Life changes

[Varianor Abroad]

I've been there for burnout. It happens. Usually when you've invested inordinate amounts of time in something without recharging mental batteries.

Sorry to hear you're in The Burnout Place, but all of us go through it. Rather than give advice (though I second what Rel said), I'm just going to hope it all turns out for the best for you! Whatever you turn to.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Gaming for me is not role-playing anymore, I find enjoy in the reading of the books (settings) and GENCON, some of it happened when I turned 40 (now 45) when I found I started to think more about my location in life, I think I realized the years before me were less than the years behind me, and I needed to re-focus, my hobby was no longer a passion, family, friends, money, my animals, church, and such, moved to the front.

but back to the topic...


This is the age of the digital camera, get one and walk the paths of nature, this gets you outside and keeps you busy as you look for things to shoot.

Now, take a few pictures and write a description for them, do it as a DM or not, add them together to form a story. This exercises the mind.

 

[Eridanis]

You're right; life changes as you change, and you've told all the stories you feel you can tell at this current level of knowledge and inspiration. It's definitely time to recharge!

If you're not tired of books at the end of the day (and what librarian would be - there's a reason why "bookman's holiday" is the metaphor it is ), start reading far away from fantasy/SF. Read the classics, read history. Read science texts, read biographies. Start writing a journal of your real-life adventures. You'l refill, and when the time comes a year or two or five down the road, you'll be a different man, with different inspirations and stories to help create.

But you'll always be the guy we like and respect. You are what you are, Eric, and I hope that never changes! That doesn't mean we can't all grow and change in ways that make us more like the person we're meant to be.

 

[diaglo]

i'll second nakia's suggestion. things to do tend to find you when you own a home.

don't sweat the D&D. it is only a game.

 

[EricNoah]

Thanks again for your comments and inspiring words.

I'm one of those homeowners who isn't very handy. My biggest accomplishment is hiring the right guys to do the job and writing a check. It's one of those things I probably should learn to do myself.

I'm reading more and cooking more and those are activities I enjoy.

 

[nakia]

Thanks again for your comments and inspiring words.

I'm one of those homeowners who isn't very handy. My biggest accomplishment is hiring the right guys to do the job and writing a check. It's one of those things I probably should learn to do myself.

I'm reading more and cooking more and those are activities I enjoy.

Well, if you want to write checks for my home repairs instead of doing it yourself, that's cool too.

I'm the same way with cars; I won't even change my own oil. The hassle is not worth the money saved, for me at least, since I always end up taking way too long to perform the routine tasks.

I digress. As long as you have stuff you enjoy doing, then it's all good. I find that reading often makes me want to game more, especially if it's fantasy or sci-fi. It can, though, fill the "story desire" as well. I find comics are good for that, too.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Hiya! I'm from one of the imploded game groups.

Eric, I share your pain. I still like the "idea" of gaming, but as I get older I find that I rely more on electronic aids, published materials, and stuff that really "does it all" for me. It's like painting by numbers: "So they draw the picture and pick the colors...so what is the point exactly?"

Funny, for me it was the opposite. The electronic aids, the published materials etc. actually freed me from worring about the minutiae of the game and allowed me to enjoy playing instead.

 

[billd91]

A little bit of GM burnout happens from time to time. Oddly enough, with me it seem to be genre dependent. I burned out on Cyberpunk about 10 years ago and haven't really looked back. And, even though I ran loads of superhero games in high school, I didn't really keep at running Mutants and Masterminds very long a year ago. I kind of burned out on wanting to run a superhero game and I'm not all that sure about playing one right now (though M&M really is a very good game).

On the other hand, I'm still running a semi-regular Greyhawk classic modules game and a Call of Cthulhu game and feel like I have tons of energy for them.

Sometimes I think it's the specific dynamic of the gaming group. The two groups I run for have very different group dynamics. I'm a little more into one group's dynamic than the other and might be able to sustain a superhero game with them more easily than the other group. But I don't want to set GH aside any time soon.

Anyway, let yourself recharge without any sort of deadline or goal in mind as far as getting back behind the screen. My prediction is that you'll eventually end up back there from time to time and will enjoy it fine. The terms and dynamic may be a bit different, but things have a way of working out in this regard.

 

[jester47]

Hey Eric, I know exactly how you feel. The time I have now is amazing. I am keeping it casual with my group, as long as someone else is DMing, and they are running it, I am game. Just don't ask me to show up every week and don't ask me to buy any books!

Aaron.

 

[Kid Socrates]

Running a game can be very creatively draining and incredibly time-consuming. I run two games a week, and between them, work, and my girlfriend, I have just enough time to watch football and sleep. I take a week off every so often to recharge a bit.

I think the important thing is not to do it if you're not enjoying it. Gaming more than anything should be fun. If I wasn't having fun, I would've dropped my games solely with the time they take.

I don't have any real suggestions -- what works for me (running, tennis, writing) may not work for you. But best of luck in whatever you do! And don't worry about failing. You only fail if you don't try.