Recharging the GM Batteries

[Raellus]

As a GM, what do you do when you feel your creative juices drying up?

What do you do when your players' enthusiasm seems to have waned and you feel like you've already done everything that you can to try to get them more involved?

I've tried reading post-apoc and military history books. Watching post-apoc and war movies. I'm just not feeling inspired/motivated.

Suggestions?

[ChalkLine]

Take a break. Be a player for a while.

[Grimace]

Or take a break from that particular genre of game. Move to something completely different. Give the mind a rest in the post-apocolyptic area for a while. After a break of a month or two (minimum, you'll likely need a couple few before a real mental reset happens) then you can move back to Twilight and have a new outlook on things.

Also, how long have you been GMing?

Sometimes a GM goes through a "burn out" stage in the GMing career, so that could be another problem and answer entirely.

[jester]

Back in 00 and 01 we had a regular group online, what we did was have multiple campaigns going, alternating timelines and with a different GM.

Jeff had his T2K Korea camapign, Gary had the LRDSG SAS WWII campaign, I had my 1st Offensive and we all played in one anotehrs games, when one would get burnt out we would shift the focus to another campaign.

[Marc]

Bon dia!!!

I think, Raellus, that your have begun a very interesting thread. I agree about all the suggestions of the previous post. So, I only will add some touches:

- If you are not motivated about a game, you can not referee it. Wait for better inspiration or leave it.

- Normally, the realistic, open-ended campaigns are the more difficult to maintain. The GM has prepared the things carefully and the sensation of the bad taste in your mouth after what you think a mediocre session can last for weeks. Trying to make short RPG sessions with reachable goals is a good manner to "reset" the possible effect of a mediocre session for the next one.

-Your feeling about the current game may not be the feeling of your players.

-For me, roleplaying sessions with novice groups are the more effective way to recharge batteries. Sometimes, a veteran group could have such rigid game dynamics that a GM can become depressed trying to change the rhythm, the focus and the atmosphere.

-Finally, if, per example, two players of your group can not play this weekend, try to referee a new one-session game with the rest. It could be a good chance to try another genre. With less players it's easier to keep the rythm, the atmosphere and the attention.

[kcdusk]

toughen up. its a cruel world out there, & your players are depending on you.