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chromatophoria
 member, 698 posts
 Be excellent
 to each other.
Fri 8 Apr 2022
at 04:38
 msg #1
How do you keep a game from becoming a chore?
Hey community,

What's best practice here, to keep a game from getting bogged down?

"Lite" systems and approaches exist. I've read up on those from previous forum posts.

But what about, when the Lore and the Context of the game become overwhelming to manage?

In particular,

3 players and 1 gm, in an open world, player-led game.

When each player goes deep into their respective rabbit holes to build their character, or their backstory, they will invent characters, factions, environments maybe... And I think that energy is great!

But I struggle to keep ALL OF IT in mind, and feel like I need to keep on top of SO much information, and relationships, that in the end the spirit I started the game with, falls victim to the sense of choredom, keeping notes in a wiki-like tool...

Am I asking a question that has no answer? hahah that's okay too.
engine
 member, 874 posts
 There's a brain alright
 but it's made out of meat
Fri 8 Apr 2022
at 04:45
 msg #2
How do you keep a game from becoming a chore?
It depends what you're asking. If you're determined to do things a certain way, even if that way is difficult, there might not be much anyone can offer. If you feel it's necessary to create lore, to be the sole propriety of that lore, to give the players complete freedom, to not require the players to work within constraints, etc. then you are making a lot of work for yourself.

If you want to have a fun experience that doesn't literally do all of those things but is still fun, then there's lots of room for advice. Just remember that not everything you might be trying to do is necessary or even all that helpful, despite what others might claim.
donsr
 member, 2558 posts
Fri 8 Apr 2022
at 04:50
 msg #3
How do you keep a game from becoming a chore?
i have a note book for each game, and  stcks  of scratch paper as NPC  pop up, or disappear.

 there are a couple main  plot lines..and a few  subplots. The players, through their   RP can create new plot lines ( it  better, when they don't even know they did it!)

 keep the game  moving...events...interactions and side stuff...most player  really want to play, by the GM must have the framework  in place, and  keep the  game moving.

 if it 'becomes a chore"  you're doing it wrong.
1492
 member, 11 posts
 ADD Grognard
 PBP Neophyte
Fri 8 Apr 2022
at 05:40
 msg #4
How do you keep a game from becoming a chore?
Great advice from Engine and Don. In the world of Improv, the golden rule is "Yes, and..." So relax, have fun, take what your players give you, and build on it.

If you are presenting yourself as a GM, aside from module-play, I think you have an obligation at the outset to have a rough sketch of the "world" you are dropping your characters into. It doesn't have to be fully fleshed out. Just a rough sketch.

From there, you can let them build their back stories and take cues from them to help add some detail to your world. Aside from that, just move the story forward, and build out further when and as needed.

If you get to a place where you feel stuck, just tell the players you need a week (or whatever) to do a little work to fill in the blanks. I think most players would understand that.

100% agree with Don that it should not feel like a chore. To me (and I imagine, to most of us on here), RP is the most fun thing in the world. If being a GM is not fun, try just being a player. If that too feels like a chore, then maybe try pickle ball?

This message was last edited by the user at 14:16, Mon 04 July.

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