C++ - when should I use a pointer member in a class

Question

One of the thing that has been confusing for me while learning C++ (and Direct3D, but that some time ago) is when you should use a pointer member in a class. For example, I

Answer 1

Allocate it on the stack if you can, from the free-store if you have to. There is a similar question here, where you will find all the "why's".

The reason you see lots of pointer usage when it comes to games and stuff is because DirectX is a COM interface, and in honesty, most games programmers from back in the day aren't really C++ programmers, they are C-with-classes programmers, and in C pointer usage is very common.