Bleys Icefalcon
First Post
It's been a few days since I reflected on the thread about how my skills have deteriorated as a DM. And in those days I've taken the time to reflect as to the whys... I mean come on, I was at the very first DexCon in New Jersey; DMing a Round Robin event where this strangely dressed 50s-ish hippy with a gnarled, highly polished walking stick, foppish hat and over-sized 70s style mirrored sunglasses sits down at my table and plays a somewhat frazzel brained wizard - at the end of the weekend I see him again and he introduces himself as E.G.G. and tells me I am one of the best DMs he's ever played with. Freakin' E.G.G. for chrissakes. Somehow I went from that to where I am now.
Reasons:
1) Distractions: (A) I play an old MMORPG - Asheron's Call - that takes up, well, alot of time. More than it should. Easily 1-2 hours a day, more on weekends that Momma (the wife unit) is working. (B) Family - when I started D&D back in the Chainmail Days, I was single, totally committed to my geekdom and our games/campaigns. Once I met the Mrs, more and more time was taken away from the Game. We went from playing every Friday thru Sunday, to only on Saturdays, and once the kids started to arrive, every other Saturday. The game started taking a back burner. (C) The Interwebs and the HDTV. I spend a silly amount of time surfing the web and watching my Sony SXRD 72" 1080p Behemoth - with literally thousands of On-Demand Options, and all of our family's favorite shows, it's difficult to keep up with everything.
2) I got old. I had a friend over (the aforementioned Bill who played Daphon the Dragonslayer from back in the day) and we did a marathon game - Up insanely late Friday night, back at it again Saturday until the wee hours. I am not 17 anymore. I am not 25 anymore. Hell, I'm not 45 anymore. That weekend drained me so much I was the Walking Dead for the better part of a week.
3) I have done it all - to the point I am redoing it all again. A few of my players have done it all with me, and are being able to read me, and my adventures like an old comfortable book. Still a favorite, but not too many surprises. A couple of my players can almost say what I am about to say before I say it. Therefore I, and my games have become predictable.
4) As #3 above, we've all been playing as long as we have, there's little mystery or challenge in the standard game anymore. We all know what all of the Monsters should and can do. We've done just about every possible hook and plot, every type of conceivable campaign, been the good guys, been the bad guys, been the mercs who couldn't care less as long as we got paid guys...
5) Along with old (above) I got lazy. It's easier time wise to "wing" the whole adventure from a sketchy outline, than to sit down and really prep. Back int eh day I would be ready for hours and hours of fun, planned, detailed gaming, winging it when needed - and doing so very well. Now it's one big fat wing-it session, and I am short changing my players.
I was so demoralized over all of this, that I realized that either I needed to step away from DMing, or from the Game entirely. I needed a break. That, or something needed to change. Well I had decided to step away from gaming, when I started to receive the texts about the upcoming game from my players - how they were looking forward to it, what time, where, what to bring, etc. Like it or not, I am their DM. They and I may not be enjoying the game as much as when things were fresh, but - I feel a real responsibility to them. Also, we have a few brand new players that are just starting to get into gaming.
So. How to finx MY issues.
The plan:
1) Cut back on my online time in Asheron's Call. Instead of everyday, for hours per day, let's see about maybe every other day.
2) The Boob Tube - do I really, no, really need to watch every movie on the Independent Film Channel's On-Demand menu?
3) Prep. When I prep, my games are better. Also I have more energy when we do stray from the beaten path and I need to improv.
4) Introduce them to something that none of them have experienced: A brand new gaming world (to them) - old as dirt to me. I have in my possession all of the old 5" by 8" volumes of David Hargrave's Arduin Grimoire's - with all of the off the wall classes, creatures, spells - which when mixed in with the normal DnD muck, will add an element of the unknown.
5) BEDTIME Early before game day! (I am old, remember?),
So whaddaya think? Is the plan doable? ONLY THE SHADOW KNOWS!
Reasons:
1) Distractions: (A) I play an old MMORPG - Asheron's Call - that takes up, well, alot of time. More than it should. Easily 1-2 hours a day, more on weekends that Momma (the wife unit) is working. (B) Family - when I started D&D back in the Chainmail Days, I was single, totally committed to my geekdom and our games/campaigns. Once I met the Mrs, more and more time was taken away from the Game. We went from playing every Friday thru Sunday, to only on Saturdays, and once the kids started to arrive, every other Saturday. The game started taking a back burner. (C) The Interwebs and the HDTV. I spend a silly amount of time surfing the web and watching my Sony SXRD 72" 1080p Behemoth - with literally thousands of On-Demand Options, and all of our family's favorite shows, it's difficult to keep up with everything.
2) I got old. I had a friend over (the aforementioned Bill who played Daphon the Dragonslayer from back in the day) and we did a marathon game - Up insanely late Friday night, back at it again Saturday until the wee hours. I am not 17 anymore. I am not 25 anymore. Hell, I'm not 45 anymore. That weekend drained me so much I was the Walking Dead for the better part of a week.
3) I have done it all - to the point I am redoing it all again. A few of my players have done it all with me, and are being able to read me, and my adventures like an old comfortable book. Still a favorite, but not too many surprises. A couple of my players can almost say what I am about to say before I say it. Therefore I, and my games have become predictable.
4) As #3 above, we've all been playing as long as we have, there's little mystery or challenge in the standard game anymore. We all know what all of the Monsters should and can do. We've done just about every possible hook and plot, every type of conceivable campaign, been the good guys, been the bad guys, been the mercs who couldn't care less as long as we got paid guys...
5) Along with old (above) I got lazy. It's easier time wise to "wing" the whole adventure from a sketchy outline, than to sit down and really prep. Back int eh day I would be ready for hours and hours of fun, planned, detailed gaming, winging it when needed - and doing so very well. Now it's one big fat wing-it session, and I am short changing my players.
I was so demoralized over all of this, that I realized that either I needed to step away from DMing, or from the Game entirely. I needed a break. That, or something needed to change. Well I had decided to step away from gaming, when I started to receive the texts about the upcoming game from my players - how they were looking forward to it, what time, where, what to bring, etc. Like it or not, I am their DM. They and I may not be enjoying the game as much as when things were fresh, but - I feel a real responsibility to them. Also, we have a few brand new players that are just starting to get into gaming.
So. How to finx MY issues.
The plan:
1) Cut back on my online time in Asheron's Call. Instead of everyday, for hours per day, let's see about maybe every other day.
2) The Boob Tube - do I really, no, really need to watch every movie on the Independent Film Channel's On-Demand menu?
3) Prep. When I prep, my games are better. Also I have more energy when we do stray from the beaten path and I need to improv.
4) Introduce them to something that none of them have experienced: A brand new gaming world (to them) - old as dirt to me. I have in my possession all of the old 5" by 8" volumes of David Hargrave's Arduin Grimoire's - with all of the off the wall classes, creatures, spells - which when mixed in with the normal DnD muck, will add an element of the unknown.
5) BEDTIME Early before game day! (I am old, remember?),
So whaddaya think? Is the plan doable? ONLY THE SHADOW KNOWS!