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

[DragonLancer]

Does anybody else feel the same way?

As a regular and very long time DM, absolutely! I find that it often down to a lack of control over things. I'm not a control freak DM but I do have control over the game and the world, when in that role. I find it discomforting as a player because of that lack. I really enjoying playing when I can between DMing campaigns, but sometimes it feels a little uncomfortable, not necessarily boring, when I'm on the opposite side of the DM screen.

 

[Gorgon Zee]

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.

Yeah. I've done a lot of stage direction and it can be hard when your mind goes meta when watching a film or a play and starts thinking "that scene could have been cut and the time better spent on character development" or thinking about how the pacing could be improved or wondering why the director didn't tell the lead actor that their signature gesture was being overused.

So far I have not stopped an RPG session by yelling out "FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS, CAN WE JUST EXIT THIS SCENE" but I'm not guaranteeing I won't snap one day. If there was one quality I would wish all GMs could magically have, it would be the ability to sense that the scene is no longer interesting, and end it. Short-cut the combat, tell the investigators "you are sure that nothing else remains to be found" -- just move on!

 

[Lanefan]

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?"

Do I get bored sometimes as a player? Yes.
Am I also a DM? Yes.
Are these things related? I don't think so.

 

[hawkeyefan]

It’s interesting to see the number of people for whom less control over the content of play winds up being less fun.

 

[cbwjm]

I sometimes get bored as a player but I don't think it has anything to do with me DMing, sometimes it's just a slow burn game or there is an extensive shopping session which I don't find all that interesting but otherwise, in the game I'm playing in at the moment, I'm really enjoying it as a player, I think I've been enjoying having less to do.

The only thing I've had to get used to is keeping quiet when there are things I wouldn't do as a DM.

 

[niklinna]

You might have to learn some Finnish to appreciate that.

 

[EthanSental]

Push ups. Whenever it's not your turn start doing push-ups easy way to bring your strength score up.

Alternatively play a game with sorter turns like B/X or another old school system.

Regardless it's smart to think about how you keep your players engaged when you are behind the screen. If you get bored as a player chances are your players are getting bored too.

I might be misunderstanding the sorter turns like B/X part….cause your character or fighter can only attack once every round for 7 levels…or do like old school games that had porters and treasure carriers and mercenaries that were need to fill out a part to 8 for an adventure?

 

[Thomas Shey]

It’s interesting to see the number of people for whom less control over the content of play winds up being less fun.

In my case its less "content" than "process".

 

[hawkeyefan]

In my case its less "content" than "process".

I kind of considered that to be under the umbrella of content, but sure.

I’m looking at it as possible correlation. Many GMs are bored as players because they have less ability to influence the content and process of play.

Perhaps if they, as players, had greater ability to influence the content and process of play, they’d be less bored as players.

I wonder how many of said GMs even considered to grant their players more influence on the game to prevent player boredom.

 

[GreyLord]

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?"

For me, it depends on the GM/DM. If they are a good GM, it is not a problem and flows naturally. If it is not a good GM...well...that's where you start to miss being the GM.