I left the old group I was in because It was another GMs group (he started it to play the games he wanted to GM).  It was very unsatisfying because #1 he was a poor GM and #2, I'm mainly a GM at heart with a ton of ideas I needed to get out of my system.

I started a new group with another GM who was looking for a group under the agreement that the 3 GMs in the group would all get to GM the games we wanted to play.  That was about a year ago and we aren't even close to wrapping up the Shackled City campaign the first GM started.

Now this new group is about 100% better than the old one...but I'm a frigging GM at heart, to me playing is fun, but not a substitute for the true joy of GMing.  Trying to take a break from the D&D campaign has proved to be an unpopular choice, and the current GM is a bit sensitive, taking it as a personal insult to even suggest such a thing.

It's not bad role playing, it's actually a very good group of both players and now friends, it's just I really need to do more GMing or I'm going to burst.

Once again I find myself at a difficult crossroads.  Do I quit this group and start one that is based around me as GM?  It seems that a group really gets it in their mind that one GM is the group GM after play has been going on a bit.  Do I stick with it in the hopes that I'll get the opening soon?

It's depressing and frustrating...and when it's your main hobby you don't want it to be linked to either one of those feelings.

Tricky, you say three GMs, what's the other GM who isn't getting to GM's view on all this?

Basically it's a bit of a breach of the social contract isn't it?  You agreed to share GMing between three people, but one is hogging it.  The trouble is, as long as his game is still fun I doubt people will much care.

So, what's the view of the other guy not getting to GM?

IMO you should start a new group with you as the GM. I'm a GM at heart too, but I think I'm at the extreme end. I don't enjoy being a player. If I could  play most of the time and sometimes GM, I probably would not game at all...and I game exclusively with friends. I really believe that some folks are GMs while others can do both. I've always known I was the former.

Regards,
David R

In truth, this is the problem facing the industry.  People who are players at heart can get their fix by playing Mmporgs, people who are GM's at heart can't.

Right now we've got an awful lot of GMs and not enough players.  Of course, it's the GM's who buy books, but it's also the GMs who turn to other creative pursuits and wander off in frustration.

The other problem, is that some people think they're GMs at heart but really they're just powertripping losers.

I've felt the same way before.

I hate being a player.  I hate not having control over the story/world of the game.

I find being a player to be agonizingly slow and dull.  I rarely ever get to do what I want as a player, and the way I imagine things happening is never what the other GM seems to do.

Luckily for me, I managed to go from being a player in a D&D 3 game (which I hated), to getting to be the GM for my Rifts game.

Quote from: jgantsI've felt the same way before.

I hate being a player.  I hate not having control over the story/world of the game.

I find being a player to be agonizingly slow and dull.  I rarely ever get to do what I want as a player, and the way I imagine things happening is never what the other GM seems to do.

*cough*

You know, a while back I felt like this. I was actually in a very similar situation as the pathological one grubman finds himself in. Waiting for a turn, sometimes for well over a year, to GM so I could have some real input on what kind of game was being played. Only then I couldn't even play it because I was GM.

Now what did I do? Hrmmmm...oh yeah, realized how fucked up the whole premise was. How much being a player [EDIT:and GM] in that sort of situation sucked. Yeah sure, you could keep running away from people with ideas till you found a group of sheep or just fight your way into the GM chair and inflict the same on others. Ooooor.....you could harness the ideas and build together.

Quote from: grubmanIt’s depressing and frustrating…and when it’s your main hobby you don’t want it to be linked to either one of those feelings.

Indeed it was.

There are times I get absolutely sick and tired of GMing, and am so glad to let someone else run so I can play.  This lasts for about two session, until I come up with an idea that would be so great to run...

Have you considered alternating GMs?  If you play often enough, it can work pretty well.

Quote from: David JohansenRight now we've got an awful lot of GMs and not enough players.

Great, send some of 'em my way, we have a group with no GM at the moment so we tend to end up playing board or card games instead.  I want my roleplaying fix dagnabit!

I got two words for you: written contract. Much easier if you write this stuff down.

Seanchai

I wish some of you guys would come to my group. We have 8 players in the group but at times have trouble getting a GM. We have a few players who are poor GMs and I really like playing rather than GMing. However I have ended up GMing 6 different campaigns over the past 12 years because I have needed to take my turn. I really love playing and hate having to GM.

Gavin

I really love variety. I'm the main GM in my gaming circle but nothing pleases me as much as when a player wants to run something. I'll try and help put it together. I've "lost" a lot of players this way (who started new groups) but gained a far better network of players and GM. So I win.

I'm wary of individuals who insist on GMing all the time and I tend not to game with them. Experience has shown me that it's been a good decision for me.

Good gaming is like good conversations. I don't want to be someone stuck talking all the time or just listening without placing a word.

As a last observation: Since the roles/responsibilities of players and GMs differ depending on systems, you might wanna try other games with the hope that they will lead to a better player experience.

As to the original topic...

How amenable would the group be to 2 gaming sessions a week?  Or, alternatively, how amenable would you be to 2 gaming sessions a week, one with this group, one with a group with you set-up as the GM?

If that doesn't sound feasible then maybe you (plus the other GM hopeful) can sit down with the current GM and have a chat about the situation.

G: Look, Joe, I enjoy your game, it's a real blast and I and the group are having fun but...

J: But?

G: But when we set this group up we agreed to share the GMing, y'know?  I love to GM, just like you do, and I really, really need to get my GMing fix or I'm gonna burst.  Brains all over the walls and stuff!

~J backs away slowly~

J: Okay, what do you suggest Grubman?

G: Well, could we maybe get to a good break point in the next week or 2 and just spend a month or so running a short term game or a few one shots?  Just to let me get my GMing freak on?  Maybe Al could throw in a game as well.

A: yeah, don't foget about the Al!

G: Indeed.  Anyway, once I've got it out of my system we could go back to your campaign again for awhile before doing the same thing again.  So, what do you think?

J: Well, we can put it to the group...

(Okay, maybe that's totally unrealistic but if you guys are now friends then he ought to be willing to share, especially if you make it clar that it isn't that you want to quit his campaign, just that you really, really, love GMing and need to scratch the itch or your gonna blow!)

People who don´t like to play either need better DMs, or have some issues that are not healthy for the hobby.

I'm starting to chafe under the player harness too. I love playing, and making characters, and the current campaign has had so many deaths and TPKs that my creative juices flow profusely in that direction, but I've got GMing in my blood and it's hard to chase it out.

The GM now is a good enough one. We disagree on some things (like how much detail you have to put into leaving an area to make sure you don't forget your gear) but for the most part it's fun. But playing the other side of the screen is my calling.

Quote from: SettembriniPeople who don´t like to play either need better DMs, or have some issues that are not healthy for the hobby.

Or they just have differente tastes than you, without making them people with issues or whatnot.