I have come to the end of the line in my "Role Playing Career" (If you will). It has been a good 18 (almost 19) years but I have found I just don't enjoy rpgs anymore.
At first I thought it was because I GMed alot and never played. So I quit running games and only played them. Still I found myself still not enjoying them.
So after the Serenity game I am playing in ends (or more to the point my character can make an exit) and I selling all my game stuff and moving on. .pdfs will be deleted and I will sell everything until I have nothing left rpg related.
Sad really because I have burned out and want to stop gaming. I have people to game with, but I just dont have the interest. Worse yet there is no doubt in my mind that what I am doing is good.
Anyway, I wish you guys the best. The Rpg Outpost will stay up until the end of november and the goo forums will stay up either until the domain expires next year or someone buys the domain from me.
Take care
I'd recommend just taking some time off before selling off and deleting books. I've seen a lot of people regret getting rid of their books after having some time away from gaming.
Quote from: ColonelHardissonI'd recommend just taking some time off before selling off and deleting books. I've seen a lot of people regret getting rid of their books after having some time away from gaming.
I have done this before myself.
trust me don't sell your stuff just yet.
I now have a rule that if I don't use it in a year and have no intention to use it I get rid of it. I have a few exceptions though.
Burnout's a sad, inevitable thing. Happens in every hobby.
What the Colonel said is wise. Hang onto your stuff for the time being; later on you might have a clearer picture of what you want to do with the hobby.
Or you could mail it all to me.
Just sayin, is all.
What ColonelHardisson said.
Seriously, if you're burned out, you might find the flame re-igniting some time down the road. I walked away from music after a succession of horrible experiences playing in bands, sold tons of gear...only to find myself wishing I hadn't done so a mere 2 years later.
By all means, if you're feeling that down about your gaming, it's definitely best to take a break from it all.
edit: damn, I gotta stop walking away from my desk in the middle of a post. The folks above me have said it far better than I!
I have to echo the others, GM! Take a break, sure, but don't well the farm off until you're dead certain. Good luck, my friend! Go. Don't Play! Just let us know if you're back!
-clash
Just wondering, can you sell your PDFs instead of just deleting them?
Maybe a topic for another thread.
Anyway, I'll echo the advice of others. Don't get rid of everything. Maybe cut it down 90% if that gives you more room or mobility, but keep the best stuff, the stuff that'd be hardest to reacquire, the stuff you could maybe imagine wanting to play again, or even the stuff that evokes the fondest memories.
Then go camping or travelling or have a fling or whatever.
Quote from: ColonelHardissonI'd recommend just taking some time off before selling off and deleting books. I've seen a lot of people regret getting rid of their books after having some time away from gaming.
Done it. Didnt help. So I plan to leave the hobby and dont plan to return. its time for something else.
Quote from: fonkaygarryBurnout's a sad, inevitable thing. Happens in every hobby.
What the Colonel said is wise. Hang onto your stuff for the time being; later on you might have a clearer picture of what you want to do with the hobby.
Sadly I have taken breaks and it hasnt helped. It's clear to me that the thing is to move on.
If you must give up the hobby, at least hook a brother up with a sale thread. :)
Sorry to see someone leave the hobby, though. We need all the good people we can get.
Quote from: Elliot WilenJust wondering, can you sell your PDFs instead of just deleting them?
In my book that would be theft.
Quote from: Elliot WilenJust wondering, can you sell your PDFs instead of just deleting them?
Maybe a topic for another thread.
I dont know the legality of that. Expecially when they have my name on it and I would have to break the watermarking. If I could sell them instead of deleting them and make back some of the money it would be great.
Quote from: Elliot WilenAnyway, I'll echo the advice of others. Don't get rid of everything. Maybe cut it down 90% if that gives you more room or mobility, but keep the best stuff, the stuff that'd be hardest to reacquire, the stuff you could maybe imagine wanting to play again, or even the stuff that evokes the fondest memories.
I am down to only what I play and it doesnt help. I dont plan on returning to the hobby. I think you get to a point where you are at the end and you have to sell your stuff and move on. I am at that point.
Quote from: McrowIn my book that would be theft.
If I sold them and deleted any copies I have then no it wouldnt be.
Quote from: fonkaygarryIf you must give up the hobby, at least hook a brother up with a sale thread. :)
Sorry to see someone leave the hobby, though. We need all the good people we can get.
Everything is going to go on Ebay. I will link to all my ebay sales for you at least.
Quote from: Geek MessiahIf I sold them and deleted any copies I have then no it wouldnt be.
Exactly. It's your property, you can sell it. You just can't sell it more than once. Feel free to sell any of my stuff you have, if you have a customer.
I didn't know you long enough to become a good friend, but I liked your style, GM! We'll miss you!
-clash
Quote from: flyingmiceExactly. It's your property, you can sell it. You just can't sell it more than once. Feel free to sell any of my stuff you have, if you have a customer.
I won't sell something I got for free. That's just not right in my book
Quote from: flyingmiceI didn't know you long enough to become a good friend, but I liked your style, GM! We'll miss you!
-clash
Thanks Clash, I really appreciate that
Have you considered trying to go back to basics instead?
If gaming isn't fun for you anymore, you may want to figure out what it is that really isn't fun?
It might not be the dichotomy between playing/GMing. It could be that you need to simplify the way you play the game. What was the game you played back when, the game that you loved?
You may want to try simplifying the way you play, instead of making it too serious.
RPGPundit
Quote from: flyingmiceExactly. It's your property, you can sell it. You just can't sell it more than once. Feel free to sell any of my stuff you have, if you have a customer.
Obviously not with yours as you'd likely know about it, but sometimes with an electronic form item you buy an explicitly non-transferable license rather than the item itself. That said I've never noticed any such wording for an RPG PDF, but then again I've never looked that closely.
@ Geek Messiah: You've obviously thought this through, so I'm not going to suggest you not quit. But I will share that I've been in and around that place a couple of times myself. However I've always mananged to find a new take on things, usually by a good, long reflection about why I did enough enjoy it before, what I might enough in the future, and what's become a 'cockblock' on my enjoyment of playing. Doing such has resulted in things like a total shake-up of who I'm gaming with, how much I play, conscious choice of expectations, and certainly what I'm playing. The later not limited in choice to "RPG" or excluding what I've considered/tried in the past and turned away from. All a process that could take months, and likely best relagated to the background while life is lived.
Anyway, take care....and make sure to get that thread up so us vultures can pick the bones clean. ;)
Quote from: blakkieObviously not with yours as you'd likely know about it, but sometimes with an electronic form item you buy an explicitly non-transferable license rather than the item itself. That said I've never noticed any such wording for an RPG PDF, but then again I've never looked that closely.
Non-transferable licences are the devils tools. It's my belief they are illegal - particularly since most of them don't tell you until you've purchased the license/product - you can't read the terms and conditions until you've opened the shrinkwrap, and you can't open the shrinkwrap without buying the product.
Anyway, I've never seen such a license on a pdf, never even conceived that any RPG company would be that evil. Kill puppies for satan? Sure! Measure your anal circumfrence? Why not! Ignite a Racial Holy War? Happens all the time! But shrinkwrap licenses... Never! :D
-clash
Quote from: flyingmiceNon-transferable licences are the devils tools. It's my belief they are illegal - particularly since most of them don't tell you until you've purchased the license/product - you can't read the terms and conditions until you've opened the shrinkwrap, and you can't open the shrinkwrap without buying the product.
True that. Mass retail licenses have a very spotty history when put to the test of the courts.
Which I guess is why the most common place for such things to be and actually actively enforced is high cost, niche market items where the price can justify the required person-to-person contact, contractual signings, and mechanisms for enforcement.
Quote from: RPGPunditHave you considered trying to go back to basics instead?
If gaming isn't fun for you anymore, you may want to figure out what it is that really isn't fun?
It might not be the dichotomy between playing/GMing. It could be that you need to simplify the way you play the game. What was the game you played back when, the game that you loved?
You may want to try simplifying the way you play, instead of making it too serious.
RPGPundit
The game the started it all was Battletech (more of a board game then an rpg I know) and I had it and sold it recently. After trying to play it I was like "Eh".
I think its just total burnout and there is really no recovering. It's best to move on. I had 18 good years out of the hobby.
Quote from: blakkieAnyway, take care....and make sure to get that thread up so us vultures can pick the bones clean. ;)
I see who my freinds are. The vultures are already flying low :D (Just kidding)
Man, how many times does this hapen... and then the guy comes slinking back.
Gareth-Michael Skarka, Gleichmann, a zillion others.
"I'm leaving."
"Okay. Bye."
"For good! Never coming back!"
"Rightyo. Bye."
"..."
"Yes?"
"I mean it!"
"We believe you. See you around."
"I'm opening the door to leave, now."
"Go through quickly, you're letting the wind in."
"I'm closing the door behind me now."
"Bye."
Through the window: "You bastards! Why didn't you beg me to stay!"
A year later: "Let me tell you about my 25th level drowlesbianstripperninja..."
"Bye!"
If you no longer like it, get out. It's not good for you or anyone else to hang around a hobby that no longer interests you. Bye, and have a nice life. :)
Maybe selling your stuff would be a little rushed, because now you're 100% sure that you don't wan't to game no more, but what if in 6 months or a year you want to go back, maybe you won't, but maybe you'll choose to come back.
It happened to me with basketball, I played for several teams during 10 years, then I turned 20 and facing the fact that I was not going to make it to Pro-basketball I walked away.
And every now and then I regreat.
Quote from: JimBobOzA year later: "Let me tell you about my 25th level drowlesbianstripperninja..."
I find your ideas fascinating and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Quote from: SosthenesI find your ideas fascinating and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
You could begin with my big list of links (http://www.therpgsite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=33832). If you're really desperate, you could even go look at my LJ, at least the parts where I talk about roleplaying (http://jimboboz.livejournal.com/tag/roleplaying) stuff.
First of all, hi to everyone since I'm new to this cool forum.
I'd like to say: I found myself in your position several times. I tried to quit rpgs at least three or four times: girlfriends, university, jobs, family... many stuff detracted from the enjoyment of them.
I sold the books I had.
Well, let me say that now, at 32, I play. I rebought a line of books (D&D3.5, d20 Modern, Midnight) and I'm selling alternative RPGs.
What I mean: take a rest, keep the books you're most comfortable with, and sell the rest of the stuff.
When the itch will start again, maybe you'll restard buying and enojoying them.
Quote from: RPGPunditHave you considered trying to go back to basics instead?
If gaming isn't fun for you anymore, you may want to figure out what it is that really isn't fun?
It might not be the dichotomy between playing/GMing. It could be that you need to simplify the way you play the game. What was the game you played back when, the game that you loved?
You may want to try simplifying the way you play, instead of making it too serious.
RPGPundit
I agree totally.
I found the joy of RPGs again using first Castles & Crusades, then D&D 3.5 and d20 Modern.
I dunno what kind of RPGs he play, but for sure he could sell everything and buy Castles & Crusades player handbook and monster book. With all the stuff there's in the web (adventures, campaigns for d&d), he can spend these 30 bucks and have material to use for ages, in case of urge of retrying.
And selling the stuff he has, he could do a great margin.
The lone fact, that he dramatically anounces his leaving is enough for me to dismiss it as attention whoring and a non-permanent decision.
Quote from: LucifugeI agree totally.
I found the joy of RPGs again using first Castles & Crusades, then D&D 3.5 and d20 Modern.
I dunno what kind of RPGs he play, but for sure he could sell everything and buy Castles & Crusades player handbook and monster book. With all the stuff there's in the web (adventures, campaigns for d&d), he can spend these 30 bucks and have material to use for ages, in case of urge of retrying.
And selling the stuff he has, he could do a great margin.
Abso-fuckin-lutely, man. I did this "selling everything off" thing once years ago, and have regretted it ever since. I totally agree with you and Pundit. Just grab a good, basic game and run with it.
My philosophy?
"Fuck art. Let's game."(I'm totally throwing the devil horn sign with my left hand while I type this)
Quote from: JimBobOzMan, how many times does this hapen... and then the guy comes slinking back.
Gareth-Michael Skarka, Gleichmann, a zillion others.
"I'm leaving."
"Okay. Bye."
"For good! Never coming back!"
"Rightyo. Bye."
"..."
"Yes?"
"I mean it!"
"We believe you. See you around."
"I'm opening the door to leave, now."
"Go through quickly, you're letting the wind in."
"I'm closing the door behind me now."
"Bye."
Through the window: "You bastards! Why didn't you beg me to stay!"
A year later: "Let me tell you about my 25th level drowlesbianstripperninja..."
"Bye!"
I'm not trying to make a judgement of the original poster by saying this, but...this is damned funny because of how true it is. I've seen this countless times. That's why I recommended the original poster not sell off his books - a line you could add above to be complete is "I wish I hadn't sold/burned/donated all my books!" I've seen that one a lot.
Quote from: ColonelHardissonI'm not trying to make a judgement of the original poster by saying this, but...this is damned funny because of how true it is. I've seen this countless times. That's why I recommended the original poster not sell off his books - a line you could add above to be complete is "I wish I hadn't sold/burned/donated all my books!" I've seen that one a lot.
yeah, thats why my typical response to these threads is "don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out" but in this case it would really suck to see GM go.
Quote from: LucifugeI found the joy of RPGs again using first Castles & Crusades....
Wow! Unless I missed it, it actually took 3 pages before somebody said this.
That is remarkable.
Quote from: Mystery ManWow! Unless I missed it, it actually took 3 pages before somebody said this. That is remarkable.
I find it remarkable that you have your pages set so short. I've got my at 30. I find for me it's a nice length because it makes it a quick judgement which threads to ignore. Any one that has a "Last Page" link. :cool:
P.S. Ironically for me it was a C&C game that broke the camel's back. I just said screw it, I'm not playing anymore. Then I took a bit of a breather for a few months and looked at why I felt that way about that C&C game.
That's why I tried to keep my advise generic instead of suggesting "play this and it'll all be better". Or saying something like "Fuck art. Let's game." Or say something like "Fuck gaming, let's make art." Because making it about "art" seems such a bizzare concept to me to start with, I was just "gaming" when I burned out. Plus I don't know where GM's head is because maybe "art" is what he's actually looking for.
C&C is the Fantasy Adventure Gamer`s Exalted, I think...Stating C&C as a cure is tacitly assuming a heckuvalot of things, of which nobody knows they are the real reason.
Quote from: blakkieThat's why I tried to keep my advise generic instead of suggesting "play this and it'll all be better". Or saying something like "Fuck art. Let's game." Or say something like "Fuck gaming, let's make art." Because making it about "art" seems such a bizzare concept to me to start with, I was just "gaming" when I burned out. Plus I don't know where GM's head is because maybe "art" is what he's actually looking for.
I appreciate this. I am not looking for art, I am not looking to play games to feel superior over others. I game because it's fun (or was fun). Now that it's no longer fun that's the problem.
Well, Traveller OTOH is always fun. You can even play alone!:p
Quote from: Geek MessiahI appreciate this. I am not looking for art, I am not looking to play games to feel superior over others. I game because it's fun (or was fun). Now that it's no longer fun that's the problem.
Whenever I hear someone suggests, well not just RPGs, but things like as a vehicle for art that I keep picturing the museum resturant scene in the Batman movie.
"I make art until someone dies. See? I am the world's first fully functioning homicidal artist."
Fitting soundtrack, methinks. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGYEaKaK32Y)
Quote from: Zachary The FirstFitting soundtrack, methinks. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGYEaKaK32Y)
The whine-level is okay, but I prefer this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXnBxFXu9xg)...
(BTW, did anyone ever play a game where a ophidian is used as a conveyance to a big body of occult water?)
I'm closing this thread at the request of the original poster. Please feel free to start a new thread to further discuss any unfinished business from this one.
I just want to note that, typically, we will NOT close threads just because the original poster requests it. In this case though, since the original post was basically an announcement on the OP's part, I'll allow it.
Still, if there's anything that anyone wants to talk about that came out of this thread, feel free to start a new thread. Just because the thread is closed doesn't mean that the conversation is being shut down.
RPGPundit