>DM for years >i love it, players love it, we all have

>>51727069
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, OP. Being behind the curtain prevents us from ever sharing the spotlight.

>>51727330
How do I stop it, though?

>>51727069
>first thing i do is hog the spotlight, talk until others stop me, argue over rules, constantly switch character voice, powergame, metagame, fuck the game

I have the same problem.

>How do I stop it, though?
Create a deliberately gimped character, I guess.

>>51727666

let your friend run his game instead of trying to run it like it's your game. that's usually what happens to DMs who make a character. they try to run the show, still.

>>51727666
Play your character like you would an NPC, if you were GMing. Take the ego out of it as much as possible, and maybe adopt a more supporting role--supporting for the other PCs, and even supporting for the GM, trying to consciously take actions that promote a happy, functioning party, and a successful adventure. When you get into a situation ask yourself "How can I have my character behave--while still remaining within the general parameters of his personality--to help the other people at the table have a fun time? What can I do to support and enable them?"

>>51727069
Are you me? I always run games. So whenever I have the chance to play I end up hogging the spotlight and making characters using all the cheap builds I've wanted to use with NPCs over the years but never did because I didn't want to TPK my group.

>>51727666
>Hog the spotlight
Play a naturally silent support character (i.e Thief/Spy/Scout) so that you have an incentive to shut up

>Talk until others stop me
See above

>Argue over rules
Put a rubber band on your arm. Every tie you feel the urge to argue the rules, snap it.

>Constantly switch character voice
That'll come with practice, you're used to switching voices

>Powergame
Focus more on building a character, not a class

>Metagame
See above, but focus on putting yourself in your character's shoes when roleplaying

>>51727069
Playing a game and running a game are two different skills, and it's okay to suck at first, just be honest with your friends about the fact that you're not used to being a player and to let you know when you do something inappropriate.

>>51727683
Not a gimped one. But one that is focused on helping the other characters. Like a buff/blaster sorcerer

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>>51727666
Have you considered playing your role

>>51727069

It's natural to do these things after having them bottled up for so long while DMing.

>>51727666

You don't, you play in light-hearted, beer and pretzel one shot campaigns that allow you to cut loose and do whatever the fuck you want. When real, multi-session, you-need-to-take-this-seriously campaigns pick up, you should have that out of your system.

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>>51727666
Have you considered advancing the glory of Friend Computer?

No, seriously, Paranoia is a great game for letting your need to grandstand out. Metagaming not so much, because displaying knowledge of the in-depth game rules is treason, but oh well.

>>51727666
You don't, you just do a little better every time.

>>51727069
Yeah, I backseat DM like a motherfucker as well.

Worst part is when I intentionally try to find and point out plotholes and flaws in the DM's story. I can't help it.

>>51729754
thats actually genius

>>51727666
Go back to GMing, Satan. I have the same issue. Once you GM for 6 years it's hard to get back in the game as a player without constantly suppressing your GM instincts. I literally cannot stand mediocre DMing anymore. I cannot. I'm not even that fantastic myself but someone worse than me, I just can't engage with it.