The Phoenix Empress @gracebladesong - Tumblr Blog

Flash Giveaway! The 2023 version of our calendar is ready, and we’d like to give out a few copies to the community!

If you would like a chance to receive a free physical copy of our calendar, simply reblog this post. Winner will be chosen in four hours.

#uesp #calendar

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Candle in the Wind? – Combating DM burnout

Hullo, gentle readers. This week’s question is a toughie, and it addresses something I battle with myself. Anonymous asks, “How would you deal with DM burnout? I ran a campaign for almost a year and a couple of the players weren’t very nice and I ended up canceling the campaign fully. I haven’t DM’d for a whole bit I don’t know how to fully deal with the burnout.”

DM Burnout is definitely a tough issue, Anon. I would say that anyone could get burnt out if they were dealing with not-so-nice players, but that’s kind of its own problem.

For those who’ve never DMed, it can indeed burn you out. You do lots of work to create a world and adventures, you try to show a party a good time, but, even when everything goes right, sometimes it all just gets to be too much, and you feel burnt out and unhappy with your game. First and foremost, know that there’s nothing wrong with you, and you’re not “failing”. DMing may be tons of fun, but it’s also hard work, and anyone can fall victim to it, myself included.

My short-term advice, and the best way to handle burn out of any kind, in my opinion, is to take a break. If at all possible, bring the immediate situation or story to an end, then call a halt. It’s better if you can give the players a bit of a heads up, and it’s totally fine to be honest. “Folks, I’m getting a bit burnt out. I’m going to run the game until you finish exploring the Haunted Granary, and then I’d like to call for a hiatus.”

With any luck, someone else might want to take over the reins for a while. If you’re comfortable with someone else running games in your campaign setting, work with them and play a character while they tell their own story. Alternately, they may want to run their own campaign, or even a totally different RPG system.

If no one else wants to try their hand at DMing, you could always get together with your players and watch movies or play boardgames. It’s best to try and keep the communication lines open to avoid your players drifting off to other pursuits.

Something to do is to examine why you’re feeling burnt out. If it’s an example like our Anon friend whose players were jerks to them, ponder the root of the problem. Are you really burnt out, or should you just be looking for better players? The problem might lie in a situation like that, and it might simply be a case of you looking for new and better folks to play with, or at least players you’re more compatible with.

It could also be a case that you’re not enjoying the game system that you’re involved with. A few years ago, I found myself in a pickle. I was feeling super burnt out on my own Shattered Pact campaign. I thought about taking an extended hiatus, maybe even stopping the game much earlier than I’d originally intended. Then I realized that it wasn’t my campaign or my players that I was getting burnt out on – it was the system. We’d been playing 4th edition D&D, and I really wanted to play 5th edition, and the 4E online tools were no longer being supported, which made leveling characters and customizing monsters a lot harder.

I talked to my players about converting and, with their support and blessing, we made the switch. It wasn’t perfect, because not everything converted over smoothly, and my poor husband still misses the 4e cleric, but it renewed my desire to continue the story, and we’re still playing to this day.

Sometimes when I’m having writer’s block or DM burnout, I return to my roots and read the various game manuals for inspiration. Sometimes I go back and read earlier editions of the game, finding kernels of inspiration that might reignite the spark. Alternately, you might read some heroic fantasy novels to jumpstart your creative juices, or other kinds of books for that matter. I’ve gotten lots of story and campaign ideas while reading books of fiction, history, and the like.

Anon, I hope this helps you see that there’s nothing wrong with experiencing DM burnout and gives you some ideas on how to combat it. I hope you’ll be back behind your screen soon, but don’t force it. Come back to the seat when it feels right. Your story will be better for it.

#d&d #D&D #d&d 5e #dnd #DnD stuff #DnD 5e #dungeons & dragons #Dungeons and Dragons #dungeon master #DM advice #GM Advice

uesp

Today is the 23rd birthday of the UESP! Yes really, 23 years now. The UESP is three years older than Google, six years older than Wikipedia, and is eleven years older than Tumblr. To celebrate, we’re giving away one of our collectible TES coins. To enter for a chance to win, just reblog this post. A winner will be chosen in one day. Good luck!

#UESP #The Elder Scrolls #23

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A few joking D&D achievements.

( All images used are No-Attribution Required stock images. )

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Forgot these two.

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More fake achievements.

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Yet more fake achievements.

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More!

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So… I heard people wanted more of these?

dungeoneering102

Reblogging so more DMs can see this. My players would love having this with them.

#dnd 5e #dungeonsanddragons #dnd #5e #d&d #d&d 5e

uesp

Still want a UESP Calendar, but didn’t get one yet? You’re in luck, we’re going to giveaway five more calendars through Tumblr. Reblog this post to get entered for a chance to win one of the five remaining calendars.

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Pacifist Domain Cleric by Jonoman300

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Night Domain Cleric by Jonoman3000

uesp

Holiday giveaway! In one day, one lucky winner will win a copy of our calendar! Simply reblog to enter the contest!

uesp

Holiday giveaway! In one day, one lucky winner will win a copy of our calendar! Simply reblog to enter the contest!

uesp

Holiday giveaway! In one day, one lucky winner will win a copy of our calendar! Simply reblog this to enter the contest!

uesp

Holiday giveaway! In one day, one lucky winner will win a copy of our calendar! Simply reblog this to enter the contest!

uesp

Holiday giveaway! In one day, one lucky winner will win a copy of our calendar! Simply reblog to enter this giveaway!

uesp

Every year, the UESP tries to send out presents for the Holiday Season. This year is no different, we’re sending out calendars this year.

To be entered for a chance to win the first of several calendars we’re giving away, simply reblog this post! One random winner will be chosen tomorrow!

Keep an eye on our blog for future giveaways, as we have a few more of these to send out!

#UESP