Burn out [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Burn out [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
stompie
05-01-05, 06:35 PM I think im burned out as a dm. I can't think of any new ideas and i don't know what to do. Any advice would be useful
Draco Strang
05-01-05, 06:36 PM Take a break.

Seriously. The second the game becomes un-fun for you, it's time to cool your jets and go play some HALO 2 or something. Why beat everyone with a stick if you aren't enjoying your role as DM?

Watch some movies, read some books, and come back with fresh ideas. In the meantime, have someone else DM, or just put the game on pause entirely.
Cyra
05-01-05, 06:37 PM it'd help to have some details, are you looking to start a new campaign or spruce up a current one. Give us some world and character stuff
RogerWilco
05-01-05, 06:52 PM Ask one of your players to DM a while, and play a character. It sounds like you need a break from DM'ing.
Flushmaster
05-01-05, 07:35 PM Ask one of your players to DM a while, and play a character. It sounds like you need a break from DM'ing.

I must agree here. You just need a break as DM. Have somebody else DM for a while. It doesn't have to be a particularly long period, just two r three weeks might do the trick. Whoever takes over as DM can either run a short published module or make up one on their own. Use different characters for this mini campaign, then whenever you're refreshed and ready to go again, go back to the old characters with you DMing again. A little breather without having to think about DMing can recharge that part of your imagination.
Dreaming_in_the_void
05-01-05, 07:54 PM Play a character for a change.

If you've been DMing for a while its easy to forget the parts in the game that make it exciting. Play a Sorceror/Monk or something like that and try out new combinations... if nothing else it should give you a new vantage point and some ideas.
Board_Rider
05-01-05, 08:49 PM As everyone has already stated try being a player. If you like to DM you could put it in cruise control and simply play through a module.
Phrennzy
05-01-05, 09:10 PM I LOVE premade modules.

Although I don't put it on cruise, I simply modify what's in the module.

Dungeon is great for this. I just took a module meant for 2nd-3rd level guys (fighting giant bees on a bridge) and turned it into one for 8th level guys (hellwasp swarms, giant bees, phase wasps, wasp swarms, giant wasp as queen, plus two hill giant bee-keepers). The players loved it, and had no idea it had such small beginnings.

Adapting the premade stuff can be fun, and is challenging.

But if you REALLY feel completely burnt out, either be a playter for a while, or stop playing DnD. Try a board game night, or cards. Just skip a session or two of DnD. It'll come back.
trappedslider
05-01-05, 09:30 PM I'm gonna be the radical and suggest you play a different thing instead of D&D like try your hand at GMing aa night of D20 modern.
Mirikon
05-01-05, 09:34 PM I agree with what others have said. Either use premade modules, or take a break from DMing. Play some Knights of the Old Republic, or get one of your players to DM.
Draco Strang
05-01-05, 09:35 PM I'm gonna be the radical and suggest you play a different thing instead of D&D like try your hand at GMing aa night of D20 modern.
Eh,too similar. Try something wild and crazy like Tunnels and Trolls (if you can get an old copy) or maybe even some sort of PvP free-for all, each player bringing a premade character designed within certain boundaries to the table. This sort of no-plot twinkish slug fest could be what you need.
Dreaming_in_the_void
05-01-05, 10:20 PM Eh,too similar. Try something wild and crazy like Tunnels and Trolls (if you can get an old copy) or maybe even some sort of PvP free-for all, each player bringing a premade character designed within certain boundaries to the table. This sort of no-plot twinkish slug fest could be what you need.

Or Toon if you can still find that.
DMDaddy
05-01-05, 10:25 PM I get burned out every few years also. I just find another temporary DM and then I can be a character for a while. It's sort of fun, cause I am an expert player in many respects and the other players can learn from my actions.
Draco Strang
05-01-05, 10:41 PM Or Toon if you can still find that.
What's the Toon you speak of? Oh..ever played Boot Hill? Hell yea, pardner'
stompie
05-01-05, 10:44 PM thanks for the advice. i think im gonna play as a character for awhile, possibly a monk.
Birrak
05-01-05, 10:48 PM I found this situation recently and decided to play a character for a few sessions.
What I did was to play a character that was giving me some troubles in the game I was DM'ing.
This gave me a better insight into its capabilities, weaknesses, etc and also let the player of this character (whom was now DM'ing) see some of the issues I had.
(character was rogue, problems with sneak, evasion, etc).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
stompie 05-01-05, 06:35 PM	I think im burned out as a dm. I can't think of any new ideas and i don't know what to do. Any advice would be useful
Draco Strang 05-01-05, 06:36 PM	Take a break. Seriously. The second the game becomes un-fun for you, it's time to cool your jets and go play some HALO 2 or something. Why beat everyone with a stick if you aren't enjoying your role as DM? Watch some movies, read some books, and come back with fresh ideas. In the meantime, have someone else DM, or just put the game on pause entirely.
Cyra 05-01-05, 06:37 PM	it'd help to have some details, are you looking to start a new campaign or spruce up a current one. Give us some world and character stuff
RogerWilco 05-01-05, 06:52 PM	Ask one of your players to DM a while, and play a character. It sounds like you need a break from DM'ing.
Flushmaster 05-01-05, 07:35 PM	Ask one of your players to DM a while, and play a character. It sounds like you need a break from DM'ing. I must agree here. You just need a break as DM. Have somebody else DM for a while. It doesn't have to be a particularly long period, just two r three weeks might do the trick. Whoever takes over as DM can either run a short published module or make up one on their own. Use different characters for this mini campaign, then whenever you're refreshed and ready to go again, go back to the old characters with you DMing again. A little breather without having to think about DMing can recharge that part of your imagination.
Dreaming_in_the_void 05-01-05, 07:54 PM	Play a character for a change. If you've been DMing for a while its easy to forget the parts in the game that make it exciting. Play a Sorceror/Monk or something like that and try out new combinations... if nothing else it should give you a new vantage point and some ideas.
Board_Rider 05-01-05, 08:49 PM	As everyone has already stated try being a player. If you like to DM you could put it in cruise control and simply play through a module.
Phrennzy 05-01-05, 09:10 PM	I LOVE premade modules. Although I don't put it on cruise, I simply modify what's in the module. Dungeon is great for this. I just took a module meant for 2nd-3rd level guys (fighting giant bees on a bridge) and turned it into one for 8th level guys (hellwasp swarms, giant bees, phase wasps, wasp swarms, giant wasp as queen, plus two hill giant bee-keepers). The players loved it, and had no idea it had such small beginnings. Adapting the premade stuff can be fun, and is challenging. But if you REALLY feel completely burnt out, either be a playter for a while, or stop playing DnD. Try a board game night, or cards. Just skip a session or two of DnD. It'll come back.
trappedslider 05-01-05, 09:30 PM	I'm gonna be the radical and suggest you play a different thing instead of D&D like try your hand at GMing aa night of D20 modern.
Mirikon 05-01-05, 09:34 PM	I agree with what others have said. Either use premade modules, or take a break from DMing. Play some Knights of the Old Republic, or get one of your players to DM.
Draco Strang 05-01-05, 09:35 PM	I'm gonna be the radical and suggest you play a different thing instead of D&D like try your hand at GMing aa night of D20 modern. Eh,too similar. Try something wild and crazy like Tunnels and Trolls (if you can get an old copy) or maybe even some sort of PvP free-for all, each player bringing a premade character designed within certain boundaries to the table. This sort of no-plot twinkish slug fest could be what you need.
Dreaming_in_the_void 05-01-05, 10:20 PM	Eh,too similar. Try something wild and crazy like Tunnels and Trolls (if you can get an old copy) or maybe even some sort of PvP free-for all, each player bringing a premade character designed within certain boundaries to the table. This sort of no-plot twinkish slug fest could be what you need. Or Toon if you can still find that.
DMDaddy 05-01-05, 10:25 PM	I get burned out every few years also. I just find another temporary DM and then I can be a character for a while. It's sort of fun, cause I am an expert player in many respects and the other players can learn from my actions.
Draco Strang 05-01-05, 10:41 PM	Or Toon if you can still find that. What's the Toon you speak of? Oh..ever played Boot Hill? Hell yea, pardner'
stompie 05-01-05, 10:44 PM	thanks for the advice. i think im gonna play as a character for awhile, possibly a monk.
Birrak 05-01-05, 10:48 PM	I found this situation recently and decided to play a character for a few sessions. What I did was to play a character that was giving me some troubles in the game I was DM'ing. This gave me a better insight into its capabilities, weaknesses, etc and also let the player of this character (whom was now DM'ing) see some of the issues I had. (character was rogue, problems with sneak, evasion, etc).