While there are many folk that can wear all hats, not everyone is capable of being a great Admin, Builder and DM all rolled into one. Nor should they be expected to be. If you run a small module with a small player base, then yes, its a big help if you can do all these "jobs" well, but ... most successful PWs will diversify, share the load and thrive for it.
Admins: You can be a great Admin and even Host a module and have little or no skills when it comes to the toolset or scripting so long as you've others to fill those roles.
Builders/Scripters: You can be a world class builder or scripter and still lack the skills to DM. Knowing "what" the players desire or what your PW's focus is has little effect on crossing over from the toolset to the game live. Some of the most creative folk I've known in this Community fail massively as an IG DM. Not everyone can shift gears from going from the oft slow and tedious job of not only making an area that is challenging and fun to the faster paced action of live DMing. Failing at DMing live has little impact on building.
DMs: IG DMs are a breed apart. I think the best DMs are creative and "quick on the draw". While having a good grasp of using various widgets and DM commands helps, this is also all secondary to "how" a DM reacts otherwise IG. DMs that constantly consider characters actions and interactions instead of running events where the outcome is predetermined and player's characters are participating, but cannot affect the outcome are the best DMs. DMing skills IG have no bearing on how well that same person can build. Nor should they be expected to build and if they do, they should be expected to master it.
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On my own PW, we've "all types".
- Myself, while I can be a decent DM, I also lack the will or patience to pull it off on a regular basis. I spend an hour or two most eves in the toolset building and scripting, then log into my PW's Forum and don my Admin hat to deal with player issues, answer questions, comment of suggestions, etc... . Afte that, while I often log in as a DM, I'm tired, I'm cranky and I really don't want to spend what's left of my already limited time running events. So I don't.
- I do however have a talented and diverse group of DMs thankfully. I really, really, really do mean "thankfully". While most couldn't build their way out of a wet paper sack ... they excell in the duties of day to day DMing for our players. This buys me the time to continue building and scripting that is ever sorely needed.
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DMing is not just about mechanics and good story-telling either. You need the right temperament and maturity to do it. I've known lots of creative folks over the years that as players could astound you, but when made DMs they fail epicly as they lack the ability to be neutral and objective with others as a whole. I've seen DMs fail by virtue of wanting to be liked too much. I've seen DMs fail because they bore personal grudges against Player "X". Often though, these same failed DMs can be great builders. I know, I have a few folk that while failing miserably as DMs none-the-less excell in the toolset still.
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The key component to all the above is communication. DM "A" needs to communicate and share schedules and outcomes of their events with DMs "B" and "C" as well as Admins/Builders on a regular basis so all can stay on the same page. nothing is more disruptive that two or more DMs using NPCs to promote plots or events that conflict.
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The "type" of PW also has a big bearing on DMs and how successful they are. On my own Pw which is founded as a Forgotten Realms Module located in NW/NC Faerun, a DM spawning a herd of vorpal bunnies would be immersion breaking. However, on many other PWs such would be just fine. So knowledge of what if any themes and sources a PW is centered around is just as crucial. This also ties into "communication". As the Admin/Builder I need to communicate my own desires/expectations/rules to my DM Team on a regular basis.
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In short, while the divergent roles of Admins, DMs and Builders will overlap and need to co-ordinate, there is no sound reasoning behind a claim that to be one, a person needs to be the other. Do you really expect the CEO of an Auto Company to go down and work the Assembly Lines? I'd not buy such a car. Do you expect the Architect that designed your home to actually pick up hammer and saw and build it too? God, I pray not. Failing at one task often has little or no bearing on another.
As for the OP, I contend that its neither a treatise on building or DMing, but rather a recruitment to build a better PW as evidenced in its closing lines. Anything prior to the closing statements was an outline of how to build the project being recruited for.
To be a good builder you need to have a solid grasp of DMing, you need to know "what your players want", and design adventures, and the module for that matter, with the player's interest in mind...
Knowing what players "want" and giving it to them are two separate topics. Why? Because "Players" want it all. ROFL. They will always want "more". Players will "want" to play Drow even if your PW lacks an actual Underdark. Players will "want" +5 weapons if your PW caps such at +3. Players will "want" more XP/GP/Mounts/Dev Crit Enabled/No Restrictions on HiPs Spamming and any number of things that can or will "unbalance a module. So knowing "what" Players desire has less impact than "sticking to a plan". Players will just as easilly adapt their desires and expectations to what is offerred so long as they are having "fun" in general.
Modifié par kalbaern, 11 mai 2012 - 02:15 .
