Big Problem. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Big Problem. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Shade_Damara
11-24-06, 11:53 PM Well our DM returned after a month of being out and I was DMing while he was gone. I DMed before that happened for about...four years straight, basiaclly non-stop. I'm burnt out on it, I'm done, I don't want to do it anymore...at least not for awhile. I just have alot more fun playing as a character. There's aspects of DMing I still like, but not enough to put a great deal of my time in it anymore. So why is it a problem if our other DM has returned? Well, it looks like he's going to be unable to play again for another month or more and I have a bad feeling it's going to be more than a month.

So, alot of people at this point would say: "Have another player DM."

That's a problem too...

No one else wants to and frankly no one else is really capable of doing it. They simply don't know the rules well enough and don't have the mindset required to run a campaign.

I'm at a total loss as to what to do...
TheChilliGod
11-25-06, 12:15 AM Get a random shmook from the game store (or the neighborhood, or the internet, whatever) to DM your group. Someone new, but not necessarily new to the game. Because that would be awkward.

Alternatively, try getting a pre-made adventure. Red Hand of Doom, or something older maybe. Hardly any planning involved in these adventures, takes definitely more than a month to get through (unless you like playing 7 hours a day), and it doesn't feel as bad when it's someone else's creations that are getting pwned by the players instead of your own. These could solve one or two of your very mysterious and unexplained problems with being a DM.

Alternatively, call D&D off for a month until your regular DM gets back on his feet. Unless you need D&D, this shouldn't be too hard to take.
Heck, I consider myself lucky to get to play a gaming session a month, myself! You could try playing something else, like that crusted-over PS1 in your garage, or Parcheesi.

Alternatively, rotate DM's. This works well with pre-made adventurers, since the information is considered less private with pre-mades, and you don't feel the sting of DM'ing for too long. Might not work for your particular group if what you said about it is true, but it's an option, at least.

Hope I helped.
Shade_Damara
11-25-06, 12:29 AM A little on why I don't really want to DM anymore, at least for awhile:

I've been DMing DnD straight for about 4 years, but I also run two to three online games at any given time. These I don't really tire of because I get to run characters as well as DM.

When we got our new DM I was excited because I got to play a character again after having not done so for about...five years, give or take. Having had a taste of playing characters again I have tons of character ideas and now I don't see a way to use any of them. True, I can use some as NPCs (and I already have) but it's just not the same.

I deffinatly don't want to call DnD off, I love the game and would rather be forced to DM than forced to call it off for any length of time.

We had been getting to a schedule of rotating DMs every other week because the new DM was getting busy with other stuff, but now that's out the window as well =(.
Tyler Do'Urden
11-25-06, 05:53 AM Buy a Wii. You shouldn't stress this much over a game.

Actually with that said, you should probably either wait a week or wait two months and then buy a Wii.
Archmage Atrus
11-25-06, 07:59 AM Have you discussed this problem in the gaming group?

"Frankly no one else is capable of" sounds like a bit... high and mighty, pardon my say so. If they have attempted to DM before and they're horrible DMs, then you have to ask yourself: Would you rather have a bad DM and a good character or be forced into DMing?

If you just sit down and say "I don't want to DM anymore", someone might just pop up and say "I have an idea." If you've tried this and no one has an idea - then you can either kiss the game goodbye or suck it up and stop complaining. Nobody here can help you out, save perhaps the advice about getting a third party to join in.
Azezel
11-25-06, 08:15 AM You say none of the other players are willing or able to run a game?

Well the willing thing is easy enough - these people are your friends - I should think one of them will step up to the crease if you honestly say 'I am unwilling to DM anym ore - I'm burnt out'.

As for the able thing - I don't know how bad their ruels knowledge is obviously - but if you and the rest of the group are willing to be patient, and if you are willing to help as much as you can without actually being a co-DM, then I suspect most people could muddle along for a month or two.

All of us are embarised to think of the mistakes we made in our first campaign - but it only gets easier.
CharlieRock
11-25-06, 08:41 AM Tell ya what. I'm gonna come over and DM for you ... provided your filthy rich and I get to stay at your deluxe mega-mansion.
:heehee

Sorry, erm .. where was I ?
Have you tried other games? Sometimes just switching games is enough to unfunk yourself from the DMing blues. Works for me ,sorta. Taking a break all together for a bit can also work. Have a movie night. I suggest Hawk the Slayer (http://www.badmovies.org/movies/hawkslayer/index.html) ,or something else mondo cheesy y'all can make fun of. Invite a new player, then surprise that person with the DM position (not recommended quite like that, but recruit someone who will fill that spot).
Good luck! Hope you get unfunked soon ;)

P.S. I went through the same thing a few months back, only in my case I was the DM every time for the last eightteen years :surrender
What I did was alternated DM spot with another player. I still run my campaign, and the 'side campaign' let's me scratch that 'playing itch'. Guess I luckered out, huh.
revnk
11-25-06, 12:40 PM Of course your other players are able to DM--they may or may not be good at it, but they'll never become good at it unless they try.

If they're not willing to try, it may be time for your group to just settle back and play some good old fashioned board games for awhile. Fantasy Flight Games' Arkham Horror, in which 3-5 people work together as a team to beat the game, has some nice RPG-lite elements. So does their game Runebound, which is much more competitive. (Their "D&Dish" boardgame Descent isn't very good and I wouldn't bother.)

Broach the subject with your group. I suspect you'll find that at least one of your players says "I always had this idea for a campaign I wanted to run" (there's always a player who always had this idea for a campaign he wanted to run). If your players are concerned with their DMing experience, you might consider co-DMing something, which would take a lot of the burden off of your shoulders. (In your case, I would make it clear that a condition of your co-DM status would be that you were Spock to the other DM's Kirk, there to deal with rules issues and to DM splinter groups anytime the party split up. Stating this out loud as a hard-and-fast rule would be primarily for your own benefit: it's tempting to move in and take over, so you want to remind yourself you're only the right-hand guy, for better or worse.)

Good luck!
Shade_Damara
11-25-06, 11:05 PM I might just ask them at this point, it's not a bad idea really.

The reason I say they aren't able comes down to mindset and rules knowledge. I myself don't know all the rules (does anyone?) but knowing the bonuses of flanking is a good thing for a DM to know =).

The real problem is that two of them are on the manic-depressive side but otherwise would make good DMs, if they let themselves be good DMs. We'll see what happens I suppose.

For those suggesting other games, done that, it's DMing in general, not just DnD DMing. I ran Abeo and Star Trek both for awhile, found both quite entertaining actually but right now I'd rather focus on DnD.
dmjacques
11-25-06, 11:16 PM Well our DM returned after a month of being out and I was DMing while he was gone. I DMed before that happened for about...four years straight, basiaclly non-stop. I'm burnt out on it, I'm done, I don't want to do it anymore...at least not for awhile. I just have alot more fun playing as a character. There's aspects of DMing I still like, but not enough to put a great deal of my time in it anymore. So why is it a problem if our other DM has returned? Well, it looks like he's going to be unable to play again for another month or more and I have a bad feeling it's going to be more than a month.

So, alot of people at this point would say: "Have another player DM."

That's a problem too...

No one else wants to and frankly no one else is really capable of doing it. They simply don't know the rules well enough and don't have the mindset required to run a campaign.

I'm at a total loss as to what to do...

This may not be of help but I have a BASIC knowledge of all the core rules and I have a GREAT mind set( if that meens time I will actually be willing to give ) then yes I can do any thing you wish but I dont have a LARGE knowledge of rules ( sorry if non of this helps)
Shade_Damara
11-26-06, 12:08 AM Perhaps if I knew who you were it might help =).
CharlieRock
11-26-06, 08:49 AM I'm BatMan :ayyyy!:
Shade_Damara
11-26-06, 01:31 PM You too?
infideli
11-26-06, 02:14 PM Buy a Wii. You shouldn't stress this much over a game.

Actually with that said, you should probably either wait a week or wait two months and then buy a Wii.

Awesome name,
Terrible advice.

"Tyler DoUrden" [chuckles then beats self up with imaginery scimitars]

G

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shade_Damara 11-24-06, 11:53 PM	Well our DM returned after a month of being out and I was DMing while he was gone. I DMed before that happened for about...four years straight, basiaclly non-stop. I'm burnt out on it, I'm done, I don't want to do it anymore...at least not for awhile. I just have alot more fun playing as a character. There's aspects of DMing I still like, but not enough to put a great deal of my time in it anymore. So why is it a problem if our other DM has returned? Well, it looks like he's going to be unable to play again for another month or more and I have a bad feeling it's going to be more than a month. So, alot of people at this point would say: "Have another player DM." That's a problem too... No one else wants to and frankly no one else is really capable of doing it. They simply don't know the rules well enough and don't have the mindset required to run a campaign. I'm at a total loss as to what to do...
TheChilliGod 11-25-06, 12:15 AM	Get a random shmook from the game store (or the neighborhood, or the internet, whatever) to DM your group. Someone new, but not necessarily new to the game. Because that would be awkward. Alternatively, try getting a pre-made adventure. Red Hand of Doom, or something older maybe. Hardly any planning involved in these adventures, takes definitely more than a month to get through (unless you like playing 7 hours a day), and it doesn't feel as bad when it's someone else's creations that are getting pwned by the players instead of your own. These could solve one or two of your very mysterious and unexplained problems with being a DM. Alternatively, call D&D off for a month until your regular DM gets back on his feet. Unless you need D&D, this shouldn't be too hard to take. Heck, I consider myself lucky to get to play a gaming session a month, myself! You could try playing something else, like that crusted-over PS1 in your garage, or Parcheesi. Alternatively, rotate DM's. This works well with pre-made adventurers, since the information is considered less private with pre-mades, and you don't feel the sting of DM'ing for too long. Might not work for your particular group if what you said about it is true, but it's an option, at least. Hope I helped.
Shade_Damara 11-25-06, 12:29 AM	A little on why I don't really want to DM anymore, at least for awhile: I've been DMing DnD straight for about 4 years, but I also run two to three online games at any given time. These I don't really tire of because I get to run characters as well as DM. When we got our new DM I was excited because I got to play a character again after having not done so for about...five years, give or take. Having had a taste of playing characters again I have tons of character ideas and now I don't see a way to use any of them. True, I can use some as NPCs (and I already have) but it's just not the same. I deffinatly don't want to call DnD off, I love the game and would rather be forced to DM than forced to call it off for any length of time. We had been getting to a schedule of rotating DMs every other week because the new DM was getting busy with other stuff, but now that's out the window as well =(.
Tyler Do'Urden 11-25-06, 05:53 AM	Buy a Wii. You shouldn't stress this much over a game. Actually with that said, you should probably either wait a week or wait two months and then buy a Wii.
Archmage Atrus 11-25-06, 07:59 AM	Have you discussed this problem in the gaming group? "Frankly no one else is capable of" sounds like a bit... high and mighty, pardon my say so. If they have attempted to DM before and they're horrible DMs, then you have to ask yourself: Would you rather have a bad DM and a good character or be forced into DMing? If you just sit down and say "I don't want to DM anymore", someone might just pop up and say "I have an idea." If you've tried this and no one has an idea - then you can either kiss the game goodbye or suck it up and stop complaining. Nobody here can help you out, save perhaps the advice about getting a third party to join in.
Azezel 11-25-06, 08:15 AM	You say none of the other players are willing or able to run a game? Well the willing thing is easy enough - these people are your friends - I should think one of them will step up to the crease if you honestly say 'I am unwilling to DM anym ore - I'm burnt out'. As for the able thing - I don't know how bad their ruels knowledge is obviously - but if you and the rest of the group are willing to be patient, and if you are willing to help as much as you can without actually being a co-DM, then I suspect most people could muddle along for a month or two. All of us are embarised to think of the mistakes we made in our first campaign - but it only gets easier.
CharlieRock 11-25-06, 08:41 AM	Tell ya what. I'm gonna come over and DM for you ... provided your filthy rich and I get to stay at your deluxe mega-mansion. :heehee Sorry, erm .. where was I ? Have you tried other games? Sometimes just switching games is enough to unfunk yourself from the DMing blues. Works for me ,sorta. Taking a break all together for a bit can also work. Have a movie night. I suggest Hawk the Slayer (http://www.badmovies.org/movies/hawkslayer/index.html) ,or something else mondo cheesy y'all can make fun of. Invite a new player, then surprise that person with the DM position (not recommended quite like that, but recruit someone who will fill that spot). Good luck! Hope you get unfunked soon ;) P.S. I went through the same thing a few months back, only in my case I was the DM every time for the last eightteen years :surrender What I did was alternated DM spot with another player. I still run my campaign, and the 'side campaign' let's me scratch that 'playing itch'. Guess I luckered out, huh.
revnk 11-25-06, 12:40 PM	Of course your other players are able to DM--they may or may not be good at it, but they'll never become good at it unless they try. If they're not willing to try, it may be time for your group to just settle back and play some good old fashioned board games for awhile. Fantasy Flight Games' Arkham Horror, in which 3-5 people work together as a team to beat the game, has some nice RPG-lite elements. So does their game Runebound, which is much more competitive. (Their "D&Dish" boardgame Descent isn't very good and I wouldn't bother.) Broach the subject with your group. I suspect you'll find that at least one of your players says "I always had this idea for a campaign I wanted to run" (there's always a player who always had this idea for a campaign he wanted to run). If your players are concerned with their DMing experience, you might consider co-DMing something, which would take a lot of the burden off of your shoulders. (In your case, I would make it clear that a condition of your co-DM status would be that you were Spock to the other DM's Kirk, there to deal with rules issues and to DM splinter groups anytime the party split up. Stating this out loud as a hard-and-fast rule would be primarily for your own benefit: it's tempting to move in and take over, so you want to remind yourself you're only the right-hand guy, for better or worse.) Good luck!
Shade_Damara 11-25-06, 11:05 PM	I might just ask them at this point, it's not a bad idea really. The reason I say they aren't able comes down to mindset and rules knowledge. I myself don't know all the rules (does anyone?) but knowing the bonuses of flanking is a good thing for a DM to know =). The real problem is that two of them are on the manic-depressive side but otherwise would make good DMs, if they let themselves be good DMs. We'll see what happens I suppose. For those suggesting other games, done that, it's DMing in general, not just DnD DMing. I ran Abeo and Star Trek both for awhile, found both quite entertaining actually but right now I'd rather focus on DnD.
dmjacques 11-25-06, 11:16 PM	Well our DM returned after a month of being out and I was DMing while he was gone. I DMed before that happened for about...four years straight, basiaclly non-stop. I'm burnt out on it, I'm done, I don't want to do it anymore...at least not for awhile. I just have alot more fun playing as a character. There's aspects of DMing I still like, but not enough to put a great deal of my time in it anymore. So why is it a problem if our other DM has returned? Well, it looks like he's going to be unable to play again for another month or more and I have a bad feeling it's going to be more than a month. So, alot of people at this point would say: "Have another player DM." That's a problem too... No one else wants to and frankly no one else is really capable of doing it. They simply don't know the rules well enough and don't have the mindset required to run a campaign. I'm at a total loss as to what to do... This may not be of help but I have a BASIC knowledge of all the core rules and I have a GREAT mind set( if that meens time I will actually be willing to give ) then yes I can do any thing you wish but I dont have a LARGE knowledge of rules ( sorry if non of this helps)
Shade_Damara 11-26-06, 12:08 AM	Perhaps if I knew who you were it might help =).
CharlieRock 11-26-06, 08:49 AM	I'm BatMan :ayyyy!:
Shade_Damara 11-26-06, 01:31 PM	You too?
infideli 11-26-06, 02:14 PM	Buy a Wii. You shouldn't stress this much over a game. Actually with that said, you should probably either wait a week or wait two months and then buy a Wii. Awesome name, Terrible advice. "Tyler DoUrden" [chuckles then beats self up with imaginery scimitars] G