How to Prevent RPG Game Master Burnout! (GM Tips w/ Matt Mercer)

[@TheRealBoz]

It's kind of ironic that Matt Mercer's final GM Tips is about burnout :p

[@joeymcjagger4028]

how so?

[@WhinyPaluza]

@@joeymcjagger4028 Because its last so its like he got burned out after making the burnout tips (at least at the time he wrote the comment)

[@swish9017]

New goal in life: To become just famous enough to play in a DnD campaign run by Matt Mercer.

[@sociallyresponsiblexenomor7608]

You and me both friend

[@ordinarynerd4448]

Ditto.

[@matthewhamlin392]

So you have to be famous to play with Matt Mercer, I would like to be a helpful aide for the party for 1 session. Not only for Matt Mercer's campaign also for Matt Colville.

[@st4ne4rmthevill63]

It's been 7yrs. How is the goal going?

[@TheVerlash]

I see what you did there at the end, taking your own advice. Clever, very clever.

[@Emilytea]

I'm perfectly aware nobody will care, but when he said "Players, please be understanding of your GM's fatigue. They are busting their ass every week to bring you joy" I started crying a little at how pure and genuine it was. Just be honest about how you feel guys omg;;; (Definitely on my period rn)

[@kamirostorino9416]

well... try running basically 3 different campaigns each weak and at the same time try to develop your own TTRPG system (these campaigns are test ones for a test of mechanics). Unless you do that you can't imagine what a drain it really is. Good thing one of said campaigns is closing to a main storyline end after which i can put it on hold. and other weekly is basically pure hack'n'slash type like any darksouls video game (mostly combat, with spare moments of SOCIAL ACTIVITYYYY)

[@raymorr8713]

@@kamirostorino9416 Just because you do more than the average gm, doesn't automatically nullify other people's experiences. If it's draining it's draining, and they still do a lot of work. You're gming does sound tiring and stressful to me though XD

[@kamirostorino9416]

@@raymorr8713 i know... i know that not everyone can take the same amount of dming without tiring themselves... but for me it is not tiring so much as i rarely prepare anything outside of the world players are in. there is a lot of potencial misteries and lore my plater missed and i do not railroad them into it. basically every session i ask players what do they want to do. where do they go. i'm forcing them to make decisions on what to do next. and i make world react to their decisions

[@raymorr8713]

Kamiros Torino that's awesome, I'm sorry I misunderstood what you were saying :)

[@Striker2054]

Yeah. I've been there on both sides of the screen. It sucks.

[@aenguscunningham138]

I look forward to Satine's run on GM Tips, and I'm definitely going to keep watching, but Matt will always be the ultimate DM for me and it's cool to see him play himself.

[@cjhardlockz5234]

This is one of the best series out there for getting a better understanding of how to run an rpg, and in no small way thanks to Matt Mercer and his great insight. Thanks for doing what you love and being good at what you do Matt. I hope to see you in more of these in the future once we've run the gauntlet of other DMs to give advice. You'll always be the favorite :)

[@NickolasMaximus]

Appreciate all the advice Matt. it's helpful for new DM'S and players. Keep up the amazing work!

[@scottmcintyre2809]

And THAT is why you always cast identify first.

[@jaredknight8838]

Scott McIntyre Girdle if masculinity/femininity identifies as a girdle of giant's strength. It's a cursed item, meant to trick players into putting it on.

[@tinkerer3399]

Jared Knight Depends on the edition.

[@Dhalgrim]

yep two weeks ago was the first week in over a year of DMing where we were sitting on discord and after 45mins of catching up i just had to say "folks i'm sorry but i have nothing. i am just empty right now and have been the last week. can we just play some games?" they were all suuuuper chill about it and reassured me that i shouldn't feel guilty =)

[@ravenclawfairy3648]

I'm currently having GM Burnout, so I really needed this. Thank you :3

[@valsevenav]

I love that they bleeped "sh!t" but not "f**king".

[@joshuahelmeke]

valsevenav THAT’S CRAZY.

[@cheddars2]

Have to say, the swapping of GM role helped our group keep going for quite some time. Everyone in our group will GM if needed, even if it's a one shot. can confirm it's helped with my fatigue, as i lost all inspiration. (doesn't help to have a player who's anal about world building specifics, along with some inconsistencies.)

[@stalelemonproduction]

I'm so glad this came out, I've had GM burnout for almost a year now, and my groups been bouncing back a fourth between one-offs and other systems trying to find something to do. about a month ago I finally got out of it and started planning for a new campaign (mostly so we would have a clean start) and it's going pretty well

[@herman1francis]

Yes, as a gm you put a lot of time and effort, I have over 70 pages of prep for our campaign which has currently lasted a bit less than a year.

[@AnnaTheFallMaiden]

Looking forward to the upcoming stuff, it's always interesting to see how people see it from the other side of the spectrum!

[@karlsalvadoriks]

I was just starting to feel this. So glad that this came out. We just had a week off and everyone including myself are very excited to resume this coming wednesday.

[@thepictotube]

we should have player tips called "How to Look After your GM/DM"

[@theinternethq1910]

ThePictoTube how to appease god

[@racheljacobs933]

This

[@tamaraf69]

Mr. Mercer, thank you for starting off GM Tips. I have been directing my friends to this playlist. It is has been a useful tool for the players to get across how difficult it can be to be a GM but also, allows a noob GM to cut through the complexity to give their campaign the flavor they've create with style and finesse (and without a paranoid/freaking out GM).

[@balgus82]

When the editor bleeps S**t but leaves in "fucking."

[@SmaugUKA]

balgus82 The editor left in a shit as well. I talk more about this on Ablehawk's comment.

[@OrphanHart]

It's probably like how basic tv shows can say it a number of times before ramifications. Comedians deal with this during their shows as well sometimes, for anyone who watches stand-up.

[@lawrencebarber8583]

Thank you for a great run Matt! I am sure that your tips have give a lot of new (and vet) DMs some heart and calmed some nerves. :)

[@sorrowismymuse]

What a clever way to introduce a new host! Looking forward to a new perspective

[@TheAbbyNormal]

My husband has be DMing our group's weekly campaign FOR TWO YEARS. He's been really good at saying when he just can't keep up, so we tap him out for a week or two and play Cards Against Humanity, or someone else DMs a one shot. It's helped keep the group together and meeting at our regular time, without everyone feeling compelled to work themselves to the bone.

[@atlantisray]

What a twist!!!!

[@thewickedpixel]

That was an AMAZING transition!

[@Wulf6491]

Matt has given me many a good tip for GM'ing, as well as my current GM whose game i am playing in. It will be fun to see another perspective and good group of tips.

[@EternalTotem]

whooo. that was awesome. can't wait. awesome way to wait and get a new host much love

[@smameann]

Thanks for the Tips Matt. They have been great. Look forward to seeing the next series.

[@hermanozenaide19]

I just want to say that Matt is one of the best human beings out there

[@Rohml]

At first I thought it was Matt Colville who will take over (Marisha aluded to it somewhere on a Critical Role episode -- we'll she said something about someone working for TurtleRock studios and wrote for Evolve [the game]]). GJ, Geek & Sundry I did not expect this at all. I am happy and waiting for what Ms. Phoenix will be sharing next week. :D

[@laughingcoyote8789]

Thanks for this Matt! I have been working on a new long term campaign, but I have also been in the middle of an eight month long house hunt. We have had some folks do one shots while I am prepping and searching and searching and thinking I should probably prep some..... well, you get the idea. Hopefully in the next month and a half or so, when I'm in my new lair and the books are unpacked I can get this thing rolling!

[@kevinfelton689]

0:55 "take a walk, go to a theater, play board games with friends" Oh prepandemic Matt how lovely your world must be.

[@LordVader1094]

Taking a walk is still an option.

[@kevinfelton689]

@@LordVader1094 not at the moment, since I'm quarantined.

[@FriendlyNeighborhoodDM]

******(Sleight spoiler warning) ****** Lmao..."Girdle of Gender Changing"...what a brilliant and beautiful transition. Looking forward to hearing Satine's tips.

[@aaronoesterle3860]

Does she GM a series like Critical Role? If so, what series?

[@Rohml]

I'm not sure if she DMs. But she plays with her friends (and has vids that document it -- but not in the same vein as CritRole) and is very active in the D&D scene.

[@dndbasement2370]

i'm pretty sure that she DMs too, otherwise why put someone in the GM tips if they never GMed their entire life.

[@jaredknight8838]

Rohml She DMs on hyperrpg, if I'm not mistaken.

[@keithwinget526]

Hmmm... I originally read that as "seeing" not "hearing"... I got a lol out of it.

[@tadious9415]

Matt, thanks for all the tips!! You had a good run! Looking forward to a new batch! :)

[@rmsgrey]

What we used to do, back in my student days, was switch systems along with GMs, letting one person run their preferred system for a term or two and then someone else would start up a new campaign with a new system and new characters.

[@explosionbunny]

We have two DMs in my group; myself and my friend. I'm hopefully going to be taking over soon to give him a break for awhile.

[@Damnationization]

We do the same. I use to DM years ago and I actually took over after our first DM took off. He was a guy I worked with and had things going on. Another player and I will trade places and DM to different adventures. His style isn't the same as mine. I am by the book but "great" at knowing the parties limits. I know one of the members doesn't like our other DM, but I enjoy the break.

[@drizzt7dourden7]

one interessting way of doing it (not my idea) is to rotate DMing between all players in certain intervalls (time wise ormore likely arc wise) while remaining within the same story/setting with the same group of adventurers. its a bit challenging and less free since you have to work with what was given to you (unless you are the first to DM ^^) but it can create an interessting dynamic and bring the other player closer to DMing btw i know the idea from "Gems of Power" ^^

[@HaiImSixx]

Do you and your buddy DM the same campaign or do you each host your own campaigns? I'm hosting one for some friends, but I think another one of my friends wants to try his hand at it so I'm curious as to how others do it.

[@drizzt7dourden7]

well in my group i DM a campain and one of my friedns is hosting another campain in another system at the same time ^^ (this allowes us to play every two weeks while every DM has 1 month to prepare ^^ AND the DMs both can play as well as DM)

[@vordarkshade2960]

I do the same with my group we have two DMs myself and a friend both of us great story tellers, we have two separate campaigns with two different styles, my is more about politics and government where the players arrived at a crime riddled city and slowly began the take over after gaining control of said city they mad an army and now focus on making allies and fighting wars,Our other campaign is more combat focused, we are a band of mercenaries, where dungeon delving is more how we spend our time. As Mercer said come to a natural conclusion to current quests or events before switching it will be much less jarring for your group if you do it this way.

[@TheConnorCraze]

Oh shit waddup. I've always really liked Matt as a DM and valued his videos, but I'm interested to another new take on it!

[@skullrevolver3848]

That ending was absolutely brilliant.

[@MrTehPuppy]

That ending was pretty clever. *Props* you guys. I look forward to whats next

[@ComicSams48]

My group and I were doing a few short adventures (with me as the DM) to teach them how to play while I worked on the main campaign that I'm going to run on my friend's KZbin channel. I made it 5 sessions before I realized I was too focused on the future and not enough on the present. I'm glad one of my players wanted to step in, because I would've been brain dead otherwise

[@Apgl257]

Perfect timing with this series, I'd just exhausted Matt Coleville's catalogue, thank you!

[@WallyDM]

My last case of burnout lasted 15 years.... Glad I finally started playing again. :)

[@nickgeffen8316]

Thanks for all these fantastic and fantastical tips, G&S! So helpful!

[@WASD20]

Your video set is the best ever. Videos are good too. :)

[@8run282]

yoooo :))

[@somethingnasty4145]

Hands down best transition to the new Gm

[@T3n50r]

Really looking forward to hear Satine's tips as well. :) Fun and interesting way to do the transition and since I had to cancel our last session the tips about taking a short break for a short campaign (one of our players wants to give a crack at DM'ing at some point) it's an amazing idea that I might do further down the road when they're done with the place they're at now where everything is already prepared. Maybe I even get to try out the game as a player (I've yet to do it, lol) after a year of DM'ing only as well, haha.

[@vicariousxiv2436]

So nothing against Satine and I am actually kind of looking forward to seeing another GMs perspective........ but I'm gonna miss Matt Mercer all the same.... even though I see him GM every Thursday night....... lol

[@DrasticSkuba]

I find it to be a nice benefit to have someone else who maybe isn't as big on being a GM, but comfortable enough just to do the odd one-shot session. It gives the regular GM a break to be a player, gives the one-shot GM some experience, and mixes things up for other players

[@DalmarWolf]

I have found that reading books is a great way to relax when trying to get my mind off a tricky session prep. Reading helps stimulate your imagination and often gives some fun ideas you can snag, I've gotten mannerisms for npcs, plot ideas, npc concept ect from several different books. I usually do them with a twist especially if I know one or more of my players have read the book in question.

[@sarahware8071]

When I can't think of what to do I usually rely on a couple of my more 'imaginative' players to get them self into interesting situations like the time my Bard decided he wanted to sell airships as a side job which has inspired the entire story arc we've just started.

[@geoffreylewis5435]

Nice way to intro the new GM tips host at the end there, lol. Though I am looking forward to learning more from as many DMs as I can, pretty sure I can speak for a few folks out there when I say we'll miss ya, Matt. Will this be a rotation thing like Signal Boost or are you just taking a break like you suggested in the video?

[@Domin0Affect]

such a clever and perfect ending. I will definitely continue to watch.

[@1Lee]

Why does he saying FUCKING when introducing the wand but they bleep out sh*t when he goes for the belt?

[@mentalwriter]

1Lee 'Cause shit's nasty dude.

[@rixoncrew]

Cute shit is not a noice word m8

[@OrphanHart]

you have to limit the number of curse words or else something bad happens.

[@TheRealDerohneNick]

It's most likely an oversight, but there is censoring for comedic effect.

[@monkey.brains]

He said shit earlier on uncensored too which is weird

[@TheAlchymist]

YAY! While I love Matt Mercer, it's always good to have different views from a different DM. WELCOME SATINE! Also I'm slowly writing my own story to DM to friends who have basically been bugging me for half a year to do it. WOO!

[@thecognitiverambler8911]

The real golden antidote at my table is that three of us (me being one of them) DM's in a rotation. We rotate arcs in the same overarching story using the Forgotten Realms source material. Each DM takes 5 - 10 sessions typically to run their arc, and then the next one is up. This does WONDERS to prevent fatigue and it's just extremely gratifying to get the chance to sit on both sides of the screen.

[@Khae.]

Regarding the fourth point, I noticed that being a GM actually helped my ability as a player.

[@xySuperManxy]

YES. Sorry Mercer won't be continuing this series but hyped for Satine!

[@KalaxusMageslayer]

If a villain was still alive in my gameworld after killing my dog, there's no way in hell the DM is getting a break until the issue is resolved! Unless of course I'm playing a heartless dick or Michael Vick :p

[@matt.oconnor]

Kalaxus Mageslayer Vick did time. Unlike the woman beater Elliott and Joe Mixon. Jokes old now man

[@iotashift]

So you're John Wick.

[@KalaxusMageslayer]

Celebrity Dog Killers are a rare sight in our news cycles, hard to come up with fresher alternatives. When I think Dog Killer only 2 people come to mind, Lord Lucien and Michael Vick. Vick has more name recognition and was more recent than Fable 2 release. ^_-

[@castle8647]

Lord Lucien ?

[@theprofesser944]

the main villain of fable 2. Spoilers, he kills your dog at the end.

[@DorklordCanada]

Love it! Can't wait, great to get another perspective.

[@Danny191]

that was a really good way to introduce a new host :P

[@thaken13]

Nice transition into the next person :D Hopefully its a rotation or something, I've grown so fond of Matt.

[@SinerAthin]

I remember the first time I GMed, and then went back to be a player in another campaign, I was genuinely surprised at how... slow... everything went. I was used to managing 10 things at the same time for months upon end, and then suddenly, all I had to worry about was my character and his reaction to his environment. In fact, even with just 4 PC, I still felt disquiet! It was like playing a game on hardcore for months, then going back to Normal or Easy xD

[@dontresuscitate]

SinerAthin that's exactly how I feel. I like dming though so I don't find it an issue - being a player now is too slow for me.

[@Ashley-of6ro]

Nice way of smoothly changing the host ;P

[@tideoftime]

Yay! (Yeah -- definitely should try to Identify an item, if at all possible, before trying it on... though sometimes the end result, even when unintended, can be quite pleasant... ;) )

[@aaronhalver]

we'll miss you Matt!

[@Dr_Scarlett]

Thanks a lot for all your insights, Matt!

[@grashol15]

well that was a pleasant suprise. glad to see more of her after her signal boost run.

[@airjulio]

Was running two weekly games and started severely burning out after about 2 months. One player offered to DM in my place and now I've got a game to play and a game to run. Completely recharged my creative batteries being able to experience things from the other side of the screen.

[@nukefox13]

I'm new to tabletop and I recently joined a group that plans to rotate the GM position. I don't know how often, but it seems like a fair mechanic. I'm a little intimidated by the prospect of being a GM in the near future. I'll get over it though.

[@leorianr]

From a fan from a distant land: ¡Gracias por estos tips!

[@nik700]

I love how Satine talks with her eyebrows

[@davidnorell]

I was in a game group of 10 people. 3/4 of them are game masters. we switched up games every few months. it gave each game master time to get their game better organized.

[@SunfireGTX25]

This is exactly what happened in my group - the DM got writer's block and didn't know what to do next in his campaign and I wanna play D&D no matter what so I decided to try my hand at running a game. I've run 2 sessions and my players are enjoying it so far. I've learned that I'm enjoying DMing quite a bit and love to plan...but I'm struggling with not railroading my players. I've been watching a ton of videos on how to prepare but not over prepare... :)

[@williamwilcox6031]

Our group meets up weekly and we swap between 3 campaigns run by different 3 GMs doing 2 weeks at a time (2 weeks on 4 weeks off). It has worked quite well for us.

[@violetchristophe]

By listening to Critical Role, having the encouragement of friends who are now my party, and reading the material... I've been hosting a campaign that I write as we go, for the past two months... it's been interesting being the DM and having a pc in the party who I use to support the party with healing when necessary. Half the players had never played, and my experience with D&D was pretty green to boot. It has been good though. :)

[@larryphillips3780]

I'll often run an easy side adventure that's has very little or nothing to do with the story when I'm feeling burnt, buys me time until my next session. It gives us all satisfaction of getting to play while still allowing for the burnout recovery.

[@AmyThelovelyelf]

I love the transition of hosts

[@The44thHour]

That was an awesome way to change hosts. Bravo!

[@timgreen6384]

Haha classic! I loved the way you changed DM's for the tips! Oh and ok it may not be classic now but it will be!

[@ganaham9144]

My group has 2 DMs, both running long term campaigns. We basically alternate every time there's a break in the story or one of the DMs needs more time. This requires us to take more notes, but it's such a great solution to DM fatigue that no one cares.

[@IanWorris]

So sad to know it won't be Matt anymore, but that said, welcome Satine, can't wait for the new tips.

[@ollywright]

As a DM who has created 100+ page guidebook additions and managed 50+ NPCs I can say ... great advice. There's really nothing wrong with taking breaks from a long campaign, for the players too. A bit like a long running TV series, where the cast get time between filming each season. Take the breaks at good times in the narrative, if you can.

[@eldritchgm]

a fun little ramble, i myself am an amateur gm, with the burnout lingering my players and i now have 2 campaigns to prevent it long before it sets in, I run a campaign of the Witcher Trpg and one of my players Gms an Edge of the empire campaign, each time we reach a stable stopping point, we switch off, keeping our writing muscles loose and relaxed, and our brains from frying out

[@slimchelmi6940]

that little sway she does while saying "see you on the internet" made her my new favorite person on the internet

[@Awesome_Force]

I think it would be good if each of the players would run a one shot. Like once per month, one of the players runs a one shot to give the regular GM/DM a break once every 4 weeks. If you had 4 players, they would each run 3 one shots in a year. That isn't too much to ask of them, especially considering how many sessions the GM/DM has to run, which would still be around 30 sessions in a year.

[@Awesome_Force]

Everyone could even have a character that they only use for those one shots, so it is a regular adventuring party that knows each other too.

[@blbblb21223]

Dude, one of the best moments in my games was when i stepped down for a break, and picked up my own character, one of our guys, the monk who i recently brutally murdered, stepped up and started telling some good story, well a few months later he returned the favor, as i was playing his monks brother, and we needed the blood of his kin to return him from this place he was banished, so of course my party strapped me to a stick and sacrificed me for the greater good, or so they though, as my body was possessed, I in the real world, stood up at the end of his superbly written story, walked to the head of the table, handed him his character sheet and he went and sat down, then they had to fight my body. Only slightly ironic that a TPK soon after ensued.

[@jessegannon261]

@Geek & Sundry, I am officially petitioning you to hold some kind of contest where the winners get to play a session or campaign with Matt. And of course since it was my idea, I get to be there too!

[@noditschi]

We're doing multiple-GMing, out of the 5 of us 3 GM, so that everyone gets some time off and so that every gets to play their SC to their hearts' content.

[@silverio7]

Cleverly done !

[@dragonhead01]

The letting a player take a crack at GM'ing is what made me realize I like being on the other side of the table more.

[@Grue_bait]

I've watched a bit of Satine's games - looking forward to another great GM's perspective.

[@ZeroStrikerX]

I once made a one-shot where i only knew 20min beforehand that i was going to. Gather inspiration from many movies i watched and based it on that. Everything went very well. Only the boss at the end was a bit too powerful for the party. I had to make him a little weaker on the spot. But they managed eventually.

[@jeanguide3474]

Wonderful tips as usual. And Brilliant change-over. +10

[@OniNoSweeney]

a video about burning out used to show an example of what to do when you're burned out. bravo good sir/ma'am.... bravo!!!!

[@ryandono5721]

definitely take the break if you are feeling the block, my group does it all the time and you always get that itch back.

[@PilotSun-rg9bh]

Thank you for the tips and all you do!

[@SahalafidN]

In our group we have multiple gms so if someone want to rest ozher guy will be the gm Or you can do what i do when i dont have time or when im lazy - and trust me I am very lazy - improvisr, i love impriviseing my whole game or campaign! If I have no idea what im going to do at the weekend, just kick up the monster manual and do something with the first monster where the book opens its a cool way to improve yourself and its fun when you dont know at the beggining of the game what is the end!

[@l3lackhusky]

As much as I love Matt and his skills, I'm pumped to what Ms Phoenix has to offer, I loved her at TableTop :)

[@FriendlyNeighborhoodDM]

I doubt Grog would ever part with his Dwarven belt (and beard), but it would be absolutely amazing to see what would happen if Grog accidently put on the belt of Girdle of Gender Changing.

[@rkk667]

You're just trying to get us all to be GMs! (I love it). Great transition ;-)

[@neilbadger4262]

I must admit that when I decided to try and run a game, in the very first week one of the players was making it so difficult that I thought about stopping it all. Fortunately that player disappeared after the first week and the rest of the players have been very supportive since. Though I must admit I do miss being a player character.