Do You Consider GMing to Be Hard Work?

[Umbran]

Work for me is either something you get paid to do, or something you do because you have to and not because you want to.

Consider a modern American - they may have a house with a fireplace. It is not required for heating the house, but very pleasant to have a fire of a winter evening.

But, that means chopping wood.

 

[BookTenTiger]

Running a game is an "energy back" activity for me; I am less tired at the end of a Session than I am at the beginning. I actually have trouble sleeping once it's over!

Preparing for the game I consider almost a separate hobby. It's very personal and independent, and what I do with my cup of coffee on a Saturday Morning instead of reading the news. Although a lot of my prep happens in my head on my bike ride to and from work as well!

However, trying to prep a published adventure for me is actual hard work. I've always been terrible at homework (which is one reason I don't assign any mandatory homework as a teacher), and for some reason it's just a lot of hard work for me to sit down and read over published materials. It's way more fun and energizing to make up my own stuff!

That said, for the DM whose game I play in, DMing is not an energy-back activity, and he will cancel if he's having a tough week. I can't blame him, but it makes me glad I'm running my own game once a week as well.

 

[Jd Smith1]

Consider a modern American - they may have a house with a fireplace. It is not required for heating the house, but very pleasant to have a fire of a winter evening.

But, that means chopping wood.

Unless you buy your wood by the half or full cord, in which case it comes already chopped.

Or you own a chainsaw.

 

[GMMichael]

Always like being a DM more, but it certainly has a bit of work to it, at least for me. Even after 30 years I need a little time to prep, save the occasional improv session.

XP for dedication.

When I'm at the office, I count the minutes until I can come up with encounters for the week's session.

Some of us don't wait

. . . "I just don't want you to have to put in a lot of work." "You can relax and have fun with the rest of us."

I actually like running a game and look forward to it. Am I missing something? Do others think of it as a chore? Do players assume the GM isn't having fun?

Sounds like a pretext to me. Someone didn't want to play the one-off.

GMing doesn't have to be work anymore. Apps, websites, and GM-friendly games see to that.

 

[Umbran]

Unless you buy your wood by the half or full cord, in which case it comes already chopped.

Sure. But then the guys who deliver your wood leave it in a big pile, and you have to stack it so it stays dry and doesn't rot.

(Which is yes, I can buy a setting or an adventure - but I still need to do prep for the session.)

Or you own a chainsaw.

Not so great for splitting.

 

[TheSword]

Consider a modern American - they may have a house with a fireplace. It is not required for heating the house, but very pleasant to have a fire of a winter evening.

But, that means chopping wood.

Totally agree. Chopping wood is work for me. So is washing the dishes.

Though I enjoy cooking so I don’t consider cooking work. It’s part of my leisure time. I guess someone who didn’t enjoy cooking would see that as work too.

 

[bloodtide]

Objectively: Yes it is hard work.

That is to say it takes a unique mix of: Time, Effort, Dedication, Energy, Will Power, Memory, Math, Desire, Imagination, and skill.

And like any complex thing: not everyone can do it. And many can't do it well. But some can.

If your of the right type of person being a DM is not hard or work: it's near effortless, or at least somewhat smooth.

Of course, if your not of the type or person.....it is at best hard work, and at worst impossible.

 

[Jd Smith1]

Sure. But then the guys who deliver your wood leave it in a big pile, and you have to stack it so it stays dry and doesn't rot.

(Which is yes, I can buy a setting or an adventure - but I still need to do prep for the session.)



Not so great for splitting.

Ummm, no, they normally stack it when they deliver it; but you can leave it in a big pile if you want to, it burns the same either way.

You only need to split wood if it is of a certain diameter compared to your fireplace, so a chainsaw really is great for harvest & prep of firewood.

 

[BookTenTiger]

Ummm, no, they normally stack it when they deliver it; but you can leave it in a big pile if you want to, it burns the same either way.

You only need to split wood if it is of a certain diameter compared to your fireplace, so a chainsaw really is great for harvest & prep of firewood.

I always find it frustrating when you order a bunch of wood and then in the middle of the wood delivery someone completely derails a thread by arguing about wood delivery.

Question for DMs: what part do you consider the hardest work?

For me, it's definitely finding, maintaining, and scheduling groups. I wish that part didn't fall so much under the purview of the DM, but it often feels like it's one person's job to manage the administrative side of the game.

 

[Umbran]

Ummm, no, they normally stack it when they deliver it; but you can leave it in a big pile if you want to, it burns the same either way.

The various places I've lived, that's not the case. They come with a truck and dump it in a pile where you request it. Perhaps some will stack it for you if you pay extra, but it isn't a basic part of delivery.

It does not burn the same way if it is left in that pile, buried in snow, encased in ice, and wet.

You only need to split wood if it is of a certain diameter compared to your fireplace, so a chainsaw really is great for harvest & prep of firewood.

Again - I've never heard anyone refer to harvest and prep as "chopping". You don't chop with a chainsaw. But whatever.