[the broken]

So Malazan worldbuilding started as an RPG setting, as built by two professional archaeologists. Kellanved and Dancer were played by Erikson and Esslemont, and that's where we get a lot of the 'comedy double act' characters. And Karsa is some unknown other person.

But in most RPGs you have a DM as well as the players, right? So how did that work, is there some unacknowledged mastermind that was DM ing all those games, were they taking turns, were they running the other side of the encounter as well? Did they ever mention this in some interview or other?

[Gorefest]

They played a lot of one-on-one sessions where they would alternate the DM role. You can find tons of info on their roleplaying sessions (who played what, plotlines, etc) on the fantastic Malazan wiki: https://malazan.fand..._Malazan_Series