Yay, A New Game! (Groan)

[The_Gneech]

What's the deal with me? I keep wanting to start new campaigns, instead of finishing off the half-completed scenarios I've already started. About halfway through a large dungeon or a complex plot, I suddenly get bored to death and start thinking of new background material or a new homebrew setting or something, and get all excited about the idea of starting another game.

We've got dozens of games where the phrase "The End" never came up, and here I am wishing I could start another one. Does anybody else have this problem? If so, what do you do about it?

-The Gneech

 

[BiggusGeekus@Work]

Happens all the time.

Terry Pratchet said in an interview that he fights it by writing all the time so he can catch up to his next idea.

How do I handle it? By posting on message boards at work on the off chance someone else can profit from it.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

I agree 100%. I have enough ideas at various degrees of completion rattling around to serve another 20 campaigns. I blame my sourcebook addiction...

And the existing one seems to move SO SLOW!

What do I DO about it? Just continue to develop the good ideas on the side, and try my best to enjoy the current campaign.

I think it's generally a mistake to try and incorporate your new ideas into the current campiagn. Save the good ideas for later, and try to stick to your original vision for this one. Chances are that was a pretty good idea too.

 

[Shallown]

I have this problem a lot as well. I have somewhat mastered it be examining why I get bored. I get bored usually becuase I can See/Imagine the end. I knw what is going to happen mostly so I lose interest. I now plan as little as I can and remain functional. I have a sort of outline of the next few sessions with notes about what I want to make I tell the players but other than that I keep it very general. Since my best games are very off the cuff usually all I need for 3rd ed is the creature stats etc.

I try very hard not to think too far ahead and instead concentrate on all the maybes of the next session or so. It helps me be active without overthinking too far ahead.

I now have a break for like a month before we resume my on-going campaign and I am plotting the next story arc. I am despretly trying not to plan anything beyond that becuase too much of the campaign story will unfold for me and I'll get bored. So I guess part of it is I don't no a hell of a lot more than the players know abou the future. Keeps me sane.

Hopefully this will help.

Mostly what I want to say is figure out why you get bored then do what you can to fix it.

Later

 

[Angcuru]

Currently getting the specifics together for an upcoming, I am focusing EXCLUSIVELY on past events and present possibilities that have the potential to create conflicts/situations to get the campaign moving along smoothly. I feverently avoid setting up future events such as what I picture the ending phase of the campaign to be like, etc. Also, I have learned from what little past DMing experience I have that the best thing to do is just make it up as you go along. The only books I use are the Forgotten Realms Source Book for quick references and post-game clarification for the next session, and monster books(occasionally the PHB for spell description, but that's about it.).

That's all, nothing else is needed.

 

[Enceladus]

I remember that there are 5 other people at the gaming table that are looking to me to run the game and they expect to be able to play their characters with some measure of consistency. Its a disservice to them to keep switching to the "next cool thing/flavor of the month" just because its there.

Those things are great to pull ideas from, but I and my players have a setting and gaming system that we love and that is enough.

 

[Henry]

The most constructive thing I can suggest (I have the same problem) is to find ways in which your new ideas and spurts of creativity can be adapted to the current campaign at hand. People can sometimes be so tired of playing a new campaign every week that they would rather not play at all; it would be a disappointment to drive away players because of a determination to play something that they like for a while.

Another solution would be to find a game system besides D&D that would accomodate VERY quick character creation - something whereby you can start and finish your new scenario idea in one or two games.

In any event, be sure that your players are having fun at whatever they are doing, whether constant starts or running more long-term, because the group's fun is the most important consideration to make.

 

[Nifft]

I handle this via story arcs. The important thing is to limit mobility so that each arc is as self-contained as you wish it to be.

-- Nifft

 

[mmadsen]

I keep wanting to start new campaigns, instead of finishing off the half-completed scenarios I've already started. About halfway through a large dungeon or a complex plot, I suddenly get bored to death and start thinking of new background material or a new homebrew setting or something, and get all excited about the idea of starting another game.

We've got dozens of games where the phrase "The End" never came up, and here I am wishing I could start another one.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned what I'd consider a pretty straightforward solution: condense your stories down. In the future, take out as much fluff as possible from your campaign idea, and let the heroes rip through the story from start to finish.

 

[NeuroZombie]

I have the same problem, but it goes even further....

I want to....

Run OTHER RPG's!!!!!!

*gasp*

On a serious note, I feel like I did in the the end days of 2e, too much material, all giving alternate rules and additional "stuff" that does not have any coherency to other "stuff" that is published. Obviously that is the strength of the OGL, variation, but it gets old.

When I plan a d20 system campaign, especially 3e, It is a major hassal to choose which material to allow.

That is why I sold all of my 2e collection, which consisted of, at a guess, about 60-70% of what was published for 2e, for next to nothing just to get it outta my sight.

I seem to be thinking about doing that for 3e, especially now that yet another version is coming out.

But, I digress...

Sorry for the mini-rant