That jerk Dungeon Master killed my cavalier...

It was 1993 and I was stationed in the great nation of South Korea. Finding a game to play in was not easy but I managed pretty well to get in on some good games. One however come to mind.

I knew a guy in the unit I played 40k with and he was a on again off again role player, anyway he had a few buddies gathered up to game over at Camp Hovey and he knew I ran a BECMI game in the barracks.

He invited me to play, ahem, I kid you not, "REAL" D&D as in AD&D 1e, and while I din't care for the remark it had been since High School that I sat around a table to play..."REAL" D&D. I should have known then it was not gonna be fun.

"REAL" D&D, even in the Nineties the Edition wars raged....

Well I got to the Barracks there at Hovey, Crown Royal bag-O-dice in hand ready to roll up a character and get to kill'n orc, but I was disappointed to find, Hovey Barracks, lacking very roomie barracks at all....sigh...and on top of that I was to be the lowest racked guy their, not really a big deal but it just tended to put use privates on edge.

The room was small and crowded, no table we all sat on bunks...ugh this sucked! I mentioned going to the day room, but quickly learned these guys where closet Gamers, to shy or to introverted to let the world know they played THAT game. I mean really I gamed more and found more gamers in the US Army than any where else. Dweebs.

Worse class ever...

So it came time to roll up characters, I was informed I was only allowed to play Lawful Good Characters, a little annoying but I wasn't to bothered, I decided to go with the Cavalier, I hated paladins and was always drawn to the Cavalier, and not for more obvious reasons, like they where a bit over powered, but because I really wanted to play the Knight in Shining Armor.

Look I get it, maybe a poor choice on my part, but the DM was ok with it. And so the game began, enter my Knight ready for action, mission clear out orc cave, win the day, honor for everyone. WRONG.

First, dungeon crawl, not good for a Cavalier, next, when I began to, you know role play a Lawful Good Knight, well I was quickly accosted by the other players, because I refused to sneak up on the Orc guards. Look I know it may have been my fault, but I was ROLEPLAYING, I was not trying to ruin the game. If the @$$hat DM had informed me about the play style I don't know at any point during character creation it may have helped....

And so quickly the game ended for me, I thanked them all, went back to my own barracks at Camp Casey and got drunk. End of my experiance with AD&D in Korea. Back to Mastering BECMI.

So what is the point?

LESSON TWO: How not to be a Jerk Game Master

When its time to start to move into those big shoes called Game Mastering, remember one thing, Do unto others as you would have done unto you. Yes the Golden Rule applies. Look your the DM, your in charge, the guy that will be Judge Jury and Executioner. So it would make since to be, yes be a good and fair minded person. 

This isn't about you beating the players, you hold all the cards, its "your" world. The players can't win against odd like that, period.

• What you have to do is first, KNOW your players, talk to them, find out what they want out of the game. Suprise coming, Role Playing is a Social event and Social skills are a requirement.

• Next, Encourage a good environment  safe from unwanted distractions, I know its not always possible, but a comfortable environment helps. I would have a huge problem running a game in a crowed restaurant. However, a community center, been their and done that!

• Last, guide the players into forming a stable party, not everyone needs to be Ninja Drow, when your running a City campaign in Medieval France, especially when all the players agreed to sit in on a game ran in Medieval France.

This all means that you are gonna have to openly talk to your players, as difficult as it may be to accept, sometimes your players may want different things than you want.

Be fair and friendly and you will find a much more happier and much more lasting game.

ERIC!