GMs - Do you get bored when you're a player?

[payn]

That's my remedy for pretty much everything. Nothing more boring than long-term character survival.

lol, I suppose thats a take.

 

[TwoSix]

lol, I suppose thats a take.

One of my current characters is my most played character ever (31 sessions), and he just will not die. I routinely run up to the biggest guy and attack them, but with a twilight cleric in the party, I hardly ever go down, and even if I do, revivify and raise dead are right there.

 

[Eric V]

Tracking when it's like "goblins ambushed these merchants and we have to follow where they went to continue the adventure" - yes. Like, I'm not a skilled outdoorsman, but I can tell when someone's walked through my backyard and it's muddy.

I would think that wouldn't require a check, then.

 

[Retreater]

I would think that wouldn't require a check, then.

Specifically, the rules state that tracking an army is DC 10. Tracking an army through mud is DC 5. Still requires that trained action, though.

 

[JediSoth]

I've been playing for 42+ years and GMing most of that time, and I do get bored as a player, especially in tactical combat-heavy games where there's not a lot to do when it's your turn except plan your next turn. If there's a lot of role-play, then not so much as I find it much more engaging than watching other people strategize.

 

[the Jester]

As someone accustomed to being a "Forever GM," I find myself growing bored when I'm a player. Having one character with one action with potentially minimal impact in a combat, waiting until my turn comes around again, possibly fighting a creature immune or highly resistant to my attacks - it's just not as exciting as controlling a squad of bad guys, shaping the story and world, controlling the pace of the game, etc.
Does anybody else feel the same way? Any tips about transitioning from being a GM to a "good player?"

I don't, but I tend to pay attention to what everyone else is doing. Also, I often have some kind of off turn reaction option that I want to use, so I watch for the right moment.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Personally, the combat/noncombat thing doesn't matter to me. Its an issue of the amount of time I'm spending not engaged myself, not what other people are doing during that time.

 

[grimmgoose]

One of my current characters is my most played character ever (31 sessions), and he just will not die. I routinely run up to the biggest guy and attack them, but with a twilight cleric in the party, I hardly ever go down, and even if I do, revivify and raise dead are right there.

I too, play deathwish characters, but we mostly do Savage Worlds, and it is significantly easier to die in that game

First death was in a Weird Wars II game. While the party setup an ambush, I did a parlay with a Nazi Commander, and I absolutely gave him the disrespect he deserved. He shot in me in the head, but it gave our team enough time to kill him, his tank, and the rest of his company.

Second was in an American Revolution game (we play a lot of historical games). Bayonet charge just didn't work out.

Third was playing "The Heart" (can't remember the official name). I was playing a cowboy-esque character. In that game, each class has a "finale" skill, which basically is: sacrifice yourself and do something epic. So, kinda cheating, but I used my sacrifice to line up a crippling shot against the BBEG.

 

[hawkeyefan]

I think this speaks to the potential problem of boredom coming from multiple angles. It could be due to the system and or processes of play. It could be due to the expectations of play. It could be due to the chosen mode of play. Or some combination of all of these things.

One thing is certain, though… if you find yourself bored in play, something needs to change.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I think this speaks to the potential problem of boredom coming from multiple angles. It could be due to the system and or processes of play. It could be due to the expectations of play. It could be due to the chosen mode of play. Or some combination of all of these things.

One thing is certain, though… if you find yourself bored in play, something needs to change.

Eh. I was distracted throughout a couple of different campaigns. I still found them worth being there for. I'm distracted to some degree or another in a lot of things. The few that's never true are things I'm kind of obsessive about (one of the reasons I suspect I have undiagnosed ADHD).