Dealing with GM Burnout

It happens to the best of us—and it’s no surprise. Running games can take a lot of work.

All sorts of prep is involved, even if you’re using published material. There are a multitude of game factors to keep track of throughout the session. There may be clashes with some players over rules or story. And when a GM emotes, describes, acts out, or otherwise paints their word-picture of the scenario...that can be exhausting.

So, yeah. Burnout happens. And it can be a serious problem. A bad case of burnout can drive a talented GM away from the game for years--or even forever.

It’s important to recognize the approach of burnout before it happens. More importantly, here are some suggestions to keep a full-blown burnout from arriving.

Invite a guest DM to run some one-shots

Take a break every now and then by inviting someone to be a guest GM for a one-shot. This could be a friend from outside your normal gaming group, someone from a gaming group outside of your current campaign, or one of your very own current players. The idea is to give you a short break from your regularly scheduled game.

One-shot adventures can sometimes be integrated into long-running campaigns. If that’s not feasible, see if your players would be willing to run some all-new characters for a one-shot or two. They might be just as eager to take a brief break and try something new in order to renew their enthusiasm for your current campaign.

Play a character yourself if you can. You’ll find the change of scenery refreshing and the change of perspective useful.

Recruit someone for three or four months of a different game or genre

This is a more extreme version of the previous suggestion. Sometimes taking a break from just one or two games isn’t going to be enough. You may want to shake things up in a larger way.

Announce to the group that you need an extended break from GMing, but still want to keep game night a thing. See if someone would be willing to step in for a few months to run a different campaign—maybe even a whole different game or genre.

Have you been running a high fantasy RPG for three years straight? How about a few months of 1920s horror? Or 25th-century science fiction adventure? You could even take a dip into Tunnels & Trolls, a fantasy roleplaying game nearly as old as D&D itself, but with simpler rules and its own distinct flavor.

There are many options to choose from and I’m sure you or some of your players have been curious to try some of the great new games coming out these days.

This will not only allow you, as a GM, to refresh yourself, but your players as well. When you come back to “ye auld campaigne” you should find everyone eager to take up their gauntlets and swords and have at the original game again.

Switch editions

Maybe it’s not the campaign. Maybe it’s not the genre. Maybe it’s the edition of the rules you’re running.

Believe it or not, there are some folks who haven’t fully embraced D&D 5th edition, or Mongoose Traveller, or the FFS edition of Star Wars.

That’s okay. If these editions aren’t working for you and your players and it’s taking some of the enjoyment out of the game, try switching editions. Go Pathfinder or D&D 3.5. Go classic Traveller or dig up the West End Games version of the Star Wars RPG universe. Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu has several versions to choose from--all with different feels and atmospheres.

You could go old school and learn the wonders of THAC0 in AD&D.

While that last suggestion might be a bit hardcore for a lot of players, the older folks at your table might dig playing the version they grew up with for a while. One thing to remember about different editions is that they often vary in the amount of player options, scaling of power, and style of play be it roleplaying or combat.

The change might perk up GMs and players alike.

GAFIAte

“GAFIAte” is an old science fiction fandom term (in verb form) meaning “Getting Away From It All.”

It’s probably the most extreme response to burnout, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. People drop out of gaming entirely for years, only to come roaring back with more enthusiasm and energy than ever. You might find the same thing happening to you even after only six months.

Pack up your books. Pack up your dice. Put them away. Resist the temptation to sell them. Take up a new hobby for a while. Many GMs take up chicken farming. Some take up mixed martial arts as a replacement hobby. [Ed. No, they don’t.]

Just realize that this is a temporary absence.

GAFIAtion doesn’t mean forever. You’ll be back.

Watch other game sessions online

I’m closing with a less extreme suggestion. Sometimes burnout comes from just feeling like your style of play and style of GMing are becoming stale.

You like your campaign. You like your players. You like the edition and the genre. But you still feel as if you’re in a rut.

Try watching how others play. There are loads of streaming roleplaying sessions online. Check out YouTube, Twitch, or services that show Geek & Sundry content. Watch groups such as Acquisitions Inc., Dice, Camera, Action!, Critical Role, HyperRPG, Shields of Tomorrow, and a host of other live play shows to see how other GMs and players operate.

Everyone’s approach to gaming is different, and there are really few wrong ways to play. See if any of these online gaming session series can offer you ideas and inspiration in terms of trying new styles of play.

Burnout happens, and it sucks. But it doesn’t have to be the end to your gaming days. Consider the above suggestions.

Happy gaming!