There's nothing quite so sad as finishing an epic game and not being able to celebrate it.
We had just finished the finale of a year-long adventure. My players did some amazing things, bending the rules in creative ways that let each of them shine. It was breathtaking in how awesome it was. And then it was over.
There were lots of reasons why we had to end right then. It was late on a Sunday night and we're busy adults with children and work. We were playing online, so there really wasn't a means to "hang out" more than just stay in the Zoom meeting. And, well, the game was over.
Before we shut everything down one of my players made an off-hand comment: "I don't know how you're supposed to go to sleep after that." And she was right. So what to do about it?
Unfortunately, this becomes increasingly challenging as an adult. You might not see your players in other social contexts and they may have other places to be. Sometimes you might have your gaming venue for a limited period of time. So the next best thing is to have another place to go afterward.
But most of all, it's important to just admit that gaming can create a happy buzz that will last for hours afterward. Not every game creates it, and not every group can manage it, but when it does happen, it's magical. I try to enjoy it as best I can.
Your Turn: How do you keep the post-game buzz going?
We had just finished the finale of a year-long adventure. My players did some amazing things, bending the rules in creative ways that let each of them shine. It was breathtaking in how awesome it was. And then it was over.
There were lots of reasons why we had to end right then. It was late on a Sunday night and we're busy adults with children and work. We were playing online, so there really wasn't a means to "hang out" more than just stay in the Zoom meeting. And, well, the game was over.
Before we shut everything down one of my players made an off-hand comment: "I don't know how you're supposed to go to sleep after that." And she was right. So what to do about it?
Just Hang
In the old days when I had a steady in-person gaming group we would spend a good half hour to an hour just discussing how things went down. Because many of the players were my classmates, we might talk about what happened during the week too.Unfortunately, this becomes increasingly challenging as an adult. You might not see your players in other social contexts and they may have other places to be. Sometimes you might have your gaming venue for a limited period of time. So the next best thing is to have another place to go afterward.
Eat
Going to dinner is a time-honored tradition amongst gamers to discuss the game afterward. It can be at the same house where the game takes place, or it might be somewhere else. This gives a chance for everyone to decompress and discuss the game while refueling; when you're younger, this might be a late night diner visit. Older folks may find this unpalatable (going out on a Sunday night seems impractical), and not everyone may be able to eat together for a variety of reasons.Create
If you can't socialize with your players, creating something can be very helpful in processing the events of the game. Some folks draw, others write. We record our sessions so I can go back and write fiction about what happened, and that also means I get to relive the game a bit too.Exercise
If none of the above are reasonable options, going for a run or other exercise is a legitimate choice. Getting all that energy out after a thrilling game is important if you have other things to do.But most of all, it's important to just admit that gaming can create a happy buzz that will last for hours afterward. Not every game creates it, and not every group can manage it, but when it does happen, it's magical. I try to enjoy it as best I can.
Your Turn: How do you keep the post-game buzz going?
