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

[Celebrim]

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?"

As a GM you are often much more the center of attention than you are as a player, but that's not the big problem I've had lately with being a player.

The big problem I have now being a player is part of my mind is always going, "I could design or run this adventure better than this." I'm always disappointed being the player lately because I'm always judging the quality of the adventure instead of just enjoying it for what it is.

 

[payn]

As a GM you are often much more the center of attention than you are as a player, but that's not the big problem I've had lately with being a player.

The big problem I have now being a player is part of my mind is always going, "I could design or run this adventure better than this." I'm always disappointed being the player lately because I'm always judging the quality of the adventure instead of just enjoying it for what it is.

Oh yeah, thats me too for sure.

 

[Thomas Shey]

If I felt that being a player was often boring, that would make me wonder whether the players in the games I GM are bored.

There are one or two I GM for who I do sometimes feel are at least distracted as I am. Just as when I'm playing, I kind of feel that's the price of doing business with some people.

 

[Thomas Shey]

As a GM you are often much more the center of attention than you are as a player, but that's not the big problem I've had lately with being a player.

The big problem I have now being a player is part of my mind is always going, "I could design or run this adventure better than this." I'm always disappointed being the player lately because I'm always judging the quality of the adventure instead of just enjoying it for what it is.

I try desperately not to be a back-seat GM, even in my head. I won't claim I always succeed.

 

[Umbran]

I try desperately not to be a back-seat GM, even in my head. I won't claim I always succeed.

One of the big things to remember when this temptation strikes is a bit of humility.

While we are not running the game, we may see places to improve the experience, but that doesn't mean that we would have done those improvements if we were running the same game.

 

[TwoSix]

One of the big things to remember when this temptation strikes is a bit of humility.

While we are not running the game, we may see places to improve the experience, but that doesn't mean that we would have done those improvements if we were running the same game.

Agreed. Take that mental checklist as action items to reinforce in your games, not a critique of the current DM.

I've been playing with several more novice DMs lately, so I always try to keep those "Oh, I would have done X differently" thoughts out of the current session as much as possible, and leave mental evaluations for after the game.

 

[payn]

 

[Thomas Shey]

One of the big things to remember when this temptation strikes is a bit of humility.

While we are not running the game, we may see places to improve the experience, but that doesn't mean that we would have done those improvements if we were running the same game.

The problem is, I usually would have done it differently. Its more of a case of my favoring my own strengths over someone else's, because, of course I would.

 

[Kannik]

Huh, it's super interesting to me to see so many "yes" replies. I rarely feel bored as a player, I think the only times I've felt bored are the instances at an unfocussed table with an unfocussed/ill-defined campaign (leading to lots of non-action from the players and hence the characters). Otherwise I'm all there, whether thinking of my next move, being interested in the other character's journey, the narrative we're creating, looking for opportunities, musing on the nature of the campaign, proffering ideas/suggestions, etc.

These days I probably GM 1/3 of the time, with the rest playing. On the whole I do prefer to play, though, and I lean towards the "method RP/actor" type, so I do get pretty engrossed in my characters and maybe that helps keep any boredom at bay.

 

[Umbran]

The problem is, I usually would have done it differently. Its more of a case of my favoring my own strengths over someone else's, because, of course I would.

Of course. When we run it, we do everything right. Only the other guy ever does it the wrong way.