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Post by WxMAN on Apr 18, 2016 10:09:13 GMT -6
So, with Daniel bowing out due to space madness, I guess I'm next in line to run. I'll likely need a week to even get up to speed as I was really not planning on running this soon. Which leaves what we're going this Friday up in the air. I'm not sure what to do. Suggestions?
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Post by LabRat on Apr 18, 2016 11:13:26 GMT -6
I'd rather just call it and start on the 29th. It would give me an evening to get reacquainted with Tess, and you some time to prepare.
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 18, 2016 11:16:45 GMT -6
If we're talking sitting out this week, we could at least go over the not-yet-completed Traveller characters, maybe get those actually final—which doesn't necessarily require a face-to-face
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Post by LabRat on Apr 18, 2016 11:59:44 GMT -6
If we're talking sitting out this week, we could at least go over the not-yet-completed Traveller characters Sure. I already planned on finishing her 3x3 and taking suggestions to make the appropriate changes. I would say mid/late this week on getting everything done.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Apr 18, 2016 12:03:31 GMT -6
So, with Daniel bowing out due to space madness, I guess I'm next in line to run. I'll likely need a week to even get up to speed as I was really not planning on running this soon. Anything you need from me (or from us) to help?
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 18, 2016 12:03:58 GMT -6
I already planned on finishing her 3x3 That's not a thing this time around; purely voluntary, if you go ahead
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Post by WxMAN on Apr 18, 2016 13:04:55 GMT -6
Anything you need from me (or from us) to help? Eventually, yes, but not this moment. I'm just on my back foot with this quick change. I'll see what I can do tonight to pull things together possibly for Friday but I have a feeling I won't have the time, especially given how slow of a reader I am.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Apr 18, 2016 13:25:42 GMT -6
No worries. I'm pretty sure we can hold off until you're ready. Maybe we can just have a random GURPS fight with our Traveller characters on Friday or something. Or just call it and skip a week.
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Post by Magman on Apr 18, 2016 19:04:03 GMT -6
I'll see everyone on the 29th. Unless WxMan decides to start this week.
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Post by WxMAN on Apr 18, 2016 19:44:21 GMT -6
Yeah, I think it is best to call it this week. Sorry, but there is no real way to get going with only 4 days notice. Most of my prep work is front loaded.
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Post by Gigermann on Dec 18, 2016 11:24:25 GMT -6
We kinda need to re-evaluate our situation. Right now we have 4+1 (or 5+1 if ChrisIV shows back up, which I can't count on until he decides to communicate). We also technically only have two active GMs, myself and Rigil—McN's retired, and N8/ShLE have a bit too much RL stuff going on to devote time to GMing. McN would like to stagger the GURPS v D&D stuff—though I don't agree, I sympathize; no reason to not respect that. However, with only two GMs, both favoring GURPS, that's not gonna happen. Something will have to give way here. Potential solutions: - I shift focus to Generica instead, which will likely mean Rigil has to bump Red Sky forward
- Rigil tables Red Sky in favor of a D&D campaign—Crimson City, maybe?
- We find another GM(s)
- Others?
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Post by WxMAN on Dec 18, 2016 19:09:58 GMT -6
Why not go Traveller -> 5e w/ Chris4 -> Red Sky -> Kingmaker Part 3(?)
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Post by Gigermann on Dec 18, 2016 19:46:36 GMT -6
Can't exactly count on ChrisIV just yet, and I don't want to obligate you to run PF while you've got school stuff going on.
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Post by WxMAN on Dec 18, 2016 22:11:48 GMT -6
I trust in Chris4
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Post by Gigermann on Dec 19, 2016 9:37:52 GMT -6
I think I've figured out what my problem has been with the current situation: there's been too much "have to" and not enough "want to" in our GMing rotation of late. N8 "had to" step up when I choked at my turn (probably because of the "have to" pressure). Now it's my turn and the "want to" is long gone, given way to "have to"—which, if I bail, someone else "has to." And we're talking about press-ganging ChrisIV behind the screen—so he "has to." We don't have any kind of "want to" safety-net anymore.
Does anyone truly want to run something right now?
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Post by WxMAN on Dec 19, 2016 23:46:39 GMT -6
For the record, Nate "wanted to" run last time - even if I had to jump in quickly. The timing wasn't perfect as I could have used probably 2 or 3 more weeks prep time, but I really enjoy GMing. I just know there is no way I can dedicate the time needed for at least a few months until real life gets figured out in the coming months
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Post by Gigermann on Dec 20, 2016 9:28:21 GMT -6
I keep writing things and deleting them. Can't seem to communicate my thoughts without sounding unnecessarily negative. I really want to move things forward, but to do so, we first need to establish a baseline of facts. - For me, the Traveller campaign lost all its energy a long time ago, for many reasons—some of it's me, some of it's you(all), all of it's understandable and sympathetic, no one's "fault"
- I'm feeling pain/discomfort at the idea of GMing the Traveller game right now, and my (or really, anyone's) first reaction is to withdraw from the source of that pain/discomfort—this is just a stimulus-response, and we can probably get past it
- I don't want to force Rigil/N8 to GM out of turn—that would be unfair—yet I currently have no backup plan
- Even playing RPGs of late hasn't energized me much, even in games that used to; I feel like I've been going through the motions (this is responsible, more than anything, I think, for my bailing on the Walays character in PF)
- I don't think this is a depressive episode for me—a bit more long-term and persistent; if anything, I expect it's just the natural wear of time
- My observation of everyone else, Fri and Sat groups, is that they're all going through the same thing—but that may just be my own "transference"—I just haven't detected any "energy" from anyone else
- This group has gone on (mostly) every week for multiple decades, and I don't want to dissolve or abandon it, at least, for sentimental reasons (of which I have but few)
So: - We can try to find a new idea that can energize all of us, but that's going to require discussion (which will have to wait another half-month at least)
- We can try to re-energize the Traveller game—feels kinda like the post-CPR chest-banging/yelling-at-the-deceased-to-"fight" (which, for the record, does sometimes work)— but that's going to require discussion (which will have to wait another half-month at least)
- We can take a break until the next GM is actually ready, but as this last couple of months has shown me, extended downtime will likely have an opposite effect to what we want
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Post by LabRat on Dec 20, 2016 16:17:30 GMT -6
After reading your response my first question that popped into my head is 'Do you need to take a break'? Unless other people chime in to say otherwise about their own headspace, it seems like you are projecting your personal position upon the rest of the group. Like any long term relationship, you get your highs and lows. I think that we are in a 'low' period due to the lull between GMs as well as this time of year everything screeches to a halt which can be annoying and unsettling. I think that we were at high points while we were doing Rigil's Red Sky and N8's Kingmaker, those are games that I find very enjoyable and I think that we all meshed well as players while being led by really great GMs. The question is do other people feel as you do? Personally, I don't really have RPG burnout, as my work life pretty much sucks and so I look forward to playing a badass that I will never, ever become IRL. It is my end of the week therapy. Some people go to the bars, some to the casino, I go gaming, and it works for me.
As for me being wanting to GM, that's a difficult question for me to answer. I'll admit that it isn't that I don't want to do it rather than I am a bit gun shy. My first and only attempt to run was a personal disaster as I bit off more than I could chew and then personally berated myself for not being 'good' enough. Silly, I know, but personally I am so internally obsessed with doing well and making sure people have a good time that the feelings of negativity would be overwhelming. So I have been hesitant to get back behind the screen. I really do need to try again so that I can put that experience behind me and tell my inner demons to STFU. However, this time I will probably do an adventure path, as it will be easier and more straight forward. I have one for 5e that if Chris IV wants to borrow and run, then he is more than welcome to. If he doesn't want to run, then that may be an option for me. Another option is a Pathfinder adventure path called Rise of the Runelords. I have heard good things about it and it looks interesting to me.
I think at the very least I suggest that you need to run....something. You have been caught in this start/stop pattern for a very long time, and you need to start seeing some sort of positive results rather than just sweeping things under the rug, only to once again come back to this point. Being Sisyphus does you no good.
As far as the rest of the group goes, we still have a week and a half downtime. Maybe when we come back on the 30th we can sit down and figure out what we want to do next, see what people are willing to throw in the ring. I imagine if you don't run, though, we will have some more downtime while another GM gets ready.
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Post by Gigermann on Dec 20, 2016 16:29:38 GMT -6
The game used to be my therapy, especially during my unemployed period where it was literally the only thing I had to look forward to (which was why I got so irritated at absences and lack of attention). I probably would take a hiatus, except it would leave the group "permanently" one short, which would totally suck. I've quit GMing before—doesn't ever stick (and people keep playing along). Right now we don't have a lot of choices. I want to make sure what we end up doing is "fun" for all involved, not something we have to do on the weekend.
For now, I'm giving it one more shot. Next time we get everyone together, we'll sort it out, one way or the other.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Dec 20, 2016 16:48:09 GMT -6
For what its worth, I do have volume 6 of Red Sky plotted out should I need to run next. Have some specifics remaining - mostly images and maps and the like - that I've just been too damned lazy to get knocked out since I wasn't "next" in terms of GM rotation.
As to the generalities here, I definitely do grok where Giger is coming from although I haven't quite hit the same low point he is professing (at least on Friday; Saturday, though, I have been pretty low energy but I chalk that up to "really tired of Person X as the GM"). This holiday season has definitely been the worst in recent record in terms of gaming, both on the Friday and the Saturday groups. I blame you weirdos with families that you actually like to see and interact with which is downright creepy.
Having an actual face-to-face sitdown discussion with all parties is ideal so as to avoid inferred tones and hurt feelings. We absolutely want to avoid a repeat of that last fiasco.
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Post by Gigermann on Dec 20, 2016 16:59:02 GMT -6
I just figure we communicate this sort of thing better in person, rather than in writing—and participation is less uneven. And yes, I have the same issue with the Saturday group as here. I can already feel the Supers flame weakening
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 5, 2017 17:15:45 GMT -6
I thought I'd bring it up:
Our Sat group has decided to start limiting runs to ~6-8 sessions (with exceptions as needed); hasn't gone on long enough to call it "successful" yet, but we've done it in the past that way here, and it works well enough. So my question to the group here is: would you rather take smaller bites more often, or go longer less often (which has been the way lately)?
And no, I'm not trying to get out of running right now—I'm doing okay, internally, neverminding the crush right now—but this week will be #6, so if we decide to change it up, now's the time to figure it out.
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Post by WxMAN on Mar 6, 2017 10:06:35 GMT -6
I'm in favor of letting the GM decide how long they want to run, though it is good if there is some heads up. Such as, it'd be more difficult to run Kingmaker in 6 week chunks as there is no natural stopping point until the end of each chapter.
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 6, 2017 11:12:02 GMT -6
I'm in favor of letting the GM decide how long they want to run, though it is good if there is some heads up. Such as, it'd be more difficult to run Kingmaker in 6 week chunks as there is no natural stopping point until the end of each chapter. Yeah, that one's the tricky one in this regard
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Post by LabRat on Mar 6, 2017 11:38:19 GMT -6
I agree with N8. Some people like to GM for longer periods and for them, it may make more sense for the campaign. I think as long as the GM gives around a month heads up for the next GM to start then it shouldn't matter too much how many sessions someone has been running. If one wants to run 8 weeks and another 6 months and they are both happy, then I don't see too much reason to limit that. Maybe set a minimum run length so that there is more time between those longer runs? So everyone has to GM a minimum of 8 sessions but can go longer if they wish. I dunno, just a thought.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 6, 2017 11:58:49 GMT -6
The real difference in the Saturday group is that we have a crapload of games that various people want to run, so FREX, it may be a year (or even more) between "I'd like to run X" and it actually getting on the docket.
I too believe this is generally going to be a case-by-case basis - when I plan my runs, I'm intentionally trying for 6 weeks so as to give other GMs an opportunity to jump in.
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Post by WxMAN on Mar 6, 2017 13:55:58 GMT -6
I know I have 2 other games I wouldn't mind running, but I try not to think about it because then Kingmaker would slip
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 6, 2017 14:30:52 GMT -6
Well, in this case, I'm asking specifically how the players want me to run here—more often, or longer? Whether or not any other GMs follow suit is another matter, I guess.
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Post by WxMAN on Mar 6, 2017 15:01:19 GMT -6
I want you to run as long as you feel comfortable doing so. I hope that was helpful ;-)
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Post by LabRat on Mar 7, 2017 13:45:05 GMT -6
Well, in this case, I'm asking specifically how the players want me to run here—more often, or longer? Whether or not any other GMs follow suit is another matter, I guess. First several weeks of getting back into a campaign is always rather rocky, so to help mitigate that,I prefer runs that are longer than shorter, more frequent ones. 12-16 week runs would be awesome because it would give us time to get settled into our characters and to have a few really good adventures under our belt.
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