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How to deal with GM burn-out?
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<blockquote data-quote="athos" data-source="post: 6231738" data-attributes="member: 32605"><p>Hey Olaf</p><p></p><p>I feel your pain. I also burned out on GMing, but I don't think blaming the system as some have done is really the answer. Playing online, I got tired of people showing up late or not at all, with no notice... people whining and complaining when they couldn't import their favorite house rules to my game (which is pretty much by the books)... people feeling entitled to my time away from the game, etc. etc. Of course it would be terribly easy to say blame the "bad" players or blame the "bad" system, but I think after giving a LOT as a GM for so long, you just need a break. In the army they used to say there are no bad squads, just bad squad leaders, and I think there is a lot of merit to that, since blaming is not what winners do. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>What is working for me, is I took 6 months off to just play. My game of choice these days is pathfinder, and I found a great pathfinder GM and joined his game. My players are not happy about that, but I told them I was burned out and needed a break. They just have to live with it. I will probably continue to play for another 6 months before I get back on the GMing horse, because it is so fun to just relax and play in someone else's world and enjoy their hard work. Already, I am getting new ideas and the urge to run a game, even though I am only half way through my self imposed exile, so I am thinking, I really, really needed this break.</p><p></p><p>Plus, if one of your players picks up the GM mantle for a while, I think it will make them a much superior player in the future, since they will come to understand first hand, all the work and pride that goes into creating and running a world for others to play in. So, if you can, I would recommend strongly letting someone else in your group GM for a year or so, while you rest and recharge; I think there are numerous benefits to this approach for you and the group. When you come back, start a new game from scratch with the ideas you get over your year of rest, I think you will once again enjoy GMing at that point. Best of luck to you and your group,</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="athos, post: 6231738, member: 32605"] Hey Olaf I feel your pain. I also burned out on GMing, but I don't think blaming the system as some have done is really the answer. Playing online, I got tired of people showing up late or not at all, with no notice... people whining and complaining when they couldn't import their favorite house rules to my game (which is pretty much by the books)... people feeling entitled to my time away from the game, etc. etc. Of course it would be terribly easy to say blame the "bad" players or blame the "bad" system, but I think after giving a LOT as a GM for so long, you just need a break. In the army they used to say there are no bad squads, just bad squad leaders, and I think there is a lot of merit to that, since blaming is not what winners do. :) What is working for me, is I took 6 months off to just play. My game of choice these days is pathfinder, and I found a great pathfinder GM and joined his game. My players are not happy about that, but I told them I was burned out and needed a break. They just have to live with it. I will probably continue to play for another 6 months before I get back on the GMing horse, because it is so fun to just relax and play in someone else's world and enjoy their hard work. Already, I am getting new ideas and the urge to run a game, even though I am only half way through my self imposed exile, so I am thinking, I really, really needed this break. Plus, if one of your players picks up the GM mantle for a while, I think it will make them a much superior player in the future, since they will come to understand first hand, all the work and pride that goes into creating and running a world for others to play in. So, if you can, I would recommend strongly letting someone else in your group GM for a year or so, while you rest and recharge; I think there are numerous benefits to this approach for you and the group. When you come back, start a new game from scratch with the ideas you get over your year of rest, I think you will once again enjoy GMing at that point. Best of luck to you and your group, [/QUOTE]
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