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Dreams
I dreamed of running a game again tonight. I have no particular interest in starting the process again, and considerable reason not to, but my sub-conscious seems to have other ideas. Granted I would happily run a game for Filaree's family if they lived close enough, but setting up a game for strangers is still a thought that leaves me cold. I did that for better than 26 years and despite the people in the games supposedly being friends they usually ended up treating each other poorly.
Of course that isn't the only reason. Granted about half of the people that participated in the old games were self-centered and immature. They regularly treated each other with little or no respect and often thoughtlessly abused the privileges that their chair at the table represented, Some even went so far as to deliberately abuse other players. That part happened too often for my comfort.
Even those weren't what really put me off. It was the ones that claimed that they wanted to play, when in fact they had other agendas. I struggled to arrange interesting games that would inspire 100% participation on behalf of the players. This is a virtually unheard of level of participation and generates outstanding results. Players that can't be honest enough with themselves about their motivations are enemies of this process. As GM it falls to me to weed these players out, but I have grown tired of having to be the heavy. I feel I should be able to just lay out the game goals and the potential players should be enlightened enough to decide if they are willing to abide by those standards or not. If not they shouldn't request entry to the game. Unfortunately that level of self awareness in gamers isn't exactly common.
Unless the dreams come with a method of assuring that all of the people that are allowed to play will treat each other well and try to have a good time, the dreams will remain a disturbing reminder of my past rather than a portend of what is to come.
S-
Of course that isn't the only reason. Granted about half of the people that participated in the old games were self-centered and immature. They regularly treated each other with little or no respect and often thoughtlessly abused the privileges that their chair at the table represented, Some even went so far as to deliberately abuse other players. That part happened too often for my comfort.
Even those weren't what really put me off. It was the ones that claimed that they wanted to play, when in fact they had other agendas. I struggled to arrange interesting games that would inspire 100% participation on behalf of the players. This is a virtually unheard of level of participation and generates outstanding results. Players that can't be honest enough with themselves about their motivations are enemies of this process. As GM it falls to me to weed these players out, but I have grown tired of having to be the heavy. I feel I should be able to just lay out the game goals and the potential players should be enlightened enough to decide if they are willing to abide by those standards or not. If not they shouldn't request entry to the game. Unfortunately that level of self awareness in gamers isn't exactly common.
Unless the dreams come with a method of assuring that all of the people that are allowed to play will treat each other well and try to have a good time, the dreams will remain a disturbing reminder of my past rather than a portend of what is to come.
S-
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