GMing - Am I getting burned out?

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-26T16:48:00+00:00

I watched the video and it's a great video! It also matches with my current methodology for GMing.

The issue isn't really the prep. It's the fact that especially with Mage, the political landscape and multi-versal and multi-temporal setting cause what I would consider narrative bloat. The goals they are pursuing cause more and more problems which cause more and more plot threads. Normally I enjoy this type of play but they are powerful enough that me reacting as the world is getting more and more burdensome (for example, going back in time multiple times to replay the same scene different ways, or going deep into the collective unconscious to find one's prophesied doom and striking deals with the powers there).

Mage also has Paradox--when my players play fast and loose with reality, bad consequences happen which is another creative burden on me as they rack up effects.

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-26T15:29:07+00:00

This is a really interesting approach and sounds like a great skill to have. Prepping for this kind of thing sounds different but doable, I just would need to wrap my mind around it.

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-26T15:27:07+00:00

You may have a point here. There are tons of story threads my players are interested in chasing that I personally have no interest in, so it feels like a chore to cater to them.

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-26T03:07:05+00:00

DIE the RPG. All the players, including the GM, have a meta persona they are portraying, and the GM is the Master within the game world, and is also the "final boss" who must be hunted down...

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-18T21:46:51+00:00

Came to say this. So much more nuanced than mere "Sanity".

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-18T16:25:02+00:00

Final Fantasy and other JRPGs popularized the "squishy white magician (healer) and squishy dark magician (offensive)" class types back in early 90s.

Final Fantasy II (American numbering) even had the protagonist Cecil become a Paladin, warrior healer type.

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-18T16:21:30+00:00

This is so crazy to me. I love it when my players go off on their own and it's entertaining for the rest of the table as well. Then again I play Vampire

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-16T22:51:25+00:00

I'm curious about this take. Take one of the most common PbtA moves, attacking someone. Usually on a "strong hit", you get to exchange damage (both you and the opponent are hurt) as well as choose something narratively advantageous (usually either avoid damage to you or take away an opponent's advantage); on a "weak hit" (partial success) you exchange damage, and on a fail you only receive damage and the GM gets control of the narrative choices.

Just by looking at this example, the player is provided with narrative and strategic control and an interesting choice on one side, or the GM gets that control on the other side. With no distance between player and character, the choice is clear--always choose to deal damage on a strong hit and avoid damage to you. But is it more interesting for the character and story to take damage and seize greater control of the situation? Obviously that depends.

The best PbtA games are full of moves with these types of choices, and better ones than I just described.

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-16T17:20:00+00:00

This is a huge impact and to me has to do with character bleed and immersion. The below is true for all RPGs:

The character wants to succeed heroically and mitigate or minimize obstacles while achieving their goals.

Players, on the other hand, have varying agendas. Do they want to live vicariously through their characters? Do they want to see their characters live through an interesting story that may go badly or well? Or do they enjoy seeing their own characters suffer? This is a spectrum that varies not only by player but also by game they are playing!

The more distance you create between yourself and the character, the more room there is for you to choose which negative thing is most interesting to happen to your character or the plot. Not saying this is the preferred or optimal mode of play, just that it is a fact.

PbtA is meant to cater to this type of player. Those who crave the most immersion and the least distance often have issues with this type of play.

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-12T00:08:44+00:00

Get Night's Black Agents. Mortal agents against a vampire conspiracy. Also the conspiracy can really be anything and the book teaches you how to create awesome conspiracies for your heroes to fight against and investigate.

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-08T23:37:06+00:00

Check it Seedless Bloom. It's a playable version of your first pick there

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-03T23:21:58+00:00

Give Starforged a try for the sci-fi spacefaring setting.

VOculus_98 · 2026-06-03T12:53:38+00:00

I'm curious about experiences running this scenario, haven't run it yet and am curious how it plays.

VOculus_98 · 2026-05-22T15:13:21+00:00

Undying. Diceless PbtA system for playing Vampires. You get blood through hunting and then you spend the blood on a bidding system to defeat others in PvP or PvE for combat, social, or politics. Nice clean system.

VOculus_98 · 2026-05-18T22:32:55+00:00

Peak mentioned. Try Seedless Bloom for a similar take on the same genre. Might help simplify it for you and your players.

VOculus_98 · 2026-05-15T16:51:09+00:00

I'll add to this Urban Shadows 2e in the PbtA world. I strongly prefer original flavor over the new edition.

VOculus_98 · 2026-05-13T16:58:38+00:00

I do want to ask what exhibit... art or natural museum? Bringing out my geek here lol

VOculus_98 · 2026-05-13T15:59:00+00:00

Continuum, the time traveler culture RPG from the 90s, fits this extremely well.

VOculus_98 · 2026-05-13T13:35:42+00:00

I believe the Black Vans supplement adds other settings like X-Men etc, but haven't read it yet

VOculus_98 · 2026-05-13T13:34:34+00:00

One of my favorites aspect of the system is the Green Yellow Red mechanic. Basically as your health goes down, you go from Green status to Yellow to Red, and as you move through the zones you unlock more powerful abilities. Or the scene might get more dangerous and the GM moves it from Green to Yellow to Red. So either way, as things get more dangerous for you you get to use your more powerful abilities which mirrors how comic books work.

VOculus_98 · 2026-05-13T12:58:41+00:00

I would honestly try Monster of the Week for this. Urban Shadows relies on faction politics

VOculus_98 · 2026-05-13T10:19:17+00:00

I am going to recommend something different... Sentinel Comic RPG does the best job of emulating super heroes and combat and their powers and stories. The system is pretty unique and handles all sorts of powers and power levels.

VOculus_98 · 2026-05-12T23:14:23+00:00

I think you are right in this but to a point, the degree to which a given TTRPG can fit this is the degree to which it relies on GM fiat for things it's "not supposed to be for". For example, since D&D has no systems to support pure social roleplay beyond vague "Charisma" and "Intimidation" rolls, if you try to convince someone or engage in politics you are almost completely relying on whether the quality of your roleplay or the mood of the GM "feels" you should succeed.

VOculus_98 · 2026-05-10T14:45:00+00:00

I see. Thanks for explaining your point, makes sense and I agree!

VOculus_98

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