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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Swedish Chef" data-source="post: 6235516" data-attributes="member: 27141">It is most likely a combination of reasons for your burnout. A new baby on the way. DM overload from the rule system. And disappointment in the results the system generates.The first will evolve as the due date gets closer and then passes and the child begins to grow. Having 2 already, you know what to expect with all of that. It is still stressful, if manageable.As we've all learned, the higher the level, the more the power creep, the more problems it can cause. It is inherent in the majority of RPGs out there. Others have suggested other systems, and you have tried that with the group without success, so the only solution that I can see is to artificially limit future games. Set an end point that will occur somewhere around level 10-12. The party achieves their grand goal and retires at that point. That's what our group tends to do. It works for everyone.The third option is harder to deal with. My own personal example is this - I am currently on hiatus from DM. Another player in the group has taken the mantle and been running Pathfinder for the past several months. He has chosen to run a modified version of the old Menzoberranazan boxed set and has stated he expects the party to get to level 20 before completing it. He is a decent DM and has great enthusiasm, but he is starting to burn out because of the system disappointments. Our most recent session had us facing off against a half giant/half orc and about 40 minions ranging from lvl1 to lvl 7 orcs (mixture of barbarians, shamans, clerics, wizards and fighters). We are a party of 6, with a tiger (druid companion) and quasit (my familiar) in the mix. At the beginning of the session we made a joking boast that we'd have the combat wrapped up within 5 rounds. Our DM took that "bet". He lost.Six minds against one. He didn't stand a chance. Our tactics worked in such a way that the "boss" was entrapped in solid earth by my summoned, huge earth elementals in the first round. Everyone else concentrated on the minions. A couple of mass damage AoE spells (druid and quasit using Wand of FB), some really good dice rolls (high damage rolls, many failed saves by the orcs) and the entire thing was done on round 4. And the DM was very annoyed. He didn't get to do anything "cool" with the big baddie at all. The minions, there to slow us down and allow the BB to act, really just slowed us down a bit.As much as everyone says the DM is just the referee and is there to help the players create the story, I think many of us really want to play as well. And since we generally can't (or shouldn't) run an actual PC at the same time, all the monsters become our "PCs". And after planning how best to use their abilities and spells and items to challenge the party, only to have it completely negated in round 1 or 2, is a major letdown for all of us.YMMV, of course.</blockquote>

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