A Land Far Away

So when alfa first started long long ago DMs could not DM and play. But when we started running low on players we lifted this. I think alfa was a much nicer place when people were either DMs or Players and not both.

Has there been any thought about reinstating this when NWN2 starts? I think we could see how things go and again if we find ourselves lacking players we could lift again? I think alfa would be better for it, getting DMs who are focused on DMing and players focused on playing.

I don't have an ideological bias on the rule. But circumstancially I agree with Gelcur. ALFA was a better place. The question is, does this change in perceptions result from the rule or is this human nostalgia?

Gelcur wrote: I think alfa was a much nicer place when people were either DMs or Players and not both.

Why?

What criteria are you using.... "nicer"..means nothng without considering all the variables, the poeople involed or the range of servers in place.

I for one would NEVER have become a DM without being able to play as well...

in all my PnP groups we all played and DMed..how else can anyone understand both points of view..or decide which road is for them...or gain the insight needed for both causes?

Many of the early DM's in ALFA never took to playing, some could do both as long as they played on vastly differenjt servers to those the DM'ed on.
Some made excellent players and *I believe* better DM's because of it.....



Discuss

I don't see a reason to forbid DMs from playing. Who can say that a DM would spend the time they use to play DMing? If I was a DM and I was forbid to play in ALFA I would just play elsewhere (so my DM time wouldn't increase) or I would just quit DMing so I could play (and ALFA would be one DM short). I say let the DMs play and enjoy ALFA as players also if they want.

Nostalgia mainly. DMs were even harder to find back then than they are today. The one thing we don't need in NWN2 is fewer DMs.

Nothing wrong with DMs playing. What we must make sure happens though, is that DMs DM (or build, script, etc). Seeing DMs who never DM just play, is wrong.

I'd never give up playing to just DM, and I imagine there are a lot of potential DMs out there that think the same.

There are some DMs that might be happy with it, but as it stands they can voluntarily choose not to play.

One issue, maybe, is with the slow roll-out of NWN2 ALFA - until there are several servers, there is going to be a very limited chance to both play and DM, since we should definately keep the "No playing/DMing on the same server" rule.

Jesus christ not this thread again.

The rule we have now works well. Don't change it. As long as DMs can never be a player on their local server it's fine.

Rotku wrote:What we must make sure happens though, is that DMs DM (or build, script, etc). Seeing DMs who never DM just play, is wrong.

Something that hopefully HDMs keep an eye on.

Nyarlathotep wrote:Nostalgia mainly. DMs were even harder to find back then than they are today. The one thing we don't need in NWN2 is fewer DMs.

Amen

Grand Fromage wrote:Jesus christ not this thread again.

+1

Grand Fromage wrote:Jesus christ not this thread again.

While we're at it, let's talk about druid weapons.

Mulu wrote:

Grand Fromage wrote:Jesus christ not this thread again.

While we're at it, let's talk about druid weapons.

3.5 no longer considers using other weapons breaking a druids vows, btw.

Spider Jones wrote:

Mulu wrote:

Grand Fromage wrote:Jesus christ not this thread again.

While we're at it, let's talk about druid weapons.

3.5 no longer considers using other weapons breaking a druids vows, btw.

Oh Jebus, that means we're going to have to debate whether or not ALFA will allow it. And I thought I was kidding.

Not all horses are as dead as they look... that one was merely pining for the fjords.

Mulu wrote:Oh Jebus, that means we're going to have to debate whether or not ALFA will allow it. And I thought I was kidding.

No it doesn't. 3.5 doesn't have druid weapon restrictions, simple as that. There's no more debate about that than about having monks and druids killing higher level ones in order to advance. Old rules don't apply anymore.