Running the game you CAN run (Or "Gaming compromises in adult life")

[Max_Killjoy]

So whatever you do, don't listen to Max for advice on how to handle this issue. ;P

I intended it as commiserating.

[RazorChain]

Two thing which I have started utilizing is switching to a system which doesn't have Shonen levels of power escalation (so most systems except for D&D) and having a persistent world. RPGs which don't escalate as rapidly allow for you to not have to customize nearly as much which makes scenario generation much faster. Persistent worlds allow you to not have to generate a new town and NPCs every time one is required.

They synergize quite well since it means you aren't dealing with "high-level" and "low-level" areas as much as riskier and safer areas. The downside is it normally takes years worth of playing to have a world built up enough, however this can be alleviated somewhat by limiting the world which is available to one small area. Design one city or town and have your games be "The Adventures of Thorn Valley".

Actually this is a really good point which I haven't even thought about as I seldom play D&D and never run it. The time I've saved just having a persistent world that I've managed to run 2 years in the same campaign without introducing new villains, monsters, npc's because of power level. During these 2 years the PC's are about 50% stronger in point total and they started as competent adventurers.

[Jay R]

This is going to sound trivial, but it isn't.

If you want more time to plan things, stop listening to music when you're alone in the car.

[Tinkerer]

This is going to sound trivial, but it isn't.

If you want more time to plan things, stop listening to music when you're alone in the car.

Or change the way you listen to music I often do some of my best RPG planning when listening to music as long as I shift my brain into that mindset.

Actually this is a good point though, pepper your RPG planning through your day. I often sprinkle in RPG planning while working on spreadsheets (because they are so very dry), jotting the results down in my notepad for 5 minutes every hour to give my eyes a break. I keep a gaming notepad in my bag almost all the time, or I use the voice recording on my phone (I never type on my phone since I'm on screens 13 hours a day, don't need any more).

[RazorChain]

Or change the way you listen to music I often do some of my best RPG planning when listening to music as long as I shift my brain into that mindset.

Actually this is a good point though, pepper your RPG planning through your day. I often sprinkle in RPG planning while working on spreadsheets (because they are so very dry), jotting the results down in my notepad for 5 minutes every hour to give my eyes a break. I keep a gaming notepad in my bag almost all the time, or I use the voice recording on my phone (I never type on my phone since I'm on screens 13 hours a day, don't need any more).

I always get reminded how lucky I am having a job that allows me to move around. From when I was in the army and my best buddy was complaining about his back and wrists because of his IT job and I just laughed him off as I reminded him that I had to lug around up to 80lbs or 35-40kg of gear and he was the one complaining. Only 20% of my workday is administrative and it's the part that I like the least as my mind is occupied :D, a lot of my workday involves driving and that time I can use to plan.

My players often comment that I've put some serious thinking into my plots, predicting their moves and the campaign in general....I'm not divulging that 2-3 hours of my day go to plotting and planning my roleplaying campaign

[WarKitty]

One of my tricks is to have lots of random stuff to throw around. I make lists of names - if I need a new NPC, I just grab one. Civilizations have hats, often based on some either historic or fantastical civilization. I also have a rough idea of the region and climate, enough to do quick flavor. For example, a desert culture is likely to have a lot of mud-brick architecture, have extensive irrigation systems around town, and, to pick two, eat dates and sorghum. Let's make them roman based; strong sense of society, open and flexible polytheism, strong military with an idea of honor, but flexible about accepting strangers. Add a touch of a medieval guild system to make it feel like I didn't just rip things off. Boom, now I have a complete-feeling city.

[Florian]

I spent some two hours a day commuting to and from work, so I use that for prep once or twice a week.

We play the game very simple: This is the AP, make your characters, play along, don´t leave the rails, don´t do something overcomplicated, we only have 4 hours to play, so no solo stuff, non non-essential stuff, no rules arguing.

[Kol Korran]

First of all, thanks for the replies, whether as advice, or just sharing your own difficulties.
I'm not sure if it's funny or not, but I barely got time to sit and write this response. Thanks the kiddo who oversleeps a bit.

I have been practicing/ doing many of the suggestions for time management people suggested. I'm considered a very active and "efficient" person, but I also tend to be quite thorough and comprehensive in my endeavors, perhaps too much... (If you've read any of my logs, you'll notice they tend to be... long...). It's a struggle for me to do things differently, which may be part of the problem...

Oh, and I also plan most of the sessions in my head first. I end up writing very little on paper, but... that takes time and a free mind. These days when I do have little spare time (Such as while driving), my mind is often occupied with lots of other planning (patients, planning for time with the family, going over studies, planning stuff ahead and similar) I do think of the game from time to time, but far far less than in the past...

I think the major problem though is adjusting my expectations for gaming, at least in the near future (The next few years). Some of you commented about doing one/ two shots, rotating GMs, accepting that long very involved campaigns will not work and more... I understand that, mentally... But emotionally? Heck, I think part of me is grieving a bit. The game have played various roles in my life (I've written a bit about it), and in the past few years it has become a great outlet for creativity and escapist fun, but in a very... "involved" way? Adjusting to this change is hard, and I can't say I don't feel a pang of regret for it. A bit like having to say goodbye to an old friend or relationship, ans "settle" for another friend/ relationship, which you don't really know...

Anyway, I've gotta run (again), but I just wanted to thank you all. You've been both kind and helpful (I'll try to incorporate some advice I haven't been doing). So thanks!

Kol.

[Jay R]

I think the major problem though is adjusting my expectations for gaming, at least in the near future (The next few years). Some of you commented about doing one/ two shots, rotating GMs, accepting that long very involved campaigns will not work and more... I understand that, mentally... But emotionally? Heck, I think part of me is grieving a bit. The game have played various roles in my life (I've written a bit about it), and in the past few years it has become a great outlet for creativity and escapist fun, but in a very... "involved" way? Adjusting to this change is hard, and I can't say I don't feel a pang of regret for it. A bit like having to say goodbye to an old friend or relationship, ans "settle" for another friend/ relationship, which you don't really know...

Yes, everything that takes up time replaces time spent on something else. You let some things slide when you started gaming, and this is no different.

But that old friend will be back someday. Start looking forward to teaching the game to your child(ren) ten or fifteen years from now.

[Airk]

I think the major problem though is adjusting my expectations for gaming, at least in the near future (The next few years). Some of you commented about doing one/ two shots, rotating GMs, accepting that long very involved campaigns will not work and more... I understand that, mentally... But emotionally? Heck, I think part of me is grieving a bit.

I know that this is an emotional response, but you also have to intellectually latch onto the idea that it is WRONG. You can have AMAZING gaming experiences in one shots that will blow away many campaigns because in a campaign all that stuff is spread out over twelve sessions, whereas in a oneshot it all hits you in an hour.

Shed the idea - and berate yourself if you find yourself thinking it or feeling it - that you are somehow accepting a "lesser" form of gaming here. You might have to accept a lesser volume, but screw that, quality over quantity any day.

The game have played various roles in my life (I've written a bit about it), and in the past few years it has become a great outlet for creativity and escapist fun, but in a very... "involved" way? Adjusting to this change is hard, and I can't say I don't feel a pang of regret for it. A bit like having to say goodbye to an old friend or relationship, ans "settle" for another friend/ relationship, which you don't really know...

Again - there is a difference between "involvement" and "time commitment"; You can have one without the other.