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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stormonu" data-source="post: 6231023" data-attributes="member: 52734">I've been through several recent periods of GM burnout.  I've been playing D&D in one form or another since around '79, about 90% more of the time as a DM.  Right now, my D&D books are taking a hiatus on the shelf while I run a Star Wars D6 campaign for my kids (and one of their friends).I agree that higher level D&D games (anything in the double-digits) will burn a DM out fast.  Personally, I've come to see, for me, it's not worth the headache of running games much past 8th level.  I generally wrap up major plot points around that time and the game comes to a natural end generally no later than 12th level.A couple of other things that I have found work for me- Let someone else run for a bit.  There is a huge amount of relief that helps to rejuvenate by taking a lot of the preparation and rule adjudication off your hands.  Also, letting someone else run a game can introduce you to new ways of doing things or new stories you might not have otherwise encountered, which might help juice you back up about your own game.- Play another game for a bit.  D&D, especially 3.5, is rules heavy and it can induce a level of stress not inherit in other games.  It can also help to broaden your mind and stretch your imagination for a bit by getting away from D&Disms for a bit.  It doesn't have to be RPGs either.  I've interjected a semi-regular board game night into my schedule to get away from some of the stress of RPGs.  Video game nights can also be fun, if you're into that sort of thing.- Walk away.  Taking a few months away from the hobby is something that frankly, just sometimes need to be done.  We often have other projects that get neglected because we're spending time with something else that is sucking up our time (in this case, RPGs).  Consider taking a breather, tending to those other neglected hobbies/projects and coming back to the game when you don't dread it anymore.  (With a baby on the way, this might not be a bad idea - for me and my wife, it was about a year before we got back to any semblance of a regular sleep schedule and the 3-6 months away from RPGs allowed to avoid a lot of extra stress and frustration we might have taken out on our gaming friends).-  Use more premade stuff.  Sounds like you're already using AP's, so that can help alleviate some of the stress from making your own stuff.  Look for shortcuts and time-savers so you can maximize your time with the stuff you enjoy about RPGs, and minimize the preparation stuff that sucks away the fun of actually playing.</blockquote>

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