Bad night at D&D
- Thread starter Oogar
- Start date
Mouseferatu
Hero
I wouldn't worry just yet. Everyone has nights like this. Sometimes the DM just isn't into it, sometimes the players can't be drawn into the story no matter what. It's usually not the fault of anyone in particular; sometimes people just need to vent, or blow off steam, or otherwise aren't into the game.
If it happens constantly, then maybe something's wrong, but if it's only an occasional thing, I'd say that's really just the way things go.
If it happens constantly, then maybe something's wrong, but if it's only an occasional thing, I'd say that's really just the way things go.
Ulrick
First Post
Yeah, what mouseferatu said.
I hate crappy sessions, whether I'm a player or the DM.
When I partake in a crappy session, afterwards I feel like I've wasted valuable time when I could have been doing something else.
and if I say anything more it'll turn into a big rant. grrrrrr
Ulrick
I hate crappy sessions, whether I'm a player or the DM.
When I partake in a crappy session, afterwards I feel like I've wasted valuable time when I could have been doing something else.
and if I say anything more it'll turn into a big rant. grrrrrr
Ulrick
Chain Lightning
First Post
Sometimes I'll have a crappy sessions because I didn't prepare enough. I don't mind blaming myself for that. But when you've prepared very well and a session still goes crappy. That really sucks to me.
Although, its obvious from this that sometimes, (even when not much has been prepared) spontaneous on-the-fly DMing turns out better than intricately laid plans.
Although, its obvious from this that sometimes, (even when not much has been prepared) spontaneous on-the-fly DMing turns out better than intricately laid plans.
Crothian
First Post
Cold Shower
Cold Showers. After a crappy session, no matter if I'm DM or PC, I take a cold shower to remove it. Old habit from back in College when in the third week of DMing I had a bad session. That night took a shower and all the hot water was gone. However, next week was a blast, and every time I DM a bad session a cold shower has always ensured that the next is very good. Hasn't worked so well being a PC, but I guess that's cause I have less control on the game.
Cold Showers. After a crappy session, no matter if I'm DM or PC, I take a cold shower to remove it. Old habit from back in College when in the third week of DMing I had a bad session. That night took a shower and all the hot water was gone. However, next week was a blast, and every time I DM a bad session a cold shower has always ensured that the next is very good. Hasn't worked so well being a PC, but I guess that's cause I have less control on the game.
We usually try to have email coorospondance with the DM after a bad session with one group. Basically he'll start going over your character and things that just didn't get touched on during the session. That usually brings the interest back around. I don't understand it though, at one point in the middle of a lot of exciting stuff going on in both character progression and storyline, everyone seemed to lose interest together and we had a string of bad sessions for about a month. Can't really be avoided, so the best you can do is work with it.
Number47
First Post
The group I DM can only meet every two weeks and the games are typically only four or five hours long. I DM six women. Three are mommies of small children, one is pregnant. Sometimes, because of this, it is very hard to have everyone involved in the game at the same time. At least I'm excited about the game, though.
Khorod
First Post
Take the next session off. Do a bit of extra planning.
A few weeks ago I forgot about the possibility of adding a road-sign to my map. So I ended up throwing what amounted to a couple dozen evil war-priests after the players to get them to move west. My players were so scared they call them 'the Nazgul'.
Don't do that. That was bad.
Fixed that problem by having the player's move on to thwart the dark god, so it was like that random occurrence was on a preemptive strike. I'm not fooling anyone, but at least it glosses over the mistake in the storyline.
A few weeks ago I forgot about the possibility of adding a road-sign to my map. So I ended up throwing what amounted to a couple dozen evil war-priests after the players to get them to move west. My players were so scared they call them 'the Nazgul'.
Don't do that. That was bad.
Fixed that problem by having the player's move on to thwart the dark god, so it was like that random occurrence was on a preemptive strike. I'm not fooling anyone, but at least it glosses over the mistake in the storyline.
Last edited:
MGibster
Legend
Oogar said:
Well, some sessions are in fact better then others. If you're really starting to a feel a bit burned out then I suggest you guys do something else for a while. Have someone else run a mini campaign for a couple of sessions and then pick up your campaign where it ended.
Marc
Deadguy
First Post
One bad session doth not a burn-out make Oogar! Others have said that everyone gets bad sessions now and again. It can sometimes be worth going over, individually or as a group, to settle the reasons. But most times it's best just to shrug it off and move on.
If you really feel a little burned-out, then I suggest that first you look at the storyline you are running currently. More than once as DM I have begun an adventure that really fired me up, and then the actual experience turned out to be very disappointing. Sometimes it's just that your idea can't pan out properly, other times it's because the players just don't really like the idea. When that happens now, I talk it over withe the players, and if necessary the end of that storyline is simply described (as opposed to played out). The characters get a small reward for their players' understanding, and then we move on to fresh adventures. It's not worth slogging it out for an adventure that isn't working!
Still, good luck next session, Oogar. Don't let events demoralise you!
If you really feel a little burned-out, then I suggest that first you look at the storyline you are running currently. More than once as DM I have begun an adventure that really fired me up, and then the actual experience turned out to be very disappointing. Sometimes it's just that your idea can't pan out properly, other times it's because the players just don't really like the idea. When that happens now, I talk it over withe the players, and if necessary the end of that storyline is simply described (as opposed to played out). The characters get a small reward for their players' understanding, and then we move on to fresh adventures. It's not worth slogging it out for an adventure that isn't working!
Still, good luck next session, Oogar. Don't let events demoralise you!
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