this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2025
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[–] Ziggurat@jlai.lu 1 points 1 hour ago

Do not assume that every character Trauma is the player putting their own Trauma, while it's not uncommon to be from a bankrupt wealthy familyor gender non comforming, oreven a single parentIRL, it's a very classic Character design trope, because fighting lord evil who stole your family possession or finding back your original body/form are great Character goal feeding the plot and the story.

Sure it may be a way to tell something about you in the PC creation, but it may just be a way to offer plot hooks

[–] fyzzlefry@retrolemmy.com 51 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I'm a forever DM, as a favor to all DMs out there, please don't use DND for therapy. We're not therapists, we're storytellers. We're just as likely to make things worse.

[–] Jeeve65@ttrpg.network 23 points 1 day ago

Ttrpg's can definitely be used by therapists (e.g.see https://gametogrow.org/ ) but people in general should not underestimate the skill and training professional therapists bring to the table. Just playing an rpg is not therapy.

[–] iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 18 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm a forever GM too, and I made this meme referring to a player in my groups. She's an amazing player and I include her as often as possible. The point of the meme was not really to highlight that people use TTRPGs as a therapy replacement, though I definitely know that some might try that and I agree with you that it's not a good idea.

[–] misterdoctor@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I’ve never played a TTRPG, but I noticed that the first person said DM and you said GM. Are they interchangeable? Or is DM specifically only for D&D because of dungeon? Is there bad blood between people who say GM vs DM? Is it like crips and bloods?

[–] DarkMetatron@feddit.org 12 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

The phrase "Dungeon Master" is a registered trademark[1] by the rights holders of Dungeons and Dragons. DM is the abbreviation of that, and most likely safe to use. Game Master (GM) is used as a generic (and game agnostic) term.

[1] https://trademarks.justia.com/742/64/dungeon-74264094.html

Edit: I have (twice) edited this now after additional information from others (thank you Kichae for the link to the Dungeon Master trademark) was posted on this thread.

[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 5 points 1 day ago

Some other games use other terms. Like wod uses "storyteller".

GM is the generic term

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I don't think DM is a trademark, but if you have other information feel free to provide it. Looking through older discussion forums on this topic, the only semi-definitive answer I've found is in this 2021 thread where somebody referred to a now-defunct US gov't trademark search link, where they said they found a lot of "DM"s registered but none related to D&D. I'm inclined to believe it was a working link at that time and they weren't just making shit up.

Personally I use the term DM because I've mostly played D&D, so to me it's more natural.

[–] kichae@wanderingadventure.party 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

"DM" is not a trademarked term, because it's a pair of letters. "Dungeon Master" is absolutely a trademarked term, though, and has been since the TSR days.

[–] DarkMetatron@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Thank you for this information, I have added it to my original comment.

[–] DarkMetatron@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

My primary source at the time of posting was a sentence in the Wikipedia[1] but I have added the link to the trademark[2] that was provided by Kichae and rephrased my text now.

Thank you for reminding me that I should always properly check my sources and provide all information.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dungeon_Master&oldid=1185015796 [2] https://trademarks.justia.com/742/64/dungeon-74264094.html

[–] milkisklim@lemm.ee 8 points 1 day ago

Generally yes. DM and GM are interchangeable, with the small caveat that the term Dungeon Master is owned by Wizards.

Source

[–] DmMacniel@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago

But if it's not for therapy why are there two ts in ttrpg :D

[–] Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Trauma Trauma Role Playing Game.

[–] robolemmy@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Double the trauma, double the… fun?

[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago

“Mmm, just like dad used to make.”

[–] edgemaster72@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Double the trauma, double the drama

[–] neshura@bookwormstory.social 2 points 1 day ago

You sure it's a linear corelation? Maybe it's double the trauma four times the fun!

[–] LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

My characters almost always gain 90% of their trauma from the adventure itself.

[–] cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

brennan lee mulligan making a new character

[–] iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

"TTRPG players" includes Brennan, yes.

[–] Smokeydope@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Nothing wrong with a little bit of projection every now and then. It seems some people take it too far as a coping mechanism sometimes taking it to unhinged/unsafe degrees.

I consider it an ethical and moral responsibility to hide the darker aspects of my life from other people in general unless they are closely loved family or get paid to deal with such things as a career. If were just weekend night game buddies theres no reason you should be able to guess anything about my shitty life or internal suffering through poorly veiled character back story allusions. Its not your responsibility, its more personal that most are casually comfortable with, and its wrong for me to try to burden you with knowledge like that.

Revealing your deep traumas / "venting" to other regular people who only know you as a friend or passing aquanitence simply adds onto their psychological burden and likely makes further interaction weird or even secretly unwanted by complicating the relationship. Likely without improving your emotional situation any long term.