Seriously considering dropping the hobby

Piratecat · May 1, 2007

For anyone feeling burnt out, here's my solution: go read one or two books of Conan short stories. I picked up a book last night on a whim, and it did a wonderful job of reminding me about the essence of unadorned sword & sorcery fun.

Dykstrav · May 1, 2007

As long as people are discussing MMORPG's now...

I tried World of Warcraft on the insistence of several people. As a human you start in Goldshire, you go out and kill murlocs, gnolls, Defias bandits, and grab quest items. Cool, now I'm 10th level. Let's go to Westfall! You go out and kill murlocs, gnolls, Defias bandits, and grab quest items. Hmmm. Okay. Let's go to the Redridge Mountains... Where you go out and kill murlocs, gnolls, orcs (for a change of pace), and grab quest items. Snore. Over the course of 20 levels the quests haven't noticably changed, and I already spend enough time in front of the computer over the course of my job.

I still play every once in a while (usually to manufacture potions for other people and because I'm effectively being paid to) but it doesn nothing to scratch my gaming itch.

atom crash · May 1, 2007

For anyone feeling burnt out, here's my solution: go read one or two books of Conan short stories. I picked up a book last night on a whim, and it did a wonderful job of reminding me about the essence of unadorned sword & sorcery fun.

I'll second that, and add a few authors: Fritz Lieber, Michael Moorcock, Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Sounds like World of Warcraft isn't for you, Dykstrav. Not for me either.

Here's something I haven't seen suggested yet: You might like to see if there's a chess club in your area, or if there's a group that meets (possibly at your LGS) to play other strategy board games. I've found that folks who are interested in such games can often be encouraged to try out roleplaying games. So in effect my advice is to first find a group of people you like hanging out with, and then convince them to game. It's so crazy, it just might actually work.

megamania · May 1, 2007

I only read the first 3-4 replies but I believe I understand your position. As a 37 year old in a group with players ages 22 to 33 I can relate.

I am first and foremost a story developer but most of my players are roll-players based on numbers rather than role-players based on imagination and thought.

The books are getting out of hand and as such, I have enough for 10 years of game play now. I'm not buying anymore than 2-3 a year from now on. I love the miniatures but I like heat, food and security also. Can't forget about the wife and kids either.

I have been leaning towards no longer "supporting" DnD in I won't buy much more. The recent events have pushed me further that way since my computer is speed-challenged so DI is out and I can't do 20 a month for Pathfinder.

I saw a reply talking about other games or taking a break. Do it. Try it. See what comes of it.

I had a similiar discussion with my players a few months ago. Sometimes one needs a break. Enjoy the summer

molonel · May 1, 2007

Piratecat said:
For anyone feeling burnt out, here's my solution: go read one or two books of Conan short stories. I picked up a book last night on a whim, and it did a wonderful job of reminding me about the essence of unadorned sword & sorcery fun.

I'm very torn on this, because the Ace paperbacks will always hold a special place in my heart, but they have re-released the stories written by Robert E. Howard before L. Sprague D. Camp and Lin Carter started mucking with them:

The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian by Robert E. Howard
The Bloody Crown of Conan (Conan of Cimmeria, Book 2) by Robert E. Howard
The Conquering Sword of Conan by Robert E. Howard

The only problem is that the glue in the books was some pretty cheap stuff, and sometimes copies are known to disintegrate after only a couple of full readings.

But I'll second the rereading of these stories, and add Fritz Leiber and Michael Moorcock's Elric books to the mix.

Desdichado · May 1, 2007

The only problem I have is that reading stuff like Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, Edgar Rice Burroughs (I don't like Moorcock, so I won't be rereading anything of his) always brings home how far D&D has wandered from the tone and feel of those stories. They don't encourage me to play D&D, they encourage me to find some other system.

billd91 · May 1, 2007

Hobo said:
The only problem I have is that reading stuff like Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, Edgar Rice Burroughs (I don't like Moorcock, so I won't be rereading anything of his) always brings home how far D&D has wandered from the tone and feel of those stories. They don't encourage me to play D&D, they encourage me to find some other system.

I dunno about that. The ERB stuff seems to fit right in. John Carter is a character any fighter can aspire to be... and have the feats to make it fairly spectacular.

bento · May 1, 2007

billd91 said:
I dunno about that. The ERB stuff seems to fit right in. John Carter is a character any fighter can aspire to be... and have the feats to make it fairly spectacular.

You can be John Carter, as long as you're on another planet with gravity that's four times weaker than Earth!

Emirikol · May 1, 2007

Piratecat said:
For anyone feeling burnt out, here's my solution: go read one or two books of Conan short stories. I picked up a book last night on a whim, and it did a wonderful job of reminding me about the essence of unadorned sword & sorcery fun.

I've burned out on several occasions. Like the earlier posters however, I am in the boat too where I've reached the wasteland of gaming. I'm 35 and have kids, a life, a job. It's really hard to relate to people who are the opposite when it comes to a gaming group.

I've done the convention thingy and the RPGA and Living Greyhawk, the last of which represents the concretion of the cheeze of D&D rules, rulings, and whiny rules lawyers.

I still love this hobby though. I love you people that I can't relate to. I love arguing about moronic things that if trapped in an elevator with normal people, there'd be mass-suicide.

It's harder to find normal tabletop gamers as we age and the fact that I've devoted so much of my life to this hobby and that it's slowly dying off (like Model Railroading) leaves me feeling useless and empty.

jh

..

painandgreed · May 1, 2007

Dykstrav said:
Should I just give up the game for good? Or is there hope of finding players that want to make PHB characters and loot a dungeon every once in a while?

Sorry if this rambled a bit, but I'm increasingly frustrated with a hobby that was once my favorite pastime. I'd really value some constructive input on why we keep playing.

If you're not having fun anymore, then stop, but don't sell your books or anything like that. Not the books you enjoyed playing with anyway. In a few years you could very well be up to play again with friend you get along with. Happened to me and I missed almost all of 2 & 3E. Eventually, I found myself in the mood again and am still trying to replace some of the stuff I gave away.