.5

5. Do you prefer being a DM/GM or a PC?
It depends on my mood, honestly. There are some days where I don't want to touch DMing and would love just to play, and there are some days that I don't want to play. I'd rather DM if I absolutely had to pick one, but I'm on the fence.

6. Do you currently run a campaign? If so how often and what's it about?
I do, it is a small campaign involving the players being a part of a guild that provides anonymous adventure/sellsword services to any of a multitude of political houses that are feuding for power, and have to deal with gangs, the local guard, a paladin order, and agents of the houses they serve as they attempt to make a name for themselves.

7. What does a good DM/GM have to do to be considered a good DM?
A good DM needs to be able to tell a good story and set a good scene, but more than anything needs to both have the ability to plan ahead and ad lib. The players will always find a way to think of something the DM hadn't considered, so on top of having a game plan on what needs to happen to progress the story, they need to have the freedom to roll with unexpected actions on the player's part.

8. Do you have any advice or encouragement for our followers who may have not ever tried a pencil and paper game, and might want to give it a go?
If your first attempt at a pencil and paper game is an attempt at DMing, be prepared for feedback from the players. It takes a few sessions for a DM to settle into their particular style, and your very first session as a DM will probably have some bugs you will need to work on. But if you do work out those bugs, it can be a very rewarding experience for both players and DM alike.

9. Do you have any parting thoughts on the subject you would like to share?
Get out there and give it a shot! You never know, you might have talent for it you didn't even know you had.

Thanks Brandon for your insight into you experience as a DM and with your RPG experience. As usual, if there are questions you'd like to ask a DM, please leave a comment and who knows it might get added to the next IWADM!

If you would like to apply to be the next featured DM for IWADM then fill out this form, or click the 'Apply Now' button on the top-left of the page!

Interview With a Dungeon Master | Nick D.

As part of an effort to connect with the community and get some real insight into what drives Dungeon Masters to do what they do, I am going interview some DM's to find out how they got into Dungeons and Dragons and the highlights of their experience.

1. When did you start playing Dungeons and Dragons? What Version?
Early 90’s, got into it through the 2nd edition board game, then it developed into 3rd edition RPG.

2. What was your first character?
Human Wizard in both the board game and the RPG.

3. Favorite DnD Moment?
In the tower at castle Ravenloft, mummies behind us, zombies ahead of us, totally outmatched to take on two sets of monsters due to poor decisions by the group beforehand. Creative thinking takes over….as a wizard I smash all my lantern oil all over a very expensive plush luxurious couch in the hallway. Have the fighter throw the couch at the group of mummies at our flank to which I cast scorching ray on the couch. It burst into flames, slammed into the group of mummies and set them all aflame…..the death of the mummies allowed the rest of the group to take the zombies and continue on to get more levels and ultimately to the end.

4. Do you play any other RPGs?
I had played Rifts (loved it) and Werewolf (was ok).

5. Do you prefer being a DM/GM or a PC?
Depends on my mood, I enjoy both.

6. Do you currently run a campaign? If so how often and what's it about?
Nope.

7. What does a good DM/GM have to do to be considered a good DM?
Foster the creativity of the players to use everything at their disposal. Some problems cannot be solved by might or magic alone.

8. Do you have any advice or encouragement for our followers who may have not ever tried a pencil and paper game, and might want to give it a go?
Step out of your comfort zone, take a break from the purely digital gaming experience and immerse yourself in fellowship and storytelling, and acting...the way entertainment was before technology.

9. Do you have any parting thoughts on the subject you would like to share?
Tabletop RPG has a learning curve to it, it is up to the players as much at the DM/GM to provide a great experience for all members, especially new members.

Thanks Nick for your insight into you experience as a DM and with your RPG experience. Currently I am working on a method to allow the community to nominate DM's to be interviewed for this article. Hopefully it will be available in the near future. If there are questions you'd like to ask a DM, please leave a comment and who knows it might get added to the next IWADM!