Avoiding gamer burnout

Mystery Man · October 11, 2006, 03:10:29 PM

I started another thread rather than derail Geek's.

For myself when it comes to gaming, less is more.

I run a game maybe once every three weeks. That's it. I don't even think about the campaign until about 4 days out from gaming, then I sit down and start planning out the next leg of the adventure usually staying about 2 sessions ahead of where we are at the time.

This way I'm actually looking forward to preparing adventures and the review of what I've already planned. By the time game day comes around I'm raring to go.

For those of you who aren't burnt out on gaming either running or playing and don't foresee it happening any time in the near future; what do you do to stay motivated?

Reimdall · October 11, 2006, 03:20:49 PM

I read a lot. Go see movies. Exercise. Anything, really, that separates me from gaming so that I can come back to it fresh. I think once a week is the perfect interval for me before I start facing diminishing returns.

Zachary The First · October 11, 2006, 03:28:35 PM

I read, paint, go to a museum, go camping, take a road trip with my family, or sometimes work on setting/cartography for my homebrew. Most everyone hits the point where they need some time away from the table, I think, and we all deal with it in different ways. For me, however, watching Conan The Barbarian, visiting a unique place like Ronda (Spain) or the cave networks in S. Indiana/Kentucky, or reading a particularly good 18th or 19th-century historical account does wonders to fan the flames again.

jrients · October 11, 2006, 03:37:08 PM

Oh, yeah. You can't watch a film like Conan the Barbarian and not want to go splinter some orc skulls.

Mcrow · October 11, 2006, 03:39:33 PM

I guess the bottom line is that while roleplaying can be your main hobby but you should have other hobbies.

I basically take a break from RPGs about once a year. In that time a month or two, I do nothing but check message boards. I don't play and I don't GM and I don't work on new material.

Sosthenes · October 11, 2006, 03:40:17 PM

Or watch that new Robin Hood series. And Krull. And Beastmaster. And Sword & Sorcerer.

Then I dare you to avoid saying "I can do _better_ than that in my sleep!"

droog · October 11, 2006, 04:43:40 PM

Play lots of different games, and have a life.

Settembrini · October 11, 2006, 04:52:48 PM

Play Traveller.

beejazz · October 11, 2006, 05:32:00 PM

Camping. It's a very nice physical activity. You get the oxygen in your brain. You get to marvel at just how fantastic the *real* world is. It isn't conflict-driven. It's the perfect other hobby, in that it covers all the bases gaming doesn't.

Besides, spelunking in a real cave is teh roxxors. No orcs, mind you, but still pretty fun.

JamesV · October 11, 2006, 05:50:40 PM

I do think that the best cure to burnout is to keep gaming from consuming all of your free time, and if necessary, take a break. No hobby has to be engaged in constantly forever.

As an aside and no slight to Geek, but RPGs is the only hobby I've seen where people have this kind of "I'm quitting right now and forever, and I'm deliriously happy this way!" approach to burnout. Don't most people just take a break and come back fresh later when their past times get boring or unfun? Maybe it's me, but I've never understood the odd drama that occurs each time a RPGer hits their burnout point.

joewolz · October 11, 2006, 05:59:26 PM

I also don't understand the drama.

I occasionally switch game son my players. Like tonight, I really don't feel like playing C&C, so I'm going to give them the choice between InSpectres and Dogs in the Vineyard (set in the Firefly Universe).

If they really don't like either of those, I'll run C&C like usual, but it won't be as fun for me.

fonkaygarry · October 11, 2006, 07:12:44 PM

Again, I think it comes down to the social structure behind RPG "culture." When "my group" becomes shorthand for "all my best friends" and game becomes "the way we socialize," then game becomes more than all consuming. It ends up taking a role that a hobby isn't meant to, and things suffer.

I don't mean to say that all burnouts have no friends. What I'm pointing to is the fucked up social structure too many RPG players pick up when they're ostracized in their youths.

Geek Messiah · October 11, 2006, 07:19:24 PM

Quote from: JamesVAs an aside and no slight to Geek, but RPGs is the only hobby I've seen where people have this kind of "I'm quitting right now and forever, and I'm deliriously happy this way!" approach to burnout. Don't most people just take a break and come back fresh later when their past times get boring or unfun? Maybe it's me, but I've never understood the odd drama that occurs each time a RPGer hits their burnout point.

I took a break, came back. Same thing. It's total and utter burnout. When its no longer fun it's time to leave the hobby.

Abyssal Maw · October 11, 2006, 07:32:19 PM

QuoteI took a break, came back. Same thing. It's total and utter burnout. When its no longer fun it's time to leave the hobby.

Well, your'e right, which I hate to say. I went through a moment like this in 1993-1995 or so. I stayed out of the hobby for 2 years, and unfortunately I sold off or otherwise dumped a bunch of great AD&D 1e stuff I would love to have now.

But I guess the important thing is to pursue the things that you appreciate. THis- internet crap-- isn't the hobby, obviously.

Mystery Man · October 11, 2006, 07:46:42 PM

Quote from: JamesVAs an aside and no slight to Geek, but RPGs is the only hobby I've seen where people have this kind of "I'm quitting right now and forever, and I'm deliriously happy this way!" approach to burnout. Don't most people just take a break and come back fresh later when their past times get boring or unfun? Maybe it's me, but I've never understood the odd drama that occurs each time a RPGer hits their burnout point.

Not drama. Incredulity. At least on my part. If I live long enough to hit 90, I'm going to get the old folks at the rest home to play with me.

Avoiding gamer burnout

Geek Messiah