I am just kinda sick of running every game. My flgs is dead (consumed by mtg and 40k), online postings are just 5e slop, and none of my players will ever actually run a game no matter how many times they say they're going to. at this point I once again am contemplating quitting the fucking hobby because it feels like its just impossible to play in a game I want to play in.

I guess general burnout thread.

>>95918856 (OP)
>I am just kinda sick of running every game
Why?
>my flgs is dead
Not relevant.
>Online postings
Not relevant.
>None of my players will ever actually run a game
Ah, I see your problem. You think it's a transactional relationship where to GM is to sit on the throne of suffering for the amusement of others, and now it should be someone else's "turn" to suffer while you get to have fun.

>>95918856 (OP)
I know what you mean. Take a break, find some game online and have fun. Happened to me 10 years ago, joined a PbP, reminded me why I loved DMing.

>>95918966
I mean more or less the issue is finding one in the first place.

>>95918987
How?

>>95918916
>Ah, I see your problem. You think it's a transactional relationship where to GM is to sit on the throne of suffering for the amusement of others, and now it should be someone else's "turn" to suffer while you get to have fun.

Its not even really like that, I just want to be able to interact with the hobby from a player side but cant find anyone who wants to run the games I actually like.

>>95918996
I am as a person not that into high fantasy and think the d20 system is a cancer on the hobby. I also am not into rules lite games and that pretty much removes any posting I can find looking for players.

>>95918997
>Its not even really like that, I just want to be able to interact with the hobby from a player side but cant find anyone who wants to run the games I actually like.
And this relates to GMing... How, aside from exactly what I said?
The only way to fix your mindset is to realize that you don't GM because you want to be a player someday, you GM because you have a game you want to run. Anything else is retarded and invites misery.

>>95919005
So the issue isn't finding one, its finding one that caters to your niche and autistic tastes.
As someone who runs niche and autistic games, why should I pick you over players I've already gotten to know through less niche and autistic games?

>>95919006
no the thing is I do enjoy running games, I just am reaching a point that I am sick of never being able to play in them. I haven't been a player in a game that lasted longer than 3 sessions in 5 years and I feel like its natural to start feeling jealous when I regularly run and seemingly no one else will

>>95919013
the eternal struggle innit

I physically cant get any joy out of D&D or any indie slop at this point so I am cursed to eternally run and never get to play

>>95919020
>no the thing is I do enjoy running games, I just am reaching a point that I am sick of never being able to play in them. I haven't been a player in a game that lasted longer than 3 sessions in 5 years and I feel like its natural to start feeling jealous when I regularly run and seemingly no one else will
Please see
>And this relates to GMing... How, aside from exactly what I said?

>>95918856 (OP)
A friend of mine ran a game for a little while. It was a nice refreshing change of pace but also made me motivated to run my own game again. I needed a break because of having a newborn. He obviously stopped prepping though despite being a NEET and I waited for him to inevitably cancel the game which happened recently.

Take a break, see if you find that motivation again in a year. Or don’t you’re under no obligation to be DM. Personally I find prepping part of the fun and probably overdo it a bit. There are guides to shorten prep time though like the Lazy DM’s guide.

>>95919044
fair enough. I just want to be able to interact with the hobby in some form at all and it feels like if I quit gming thats just gonna be it

>>95919005
Search Paleomythic

>>95919031
It just sounds like the dude wants a break from being a GM for a while, but still wants to be involved in rpgs, even if it’s from across the aisle. It’s pretty normal for a lot of Forever GMs to go through that feeling, doing campaigns back to back is taxing on time and mentally training, even if they love the hobby.

>>95918856 (OP)
Honestly, if you aren’t comfortable finding an online group, the best thing is just taking a break in general. Maybe play some board games or card games with your friends in the meantime, or read something, watch a movie, go somewhere new for the weekend. The spark is probably still there, you just need to give yourself some breathing room to find it again.

>>95919195
>It just sounds like
I wasn't asking you.

>>95919195
>Honestly, if you aren’t comfortable finding an online group

its not that im not comfortable with online groups, its more I only like crunchier games and have a strong preference for scifi over fantasy and it seemingly is all D&D5e or pf2e or recently daggerheart and thats just not what I am into

>>95919211
I know.

>>95919213
Name what you’re specifically interested in, then. Unless it’s something super obscure, there’s probably someone playing it like in a discord group or something

>>95919029
Seeing as how you couldn't answer a simple question, I don't think you're cursed I think you're just a bad player.

>>95919211
Yeah but you'll come running when the eyeball lights up red like a piggy to slop and still read what I have to say anyway whether you like it or not.

Bitch.

>>95919246
>Yeah but
I still wasn't asking you.

>>95919006
Nta. Cause being a player is a different approach to the game. I don't know what's gonna happen, I don't know what the plot is, or who we are gonna meet, or what's in this and that location. As a player, you actually get to discover stuff. You get to decide the strategy to use in combat, how to perform an investigation, and so on. It's not about swapping the misery seat, because I enjoy being the GM, it's about getting to enjoy playing a single character and exploring a campaign, not revealing it.

>>95918856 (OP)
Play solo. It's not the same as playing with a group, but that's good as much as it is bad. You can play whatever the fuck you like, when you like.
If you still want to play with your friends then play board games.

>>95919298
>Nta. Cause being a player is a different approach to the game. I don't know what's gonna happen, I don't know what the plot is, or who we are gonna meet, or what's in this and that location.
If you do know all of those things as a GM, you're a bad GM straight up.
>you actually get to discover stuff.
You do as a GM too.
>You get to decide the strategy to use in combat
You do as a GM too, just for the enemies.
>how to perform an investigation
You do as a GM too, just in reverse/for the players crimes.
>It's not about swapping the misery seat, because I enjoy being the GM
Your players sure as hell don't with the attitude you have towards GMing. I can see why you would feel like you're "missing" something as the GM when you have to sit there and herd the players towards predetermined outcomes, through plots you've planned out, to meet NPCs you've already fleshed out, to get items you pre-prepared in locations you're the exclusive architect of.
Hell If I was writing a novel and had an audience of just 4 people, I'd also be miserable.

>>95919006
He just wants to be a player sometimes you absolute sperg. DMing takes a lot out of you even when it's good, it's nice to change things up. Restorative even.
>>95918856 (OP)
One important thing OP is to not be afraid to sit down and let your players know that you're a little burnt out and would really appreciate the chance to be a player and recharge a bit. How your players react to that will tell you a whole lot, most importantly whether they care about you as a person and fellow player or just see you as an entertainment dispenser.
If the former, they'll understand and be willing to either take point for a little bit or hang out with you for boardgames and such until you get your groove back.
If not, it'll be good to learn that now. You're not a vending machine and players who treat you like one are heels.

Godspeed anon.

>>95919504
Bait used to be believable

>>95919537
>I just want others to suffer so I don't have to anymore, OK????
Calling others an absolute sperg when you affirm everything they say is hilarious.

>>95919574
They're not sending their best.

>>95919620
You’re the sperg acting as though wanting to be a player is somehow an abhorrent thing. Are party planners not allowed to go to someone else’s party and unwind for a bit?

>>95919574
No it didn't.
>>95919651
Are you really bored enough to keep replying?

>>95919702
Are you?

>>95919651
Wanting to be a player is fine. Nobody ever said it wasn't. Whatever weird persecution complex you need to have is something you should bring to therapy, not to 4chan you weirdo.

>>95919713
Should probably reflect on your own words, considering you interpret someone wanting to be a player as wanting people to suffer. That’s really weird.

>>95919724
>Should probably reflect on your own words, considering I said exactly what you said heh.
You seem upset.

>>95919733
You seem like you seethe about gms

>>95919742
How so?

>>95919746
You described the act of being a game master as “suffering” to inflict on others. That’s a concerning thing to say, and fairly similar to things I’ve heard from people who resented past game masters they’ve played with.

>95919504
I'll bite even thought you're being deliberately obtuse. None of those things are the same between player and gm. It's a wildly different perspective. The way you discover stuff isn't the same, because you can't ask the players what's in the room or what this castle looks like. The way you perform an investigation (for the players crimes? What kind of gotcha is that?) isn't the same, especially if in reverse, because you have to know the clues to give.

>If I was writing a novel
Nice strawman. Knowing the clues of an investigation and the culprit, the treasure and enemies of a dungeon, or where the road leads isn't railroading.

>>95919766
>You described the act of being a game master as “suffering” to inflict on others.
No I didn't? Please quote the exact post where I say being a game master as being an act of pure suffering, go on.

>and fairly similar to things I’ve heard from people who resented past game masters they’ve played with.
This is pretty obviously untrue. Even if one were to take your made up reality of what you think I said, that would imply I would resent being a game master, rather than that I resent other GMs. You're so stupid you can't even keep your argument straight.

>>95919766
Why do you keep replying to an obvious troll.

>>95919792
Well-

>>95919793
Eh, good point. Suppose that’s my fault for hoping people actually want to discuss in this shitheap. Cause I have seen a lot of fa/tg/uys act as though they’re in some stupid war against their game masters, despite not having the nerve or drive to do it themselves or just play solo.

>>95919778
>None of those things are the same between player and gm.
They are, actually.
>It's a wildly different perspective
Oh so it's not the things themselves you want, it's just a different perspective on them?
>The way you discover stuff isn't the same, because you can't ask the players what's in the room or what this castle looks like.
Actually, there are systems that literally do that. But you're still wrong, as players can have things or details they're given authority over. Why should I, as a GM, need to describe exactly what the Player's stronghold looks like?
>The way you perform an investigation (for the players crimes? What kind of gotcha is that?
Do you run your guards like it's oblivion, anon? You don't seem like a high effort sort of GM to me, but good ones will actually go through the process of breaking down why and how guards (Or the appropriate characters of your choosing) can get on the trail of the PCs.
>Nice strawman.
Well as they say, if the shoe fits...
>Knowing the clues of an investigation
There are systems that don't force you to do this. And are you seriously such a bad GM that you wouldn't let your players actions create clues that you didn't expect or plan for?

>>95919808
If you read his posts, he's deliberately belittling people to bait them. Ignore him and just reply to the other anons then

>>95919808
Oh no go ahead. You were replying to him already and I'm sure you had a winning argument this time, you might as well finish.

>>95919504
>>95919815
You give me second hand embarrassment. Have your (you), it gets lonely doing it for free

>>95919808
>Cause I have seen a lot of fa/tg/uys act as though they’re in some stupid war against their game masters, despite not having the nerve or drive to do it themselves
>>95919766
>That’s a concerning thing to say, and fairly similar to things I’ve heard from people who resented past game masters they’ve played with.
>>95919537
>DMing takes a lot out of you even when it's good, it's nice to change things up. Restorative even.

You sound like someone who has had big issues with their players and is projecting it onto everyone you get into an argument with.

>>95919825
I cannot even conceive of every being as bootyblasted and buttfrustrated by a few lines of text as you are.

>>95919808
>Suppose that’s my fault for hoping people actually want to discuss in this shitheap
Most of us do, but responding to trolls only makes it harder.

>>95919830
There are multiple people on 4chan.
>>95919793
>>95919808
You can have legitimate conversation, just *around* trolls. Engaging with them just marks the thread as a dedicated shitpile.

>>95920478
Why do samefags always post screenshots like it matters? We all know inspect elements exist, retard.

>>95918856 (OP)
>>95918997
>>95919029
This >>95919349; I too have niche tastes (literally diagnosed autistic), and the answer has been solo play. We have a friendly and helpful general, you'll be welcome there and we'll look forward to hearing your after-action greentexts.

>>95920478
>Trolls
Spergs figuring out that they can just call everyone who disagrees with them a troll is what killed this site.

>>95918856 (OP)
>none of my players will ever actually run a game
Put some money on the table, 5 bucks will do.

>>95918856 (OP)
Try playing a game that actually fun for the GM

We've all been there OP. Really, one of the best ways to get new ideas and get excited again is to be put in the back-seat and not be the driver for a bit.

>be me
>run game weekly for 5 years, thinking I'll never get to play.
>Ideas running thin. Just tired. Stop prepping much.
>Take players to final battle and flub it some since I didn't spend enough time prepping them
>Another player says he wants to try, so we take a month off after the BBEG final battle
>
>
>He runs an absolutely terrible game for a year.
>This is exactly what I needed!
>I start getting so many ideas for my next campaign
>I start writing down pages and pages of notes and ideas
>I literally think I'm going to change TTRPGs forever when I run my next game
>Another player says he wants to try DMing and run the next game
>
>
>I tell the group I'm ready to go as well with a new campaign
>the 3rd DM starts out and is doing fucking great in his first time
>he planned for 3 months and we just passed a year, but I keep telling him that's totally normal and not to feel bad
>4th player says they want to DM too and has a campaign ready to go
>2nd player says he thinks he's learned a lot and wants to try again
>We now have 4 people all with stories ready, in our group of 6 people
>
>
>

My brain is fucking exploding with ideas and excitement. This would not have been possible without a break. And I had ZERO plan to run a new campaign when my old one stopped. But in my nearly 3 years off I've had so many ideas I think I'm going to revolutionize tabletop games for everyone once my campaign starts.

Take a break -- it will do you and your entire group wonders. Also, next time you start don't plan to do a forever sandbox campaign. Just tell your players you have a 6 month idea and pack everything into that. Then take another break.

>>95918856 (OP)
have you considered just running the games you want to play?

>>95918916
What sort of fag wrote this post

>>95929572
I do run games I like, the issue is no one else seems to.

>>95929996
Why would running games you like make you resent your players lol

>>95919349
>>95920536
That's a cope and you know it, might as well play video games or do anything else with your time instead of rolling dice by yourself because you want to identify as part of a social hobby but can't do it with other people.

>>95918856 (OP)
Same, My resent is directed at my party's female players. I'll break this up into the worst episodes. D&D 2e, Kids on Bikes, Warhammer 40k and Exalted 1e
D&D
>3 male 2 women who play once a week
>the 2 women are sisters
>the first game we played was D&D 2e
>GM in session 0 explains we're playing a nautical campaign
>1 sister plays a Druid that's gets jealous of my Ocean Cleric
>"I feel like you have to many spells" she says
>I explain Clerics have access to more spells than Druids
>explain WIS and spell bonus
>explain you're a tree hugger on the ocean, I'm a Cleric of the ocean
>she doesn't pay attention because she brings it up again in a later game
>I dont entertain it
>on two separate occasions she stops the game to rant about politics
>this is the GMs and my fault, we introduced her to Marijuana
>GM and I take our medicine we did this to ourselves
>second time GM politely says we're not doing this tonight
>no further incidents

>>95918856 (OP)
Have you tried having friends first before getting into a literal friend-based hobby? I'll never understand people that play this game with strangers competitively.

>>95931326
Cont. Kids on Bikes
>we take a break for one night to play KoB because my brother is visiting from out of state
>former GM from the afore mentioned D&D game, my brother and another friend played out a great KoB story a year before this and had a great time
>I use it as a module of sorts as the town and characters were thoroughly fleshed out
>I introduce the sisters and other male to KoB
>I explain the town and rumors are already established, I just need a how and why you three are here
>male has no problem
>the two sisters decide to play family on a road trip
>proceed to have an IRL fight because the younger sister doesn't want to answer to her in game because she's has to deal with it all her life
>the younger sister IRL has these mood swings that fuck up the night
>one time she sat in her car all night while her sister tries to talk sense to her
>night ruined
>another night she goes off to the hosts music room and beats on his drums for about 45 minutes
>night ruined
>put a pin in that because this isn't the end of her story
>I'm suffering second hand embarrassment that my brother has to see this
>their argument wastes time and the game dies with no real plot advancement

>>95931326
>>95931508
Warhammer 40k
>GM from D&D breaks out his WH sets and we play a mash up of Wrath and Glory/Kill Team
>it's the GM vs us other 4
>I play IG the other 3 play SoB
>GM explains a little a out the SoB, point costs, hierarchy et al
>sisters have another fight
>the younger sister pitches a fit because the older wants to play a Sister Superior(?im not well versed in WH) And would outrank the younger
>ride out this storm while time gets wasted, again
>try and play with this funk in the air
Good grief

>>95931376
none of my friends will run a game so I'm stuck searching for strangers

>>95930407
its kinda just jealousy, I am tired of looking for a game where I can be a player and am constantly running games I would love to get to play. I start to get into a loop of being mad that they are just getting this easily and I have to dig through dumpsters for half a chance at being a player

>>95931326
>>95931508
>>95931598
Cont. Exalted
>I'm back I'm the seat again
>GM from D&D and WH40K already familiar with Exalted
>we help the other three get set up
>Dragon Blooded out of Lookshy
>I do inform the other players that this game has more crunch than the D&D that they didn't like, Yet the trade off is you are literally demigods
>you represent and are backed by the second most powerful city in Creation
>get it? Got it? Good.
>their backstories are really quite good
>I get motivated as they fit so well into my story
>set up a lavish graduation gala
>have them get courted by matchmakers
>have them meet Lookshy players and pretenders
>set them up with a main quest
>set them up with a side quest
>the story is moving and I'm optimistic
>the sisters start to check out and eventually put their heads down in their arms and check the fuck out
>"anon I'm getting burned out can we take a break?"
>sure.
>motivation and optimism turn to anger and resentment as I watch my game die on the vine
>just like the D&D game
>just like KoB
>just like WH40k

/tg/ was right, "no games is better than bad games" and I left the group chat.

>>95930661
I mean... definitionally, sure, it's literally a way to cope with the fact that my RPG tastes can only be fulfilled by myself.

But y'all who have turned "cope" into a derogatory term forget that the whole point of coping is to make the best of a bad situation. It's only a problem if a way out of the situation is escapable but you're not taking it; or if you persist in doing it and it's having a negative effect on your life even after you escape from the situation that necessitated it.

There is no way for me to escape my own tastes and the fact that others don't share them to the extent necessary for my enjoyment. Therefore the "cope" of solo play in my case is entirely appropriate. And likewise for anyone in a similar situation.

>>95918856 (OP)
I had player envy for a few years until I got play in a few short lived games ran by my players then I realized why I am the one guy I know who has consistent games that last several years.
Turns out most people just aren't cut out for GMing since they take it too seriously, can't handle the work, don't have improvisation skills or don't take it seriously enough. At this point I am content with being the forever GM even if getting to be a player in a good game every now and then would be nice.

>>95918856 (OP)
>it feels like its just impossible to play in a game I want to play in.
What game do you want to play?
>>95931326
>>95931508
>>95931598
>>95931791
.....why did you not kick them?

>>95930661
It's bizarre that you suggest single player video games are a legitimate form of entertainment, but somehow without the computer they aren't.
I don't want to "identify as part of a social hobby", I want to play games, and I like some of those games to involve physical components like miniatures, or allow freeform interactions with the fictional world the way RPGs do and video games absolutely cannot.
If social interaction is the only part of RPGs that you enjoy then you might as well just hold a dinner party and cut out all the fantasy bullshit.

>>95934505
>It's bizarre that you suggest single player video games are a legitimate form of entertainment, but somehow without the computer they aren't.
Because at that point what you're rolling for is to either make up for a lack of imagination in your own head or as a cope to pretend you aren't just GMing still but this time nobody actually gets to appreciate it. Either one is pathetic.

>>95935895
>make up for a lack of imagination
That's not how it works.
>just GMing still but this time nobody actually gets to appreciate it
I appreciate it. Which is likely one more person than if I was doing it for other people. How the fuck is, "There's no audience to applaud you" pathetic, or a downside at all, anyway? You can't imagine doing something to amuse yourself without someone calling you a good boy and giving you a treat?

>>95936008
>That's not how it works.
Doesn't have to be how it actually works for people to make the assumption
>You can't imagine doing something to amuse yourself without someone calling you a good boy and giving you a treat?
I can, but it is rather retarded to do a bunch of bookkeeping for no reason other than "Well we'd be doing it if other people were around like I wanted"

>>95936574
>Doesn't have to be how it actually works for people to make the assumption
"People that don't understand what I'm doing think it's dumb"? Who gives a fuck? If that bothers you then stop playing RPGs entirely. Or doing anything at all.
>do a bunch of bookkeeping for no reason
Why the fuck would you assume I'm doing that?
Sounds like the reason you think solo RPGs are stupid is because you've made a bunch of ridiculous assumptions about people doing them standing on one leg in the bath instead of just sitting at a table.

>>95919006
kill yourself

>>95918856 (OP)

I do find myself resenting people over the /tg/ hobby.

Like I'll propose a game and people will whine about how they want to do a game we've done before instead. I even had one guy ask for a plot summary before commiting to a fucking one-shot. No, you're not getting a cost-benefit analysis for why we should play Dread to celebrate Halloween.

With miniatures everyone will want to do a campaign of something and then ghost. I painted a Necromunda gang and was looking forward to playing and everyone just vanished.

Don't get me started about board games. I just wince whenever I see someone bust out Cards Against Humanity.

Rolled 7 (1d12)

I can't say I understand you, but the first time I played I was forced to be the DM because my friends thought I understood the rules better just because I wanted to play a strong character, so I had to run about 3-4 sessions until half of them died to traps, which made them hate traps, then my friend said she would do a campaign without traps and everyone supported her, including me, because I really wanted to play a strong protagonist character. And then after a week she gave up, saying it was too hard and asked me to continue mine, I could be a good DM and say yes and remove the traps, but I refused and we stopped playing.

>>95933653
>kick them
The eldest sister is dating the third male in the group and I'm not going to rock the boat.
Said male is also gracious enough to host and share his Whiskeys.

>>95919248
>He unironically came running in less than a minute
lol

>>95949787
then eat shit you passive faggot

>>95918856 (OP)
one of my witcher players has "whenever the rolls start going bad for me i get real mad" as part of his characters "personality"
this is the third session in a row this "real mad" bit has escalated to actual shouting
next week im planning an ultimatum because i cant fucking stand it anymore, its like a spoiled child throwing a temper tantrum on the floor of the grocery store

>>95918856 (OP)
Run only the games you want. Games cannot run without your consent.

>>95919020
The reason wgx you might be actually retarded that you still don't realize that a GM is also a player in any roleplaying system in both crunch and fluff terms.

>>95949787
Guess you'll keep being nogames then.

>>95953423
Rude.
>>95956362
I have tried recruiting at the pub and got leads that didn't pan out. Now
I'm considering running games at the LGS. I know that is another can of worms which is on par with "ngibtbg".
This will be another self inflicted hell that might make a mediocre green text.

>>95956393
Try playing online.
It's not the same as playing offline, but compared to what you actually got, it "might" be slightly better.

>>95956549
This, also if you're playing anything but DnD 5e, Pathfinder, or Vampire the Masquerade then you'll have a good time online

>>95918856 (OP)
I'm not kidding when I say this:
Stop playing tabletop games for a while.
Pick up any other hobby for a year.
Go hiking, crochet some stuffed animals, anything but GMing games.
Your players will be forced to GM (which you aren't obligated to join), you'll meet new people, see if you enjoy other things, and try that out.

Tabletop gaming isn't the end-all-be-all. Do other things. Good luck.

>>95956696
What will happen: OP gets bored doing shit he isn't interested in. Low-iq normgroid players completely forget what tabletop games are without someone to herd them

>>95956708
Being bored isn't a sin. It's a sign to adapt. He's worse than bored at the moment.
> Low-iq normgroid players completely forget what tabletop games are without someone to herd them
So?
Let them. Find new people.

>>95918856 (OP)
>I am just kinda sick of running every game
You're not a real DM. A real DM claims he wants a break from it, and he might actually enjoy playing a character for a little bit, but the former part is a lie. Even in my most burnt out stage I wanted to be a GM even if I didn't have much in the way of creative energy. Controlling the game and being constantly engaged, there is no substitute. When you're the DM it's always your turn. When you're the DM the adventure is always what you want. The only thing you don't control is who the protagonists are. But if you find players who aren't obsessed with freakshit then it's not a big deal.

>>95918856 (OP)
What game are you running?

>>95918856 (OP)
I’m right there with you. I have been the forever gm for my group for no joke 22 years now. I have never played as a player in a campaign that lasted longer than 5 sessions. If I refuse to gm someone will start a game bungle it for a few sessions and then quit out of frustration. I have heard every excuse in the book: I’m too busy, life happened, this is hard, I’m not inspired. Despite the back and forth in this thread don’t feel bad for wanting to be a player. Being a player gives you different outlooks, gives you a break, and can inspire. I’m saying this not out of experience but from what my players over the years have said. You may never get to play but the hobby is fun enough that it’s worth sticking around. Keep your chin up and carry on. Maybe take a break. But if you wait for something that won’t happen you’ll always be burnt out and upset.

>>95956549
>>95956659
Thank you frens. I'll look into it

>>95954834
oh and last session the mad guy got into an argument with someone for mispronouncing his character's weird fucking name (not in-character mad, but like it was an insult targeted at him personally) and was pouting about it the entire time
its like im in middle school again but im the teacher

>>95918856 (OP)
My players are damn near worthless. They never take any initiative. Never a single creative solution between the four of them. It's the same grating, tired out old memes every game night. Any time I try to pass the GM torch to anyone, they just get an "anxiety attack" and stop. I don't mind running games, but I don't like spending my afternoons having to goad them into the right direction, hell, ANY direction would be nice. Every time I try to prompt them, I am greeted by a resounding chorus of "Uh, I dunno." I finished a long running game last week, and I halfassed the ending because I just wanted it to be over. Tired of these players, tired of giving up an entire night so I can perform mediocre solo theater in front of a bunch of mouthbreathers. I used to love doing this and I still do, but I really need a break.

How common is it for players to not know what to roll? I've been playing with these people for 10 years and they still ask "what do I add?" to their attack rolls. Just my retarded players or are they all like this?

>>95954834
>one of my witcher players has "whenever the rolls start going bad for me i get real mad" as part of his characters "personality"

Characters don't know their rolls are bad, how is this a character personality point?

>>95960035
I've made it a habit to always make it really clear on session zero that an important part of playing certain games is the fact that it's a commitment from everyone and when someone's not participating or showing up late it's wasting everyone else's time.
But I also try to do check ins where we talk about who is or isn't having fun. Sometimes a player is feeling disengaged with the story and I can fix that, or they're not enjoying their class and we can talk through rolling something different for them.
I really hate ending games early but after trying to force through to an ending one too many times it sometimes feels like it would have been better to pull the plug and do something else on those long nights.

Find a new party

>>95918856 (OP)
I feel that
>Hate MtG
>Heroscape, not 40k (which Renegade is actively ruining at a breakneck pace)
>Like Dominion, Root, Power Grid, Star Realms, etc.
>Want to find a group to play Pandemic Legacy and Gloomhaven which are rotting on my shelf
>Probably finally going to play them in a decade when my son is old enough.

>>95918856 (OP)
>>95960035
I feel this, same thing, four people. One of the dudes is a really great friend but I swear he might ne retarded. I'll give this whole detailed description of an area and who we're talking, multiple points of interest, and mf will, 2 minutes later, ask where the party is at and what's going on. One dude's sole goal is to try and come up with creative ways to derail the campaign because he thinks it's funny. Third guy is a hardcore min/maxer and because I let some of the retarded players flub some stuff because they're retarded I have to with the min/maxer as well to be fair and naturally it makes him basically invincible - 21 AC at lvl 2 because I allowed other races and dude picked a Tortle. Fourth guy doesn't understand any mechanic beyond "hit with my hammer," and doesn't try anything aside frome that. These guys are all fun to chat with but holy shit are they insufferable on dnd sometimes. I've told them at the end of this campaign I'm handing off DM because I need a break. Retarded guy who forgets where we are all the time thinks he's going to DM.
I'm going to try and be a super active player during that dude's campaign and hopefully teach by example some ways to engage with the DM rather than just sit there waiting to hear a story and then say "I attack."

>>95968590
it's smartphone attention span. Seems to be affecting young ones the most.

>>95969294
You're probably right about the smart phone thing - only caveat is that we're all in our 30s ranging from younger 30s to older 30s. Couple more years and the eldest member, hammer bro, will be in his 40s. We've all got careers, families, and what not and we've been playing biweekly for probably 4 years, maybe longer. I've always been DM through this now being our 3rd campaign. Really my fault in some ways, I should've tried passing the reigns and doing this engaged player thing on campaign 2.

>>95969554
woa they are 30? damn embarassing, or maybe not, kids are usually more proactive than old farts

>>95918966
SPBP.

>>95918856 (OP)
Since this is an official GM vent thread now.
I just quit the campaign I have been running for four years.

> Started out with around five people
> We knew each other from college or were good friends before
> Life happens, some move abroad others got kids
> Still have some players from the original group but start looking for new blood
> Mutual friend has interest in joining
> Sometimes forgets modifiers or calculates stuff wrong
> I'm in mint so I try to be a little more lenient towards others even, if they mess up things that seem easy to me
> It doesn't get better
> Arguments start to ensue because he still get's things wrong several months in
> I not only have to manage the NPCs but also this guys char sheet, because he forgets stuff regularly
> Instead of learning the rules he starts to become argumentative when he is corrected by someone
> Sees me make rulings, when I would have to look something up, but want to move things forward
> Last two sessions tried to make rulings when he got something wrong
> First time explain to him that's not how things work
> Second time he starts an 1h30' long argument, because it's unfair that he can't do it, but I can
> Disregards the fact that everyone at the table could tell him what his rules were
> Gets ChatGPT to support his arguments
> At this point I'm also sure he's cheating to some degree, considering how often he misinterprets rules in his favour

Unfortunately after kicking him, we were not enough to continue the campaign in a satisfying way. In hindsight I feel stupid for tolerating him for so long.

>>95919504
>If you do know all of those things as a GM, you're a bad GM straight up.
Bullshit theory wank, just like the rest of your post. Play a game instead of shitposting on /osrg/ all day.

>>95949787
>share his Whiskeys.
>earlier mentioned marijuana
Sounds to me like you're just a bunch of druggies and freeloaders and you all deserve eachother.

>>95969554
Sounds like your friends are not interested in RPGs, but just want to feel like they are because its a trendy thing to do now.

>>95974252
Nah, you're right, it's embarrassing.
>>95977128
Honestly? This is probably true. I tried to get them into 40k for a bit in 2023 before we ultimately decided to stay on DnD. I had a whole Leviathan box set done in a month plus a Blood Angels Combat Patrol. These mfs still haven't opened some of the boxes they got amd have a half finished pile of greys. Literally couldn't even finish putting them together.
Honestly, I think it contributes to my racism since a couple of these guys are half Mexican. The lazy stereotype is real, sorry, racism outside of /b/ and /pol/, I know, but it's pertinent.

>>95977222
or maybe they just ain't that interested in warhammer. i wouldn't bother painting a 40k army even if you gifted it to me.
They just sound like people not really interested in rpgs. They really aint for anyone.
It is unfortunately one of those hobbies that you cant just coast it. You are either engaged and committed or you aint

>>95977123
Edgy

>>95918856 (OP)
>Forever GM
>Players say they have plans to run games but don't do it
>Prefers SF over Fantasy
... Huh. Your story is eerily similar to the situation my GM is in. He's the most organized of our group and while I (and the other group members) have been trying to switch roles I just don't know how far I should try to go in terms of planning my game correctly. I mean, I also have schedule issues, but it's less a fatality and more "I prioritized other things I had to do most of the time".

Thank you for your input, you opened my eyes a bit. Also, have you tried having one "big talk" with your players, explain you REALLY want/need to play and decide who will GM next time, as well as a specific date to do it?

>>95977302
>tfw no boomer to give me miniatures to paint together on the weekend
i would cherish our friendship forever

>>95977955
I am getting kinda close to an ultimatum if the next promised game gets canceled because this is starting to become an issue.

>>95965361
unfortunately mtg and 40k pay the lgs' bills so thats usually what dominates everything
>>95963024
I actually like my players at this point its 100% a me thing

>>95960035
I feel for you one good thing about being trapped as a forever gm is you can get your pick of the litter provided you arent objectively terrible at running games

fucking 4chan thinking long replies are spam
>>95956838
I am the nearly unheard of gurps gm but also run WoD20th

>>95956659
I will say from personal experience good fucking luck even finding something if you arent looking for D&D, pathfinder, or V5

>>95919006
You've gotta be the worst poster I've seen in a long time. Just because the guy likes to DM doesn't mean he should always have to, and just because he wants to be a player sometimes doesn't mean that his DMing was always some weird transaction.

>>95969294
I don't even really think its that as much as a lot of people get into the mindset that as players they arent supposed to do much and just be passive observers