Running a system that covers your DM Weakness

Oct 8 • Advice

So I've become a pretty avid con GM over the last few years and I've worked under game companies running the exact games they wanted, as well as as a free lancer picking out the exact things I want to run.

I reached out to a brand new convention that's happening for the first time in a few weeks, because I noticed that they didn't yet have a formalized policy for competent in Game Masters for running games for them. I offered a pretty large amount of hours I'd be willing to work, for the standard of a pass as well as then covering my hotel (which is always the most expensive part of a trip for me).

I offered to run specifically things I felt that they needed, and because they are game shop that is creating their own convention, they wanted me to run specifically things that are available for sale now, rather than some of the more obscure out of print things that I sometimes like to run . I made one little "mistake". I had given them my "games I have played list" instead of "my games I have run list".

Being up to the challenge I decided I would run each of those games at least once before the con, and I did have a few I asked to change because they weren't games I particularly resonated with even that's a player.

Fast forward to last week where I got to run Starfinder 2E for the first time. I've not really resonated with Pathfinder 2E or starter finder 2E as a player. I don't want to dig too deep into that because it's very much just a personal philosophy. But in running it I've realized something. Often I will gravitate towards a game that has a core design philosophy that aligns with my strength as a game master. The idea is that it could bring out the best of me by making sure that it supports me in what I am most capable of doing. But running Star Finder put me back into a tactical RPG mindset which I've largely moved away from, especially as a player. But because it's something I don't necessarily love, it's also something I don't put a lot of energy into. So I would say it's probably my biggest weakness is a GM right now.

So I challenge everyone here to try to run a game that at its core is meant to do a great job at something that you're bad at. I know it can be intimidating because for many players simply running that game feels like a promise to be more focused on that pillar that you struggle with, but it's nice to have it as something you can lean on when you're struggling. Funny thing is that I'll note that I didn't feel the same way while running 5e D&D. I think it's a game that is pooled in so many different directions and doesn't really do any of them particularly well.

I love to see people comment what their biggest weakness is in game mastering and have other people respond with what they feel is a game that could help support them with that weakness.

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