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](https://rpggeek.com/thread/2609133/is-the-abbreviation-for-dungeon-master-dm-trade-ma) 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. Personally I use the term DM because I've mostly played D&D, so to me it's more natural than GM.

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 know anything about my shitty life or internal suffering. Its not your responsibility 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.

"DM" is not a trademarked term, because it's a pair of letters. ["Dungeon Master" is absolutely a trademarked term](https://trademarks.justia.com/742/64/dungeon-74264094.html), though, and has been since the TSR days.

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

Double the trauma, double the drama

No, I don't have a source to be honest. It is something that I only heard a few times (for example in the Wikipedia [1]) and have taken as truth. You are correct that I should have researched this better, thank you for this reminder. [1] Wikipedia contributors. (2023, November 14). Dungeon Master. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 00:28, June 8, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dungeon_Master&oldid=1185015796

brennan lee mulligan making a new character

Thank you for this information

"TTRPG players" includes Brennan, yes.

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 family*or *gender non comforming*, oreven *a single parent*IRL, 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

Couldnt be me, I'm the head empty goblin girl and my motivation is chaos

It's also worth understanding that trauma is something that you work out through your daily life, not just in therapy. One of the models for trauma is that it's caused by a sense of helplessness in the face of a great stressor or existential threat, and engaging in activities that let you react to dangers can be theraputic. Theraputic, not *therapy*. No one else at the table needs to be directly involved. No one need be asked to be a shoulder to lie on. It's not any different in practice than the masturbatory power fantasies we're all engaging in at the table. It's just starting from a slightly different place.

I've only played one character with trauma. Even then, I made sure it was thematic and still allowed for him to function in a party. It also made him a never nude.

The deepest of all traumas.

Listen, my 9/11 Rogue/Sorcerer just hit level 10, so he can spend sorcery points to subtract d8 damage! I promise, he's viable!

Asking someone to write fantasy without putting their own lived experience into the writing would be counterproductive anyway. Good characters should have a little bit of yourself in them