I think it is time for a break.

[Reynard]

From tabletop RPGs, I mean.

I have been gaming essentially continuously for 40 years. I have and am writing freelance for the industry. I run games at cons and at home. And I am just... I don't know, exhausted with it? Unable to find the joy in it? I don't know.

If you ever took a break so you could find your joy in TTRPGs again, tell me about it. Thanks.

 

[sevenbastard]

100% take a break. I've taken breaks and it is helpful to indulge in other interests.

Ive never gone 100% cold turkey. During a break i might still read some rule books, or snoop around on new sites, but when I know i am not planning to actively run or play in a campaign the hobby feels diffrent as im not very invested.

Eventually ill get so inspired by a campaign ideas that I have to run it.

 

[darjr]

I essentially stopped playing at the beginning of 2nd edition due to being a new dad and working thru college. I also stepped back from running a ton of games the last couple of years, though honestly I’m still running more than I thought I would.

No worries about taking a break.

 

[Umbran]

I haven't ever taken a 100% break from gaming entirely - they were all breaks from parts of the hobby. And they were not for the purpose of restoring my joy, though refreshing was part of the effect.

Some years back now, a combination of people here at EN World being... really bad, and world-stress, led to me not coming back to the site for like a week. Then a month. Then several months. I was gone for about a year. I kept running and playing games as normal.

Back in early 2020, my regular group were facing the final session of an Ashen Stars campaign. By mid-March, though, it became clear that coming together would be unwise. That last session never got played, and I didn't run a game for about two years. I joined to play a few online games, though.

When that group got back together, I ran a D&D game (running The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) that went for three years (!), and concluded earlier this year. One of the players has stepped up to run a short campaign while I worked out what to run, so I haven't been regularly running a campaign for a few months now. I am hoping to run a rules-demo session for the new game this weekend...

 

[Maenalis]

I took breaks from some aspect of gaming and focused on others.

Stopped TTRPGs and focused on boardgames.
Stopped MMOs and played solo games.
Stopped GM/DM-ing on cons and started a PbP...
etc.

I think it is healthy to experiment a bit. For instance I don't miss my MMO at all, but I missed my TTRPGs.

 

[payn]

I had a great group from '09 until '20 before the pandemic hit. It basically ended my decade long group. I also went through a divorce during this time and it turned everything upside down for me. I didnt game at all for a good year or two. No TTRPG, no board games, not even video games. I did keep discussing the hobby I just wasnt in a position or had the drive to engage. I had to work back my motivation and enjoyment to get my RPG mojo back.

During that time I dug into a lot of literature and film and other hobbies. Nothing really bit the way RPGs did and eventually I got interested again. Though, I dont regret the pause and recharge period at all. If anything, i'm more concentrated on the things I really want to explore and do and my experience leads me to being better at doing it.

 

[TheAlkaizer]

Breaks are great. Mine are short. But when I feel exhausted I step away and every time there's an idea that energizes me and pulls me back in naturally. No point in forcing yourself to stick around artificially.

 

[TwoSix]

As soon as I feel like I'm playing a game, or reading a book, or watching a TV show simply because I've already started and I might as well finish; I stop.

You should never worry about sunk costs with your hobbies and entertainment. If you don't want to do it, just stop doing it. It will probably still be there if you get the urge again.

Giving up on a TTRPG game is usually trickier because there's a social aspect and agreement to it, but if I'm no longer feeling a game, I let the DM know I'm going to wrap up my character arc and step away over the next few sessions.

 

[aco175]

I find that I get burned out with a campaign at some point and need to end it. Right now my current one is about at that point. I find that I get all excited planning for a new campaign and come up with several things and make notes and then as we go along, it gets less and less until the point of wanting it to end. I started to look at a new campaign but not seeing much with the new box set so maybe Saltmarsh.

I have been thinking about helping out with the gaming club at the college I work at. With winter coming my playing golf will end and I have more time, but still have family. Might have to wait longer since I still get to play with my father, brother, and son (between college). Not sure how much longer I can play with my father, it has been 40 years so far.

 

[Scribe]

100%

I took a super long PC gaming break and focused on other in person hobbies. Then I cut back on in person hobbies and leaned into online gaming.

This year, I dont know that I've even logged into Steam after...Feb?

Pivot to something else, exercise different creative (or actual?) muscle, and things can look more fresh.