DM Burnout - Any Remedies?

[cougent]

Make your weekly rpg night boardgame and movie night for a couple of months. Keeps the social connection there but also solves your burnout. By the end of it you'll be itching to run again.

Ryan stole my stuff!

Seriously, this worked for me so I know it is a good idea.

Maybe even take a complete break for a session or two, I am sure you have had players that missed but you as DM always had to be there. Take a night off and let your hair down!

 

[CanadienneBacon]

So what say you? Any tips or advice to avoid or defeat DM burnout when it rears its ugly head?

I've never been able to avoid or defeat DM burnout. When I start feeling like I need a break I can postpone it for about 6-8 weeks and then I call DMing quits for a few months. I've done this several times over the years and have always returned to the table ready and raring to go. The 6-8 weeks is usually ample time to guide the campaign to a suitable point to pause or stop the game altogether.

While I'm on DM hiatus I don't do anything that even remotely resembles gaming. I garden, read all the books that've piled up on my nightstand, do extra baking or cooking, and hit the beach a lot.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Quit roleplaying until it passes? That's what I do. Or is that not an option?

 

[Arkhandus]

You might take a break from RPGs for a bit and just meet up with the group to play board games and card games for a few weeks or so. Three Dragon Ante, Poker, Magic: The Gathering, Risk, Arkham Horror, Monopoly, Chinese Checkers, Chess, Yahtzee!, or something else.

Or start GMing a simpler, light-hearted game perhaps, using a relatively simple system (or just plain different system), like Castles & Crusades, True20, Fudge, Burning Wheel, or somesuch. Maybe try Shadowrun 4th Edition, or Mutants & Masterminds 2nd Edition, or Spycraft 2nd Edition, or Traveler T20, or Classic Traveler, or Iron Heroes. Ars Magica or Harn maybe?

Or perhaps even OSRIC, BD&D, or OD&D? Or perhaps, if I may be so bold (and insane), maybe try RIFTS or Palladium Fantasy or Robotech just for kicks? Or even Rolemaster? I might even suggest trying Exalted, except for the fact that my deep, deep, bottomlessly deep loathing of White Wolf knows no bounds.

Probably just try playing instead of DMing for a while.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

-Try different games
-Try playing instead of DM'ing for a while - the prep work gets to me sometimes (although oddly, my experience in 3E is that I have burnt out less than I did in my 2E days. I haven't figured out why.)
-Maybe some one-shots?

Its hard to be too specific without knowing your reasons - for example, if you and your players are getting into a rut, siwtching to a short one-shot (or 3-4 session) game might allow you all to step out of your comfort zones as players and DM without having to worry "Will I really want to play a bard for 20 levels?" It'll just be 4 sessions and then you can go back to what you like - or to another thing you've never tried. Short campaigns can be very freeing that way, as would running/playing in a different system altogether.

 

[Rhun]

I've never been able to avoid or defeat DM burnout. When I start feeling like I need a break I can postpone it for about 6-8 weeks and then I call DMing quits for a few months. I've done this several times over the years and have always returned to the table ready and raring to go. The 6-8 weeks is usually ample time to guide the campaign to a suitable point to pause or stop the game altogether.

Does this mean we can expect you back in the Gaming Action area in 6-8 weeks, CB?

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Hee! Nope.

I more meant that after I become cognizant of starting to burn out that I can usually stave off quitting for 6-8 weeks. With the rainy season starting and the gardening getting good--along with big winter waves out here on Oahu's north shore--I'm not likely to pick DMing back up for another half a year at least. It's been a wild year this year and I think I just needed a break and the chance to get to be outside doing something physical.

 

[ObiAndy]

Change your DM's oil every three thousand miles, but more importantly, make sure you rotate the players every ten thousand or so. Otherwise, the front players will wear down more than the back players, which can cause skidding and end up with a complete blowout/disintegration.

An excellent analogy!! Consider it Yoinked!!

 

[hong]

I recommend Counterstrike.


Hong "or possibly Guild Wars" Ooi

 

[Whisper72]

If you still want to do some roleplaying, change to something a bit less serious. Try stuff like TFOS or Paranoia.