
As a GM, you should take every opportunity you can to learn from the other side of the screen (one of my three maxims for GMs). You’ll be soaking up GMing ideas as a player even if you’re not really thinking about it — but if you make a conscious effort to learn from other GMs, it’ll happen more quickly.
That distills down to a quick GMing tip pretty nicely: When you spot a GM doing something you’re not so good at, or that you’d love to learn more about, actively observe what he does and how he does it.
This works best if you’re playing in a regular game, as you’ll have multiple opportunities to be exposed to the technique you’re trying to learn. Even if you’re at a convention event, though, there’s a decent chance you’ll see it more than once — so take notice the first time, and watch out for it (whatever it is).
It’s that conscious spark — “Hey, the way she does [X] is awesome! I want to learn how to do that.” — that sets this simple approach apart from just absorbing GMing ideas passively, through osmosis.
You probably do this already, both consciously and unconsciously, which is great. Even though I often do this automatically, though, I find it to be a useful tip to keep in mind when I play.
I’m always observing and learning from other DMs. Although I’ve been DMing for my current group for the better part of 3 years, I’m able to get my own player fix at the 4-5 conventions I attend each year. I make it point to remember things the DM did that made my play experience great or elements that I could find useful when I’m running my own game. I also pay attention to things that frustrated me as a player so I can avoid making similar mistakes that might piss off my own players.
Damn, but that’s a lot of conventions! I’ve never made it to more than one in a year, and since that one has become GenCon, I can’t imagine finding the time and saving the money to do a second large con. Which ones do you go to, Frost?
> This works best if you’re playing in a regular game, as you’ll have multiple opportunities to be exposed to the technique you’re trying to learn.
Another reason it works best at your regular game: You’ll better pick up what the GM is doing *different* from normal, as contrasted with what they’re doing the rest of the time when not performing this technique you want to learn.
I live in the bay area of California with DundraCon, Conquest SF, and Kublacon all within a 30-40 minute drive from my home. There’s also Conquest SAC in Sacramento which is only an hour away. Even with the high gas prices, not having to get a hotel room and packing my own food keeps expenses down. No more Gen Con SoCal so I guess I’m down to four. All I can say is that I appreciate my wife very much.
Wow — it sounds like you’re at ground zero for gaming cons. That must be nice, and I can see how skipping the hotel rooms would make it cost-effective to hit all of them. Very cool.