kgerm
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 7
Preferred Game Systems: VTM, SR4, Mutants&Masterminds,
Currently Playing: SR4
Currently Running: VTM
Favorite Species of Monkey: The big blue ones from outer space as long as they are not a dozen.
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Post by kgerm on Jul 10, 2017 6:43:52 GMT -8
I agree that you are putting a lot of stress on yourself. It seems to me you are either GMing bought adventures or trying to finish the adventure before you present it. In my opinion both is risky. The most stressful experience I ever had was when tring to run an adventure I had bought. I always tried to keep the players on track and it never really worked. After I was done I never bought an adventure again. My advice would be, make an adventure yourself, if you haven't yet. Make only the surroundings like world, NPC'sand the beginning of the story. Present a problem and then let it run wild. Go with whatever the players do and only react to what they offer. That makes things a lot easyer for me. Granted, you will need some improvisational skills, but even for that you can prep to some degree. Fantasy game? Print out traps, places minions and a bad guy. Things like that.
I hope that helps. I really wouldn't give up on GMing. It's very rewarding, even if you have to put up with some not so nice people at cons like those who leave your session early.
Good luck!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 17:14:34 GMT -8
A lot of good advice here. I had a lost-confidence scenario going on here as well, comparing what I'd run back home in Michigan and how I was chasing that feeling and not finding it any more, which was furthering my doubt. My friends run year-long campaigns, and my games which start with great ideas fizzle. Causes me to feel I'm not pulling my weight.
So I've started committing only to running a 'pilot'. If the 'pilot' makes it to series, great. If it doesn't, pitch another 'pilot' later.
I agree with the point about only build what you need. Keep a list of names or other ideas to fill in if they go into the Woods. That was one thing I liked in the 4e base Points of Light: each city had its own issues, and between the cities were pretty hazardous dangerous lands. I think of it like 'zones' in WoW, each has a theme. But you know what? still left a ton of ground open for anything to fit in.
Don't give up. You can do it. And don't force yourself. If you need a break or just to play or relax or whatever, take it. That's good advice for GMs AND players...
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Post by kaitoujuliet on Jul 23, 2017 7:23:01 GMT -8
Thanks again, everyone. Here's what I'm thinking I'll do.
At the con, I'll just teach A Taste for Murder, my familiar go-to indie game. It's GM-less, so I don't really have to run it, just teach the rules and nudge the players where needed. I've taught this particular game many, many times, so I should be able to handle that.
The in-person group continues to meet sporadically. Fortunately for me, the other regular GM (the one who has the health issues) is bursting with ideas right now, so he's happy to run games whenever he feels up to it. When he doesn't, I'm not going to sweat trying to prepare anything. Either one of the other occasional GMs will step up, or we'll play board games or something that week.
The online group is also having a difficult summer due to life issues on their end, and they don't seem in any special hurry to start up again. So I'm going to use my downtime to craft an adventure for us to play through whenever they do get ready to start, with no time pressure.
I really do miss gaming, though.
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Post by uncommonman on Jul 23, 2017 10:13:24 GMT -8
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tomes
Supporter
Hello madness
Posts: 1,438
Currently Running: Dungeon World, hippie games, Fallout Shelter RPG hack
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Post by tomes on Jul 23, 2017 15:13:00 GMT -8
Oh my god... 1 GM playing 100 1-on-1 games with 100 players. That is lovely to behold.
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SirGuido
Supporter
Drizztmas Santa
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Posts: 2,127
Preferred Game Systems: L5R, Traveller, Fate Accelerated, Masks
Currently Playing: Nothing.
Currently Running: Nothing.
Favorite Species of Monkey: Anything in a Cage.
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Post by SirGuido on Jul 24, 2017 5:23:00 GMT -8
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Post by uncommonman on Jul 24, 2017 6:52:55 GMT -8
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SirGuido
Supporter
Drizztmas Santa
Ask me about the Drizztmas Exchange!
Posts: 2,127
Preferred Game Systems: L5R, Traveller, Fate Accelerated, Masks
Currently Playing: Nothing.
Currently Running: Nothing.
Favorite Species of Monkey: Anything in a Cage.
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Post by SirGuido on Jul 24, 2017 8:23:42 GMT -8
Oh I know. Just hadn't seen that one. I like r/rpghorrorstories
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Post by uncommonman on Jul 24, 2017 9:44:41 GMT -8
Oh I know. Just hadn't seen that one. I like r/rpghorrorstories I didn't know about /r/rpghorrorstories, thanks.
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Post by chronovore on Jul 26, 2017 13:16:27 GMT -8
Oh I know. Just hadn't seen that one. I like r/rpghorrorstories Well, great, there went my afternoon. **waves bye-bye** It's truly horrorstories, because in many cases it's not just the DM -or- Players who have chosen poorly, but both sides. The top story up there which ends with Players proposing to rape a baby dragon, the alarms for that one start VERY EARLY ON, and would have been dealbreakers from me before we ever sat down at the table. "Homebrew this stuff for me, 'cos I want to play a character in a book I wrote." Naw, fam, we're done already — fuck you in half.
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SirGuido
Supporter
Drizztmas Santa
Ask me about the Drizztmas Exchange!
Posts: 2,127
Preferred Game Systems: L5R, Traveller, Fate Accelerated, Masks
Currently Playing: Nothing.
Currently Running: Nothing.
Favorite Species of Monkey: Anything in a Cage.
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Post by SirGuido on Jul 26, 2017 13:38:35 GMT -8
Oh I know. Just hadn't seen that one. I like r/rpghorrorstories Well, great, there went my afternoon. **waves bye-bye** It's truly horrorstories, because in many cases it's not just the DM -or- Players who have chosen poorly, but both sides. The top story up there which ends with Players proposing to rape a baby dragon, the alarms for that one start VERY EARLY ON, and would have been dealbreakers from me before we ever sat down at the table. "Homebrew this stuff for me, 'cos I want to play a character in a book I wrote." Naw, fam, we're done already — fuck you in half.It's fantastic right? Read the Kevin Costner series.
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Post by uncommonman on Jul 28, 2017 6:24:30 GMT -8
Well, great, there went my afternoon. **waves bye-bye** It's truly horrorstories, because in many cases it's not just the DM -or- Players who have chosen poorly, but both sides. The top story up there which ends with Players proposing to rape a baby dragon, the alarms for that one start VERY EARLY ON, and would have been dealbreakers from me before we ever sat down at the table. "Homebrew this stuff for me, 'cos I want to play a character in a book I wrote." Naw, fam, we're done already — fuck you in half.It's fantastic right? Read the Kevin Costner series. www.reddit.com/r/DrunkOrAKid is surprisingly funny.
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Post by leatherneck on Aug 7, 2017 8:55:02 GMT -8
kaitoujuliet, I know I’m late. How are things working out?
I handled a similar problem and was completely disheartened with GMing. I changed it up and made the gaming night a non-RPG night. For about a year we did easy to play games that involved lots of talking and laughing. For my friends it was the card games, Munchkin, Nuclear War, and Naval War. When there were problems with attendance, it didn’t matter with these games. I got a relief from the struggle of plots failing because of players cancelling on me.
After a year, my mind reset and we had reestablished our friendships. I then ran a campaign that lasted more than 5 years. So, take a break from GMing and play light hearted, friend friendly games.
As for Cons, I don’t have too much experience there. But I don’t run more than one RPG at a con.
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