How do I deal with being jealous of my own players?
$begingroup$
I am the problem GM in question.
I haven't played for a long time. My last two attempts at it were with GMs that represented "no" rather than "yes, but" approach. Often railroaded to the point of lacking the ability to decide in what order party will take side quests. Baits ignored by the monsters, things "not in the scenario" simply not working, things like that. Probably you all know how it is. It wasn't terrible experience per se, but it was more of tactical experience than roleplaying and problem solving one. Not something I seek.
Now, I'm GMing a module that gives characters a goal and environment. I always do my best to make every character decision count, for good or worse, and module encourages this approach as well. I see they are having fun with it, have crazy ideas and even when some of these ideas fail, they have fun. I take my pride in it, because even if I'm far from being perfect, I give them fun and that's what RPG is about.
Now, the problem part. I envy them this kind of fun. I want some of it for myself. And I'm afraid it will begin to show soon, if it haven't already.
In our group there is only one person who has any experience as GM. I described his game at the beginning of this question. Also, majority of our group are medics, and this profession is almost proverbially overworked. Adventure Path I DM now started like two years ago and we are in the middle of book 2, so taking a break for me to play would be problematic.
Do you have any experience in similar situations and can advise how to proceed, before my players start posting problem-gm questions?
To be clear: I do have fun being DM. Problem is, envy starts to overshadow that fun.
Systems I played "recently" are Vampire (can't recall if it was Old or New World of Darkness) and Savage Worlds. Our main campaign I GM is Pathfinder, but we had a little break when I DMed Paranoia. Issue I describe did not depend on the system we were playing. Quite contrary, WoD and Savage Worlds looks like even less rule-loaded than Pathfinder is. It is all about playstyle, not ruleset, as far as I can tell.
It is about making things count even if not written in the adventure book, not about specific game mechanics under which things would happen.
system-agnostic group-dynamics social problem-gm
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
asked 9 hours ago
MołotMołot
6,37313767
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I am the problem GM in question.
I haven't played for a long time. My last two attempts at it were with GMs that represented "no" rather than "yes, but" approach. Often railroaded to the point of lacking the ability to decide in what order party will take side quests. Baits ignored by the monsters, things "not in the scenario" simply not working, things like that. Probably you all know how it is. It wasn't terrible experience per se, but it was more of tactical experience than roleplaying and problem solving one. Not something I seek.
Now, I'm GMing a module that gives characters a goal and environment. I always do my best to make every character decision count, for good or worse, and module encourages this approach as well. I see they are having fun with it, have crazy ideas and even when some of these ideas fail, they have fun. I take my pride in it, because even if I'm far from being perfect, I give them fun and that's what RPG is about.
Now, the problem part. I envy them this kind of fun. I want some of it for myself. And I'm afraid it will begin to show soon, if it haven't already.
In our group there is only one person who has any experience as GM. I described his game at the beginning of this question. Also, majority of our group are medics, and this profession is almost proverbially overworked. Adventure Path I DM now started like two years ago and we are in the middle of book 2, so taking a break for me to play would be problematic.
Do you have any experience in similar situations and can advise how to proceed, before my players start posting problem-gm questions?
To be clear: I do have fun being DM. Problem is, envy starts to overshadow that fun.
Systems I played "recently" are Vampire (can't recall if it was Old or New World of Darkness) and Savage Worlds. Our main campaign I GM is Pathfinder, but we had a little break when I DMed Paranoia. Issue I describe did not depend on the system we were playing. Quite contrary, WoD and Savage Worlds looks like even less rule-loaded than Pathfinder is. It is all about playstyle, not ruleset, as far as I can tell.
It is about making things count even if not written in the adventure book, not about specific game mechanics under which things would happen.
system-agnostic group-dynamics social problem-gm
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
asked 9 hours ago
MołotMołot
6,37313767
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
Can you explain (in the post) what makes this a system-agnostic problem? Are you running into the problem in multiple systems? Have you found that the "usual" solutions based in your system's rules haven't worked, so that you need something detached from those rules? See also this recent meta for some current, ongoing discussion of the tag.
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@nitsua60 I did. Hope that helps. I believe it is not about the rules, but about the "page" games were on, as in same page tool
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
thanks--that makes sense!
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there anything stopping you from DM'ing this group but PC'ing in another? Time constraints being the obvious problem, not knowing another DM in the style you like being another?
$endgroup$
– RyanfaeScotland
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RyanfaeScotland both, actually. To PC I'd have to cut down the time I have to DM, and seeing how on average we only play every other week, I'd have cut it to zero for my playing to make any sense.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I am the problem GM in question.
I haven't played for a long time. My last two attempts at it were with GMs that represented "no" rather than "yes, but" approach. Often railroaded to the point of lacking the ability to decide in what order party will take side quests. Baits ignored by the monsters, things "not in the scenario" simply not working, things like that. Probably you all know how it is. It wasn't terrible experience per se, but it was more of tactical experience than roleplaying and problem solving one. Not something I seek.
Now, I'm GMing a module that gives characters a goal and environment. I always do my best to make every character decision count, for good or worse, and module encourages this approach as well. I see they are having fun with it, have crazy ideas and even when some of these ideas fail, they have fun. I take my pride in it, because even if I'm far from being perfect, I give them fun and that's what RPG is about.
Now, the problem part. I envy them this kind of fun. I want some of it for myself. And I'm afraid it will begin to show soon, if it haven't already.
In our group there is only one person who has any experience as GM. I described his game at the beginning of this question. Also, majority of our group are medics, and this profession is almost proverbially overworked. Adventure Path I DM now started like two years ago and we are in the middle of book 2, so taking a break for me to play would be problematic.
Do you have any experience in similar situations and can advise how to proceed, before my players start posting problem-gm questions?
To be clear: I do have fun being DM. Problem is, envy starts to overshadow that fun.
Systems I played "recently" are Vampire (can't recall if it was Old or New World of Darkness) and Savage Worlds. Our main campaign I GM is Pathfinder, but we had a little break when I DMed Paranoia. Issue I describe did not depend on the system we were playing. Quite contrary, WoD and Savage Worlds looks like even less rule-loaded than Pathfinder is. It is all about playstyle, not ruleset, as far as I can tell.
It is about making things count even if not written in the adventure book, not about specific game mechanics under which things would happen.
system-agnostic group-dynamics social problem-gm
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
asked 9 hours ago
MołotMołot
6,37313767
$endgroup$
I am the problem GM in question.
I haven't played for a long time. My last two attempts at it were with GMs that represented "no" rather than "yes, but" approach. Often railroaded to the point of lacking the ability to decide in what order party will take side quests. Baits ignored by the monsters, things "not in the scenario" simply not working, things like that. Probably you all know how it is. It wasn't terrible experience per se, but it was more of tactical experience than roleplaying and problem solving one. Not something I seek.
Now, I'm GMing a module that gives characters a goal and environment. I always do my best to make every character decision count, for good or worse, and module encourages this approach as well. I see they are having fun with it, have crazy ideas and even when some of these ideas fail, they have fun. I take my pride in it, because even if I'm far from being perfect, I give them fun and that's what RPG is about.
Now, the problem part. I envy them this kind of fun. I want some of it for myself. And I'm afraid it will begin to show soon, if it haven't already.
In our group there is only one person who has any experience as GM. I described his game at the beginning of this question. Also, majority of our group are medics, and this profession is almost proverbially overworked. Adventure Path I DM now started like two years ago and we are in the middle of book 2, so taking a break for me to play would be problematic.
Do you have any experience in similar situations and can advise how to proceed, before my players start posting problem-gm questions?
To be clear: I do have fun being DM. Problem is, envy starts to overshadow that fun.
Systems I played "recently" are Vampire (can't recall if it was Old or New World of Darkness) and Savage Worlds. Our main campaign I GM is Pathfinder, but we had a little break when I DMed Paranoia. Issue I describe did not depend on the system we were playing. Quite contrary, WoD and Savage Worlds looks like even less rule-loaded than Pathfinder is. It is all about playstyle, not ruleset, as far as I can tell.
It is about making things count even if not written in the adventure book, not about specific game mechanics under which things would happen.
system-agnostic group-dynamics social problem-gm
system-agnostic group-dynamics social problem-gm
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
asked 9 hours ago
MołotMołot
6,37313767
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
asked 9 hours ago
MołotMołot
6,37313767
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
23.4k375148
asked 9 hours ago
MołotMołot
6,37313767
asked 9 hours ago
MołotMołot
6,37313767
asked 9 hours ago
MołotMołot
6,37313767
6,37313767
2
$begingroup$
Can you explain (in the post) what makes this a system-agnostic problem? Are you running into the problem in multiple systems? Have you found that the "usual" solutions based in your system's rules haven't worked, so that you need something detached from those rules? See also this recent meta for some current, ongoing discussion of the tag.
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@nitsua60 I did. Hope that helps. I believe it is not about the rules, but about the "page" games were on, as in same page tool
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
thanks--that makes sense!
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there anything stopping you from DM'ing this group but PC'ing in another? Time constraints being the obvious problem, not knowing another DM in the style you like being another?
$endgroup$
– RyanfaeScotland
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RyanfaeScotland both, actually. To PC I'd have to cut down the time I have to DM, and seeing how on average we only play every other week, I'd have cut it to zero for my playing to make any sense.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago
add a comment |
2
$begingroup$
Can you explain (in the post) what makes this a system-agnostic problem? Are you running into the problem in multiple systems? Have you found that the "usual" solutions based in your system's rules haven't worked, so that you need something detached from those rules? See also this recent meta for some current, ongoing discussion of the tag.
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@nitsua60 I did. Hope that helps. I believe it is not about the rules, but about the "page" games were on, as in same page tool
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
thanks--that makes sense!
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there anything stopping you from DM'ing this group but PC'ing in another? Time constraints being the obvious problem, not knowing another DM in the style you like being another?
$endgroup$
– RyanfaeScotland
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RyanfaeScotland both, actually. To PC I'd have to cut down the time I have to DM, and seeing how on average we only play every other week, I'd have cut it to zero for my playing to make any sense.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
Can you explain (in the post) what makes this a system-agnostic problem? Are you running into the problem in multiple systems? Have you found that the "usual" solutions based in your system's rules haven't worked, so that you need something detached from those rules? See also this recent meta for some current, ongoing discussion of the tag.
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Can you explain (in the post) what makes this a system-agnostic problem? Are you running into the problem in multiple systems? Have you found that the "usual" solutions based in your system's rules haven't worked, so that you need something detached from those rules? See also this recent meta for some current, ongoing discussion of the tag.
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
@nitsua60 I did. Hope that helps. I believe it is not about the rules, but about the "page" games were on, as in same page tool
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@nitsua60 I did. Hope that helps. I believe it is not about the rules, but about the "page" games were on, as in same page tool
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
thanks--that makes sense!
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
thanks--that makes sense!
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there anything stopping you from DM'ing this group but PC'ing in another? Time constraints being the obvious problem, not knowing another DM in the style you like being another?
$endgroup$
– RyanfaeScotland
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there anything stopping you from DM'ing this group but PC'ing in another? Time constraints being the obvious problem, not knowing another DM in the style you like being another?
$endgroup$
– RyanfaeScotland
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RyanfaeScotland both, actually. To PC I'd have to cut down the time I have to DM, and seeing how on average we only play every other week, I'd have cut it to zero for my playing to make any sense.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RyanfaeScotland both, actually. To PC I'd have to cut down the time I have to DM, and seeing how on average we only play every other week, I'd have cut it to zero for my playing to make any sense.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
If you are not having fun as the GM, maybe its time to pass the torch.
When I started playing D&D, the person GMing was really good at it, but did not enjoy it. One day after the session was complete he say something like this:
Hey guys, I really enjoy playing with you, but I have to be honest, I
really want to play. I'm not having much fun as DM, would some one
else mind running the game for a bit?
In the end, I decided to take over and I am glad I did. I am having much more fun as the DM than I did as a player. Some people really love GMing and other people realy love playing. There is no shame in stepping down. When I started, I had about 5 sessions as a player under my belt. The previous GM helped me along the way. He passed on what he had already prepped and help me with some of the rules as I learned.
answered 9 hours ago
SaggingRufusSaggingRufus
1,83611227
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
To be clear: I do have fun being DM. Problem is, envy starts to overshadow it. +1 because it makes little practical dierence
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
If you feel you would have more fun as player though, the same logic applies. Pass the torch and experience the game as a player. You can even rotate who DMs.
$endgroup$
– SaggingRufus
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Mołot Then maybe it's just time for a break? I love DMing as well and do the bulk of the DMing in my group(s). But from time to time, I pass the torch off for either a one-shot or short campaign so I can be a player again for a bit.
$endgroup$
– guildsbounty
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@guildsbounty maybe it is. As I've said, I upvoted this answer.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
First, a word of warning.
Do not try to have a DM PC
It won't live up to your expectations and will likely detract from the overall experience. At best, it's a net neutral enjoyment, but with more work on your part to make everything flow together.
That said, you have a few options under the umbrella of:
Find a way to play
The only way to scratch that itch, so to speak, is to actually scratch it. These are methods I've used when I get the jonesin' to play.
Join a different game as a player
This is most effective for me, personally. Maybe another friend, coworker, internet group, etc wants to run a game. There are plenty of online resources or maybe you'll glance over a coworker's shoulder to see them browsing rpg.stackexchange.com. Who knows?
Ask your group for a break
If you want to keep running this game, but are chomping at the bit to play, let your players know and see if anyone would be interested in running a game or two. I've had moderate success with this. It doesn't even have to be D&D. When I was running a fate game, I had a player who wanted to do a oneshot of SlapDash, and it was a ton of fun. My wife and I still talk about that session because it was such a refreshing change of pace; it helped me get back into my focus.
Rotating DMs
This one is tough, I've had mixed success with it and I'd only recommend it as a last resort unless you know how everyone will handle it. But it goes something like this: You establish boundaries and expectations for how impactful these sessions will be; someone finds a scenario they'd like to run (either made, found, or borrowed); someone runs that adventure for 1-3 sessions. Rinse and repeat. This is very similar to the one-shot idea, but it's all in universe and you guys have to work together to an extent to keep the story from feeling like mixed media piece where some of it is music and other parts are melting crayons.
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
answered 9 hours ago
goodguy5goodguy5
8,80222973
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
@Mołot I'm not 100% against a DMPC for very specific reasons, but "I want to play again" is not one of them.
$endgroup$
– goodguy5
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Reminder: comments aren't for chatting, debating, or discussing ideas. Please use comments for administrative purposes, such as making suggestions for improvement or constructive discussion about oversights in the post that might need correction.
$endgroup$
– SevenSidedDie♦
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@goodguy5 These are good suggestions. I'd add to Rotating DMs: In my experience, this works very well if the side campaign is very different from the main game. I have done this a few times in my long-running (4-year) 5e campaign. Other players have run games set in other cities or before the main game's plot. Usually we'll choose an underexplored element of the main game, like a faction or city we heard about but haven't visited. We have also used this technique to address side plots that the main group had to abandon because their team had other priorities.
$endgroup$
– Master_Yogurt
4 hours ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
oldest
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$begingroup$
If you are not having fun as the GM, maybe its time to pass the torch.
When I started playing D&D, the person GMing was really good at it, but did not enjoy it. One day after the session was complete he say something like this:
Hey guys, I really enjoy playing with you, but I have to be honest, I
really want to play. I'm not having much fun as DM, would some one
else mind running the game for a bit?
In the end, I decided to take over and I am glad I did. I am having much more fun as the DM than I did as a player. Some people really love GMing and other people realy love playing. There is no shame in stepping down. When I started, I had about 5 sessions as a player under my belt. The previous GM helped me along the way. He passed on what he had already prepped and help me with some of the rules as I learned.
answered 9 hours ago
SaggingRufusSaggingRufus
1,83611227
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
To be clear: I do have fun being DM. Problem is, envy starts to overshadow it. +1 because it makes little practical dierence
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
If you feel you would have more fun as player though, the same logic applies. Pass the torch and experience the game as a player. You can even rotate who DMs.
$endgroup$
– SaggingRufus
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Mołot Then maybe it's just time for a break? I love DMing as well and do the bulk of the DMing in my group(s). But from time to time, I pass the torch off for either a one-shot or short campaign so I can be a player again for a bit.
$endgroup$
– guildsbounty
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@guildsbounty maybe it is. As I've said, I upvoted this answer.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
If you are not having fun as the GM, maybe its time to pass the torch.
When I started playing D&D, the person GMing was really good at it, but did not enjoy it. One day after the session was complete he say something like this:
Hey guys, I really enjoy playing with you, but I have to be honest, I
really want to play. I'm not having much fun as DM, would some one
else mind running the game for a bit?
In the end, I decided to take over and I am glad I did. I am having much more fun as the DM than I did as a player. Some people really love GMing and other people realy love playing. There is no shame in stepping down. When I started, I had about 5 sessions as a player under my belt. The previous GM helped me along the way. He passed on what he had already prepped and help me with some of the rules as I learned.
answered 9 hours ago
SaggingRufusSaggingRufus
1,83611227
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
To be clear: I do have fun being DM. Problem is, envy starts to overshadow it. +1 because it makes little practical dierence
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
If you feel you would have more fun as player though, the same logic applies. Pass the torch and experience the game as a player. You can even rotate who DMs.
$endgroup$
– SaggingRufus
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Mołot Then maybe it's just time for a break? I love DMing as well and do the bulk of the DMing in my group(s). But from time to time, I pass the torch off for either a one-shot or short campaign so I can be a player again for a bit.
$endgroup$
– guildsbounty
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@guildsbounty maybe it is. As I've said, I upvoted this answer.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
If you are not having fun as the GM, maybe its time to pass the torch.
When I started playing D&D, the person GMing was really good at it, but did not enjoy it. One day after the session was complete he say something like this:
Hey guys, I really enjoy playing with you, but I have to be honest, I
really want to play. I'm not having much fun as DM, would some one
else mind running the game for a bit?
In the end, I decided to take over and I am glad I did. I am having much more fun as the DM than I did as a player. Some people really love GMing and other people realy love playing. There is no shame in stepping down. When I started, I had about 5 sessions as a player under my belt. The previous GM helped me along the way. He passed on what he had already prepped and help me with some of the rules as I learned.
answered 9 hours ago
SaggingRufusSaggingRufus
1,83611227
$endgroup$
If you are not having fun as the GM, maybe its time to pass the torch.
When I started playing D&D, the person GMing was really good at it, but did not enjoy it. One day after the session was complete he say something like this:
Hey guys, I really enjoy playing with you, but I have to be honest, I
really want to play. I'm not having much fun as DM, would some one
else mind running the game for a bit?
In the end, I decided to take over and I am glad I did. I am having much more fun as the DM than I did as a player. Some people really love GMing and other people realy love playing. There is no shame in stepping down. When I started, I had about 5 sessions as a player under my belt. The previous GM helped me along the way. He passed on what he had already prepped and help me with some of the rules as I learned.
answered 9 hours ago
SaggingRufusSaggingRufus
1,83611227
answered 9 hours ago
SaggingRufusSaggingRufus
1,83611227
answered 9 hours ago
SaggingRufusSaggingRufus
1,83611227
answered 9 hours ago
SaggingRufusSaggingRufus
1,83611227
1,83611227
1
$begingroup$
To be clear: I do have fun being DM. Problem is, envy starts to overshadow it. +1 because it makes little practical dierence
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
If you feel you would have more fun as player though, the same logic applies. Pass the torch and experience the game as a player. You can even rotate who DMs.
$endgroup$
– SaggingRufus
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Mołot Then maybe it's just time for a break? I love DMing as well and do the bulk of the DMing in my group(s). But from time to time, I pass the torch off for either a one-shot or short campaign so I can be a player again for a bit.
$endgroup$
– guildsbounty
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@guildsbounty maybe it is. As I've said, I upvoted this answer.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
To be clear: I do have fun being DM. Problem is, envy starts to overshadow it. +1 because it makes little practical dierence
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
If you feel you would have more fun as player though, the same logic applies. Pass the torch and experience the game as a player. You can even rotate who DMs.
$endgroup$
– SaggingRufus
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Mołot Then maybe it's just time for a break? I love DMing as well and do the bulk of the DMing in my group(s). But from time to time, I pass the torch off for either a one-shot or short campaign so I can be a player again for a bit.
$endgroup$
– guildsbounty
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@guildsbounty maybe it is. As I've said, I upvoted this answer.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
To be clear: I do have fun being DM. Problem is, envy starts to overshadow it. +1 because it makes little practical dierence
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
To be clear: I do have fun being DM. Problem is, envy starts to overshadow it. +1 because it makes little practical dierence
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
If you feel you would have more fun as player though, the same logic applies. Pass the torch and experience the game as a player. You can even rotate who DMs.
$endgroup$
– SaggingRufus
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
If you feel you would have more fun as player though, the same logic applies. Pass the torch and experience the game as a player. You can even rotate who DMs.
$endgroup$
– SaggingRufus
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Mołot Then maybe it's just time for a break? I love DMing as well and do the bulk of the DMing in my group(s). But from time to time, I pass the torch off for either a one-shot or short campaign so I can be a player again for a bit.
$endgroup$
– guildsbounty
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Mołot Then maybe it's just time for a break? I love DMing as well and do the bulk of the DMing in my group(s). But from time to time, I pass the torch off for either a one-shot or short campaign so I can be a player again for a bit.
$endgroup$
– guildsbounty
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@guildsbounty maybe it is. As I've said, I upvoted this answer.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@guildsbounty maybe it is. As I've said, I upvoted this answer.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
First, a word of warning.
Do not try to have a DM PC
It won't live up to your expectations and will likely detract from the overall experience. At best, it's a net neutral enjoyment, but with more work on your part to make everything flow together.
That said, you have a few options under the umbrella of:
Find a way to play
The only way to scratch that itch, so to speak, is to actually scratch it. These are methods I've used when I get the jonesin' to play.
Join a different game as a player
This is most effective for me, personally. Maybe another friend, coworker, internet group, etc wants to run a game. There are plenty of online resources or maybe you'll glance over a coworker's shoulder to see them browsing rpg.stackexchange.com. Who knows?
Ask your group for a break
If you want to keep running this game, but are chomping at the bit to play, let your players know and see if anyone would be interested in running a game or two. I've had moderate success with this. It doesn't even have to be D&D. When I was running a fate game, I had a player who wanted to do a oneshot of SlapDash, and it was a ton of fun. My wife and I still talk about that session because it was such a refreshing change of pace; it helped me get back into my focus.
Rotating DMs
This one is tough, I've had mixed success with it and I'd only recommend it as a last resort unless you know how everyone will handle it. But it goes something like this: You establish boundaries and expectations for how impactful these sessions will be; someone finds a scenario they'd like to run (either made, found, or borrowed); someone runs that adventure for 1-3 sessions. Rinse and repeat. This is very similar to the one-shot idea, but it's all in universe and you guys have to work together to an extent to keep the story from feeling like mixed media piece where some of it is music and other parts are melting crayons.
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
answered 9 hours ago
goodguy5goodguy5
8,80222973
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
@Mołot I'm not 100% against a DMPC for very specific reasons, but "I want to play again" is not one of them.
$endgroup$
– goodguy5
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Reminder: comments aren't for chatting, debating, or discussing ideas. Please use comments for administrative purposes, such as making suggestions for improvement or constructive discussion about oversights in the post that might need correction.
$endgroup$
– SevenSidedDie♦
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@goodguy5 These are good suggestions. I'd add to Rotating DMs: In my experience, this works very well if the side campaign is very different from the main game. I have done this a few times in my long-running (4-year) 5e campaign. Other players have run games set in other cities or before the main game's plot. Usually we'll choose an underexplored element of the main game, like a faction or city we heard about but haven't visited. We have also used this technique to address side plots that the main group had to abandon because their team had other priorities.
$endgroup$
– Master_Yogurt
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
First, a word of warning.
Do not try to have a DM PC
It won't live up to your expectations and will likely detract from the overall experience. At best, it's a net neutral enjoyment, but with more work on your part to make everything flow together.
That said, you have a few options under the umbrella of:
Find a way to play
The only way to scratch that itch, so to speak, is to actually scratch it. These are methods I've used when I get the jonesin' to play.
Join a different game as a player
This is most effective for me, personally. Maybe another friend, coworker, internet group, etc wants to run a game. There are plenty of online resources or maybe you'll glance over a coworker's shoulder to see them browsing rpg.stackexchange.com. Who knows?
Ask your group for a break
If you want to keep running this game, but are chomping at the bit to play, let your players know and see if anyone would be interested in running a game or two. I've had moderate success with this. It doesn't even have to be D&D. When I was running a fate game, I had a player who wanted to do a oneshot of SlapDash, and it was a ton of fun. My wife and I still talk about that session because it was such a refreshing change of pace; it helped me get back into my focus.
Rotating DMs
This one is tough, I've had mixed success with it and I'd only recommend it as a last resort unless you know how everyone will handle it. But it goes something like this: You establish boundaries and expectations for how impactful these sessions will be; someone finds a scenario they'd like to run (either made, found, or borrowed); someone runs that adventure for 1-3 sessions. Rinse and repeat. This is very similar to the one-shot idea, but it's all in universe and you guys have to work together to an extent to keep the story from feeling like mixed media piece where some of it is music and other parts are melting crayons.
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
answered 9 hours ago
goodguy5goodguy5
8,80222973
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
@Mołot I'm not 100% against a DMPC for very specific reasons, but "I want to play again" is not one of them.
$endgroup$
– goodguy5
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Reminder: comments aren't for chatting, debating, or discussing ideas. Please use comments for administrative purposes, such as making suggestions for improvement or constructive discussion about oversights in the post that might need correction.
$endgroup$
– SevenSidedDie♦
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@goodguy5 These are good suggestions. I'd add to Rotating DMs: In my experience, this works very well if the side campaign is very different from the main game. I have done this a few times in my long-running (4-year) 5e campaign. Other players have run games set in other cities or before the main game's plot. Usually we'll choose an underexplored element of the main game, like a faction or city we heard about but haven't visited. We have also used this technique to address side plots that the main group had to abandon because their team had other priorities.
$endgroup$
– Master_Yogurt
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
First, a word of warning.
Do not try to have a DM PC
It won't live up to your expectations and will likely detract from the overall experience. At best, it's a net neutral enjoyment, but with more work on your part to make everything flow together.
That said, you have a few options under the umbrella of:
Find a way to play
The only way to scratch that itch, so to speak, is to actually scratch it. These are methods I've used when I get the jonesin' to play.
Join a different game as a player
This is most effective for me, personally. Maybe another friend, coworker, internet group, etc wants to run a game. There are plenty of online resources or maybe you'll glance over a coworker's shoulder to see them browsing rpg.stackexchange.com. Who knows?
Ask your group for a break
If you want to keep running this game, but are chomping at the bit to play, let your players know and see if anyone would be interested in running a game or two. I've had moderate success with this. It doesn't even have to be D&D. When I was running a fate game, I had a player who wanted to do a oneshot of SlapDash, and it was a ton of fun. My wife and I still talk about that session because it was such a refreshing change of pace; it helped me get back into my focus.
Rotating DMs
This one is tough, I've had mixed success with it and I'd only recommend it as a last resort unless you know how everyone will handle it. But it goes something like this: You establish boundaries and expectations for how impactful these sessions will be; someone finds a scenario they'd like to run (either made, found, or borrowed); someone runs that adventure for 1-3 sessions. Rinse and repeat. This is very similar to the one-shot idea, but it's all in universe and you guys have to work together to an extent to keep the story from feeling like mixed media piece where some of it is music and other parts are melting crayons.
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
answered 9 hours ago
goodguy5goodguy5
8,80222973
$endgroup$
First, a word of warning.
Do not try to have a DM PC
It won't live up to your expectations and will likely detract from the overall experience. At best, it's a net neutral enjoyment, but with more work on your part to make everything flow together.
That said, you have a few options under the umbrella of:
Find a way to play
The only way to scratch that itch, so to speak, is to actually scratch it. These are methods I've used when I get the jonesin' to play.
Join a different game as a player
This is most effective for me, personally. Maybe another friend, coworker, internet group, etc wants to run a game. There are plenty of online resources or maybe you'll glance over a coworker's shoulder to see them browsing rpg.stackexchange.com. Who knows?
Ask your group for a break
If you want to keep running this game, but are chomping at the bit to play, let your players know and see if anyone would be interested in running a game or two. I've had moderate success with this. It doesn't even have to be D&D. When I was running a fate game, I had a player who wanted to do a oneshot of SlapDash, and it was a ton of fun. My wife and I still talk about that session because it was such a refreshing change of pace; it helped me get back into my focus.
Rotating DMs
This one is tough, I've had mixed success with it and I'd only recommend it as a last resort unless you know how everyone will handle it. But it goes something like this: You establish boundaries and expectations for how impactful these sessions will be; someone finds a scenario they'd like to run (either made, found, or borrowed); someone runs that adventure for 1-3 sessions. Rinse and repeat. This is very similar to the one-shot idea, but it's all in universe and you guys have to work together to an extent to keep the story from feeling like mixed media piece where some of it is music and other parts are melting crayons.
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
answered 9 hours ago
goodguy5goodguy5
8,80222973
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
edited 6 hours ago
V2Blast
23.4k375148
23.4k375148
answered 9 hours ago
goodguy5goodguy5
8,80222973
answered 9 hours ago
goodguy5goodguy5
8,80222973
answered 9 hours ago
goodguy5goodguy5
8,80222973
8,80222973
$begingroup$
@Mołot I'm not 100% against a DMPC for very specific reasons, but "I want to play again" is not one of them.
$endgroup$
– goodguy5
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Reminder: comments aren't for chatting, debating, or discussing ideas. Please use comments for administrative purposes, such as making suggestions for improvement or constructive discussion about oversights in the post that might need correction.
$endgroup$
– SevenSidedDie♦
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@goodguy5 These are good suggestions. I'd add to Rotating DMs: In my experience, this works very well if the side campaign is very different from the main game. I have done this a few times in my long-running (4-year) 5e campaign. Other players have run games set in other cities or before the main game's plot. Usually we'll choose an underexplored element of the main game, like a faction or city we heard about but haven't visited. We have also used this technique to address side plots that the main group had to abandon because their team had other priorities.
$endgroup$
– Master_Yogurt
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
@Mołot I'm not 100% against a DMPC for very specific reasons, but "I want to play again" is not one of them.
$endgroup$
– goodguy5
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Reminder: comments aren't for chatting, debating, or discussing ideas. Please use comments for administrative purposes, such as making suggestions for improvement or constructive discussion about oversights in the post that might need correction.
$endgroup$
– SevenSidedDie♦
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@goodguy5 These are good suggestions. I'd add to Rotating DMs: In my experience, this works very well if the side campaign is very different from the main game. I have done this a few times in my long-running (4-year) 5e campaign. Other players have run games set in other cities or before the main game's plot. Usually we'll choose an underexplored element of the main game, like a faction or city we heard about but haven't visited. We have also used this technique to address side plots that the main group had to abandon because their team had other priorities.
$endgroup$
– Master_Yogurt
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Mołot I'm not 100% against a DMPC for very specific reasons, but "I want to play again" is not one of them.
$endgroup$
– goodguy5
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Mołot I'm not 100% against a DMPC for very specific reasons, but "I want to play again" is not one of them.
$endgroup$
– goodguy5
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Reminder: comments aren't for chatting, debating, or discussing ideas. Please use comments for administrative purposes, such as making suggestions for improvement or constructive discussion about oversights in the post that might need correction.
$endgroup$
– SevenSidedDie♦
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Reminder: comments aren't for chatting, debating, or discussing ideas. Please use comments for administrative purposes, such as making suggestions for improvement or constructive discussion about oversights in the post that might need correction.
$endgroup$
– SevenSidedDie♦
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@goodguy5 These are good suggestions. I'd add to Rotating DMs: In my experience, this works very well if the side campaign is very different from the main game. I have done this a few times in my long-running (4-year) 5e campaign. Other players have run games set in other cities or before the main game's plot. Usually we'll choose an underexplored element of the main game, like a faction or city we heard about but haven't visited. We have also used this technique to address side plots that the main group had to abandon because their team had other priorities.
$endgroup$
– Master_Yogurt
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@goodguy5 These are good suggestions. I'd add to Rotating DMs: In my experience, this works very well if the side campaign is very different from the main game. I have done this a few times in my long-running (4-year) 5e campaign. Other players have run games set in other cities or before the main game's plot. Usually we'll choose an underexplored element of the main game, like a faction or city we heard about but haven't visited. We have also used this technique to address side plots that the main group had to abandon because their team had other priorities.
$endgroup$
– Master_Yogurt
4 hours ago
add a comment |
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2
$begingroup$
Can you explain (in the post) what makes this a system-agnostic problem? Are you running into the problem in multiple systems? Have you found that the "usual" solutions based in your system's rules haven't worked, so that you need something detached from those rules? See also this recent meta for some current, ongoing discussion of the tag.
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@nitsua60 I did. Hope that helps. I believe it is not about the rules, but about the "page" games were on, as in same page tool
$endgroup$
– Mołot
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
thanks--that makes sense!
$endgroup$
– nitsua60♦
9 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there anything stopping you from DM'ing this group but PC'ing in another? Time constraints being the obvious problem, not knowing another DM in the style you like being another?
$endgroup$
– RyanfaeScotland
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
@RyanfaeScotland both, actually. To PC I'd have to cut down the time I have to DM, and seeing how on average we only play every other week, I'd have cut it to zero for my playing to make any sense.
$endgroup$
– Mołot
8 hours ago