Why we suck as DMs

Two and Five are actually cases of "Don't play D&D"

Unfortunately that becomes a case of "Do I want to have a game or not?"

For as much of a meme as "Don't play DnD" is, good luck finding a game with even a fraction of the popularity or playerbase, unless you're counting Pathfinder, and that's even WORSE.

It's always been easy to find a game that wasn't D&D. You just aren't trying hard enough. Literally go onto roll20 or into the gamefinder thread and you'll find numerous systems that aren't D+D.

Playing online is an exercise in masochism. I'd rather play with people I know in real life, and fuck knows it was enough of an uphill battle to tear them away from 3.5, let alone get them to actually learn a separate system.

>Roll20
>Finding playable games

Pick one. I think I'd rather play with the autistic grognards here on Veeky Forums than try my luck with the ocean of underaged, anime-obsessed, putrid shit that is Roll20.

Maybe go down the opposite road and teach them about AD&D or even Moldvay?

If its you run d&d or no game. Show up with system X and just tell them that you want to try it, and if they aren't up for it one of them can gm.

I get frustrated with some players and how needlessly antagonistic they are.

I just want to run a game for people who want to do good things.

Yet our usual DM insists on playing characters with few redeeming features. Indeed, he plays up how filthy they are, their cannabalistic tendencies and generally makes enormous trouble for the party.

Simoultaneously, his character are inveitably self serving cowards who flee combat at the first sign of trouble.

His characters arent protagonists. They aren't even villains. He plays mook #6 who gets killed running away from the party and it drains me whenever I run for him. I don't think I do a bad job. My depression is under control. I'm creative and semi-smart. Confidence better too.

But running for him is like pulling teeth.

And I can't get over it. I guess that's the point I was driving at.

I've had a few bad experiences, but quite a few more great ones with online play. I'd much rather not play at all or go through a few groups than ever, fucking ever touch D&D again. Thankfully, I don't have to do that because I've found more than enough players and GMs for games.

Our experiences differ. I'm thankful for never having to deal with that shit, but I must say I haven't had those sorts of issues. Usually it's flakey players/GMs or annoying spotlight hogs.

But this is a thread for GMs, is it not? As a GM you have much more influence over what kind of system gets used.
I mean, I know how hard it is to get people away from 3.PF, but you can do it (after 7 years my group will switch after the current campaign is over). Especially when you play with friends.
To make it even easier, start with oneshots or short games and try a lot of rules light games (Risus, Savage Worlds, GURPS lite and a few "playtest" versions of bigger systems).
Depending on where you live, starting a new group with the new system is might be easier than trying to convince an old group to get away from D&D.