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.

[Adm.Lee]

I'm going to echo the "wind it up and move on" concept. You can always re-start if/when you get those batteries recharged.
Me, I have trouble maintaining enthusiasm for anything, without positive feedback, so I would shift to something else, like playing.

[Raellus]

I've been Gming this game (my first) for over a year. It's a PbP and there are an average of 3 "turns" per week so I am always on the job, so to speak.

I kind of want to take a break, but since I already worry that some of the players have lost interest in the game, I fear that when I am ready to come back, I will have lost a bunch of them.

I have put a lot of work into this game and I'm not ready to end it.

[jester]

Originally Posted by Raellus

I've been Gming this game (my first) for over a year. It's a PbP and there are an average of 3 "turns" per week so I am always on the job, so to speak.

I kind of want to take a break, but since I already worry that some of the players have lost interest in the game, I fear that when I am ready to come back, I will have lost a bunch of them.

I have put a lot of work into this game and I'm not ready to end it.

Then finish it to a natural place to pause and take a break. Some of my original online group well, thats what we used to do. Then, you can pick up where you left off, and the old players who may have fallen off well they can disapear however a creative manner you wish as a GM, and new players can be brought in however creativley you wish.

Like you find a village that is receptive to you to hold up and recover.

Bill Bob, he got a fever and died. Or Joe, got bored, and decided to see what was over the hill and we haven't seen him again.

"The kid, he came walking into the village one day, says he and some freinds had made it out, but they hit a mine, and blew up their hummer and most of their gear. He looked like shit, clothes torn, bruised and bloody and he hadn't eaten in days. We gave him some of Bill Bobs things. It turns out "The kid" was a water purification specialist and he managed to clear the cholera that was tainting this places water. Now, the villagers can't do enough for us."

Something like that would be kinda a good way to take a break.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by jester

Bill Bob, he got a fever and died. Or Joe, got bored, and decided to see what was over the hill and we haven't seen him again.

"The kid, he came walking into the village one day, says he and some freinds had made it out, but they hit a mine, and blew up their hummer and most of their gear. He looked like shit, clothes torn, bruised and bloody and he hadn't eaten in days. We gave him some of Bill Bobs things. It turns out "The kid" was a water purification specialist and he managed to clear the cholera that was tainting this places water. Now, the villagers can't do enough for us."

Something like that would be kinda a good way to take a break.

I like your style!!

[weswood]

Rae, take a break if you have to. Us player types will understand. Maybe not like it too much, but .....