Not-So-Confidential to My Gaming Group
by Scott Hardie on August 9, 2006
I started writing this out in an email reply to John Gunter, but I guess it should be shared.
I miss gaming with you guys, but I'm on the fence about continuing. I like each of you guys a great deal, but when we're together I just don't feel the click of a connection like I used to. That evening when we saw X-Men, there were numerous stalls in the conversation where we ran out things to say – it had been months since we hung out, and still there was want for topics? The best I can figure is, my tiring career and the drive up there make it harder for me to engage in a gaming session the way I used to. It's like a few chuckles are all I can get or give for the evening, and that just doesn't feel worth it. :-(
You've all gamed for a lot longer than I have and I can't be the first person you know to go through a funk like this, so how does one snap out of it? For what it's worth, this predates the incident with Sly; gaming hasn't been much fun since last summer or earlier.
Three Replies to Not-So-Confidential to My Gaming Group
Scott Hardie | August 10, 2006
Well, there was that 800lb gorilla in the room the last time we hung out, since it was the first time since the last time before that, and that time was pretty bad. I think you're on to something.
There are probably a few dozen factors in all this, compounding over time, building on each other. See? Now, the next time I join you guys, I have all of this waffling over my future with the group to be uncomfortable about.
John has suggested using his forum's calendar, which seems like a good idea, although it is public. I can program another one pretty well I think, but should I go to the trouble?
I'll give more thought to things. Thanks for your support. Warm fuzzies back, my man.
Michael Paul Cote | August 14, 2006
We do miss you Scott and I think that Aaron was right about the "800 lb. gorilla" as you put it. I also know that exhaustion can play havoc with thought process and the like. I also feel that in an RPG setting, it doesn't take much to have an "off night" whether it be as a player or a gm. I know that I've had off nights running Ravenloft and to all I apologize. It's one of those things where something running in your subconsious just won't be over-ridden for very long and keeps popping up at bad and unexpected times. The more you have on your plate, the harder it is to fill with more stuff. Especially if the stuff already there is more important. Maybe, when you are feeling a little less beat, we can get together for short games, rather than worry about extended campaigns. I have enough scenarios that I have run in convention settings, to last a good long time. These are designed to be run in 4 hour slots. With character creation and everything it could make for an interesting day.
I had fun on our XMen trip. Although I did notice the conversation drags once or twice. But, I still enjoyed the company.
Logical Operator
The creator of Funeratic, Scott Hardie, blogs about running this site, losing weight, and other passions including his wife Kelly, his friends, movies, gaming, and Florida. Read more »
Throw Out Your Caller ID
I'm all for scientific research into the paranormal, since it will benefit humankind whether the results are affirmative or negative – but apparently it's awfully hard to keep such research scientific. For instance, I never fail to be amused by ghost hunters who claim to have proven a haunting because electromagnetic readings are higher in the area, a phenomenon that has no demonstrated correlation with hauntings. And let's not even get into the ones who claim to have proven a haunting because a "psychic" said they sensed ghosts nearby. Go »Hungry Hungry Kitty
When you want your dinner, you want your dinner: (link) I do the same thing at China Buffet when they try to take the chicken lo mein off the line. Go »House of Pain
Happy new year! The first month of 2015 has been so terrible that I'm declaring a re-do as if it never happened. 2015 really starts now as far as I'm concerned. Go »Without Teeth
Turns out I'm not the only one in this household in need of medical attention. I took my cat to the vet for an eye infection, wound up getting her a $500 physical since she's overdue, and the doctor wants to pull her teeth in a few weeks for another $400. He says her teeth and gums are impossibly infected and there's nothing else that can be done now. Go »Wests Take Southwest to Southeast
As Steve West mentioned, he and Brenda recently visited Sarasota for a week of fun. In advance, we rented an AirBNB (cat allergies prevented staying at my place) and kicked around some ideas for what to do, but we were concerned about unpredictable fatigue and other medical complications and knew that we had to take it one day at a time. The trip had a bumpy start, with Kelly taken by ambulance to the ER the night before (she recovered quickly) and a difficult Southwest flight and Uber pickup for the Wests, but that all quickly felt like it was behind us as soon as the fun began. Go »
Aaron Shurtleff | August 9, 2006
Well, I'm not the best person to respond (which is why I'll jump out and respond!), because I tend to have stalls in every conversation I'm part of (what little I contribute)! But, since I attribute that to me, I just go with it. For what it's worth, some of the hesitation might have been trying to avoid talking about a topic that is uncomfortable. Even when the conversation swings away, it's still on the mind, but no one wants to be the one who says it. That can often cause the kinds of problems you're talking about, I think.
It's hard to say what will get you out of a funk like that. If it was gaming related, sometimes it's just that you get tired of the PC and you need a change in that area. Maybe you'd be happier in a different setting. As far as gaming funks, it's usually just a matter of finding why you are dissatisfied, and making a change.
However, from what you say, your funk might go beyond that. I'd like to hope it's just exhaustion and your grueling job, but I always want to see the simple solutions (not that exhaustion is easy to deal with, but it's most convenient, I guess, if that makes sense). I think I can speak for everyone in the group when I say that we're here for you, and we understand.
Since I can't go out on a serious note...
*hugs* *warm fuzzies* :P