Admittedly, I've not had much of a break. I've been running Carrion Crown Adventure Path Pathfinder RPG pretty much since 2011. It's almost 2013 and I'm BARELY done with it. I feel...fatigued.
Does this happen to you guys?
(I also think the major reason for this fatigue is due to the fact I had run two groups in the same campaign storyline (sort of) and only ONE has managed to muddle its way towards the end. The other keeps breaking down...and I'm about ready to call it quits. :p )
Okay I really need a nap.
I generally GM games the vast majority of the time, however every now and then I NEED a break from GMing and ask whatever my current group is for a break for a bit.
Over the last few years the people I've gamed with have been pretty obliging, so I don't really get the GM fatigue thing.
It's important to know and set your own limits and communicate it to people you game with.
Quote from: Nightfall;576628Does this happen to you guys?
Nope. Two years in and I feel like I'm just getting warmed up.
Quote from: danskmacabre;576630I generally GM games the vast majority of the time, however every now and then I NEED a break from GMing and ask whatever my current group is for a break for a bit.
Over the last few years the people I've gamed with have been pretty obliging, so I don't really get the GM fatigue thing.
It's important to know and set your own limits and communicate it to people you game with.
I can communicate. I just feel like I want it to end! :p
Quote from: Black Vulmea;576631Nope. Two years in and I feel like I'm just getting warmed up.
Okay then, how about YOU take over my DM/GM duties for me?
When one of these ends, take up a contrasting system and setting for your other game. You are running a 3rd edition variant. So, perhaps a light science fiction or modern game, like Traveller or Honor + Intrigue. These are just Just example systems. A licensed setting really would place focus in a different way than what you are running now too, like The One Ring or Mongoose's Judge Dredd. I can not run only one system and setting. The creative aspect of these games is at variance with running only one campaign all the time.
Quote from: Nightfall;576633I can communicate. I just feel like I want it to end! :p
As in you're sick of GMing or RPGs?
If you're sick of GMing, ask our current group for a LONG break, possibly indefinitely from GMing. You never know there could be someone in the group just waiting for an opportunity to GM for a long stretch.
If you think you're sick of RPGs, just stop gaming for a while and do something else. For me I'm moving to Brisbane, Australia soon.
This means i'tll probably be a while before I can get a gaming group together so I'm gonna do some skydiving for a while until I make some contacts over there. :)
Quote from: Kuroth;576634When one of these ends, take up a contrasting system and setting for your other game. You are running a 3rd edition variant. So, perhaps a light science fiction or modern game, like Traveller or Honor + Intrigue. These are just Just example systems. A licensed setting really would place focus in a different way than what you are running now too, like The One Ring or Mongoose’s Judge Dredd. I can not run only one system and setting. The creative aspect of these games is at variance with running only one campaign all the time.
Firstly, I REALLY hate hard SCI Fi RPGs. I mean I can't even get into Star Wars RPG. OF ANY shade. It's just too...bleh. One Ring maybe. But honestly I'd rather try my hand at A Song of Ice and Fire again. But only because there I was a lord and NOT a DM/GM, rules arbiter. :p
Secondly, I don't want to GM ANYTHING for a year. If I play more Pathfinder, that's fine. (I'm wanting to go pirate-ing with Skull and Shackles.)
Quote from: danskmacabre;576635As in you're sick of GMing or RPGs?
If you're sick of GMing, ask our current group for a LONG break, possibly indefinitely from GMing. You never know there could be someone in the group just waiting for an opportunity to GM for a long stretch.
If you think you're sick of RPGs, just stop gaming for a while and do something else. For me I'm moving to Brisbane, Australia soon.
This means i'tll probably be a while before I can get a gaming group together so I'm gonna do some skydiving for a while until I make some contacts over there. :)
I'm pretty sure I'm sick of being the voice of reason amongst unreasonable people AND trying to finish up a storyline that has dragged for like...forever. I FULLY expected by this time last year to be done with running. But due to drop outs over the summer and the complete collapse of at least ONE group, I've had...problems.
I'm only sick of GMing, in that I'm tired of being the guy to come up with ALL the challenges, deal with the petty squabbles that come up some times, AND also just being a dick about wanting people to SHOW UP. I drive 20 minutes to gaming, and some times...it never quite feels like it is worth it.
Especially when no one shows up AFTER saying they will.
Quote from: Nightfall;576637Firstly, I REALLY hate hard SCI Fi RPGs. I mean I can't even get into Star Wars RPG. OF ANY shade. It's just too...bleh. One Ring maybe. But honestly I'd rather try my hand at A Song of Ice and Fire again. But only because there I was a lord and NOT a DM/GM, rules arbiter. :p
Then you have answered your own question. A break it is. Those were just examples of possible lighter systems of contrasting settings. Vampire, then. What I was saying was something in contrast to your campaign and system as you see it.
Quote from: Kuroth;576639Then you have answered your own question. A break it is. Those were just examples of possible lighter systems of contrasting settings. Vampire, then. What I was saying was something in contrast to your campaign and system as you see it.
Yeah but I'm just in the middle of FINISHING for cripes shakes! If I give up now...what the hell do I do with this story that's been stuck in my head for like...a year?! It will drive me more crazy to NOT finish than to just muddle through some how.
Quote from: Nightfall;576641Yeah but I'm just in the middle of FINISHING for cripes shakes! If I give up now...what the hell do I do with this story that's been stuck in my head for like...a year?! It will drive me more crazy to NOT finish than to just muddle through some how.
Ha Ya, that is the way it goes. Believe me, I am putting off some things for tonight right now that I would rather put aside and work on a new system campaign that is for next week. Sometimes I think there is too much focus upon the long term campaign.
Quote from: Kuroth;576642Ha Ya, that is the way it goes. Believe me, I am putting off some things for tonight right now that I would rather put aside and work on a new system campaign that is for next week. Sometimes I think there is too much focus upon the long term campaign.
Be that as it may...I just can not find it within me to say I quit. Mostly because I already do that when it comes to the rest of my life. :p :)
Quote from: Nightfall;576643Be that as it may...I just can not find it within me to say I quit. Mostly because I already do that when it comes to the rest of my life. :p :)
Well, all the concern displays you are a good DM that's for sure. So, perhaps try to focus on bits in the campaign that amuse you, whether or not the character's have any chance of interacting with them. If it's a premade campaign, for heaven sake start messing with it in a way that makes you enjoy the last stage of the campaign somehow. Try to reduce your pregame time as much as possible too, actually set a time limit. All you get done is all that you need and that's that. ha
Quote from: Kuroth;576644Well, all the concern displays you are a good DM that's for sure. So, perhaps try to focus on bits in the campaign that amuse you, whether or not the character's have any chance of interacting with them. If it's a premade campaign, for heaven sake start messing with it in a way that makes you enjoy the last stage of the campaign somehow. Try to reduce your pregame time as much as possible too, actually set a time limit. All you get done is all that you need and that's that. ha
Well I will take some of that under advisement. I have done tweaks... I just don't know what else I can do atm. I just really feel like this campaign has taken over my life at times...and I just want to stop. But at the same time, I can't help but feel like "When they see this happen, they will crap their pants!" etc. So... We'll see.
Quote from: Nightfall;576628Admittedly, I've not had much of a break. I've been running Carrion Crown Adventure Path Pathfinder RPG pretty much since 2011. It's almost 2013 and I'm BARELY done with it. I feel...fatigued.
Does this happen to you guys?
I don't think I have ever really got tired of running a game per say.
It's the miscellaneous crap around it that has occasionally worn me down. In a prefect world where I could just prep and run I would be fine. It's player issues, scheduling issues and that kind of crap I find can get me to the point of just giving up.
Quote from: jadrax;576648I don't think I have ever really got tired of running a game per say.
It's the miscellaneous crap around it that has occasionally worn me down. In a prefect world where I could just prep and run I would be fine. It's player issues, scheduling issues and that kind of crap I find can get me to the point of just giving up.
Yeah I can honestly say THAT part right there, the miscellaneous crap is what is kind of weighing down some of the fun, vigor and vim I had when I started this campaign.
Quote from: jadrax;576648In a prefect world where I could just prep and run I would be fine. It's player issues, scheduling issues and that kind of crap I find can get me to the point of just giving up.
Last time I checked, all that stuff was called 'life.'
I have two school-age kids, with five extra-curricular activities between them so far. Managing their schedules along with my wife's and my own makes planning to get together to play a game a cinch by comparison.
Quote from: Black Vulmea;576653Last time I checked, all that stuff was called 'life.'
I have two school-age kids, with five extra-curricular activities between them so far. Managing their schedules along with my wife's and my own makes planning to get together to play a game a cinch by comparison.
I guess I'm unlucky then. I have no life. :p I live with my mom, I have no job, wife or much of anything. This is it. :p :)
Quote from: Nightfall;576628Admittedly, I've not had much of a break. I've been running Carrion Crown Adventure Path Pathfinder RPG pretty much since 2011. It's almost 2013 and I'm BARELY done with it. I feel...fatigued.
Does this happen to you guys?
(I also think the major reason for this fatigue is due to the fact I had run two groups in the same campaign storyline (sort of) and only ONE has managed to muddle its way towards the end. The other keeps breaking down...and I'm about ready to call it quits. :p )
Okay I really need a nap.
Everyone gets tired at times. I have been running games for over twenty years, but I often alternate between GMing and playing so I get a bit of a recharge as a result.
But judging from your post it sounds like part of the issue could be campaign/adventure structure. I dont run adventure paths, so forgive me if I misunderstand what they are exactly, but this sounds like you have a whole campaign planned from beginning to end and the players have to go through all the points you have set up to get to the end. What is more you are running two groups through the same campaign. That sounds exhausting to me. As a Gm i think it is tiring if you are trying to keep the players on a track. It also lacks any surprise for you. My suggestion is to try a different approach to adventure design. See if running something a little more free form doesn't boost your energy a bit.
Quote from: BedrockBrendan;576659Everyone gets tired at times. I have been running games for over twenty years, but I often alternate between GMing and playing so I get a bit of a recharge as a result.
But judging from your post it sounds like part of the issue could be campaign/adventure structure. I dont run adventure paths, so forgive me if I misunderstand what they are exactly, but this sounds like you have a whole campaign planned from beginning to end and the players have to go through all the points you have set up to get to the end. What is more you are running two groups through the same campaign. That sounds exhausting to me. As a Gm i think it is tiring if you are trying to keep the players on a track. It also lacks any surprise for you. My suggestion is to try a different approach to adventure design. See if running something a little more free form doesn't boost your energy a bit.
Well the campaign structure itself ISN'T bad. I get to scare my PCs. (I always enjoy that.) However lately it's been more "Oh crap it's an encounter!" rather than "Crap! It's death incarnate!!!" So...dunno. But yeah running two group can be exhausting. Especially, at the beginning, when I had a grand total of 10-12 players...and now it feels like only about 8/9ish. Adventure paths can be fun. Indeed I like this one a lot. I think my major problem has been three fold: A lack of cohesion amongst the groups (And the PCs themselves); My on need to tweak things; and in general, my own hype with this. Couple that with the fact I REALLY wanted this to be over before October/September...and you get my feeling completely. Free form is fine...I just don't feel like making the effort some times. :p :)
I can run (almost) weekly for years without burning out. I think there are a couple of reasons for this. First, I run a rules lite game system I know well and like -- and that does not require much weekly prep time. Second, I run a sandbox campaign with a lot of random rolls so I often am just as surprised as the players as to what happens which keeps things fresh and I don't have to worry about keeping the adventure's plot on track.
Quote from: RandallS;576666I can run (almost) weekly for years without burning out. I think there are a couple of reasons for this. First, I run a rules lite game system I know well and like -- and that does not require much weekly prep time. Second, I run a sandbox campaign with a lot of random rolls so I often am just as surprised as the players as to what happens which keeps things fresh and I don't have to worry about keeping the adventure's plot on track.
Okay well maybe you can try out Pathfinder RPG to run and prep and let me take a nap instead! :p :) Really I'm not against the prep. Especially with d20pfsrd.com having much of the adventure path on line for me. So. But it's just everything else.
Quote from: Nightfall;576667Okay well maybe you can try out Pathfinder RPG to run and prep and let me take a nap instead! :p :)
No thank you. I'm not interested in doings hours of prep to run the same type of stuff I currently run with 20-30 minutes prep. And combat in 3.x/PF takes much longer than I can tolerate (for more than a few sessions, at least).
Quote from: Nightfall;576628Admittedly, I've not had much of a break. I've been running Carrion Crown Adventure Path Pathfinder RPG pretty much since 2011. It's almost 2013 and I'm BARELY done with it. I feel...fatigued.
Does this happen to you guys?
Hasn't happened to me for a while, but yes, it's perfectly human to get tired and want to do something else. And you know what? You should. Have a break. Play the game instead of running it, try a completely different game, or type of game, or just do something else completely for a few months. You'll then come back to running games regenerated, with fresh ideas and so on. It's not "wrong" or anything. Do yourself a favor and breathe. :)
I get burned out on a specific game and/or plotline and want to take a break and do something else for a little while.
Quote from: RandallS;576676No thank you. I'm not interested in doings hours of prep to run the same type of stuff I currently run with 20-30 minutes prep. And combat in 3.x/PF takes much longer than I can tolerate (for more than a few sessions, at least).
So far it's only taken me 2 hours to prep this part of the entire adventure...so not sure it's that. combat does take a while, especially now that we're past the 10th level mark.
Quote from: Benoist;576677Hasn't happened to me for a while, but yes, it's perfectly human to get tired and want to do something else. And you know what? You should. Have a break. Play the game instead of running it, try a completely different game, or type of game, or just do something else completely for a few months. You'll then come back to running games regenerated, with fresh ideas and so on. It's not "wrong" or anything. Do yourself a favor and breathe. :)
Ben, I think I'll breathe when I'm dead. Or something. But thanks for the support.
Quote from: Silverlion;576678I get burned out on a specific game and/or plotline and want to take a break and do something else for a little while.
I think I just need to play more Magic the Gathering. :p
Quote from: Nightfall;576686I think I just need to play more Magic the Gathering.
Sounds perfect fun, or you could take a Summer vacation for a month, since you are in the Northern Hemisphere. You could ask one of the players to run a game they have always wanted to for a month or so. Reduce game sessions to no more than 2 hours in length. It's a pretty stress free problem really.
Today went better. Not sure if it's because I got to interview for a job at my FLGS. Or just the simple fact we pushed further through Part 4 and at least cleared the ground floor of the Manse. Regardless, I felt better about running.
EXCEPT the part where my favorite table in the store was taken by the owners/management due to the need to have a private interview room. :P :)
I waver between wanting to play and wanting to GM. Luckly in my group everyone is a competent GM so we rotate roles every 1-2 years. I'm 1 year into my Fallen Lands LotFP campaign and am looking forwards to wrapping things up by end of October and playing some SWN.
I have competent GMs...sort of. I just want to finish! :p :)
Now that I got closer to it, I'm okay with it.
Nightfall, I'm exaggerating for effect here: "Your players sound kinda like dicks."
Now, I'm not saying your players are dicks, but you had some posts up there that made it sound like you felt at the time of posting that you were putting in all this effort for nearly-naught and the players weren't quite pulling their weight.
Even if that was just a rage-day in-the-moment thing, it's worth looking at. Your players should be a joy, not a burden.
I think running the same AP twice simultaneously might be part of the issue, but you know that.
Glad to hear things are looking up.
And in response to the question in the OP - I never get tired of GMing in general. I've gotten tired of certain campaigns that had other issues crop up, sure, but GMing in general, nah. I love it too much, and no matter how crap one thing may be getting, the potential for a hundred other things buoys my mood.
Vector,
Yes I do feel Group B with "Calvina" and his GF can be dicks. :p :) But I'm trying to ignore that for now in the face of the fact I REALLY want to stop running before 2013 ends. :p :)
Quote from: Nightfall;576628Admittedly, I've not had much of a break. I've been running Carrion Crown Adventure Path Pathfinder RPG pretty much since 2011. It's almost 2013 and I'm BARELY done with it. I feel...fatigued.
Does this happen to you guys?
(I also think the major reason for this fatigue is due to the fact I had run two groups in the same campaign storyline (sort of) and only ONE has managed to muddle its way towards the end. The other keeps breaking down...and I'm about ready to call it quits. :p )
Okay I really need a nap.
I have felt fatigued many times before. I find the act of running a game mentally stimulating and fatiguing. I once ran a 12 hour game (intermittent breaks within) beause two of my friends were bored and needed something to do for the day. I felt exhausted by the end of it and slept for 12 hours after they left. I've never run multiple games with multiple people in a single day but I'd imagine it's about as tiring as gaming for a lon time in one go period.
Quote from: MGuy;577011I have felt fatigued many times before. I find the act of runnin a ame mentally stimulating and fatiguing. I once ran a 12 hour game (intermittent breaks within) beause two of my friends were bored and needed something to do for the day. I felt exhausted by the end of it and slept for 12 hours after they left. I've never run multiple games with multiple people in a single day but I'd imagine it's about as tiring as gamin for a lon time in one go period.
Well it can be, especially when I run for about 6 hours each Sunday. With each group. Since October 2012.
I get tired from time to time. When it happens I tag out to my friend and he steps in with his game for a while, and vice-versa.
It's worked well for almost 15 years now.
I've built up a strong tolerance and a flexible mind over the years. It helps when you have crazy players who test the your limits all the time. "Hmm.. Can I throw the bears into the crowd?" "Why don't we just climb up on the outside of the spooky mansion?' ""Can I make a deal with the evil soul eating sword? I mean I've been using it for like a week and I wanna talk to it for a while. See if we can reach an understanding" "So if I raise all the dead cows I can make my own stampede!" "I'm going to tell the guy to speed up town's destruction. If I'm gonna fake like I'm his boss I wanna be a real hardass"
Quote from: MGuy;577021I've built up a strong tolerance and a flexible mind over the years. It helps when you have crazy players who test the your limits all the time. "Hmm.. Can I throw the bears into the crowd?" "Why don't we just climb up on the outside of the spooky mansion?' ""Can I make a deal with the evil soul eating sword? I mean I've been using it for like a week and I wanna talk to it for a while. See if we can reach an understanding" "So if I raise all the dead cows I can make my own stampede!" "I'm going to tell the guy to speed up town's destruction. If I'm gonna fake like I'm his boss I wanna be a real hardass"
So far what you said pales in comparison to the fact I had a druid that a) drilled holes (via wild shape as an earth elemental) in the foundation of a building and then b) changed into a FIRE elemental to set the structure on fire underneath.
Quote from: JamesV;577017I get tired from time to time. When it happens I tag out to my friend and he steps in with his game for a while, and vice-versa.
It's worked well for almost 15 years now.
Well I've only done DMing/GMing for maybe 3 years...but I took a break before this! :p :)
Quote from: Nightfall;577028So far what you said pales in comparison to the fact I had a druid that a) drilled holes (via wild shape as an earth elemental) in the foundation of a building and then b) changed into a FIRE elemental to set the structure on fire underneath.
I didn't know we were comparing awesome moments. All of these came from my players. Like the Kender who had an undead dragon that the party killed and he used to fight the dragon's still living spouse on the side of a mountain while the party's paladin was riding it.
Quote from: MGuy;577076I didn't know we were comparing awesome moments. All of these came from my players. Like the Kender who had an undead dragon that the party killed and he used to fight the dragon's still living spouse on the side of a mountain while the party's paladin was riding it.
I wouldn't call it awesome when I was FULLY prepared to slaughter at least ONE PC. Needless to say, didn't happen.
I may get tired of what I am doing now (and adventure paths are #1 victim of that)
But I'm pretty much always happy to run a game.
I would love to play the sort of game I run, but I don't get that much, so I accept I can't really plan on it.
Quote from: Caesar Slaad;577408I may get tired of what I am doing now (and adventure paths are #1 victim of that)
But I'm pretty much always happy to run a game.
I would love to play the sort of game I run, but I don't get that much, so I accept I can't really plan on it.
Alan/Psion,
I can say at least with the fact the PCs DID have to spend a "hero point" type thing from Carrion Crown, this improved my mood.
Still want this to be over though!
I don't tire of running games. I very much enjoy it.
But only when the players put in as much as I. Unfortunately some games require the GM put more in that perhaps would otherwise be necessary, which ups the ante.
It's a simple process: if the GM is the one person that's doing the most work or putting the most into the process (at the table or beforehand), then you have an imbalance of energy.
I'm presently running the Great Pendragon Campaign. At the end of each phase (natural break point) I hang up the GM spurs for a while and someone else runs things for a few weeks. After that I'm raring to go again.
Breaks are important. Nothing wrong with needing them.
Well I just got back from our non-existent Serpent Skull game. I say that because only myself and two of my players made it. Now I'm not running this one (Thank Orcus!) However it has led me to consider MAYBE if we want this to grow/continue, I should pause it and just let them do that AND run Jade Regent on alternate Sundays. It would give me a chance to relax..and certainly allow two DMs to strut their stuff instead of just waiting around for non-existent players to not show up.
So...at least now I have some thought involved in pausing. We'll see how it goes after Labor Day weekend/following the 9th of September.
You guys are all nuts. I'll never get tired of running games.
RPGPundit
Quote from: RPGPundit;578229You guys are all nuts. I'll never get tired of running games.
RPGPundit
Alright then! I challenge you, mighty Pundit One, to run MY game of Carrion Crown Pathfinder RPG. :p :)
Quote from: Nightfall;578286Alright then! I challenge you, mighty Pundit One, to run MY game of Carrion Crown Pathfinder RPG. :p :)
Never tiring of running games isn't the same as "wanting to run any game". I have zero interest in ever running Pathfinder.
RPGPundit
Quote from: RPGPundit;578483Never tiring of running games isn't the same as "wanting to run any game". I have zero interest in ever running Pathfinder.
RPGPundit
Then I have 0 interest in listing to you say you never tire of running games. :p :) Otherwise put your money where your mouth is.
Quote from: RPGPundit;578483Never tiring of running games isn't the same as "wanting to run any game". I have zero interest in ever running Pathfinder.
RPGPundit
Put another person up for zero interest in Pathfinder.
To be more on topic. I don't actually like being DM, but all the people in my old group wanted me to. Though I've been learning recently being under the thumb of a bad DM is so much worse than being forced to DM by your players
Quote from: Lord Mistborn;578485Put another person up for zero interest in Pathfinder.
I didn't think I asked you to run Mist...
Quote from: Lord Mistborn;578485Put another person up for zero interest in Pathfinder.
To be more on topic. I don't actually like being DM, but all the people in my old group wanted me to. Though I've been learning recently being under the thumb of a bad DM is so much worse than being forced to DM by your players
I'd just not play. Playing the game should never be a "chore".
I'm just coming off a 2-month long break from my regular weekly gaming group due to some sort of gaming fatigue (that's playing as well as gming). We're starting up again tomorrow and I think the break will have done us al good. We will be starting something fresh too - I think that's important.
Quote from: MGuy;578568I'd just not play. Playing the game should never be a "chore".
It wasn't a huge deal and I didn't have to DM all the time.
There is one guy from my old group in the new one and if I'm theere it's going to make a bad situation worse for him, if he leaves then I'm out as well. Anyway this level of failure can't go undocumented so writing Apparently Expeditious Retreat, Swift is broken takes the edge off things. So it's not like I'm having no fun period.
Quote from: MGuy;578568I'd just not play. Playing the game should never be a "chore".
Playing pathfinder isn't a chore. Running it with PCs that constant have characters that go against theme, against just about everything...annoys me.
Otherwise...I'm okay.
Quote from: Nightfall;578616Playing pathfinder isn't a chore. Running it with PCs that constant have characters that go against theme, against just about everything...annoys me.
Otherwise...I'm okay.
It would annoy me as well and I wouldn't run with those people. I have a "thing" against metagaming in character and I am willing to walk away from any table where players actively refuse to play ball. If I'm running a game (and I warn people before I start) consistency is a must. If you're going to do something it has to be consistent with the character you made, the setting, etc. Inconsistency annoys the shit out of me.
Quote from: MGuy;578634It would annoy me as well and I wouldn't run with those people. I have a "thing" against metagaming in character and I am willing to walk away from any table where players actively refuse to play ball. If I'm running a game (and I warn people before I start) consistency is a must. If you're going to do something it has to be consistent with the character you made, the setting, etc. Inconsistency annoys the shit out of me.
Trust me it didn't quite start out that way, but it sure as hell has come to forefront a number of times.
I get DM Fatigue and Player Fatigue from time to time, the former more so than the latter. Having another person take up the mantle of DM to run a one-shot or short arc is often a good idea when the current DM is out of ideas, needs to take a break, or doesn't have enough stuff prepared.