An Ode to My Players

Arrowed

Arrowed

— 2 min read
four players sit a while a fifth, the GM, gestures. Above, fantasy characters come to life: an elf with tattoos, a wizard in a pointy hat, a paladin in white, a rogue in a vest.
The people on the bottom are players, the best part of the hobby. Credit: WotC, Artist: John Grello

I'm a bit of a "forever GM," as they say [Ed. note: who? who says this?], someone who ends up in the role of Game Master (or Dungeon Master or Referee) most of the time. (I'm a forever GM because I like being a GM more than a player; not all forever GMs have that luxury.)

One of the reasons I enjoy GMing is finding out what the players do. I've had the privilege to play with many talented, creative, hilarious, brilliant people in my short time in this hobby; this post is an homage, an ode, a paean, a statement of support, an amicus brief, to all of them and their wonderful, woeful shenanigans.

Here's a list of (some of) my favorite player-led moments in games I've GM'ed. It's not exhaustive!

  • Composed and wrote a unique song of Blessing, on the spot, when asked
  • Kissed a skinless simulacrum of Vecna on the teeth (no skin means no lips) to distract it (successfully, I might add)
  • Drove a SUV into a barn, blowing it up in the process, clipping the leader of MJ-12 on the way in
  • Devoted themselves to a new god, an avatar of Charity, in an ancient temple
  • Submitted to the will of an ancient cosmic force and putting themselves in a pit of alligator-human hybrids, thereby being ripped to shreds in the process
  • Tricked a bandit lord to walk hours away and reverse-psychology-ing him to "never" eat a poisoned apple (he ate it and died)
  • Defied the will of a gigantic aboleth-like being in her lair and told her "nah" when offered immense eldritch power
  • Carefeully pulled an enchanted piano key out of a fleshy abomination with a magical floating hand
  • Seduced a roadside monk (successfully, I might add)
  • Attempted to disarm an ancient serpentine warlord-queen of her massive glaive (successfully, I might add)
  • Distracted a podperson in a small-town diner by faking a fall - but actually falling and hurting themselves in the process
  • Jumped off the balcony at Castle Ravenloft, after killing Strahd, because she had failed in her sacred charge

Generally, I love being surprised by my players' choices. All my sessions have some element of surprise like this; I see it as my job, as a GM, to set up scenarios where they get to express their creativity. If it weren't for the players and all the choices they make, I wouldn't be a GM at all.

Thank you, players, for being who you are, and always doing something fun.

GMs: What are some of your favorite player-led moments in your games? How do you create opportunities for player creativity to shine?

Players: Where do you seek inspiration for your choices? How do you bring creative energy to the table each session?

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