Gaming: Should I continue?

[der_kluge]

I think the idea of DM'ing right now doesn't sit too well with me. I like gaming because I enjoy the complexity, and the free-form nature of the game. And the story-telling aspect is very important.

I loathe the preparation.

Which is why I think round-robin ad-lib gaming is my absolute favorite, since I can just show up, and play.

I think CAPES! would be a good game to play, since it sort of embraces this same concept. In both cases, however, you need a really good group of people who can help propel the story. Either falls pretty flat if you don't have imaginative people who can think on their feet.


I'm not gaming right now, and it's just fine with me, since I'm just so busy, and would feel guilty leaving my wife at home. I play in a community band, and that consumes enough of my time, even though it's only a once a week thing.


I used to pontificate about what kind of game world I would use, and which gods, and yadda yadda yadda. I think if I DM again some day, I'll probably intend to just adlib as much of it as I humanly can, encouraging the players to help propel the story, and just focusing on the fun aspect of the game, and the story/cinematic aspect of the game, rather than trying to interweave complex, multi-game plots together. I think the work that is involved in creating that really takes the fun out of it for me.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

My recommendation would be:

Find a decent place to stop DMing your game, explain to you group that you are going to stop, perhaps only for a while, maybe for good.

Talk to them about how you feel.

Ask them if they would be OK with playing boardgames or just hanging out on the weeks you are supposed to DM.

Find a way for your character to take leave of the group in your wife's game. On nights of her game, sit in and hang out with your friends, but don't play (the hard part will be that you shouldn't be offering advice if you don't play ).

After some time of this you will probably either end up missing the actual gaming, or realize that you really have lost interest in it.

 

[kenobi65]

Belen,

The question I have to ask (and I'm no medical professional, and I don't want to sound like Chicken Little) is: have you also lost interest in other activities or hobbies that you enjoy? If no, then you may just be burned out on RPGs (or DMing). But, if so, "loss of interest in enjoyable activities" can be a sign of something bigger, such as depression.

 

[LostSoul]

The main reason would be that I like to tll stories and I love the personal interaction between people and their characters. I also love to DM, or I have in the past.

Are you getting enough of that in your games now?

 

[Belen]

Belen,

The question I have to ask (and I'm no medical professional, and I don't want to sound like Chicken Little) is: have you also lost interest in other activities or hobbies that you enjoy? If no, then you may just be burned out on RPGs (or DMing). But, if so, "loss of interest in enjoyable activities" can be a sign of something bigger, such as depression.

Well, I still read when I get the chance. It may be a result of my new and improved 12 hour work day and 2 hours of driving every day. I am just worn out all the time. Add this to my time spent as a WOTC delegate and there you go.

 

[Warrior Poet]

It may be a result of my new and improved 12 hour work day and 2 hours of driving every day. I am just worn out all the time.

I think this is it.

Exhaustion takes the spark out of many things, and can make you relish even just having the time to see people you like, hence, "No need to game, everyone's here, let's just hang out!"

Unfortunately, it sounds like, at present, life is going to get in the way of the kind of deeper gaming enjoyment you may have had. It's not that it won't come back, but I know in the times where I've had to slog through 12 hour work days + commute, plus all sorts of other obligations, at the end of the day, I'm thinking about sleep in a warm bed more than I am about rolling dice.

Good luck. It doesn't sound like anything to worry about. Being away from gaming for a while can be a good thing, too, and sometimes gives your enthusiasm time to rest, recover, and return stronger than ever.

Warrior Poet

 

[Shallown]

I do three things to avoid feeling the way you do.

One is we do socialize and play board games about every other month just to hang out and have fun. Usually due to more than 1 member not being able to play. But I think we would work it in anyway becuase it is a nice break and gives more time to socialize than actually gaming.

Second is I play Vampire CCG with some of the same group but also with some other people which, for me, is mainly to get out of the house. I game weekly but it is at my house which I love to host but I need to get out of the house once in a while and playing vampire allows me to do so. I don't own any cards as several players are collectors and loan me decks. I have finally gotten proficient enough to design my own decks and they put them together for me and give advice. It pays to do something different on a weekly or biweekly basis with different friends.

Third is we take a month of during december. Its hard to get together during this time of year but it also helps you miss the game some. The break is needed even though after 2 weeks I am jonesing to play. I still play vamp though to keep in touch. Then we also have a christmas dinner to just socialize with players and their family.


Hope this helps spark some ideas to shake off the dulldrums.

Later

 

[Umbran]

But, if so, "loss of interest in enjoyable activities" can be a sign of something bigger, such as depression.

But, when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras...

I think the key here is time. You've got a normal workday, plus two hours of commute each day? That's 10 hours taken up with work. Then (if we're being proper and healthy) 8 hours of sleep. Figure at least two hours for the mechanicals (getting yourself washed, dressed, fed, basic house chores). That leaves you 4 hours in which to live your life on a weekday.

Four hours isn't a lot of time. It is no surprise that you've not a lot of interest in things that take up much time, but that don't enhance living itself (like game prep). Under such circumstances, there's nothing neurotic about just wanting to have some social contact without so much effort behind it.

Doesn't sound like the game is burning you out, so much as you need to prioritize how you spend your time a bit in order to get what you need. This may not mean a cessasion of gaming. Maybe you should play for a while, rather than DM. Or maybe alternate a board-game night with a gaming night. Or maybe just a six-month hiatus for you to have some less burdened fun.

 

[Belen]

Four hours isn't a lot of time. It is no surprise that you've not a lot of interest in things that take up much time, but that don't enhance living itself (like game prep). Under such circumstances, there's nothing neurotic about just wanting to have some social contact without so much effort behind it.

Did I mentioned that we just bought a house and moved in 3 weeks ago.

I can usually spend some amount of work time on game prep. I do not take a lunch, so I usually use that time for things that I need to get done.

 

[Old One]

Did I mentioned that we just bought a house and moved in 3 weeks ago.

I can usually spend some amount of work time on game prep. I do not take a lunch, so I usually use that time for things that I need to get done.

Dude,

Take a break!!!

You have a ton of stressors right now...holidays, recent move, long commute/work hours, family time, spending your lunch hours prepping for games, etc.

I suggest to take a "gaming holiday" from mid-December to mid-January. Put it away, chill out, do something different, recharge the batteries...you have got way too many irons in the fire.

I have had this happen several times during my 25-year long gaming "career"...you may not be suffering from classic burnout, but it certainly sounds like you have plenty of arrows in the stress quiver.

~ OO