DMing burnout

[LoneWolf23]

Well, after about two months of weekly games, it seems like my low-level Eberron game is going to have to come to a close, 'cause I'm once again suffering from DMing burnout... It just doesn't feel fun anymore. The rules just give me a headache, the stories just don't want to come out of my head, and everything I come up with feels, to me, half-assed and forced. I'm just not having fun DMing anymore. And if I'm not having fun, what's the point?

I hate doing this to my players, but what's a gamer to do?

 

[HellHound]

I stopped gaming entirely for about 8 months, then started back with a few of my old classic games - CyberPunk and WHFRP.

I'm back in the saddle now, but not so far that I would ever commit to a weekly game ever again. I run CyberPunk roughly once a month or so right now, and am looking at a Vampire or Werewolf game to supplement it.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I only run every other week - I haven't been able to do a weekly game for more than 15 years! My recommendation is a little time off, and a less intense schedule when you start up again. Maybe switch off games if you want to be gaming every week so that you can be a player as well...

 

[Aeric]

It happens to the best of us. Just find a good stopping point, hopefully something that is climactic and exciting, and then let someone else run for a while. You'll get your groove back eventually.

 

[Nareau]

I've been going through this recently with my campaign (18th level, running about 4 years). I really, really want to get through to the end of the story (which should bring everyone up to 20th level). I've occasionally been running one-shot Dread games for my group, and it's a helped me remember why I love running games.

Next weekend, I'm going to be combining the two--a Dread game where some of the PC's 1st level NPC followers facing off against the BBEG of the campaign. It should be fun!

Nareau

 

[scourger]

Try Savage Worlds. It worked for me. D&D is just too granular, but it's what we all love as players. Playing SW taught me to make D&D as coarse as possible for me as a DM so that I can run my old game. Still , I need a break after 3-4 months of weekly sessions.

 

[Khairn]

I was suffering from burn-out, but the minute I moved away from D&D my spirits and creativity really picked up. I'm still running a D20 Iron Kingdoms game, but that will probably be the last one for a while. There are so many other excellent games that are available these days, it seems a shame not to give them a try.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Started Age of Worms with two groups simultaneously, alternating each group every week. Since I have felt the DM burnout in the past, I was able to recognize the symptoms as your describe them and make it so I would stop DMing (and let two other guys take the DM role) before it became a chore and bummed me out of the adventure (which I intend to take both groups completely through).

Aeric's got it right, IMO. It's not fun having to cut the fun short, but do it somewhere appropriate, and start again when you're ready.

Good luck!

AR

 

[bento]

Sounds like weekly gaming would be a chore!

How's about cutting it to once a month, and the other weeks play board games or let someone else GM and you play?

 

[Zulgyan]

Try Castles and Crusades. It was my healing potion from D&D 3.x burnout damage.