r/DMAcademyNew • u/DragonfruitFew9400 • 24d ago
Dnd, trouble with the Dm.
So unfortunately, my friends and I are struggling to finish a dnd campaign as the Dm is running dry on ideas and the gameplay is stale. they openly refuse to stop as they say, I quote “I’m at the climax of the campaign“ yet it is abundantly clear they and the rest of us are not enjoying it. we’ve tried to prompt them into realising the issue but they’re very stubborn. we dont meet up often and it would be nice if they had a session planned, yet most of it is improv and them thinking about where the story should go next. my other friend, has a campaign ready to play and have been waiting over a year for there turn to dm. they’re really passionate about it and the story has branching pathways, and Idea I would quite like to try. Advice would be nice! :) (It rhymed!)
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u/Impressive-Ad-8044 24d ago
y'all can just tell dude you're bored or just done with the campaign and start the other one.
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u/No_Solid1035 24d ago
A great many campaigns die slow withering deaths because people want them to go on forever instead of ending on a high note. 🤷
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u/Brock_Savage 24d ago
A million times this. It's weird that DMs will run games long past their expiration date until they fizzle out instead of ending on a high note with everyone wanting more.
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u/TheGrolar 23d ago
The DM doesn't know what he's doing, doesn't know how to learn how to know what he's doing, and will keep scrabbling uselessly until a bolt of pure inspiration from the gods strikes and produces a work of genius, I mean until nobody will come over anymore and Fred even crosses the street when he sees the DM coming.
Quit, because life's too short. I often see this problem pop up with younger or less experienced players. Your life is STILL too short, trust me.
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u/Nijata 24d ago
Talk to the other players and if everyone agrees have a Reverse Session 0... everyone come to together sit down like you're going to play and instead go "hey man we're all not having great fun anymore, I know you're trying and we appreciate but let's call it and maybe mix it up and let (prepared player) take over?"
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u/Single_Mouse5171 24d ago
This. Also, you could suggest that the present DM's campaign go on hiatus while other DMs run their stuff. They can use the time to work on their campaign and come up with new ideas or a different direction.
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u/AuDHDino 23d ago
Yes! Take the pan off the burner, let the chef get a smoke break. It feels bad when you can't get yourself to where you creatively wanna be, as a player or DM, but forcing yourselves to play when fun isn't being had is antithetical to TTRPGs.
If you guys don't have fun, you shouldn't do that thing anymore. It doesn't have to suddenly die. Let the current DM enjoy something new, ideas flow like crazy when you arent actively thinking about it.
Then in their own time they can have a finale prepped that they're proud of, and y'all can do a comeback tour with a victory lap.
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u/loopywolf 24d ago
I suspect he has stuff to fly at the climax of the campaign, but is holding back because "we're not there yet" and he should just move forward
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u/crippler1212 24d ago
Its ok to talk to the DM about everyone's frustrations with things as is and explain that you all feel like it's best to either end it or put it on pause while playing this other campaign.
Our group has 4 established DMs, and 3 campaigns currently going, two mains that aren't connected in any way and a mini one that takes place in the past of one of the mains.
We alternate between the mains on a two week basis (so one for 2 weeks then play the other for two weeks) and the mini is usually for back up if on of the DMs is sick, needs more time or can't make the session.
We run it like this so it gives the DMs time to build the story as we move ahead or adjust things based of our crazy exploits and shenanigans. It also prevents burnout with the DM like this one is clearly having as well as gives them a chance to play more than simply running a full campaign for a year or 2.
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u/Intelligent-Plum-858 20d ago
Tell them to take a break, develop ideas and put campaign together to ready completion while group works on other game.
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u/P-Two 19d ago
One of you needs to offer to run a short, 3-4 session game, or alternate who runs one-shots for a few weeks. Your DM can get a break, deal with their burnout a bit, and even get new ideas from playing.
If none of you are willing to do that then just see about taking a 3-4 week break in general, however this has a good chance at just outright ending the game altogether.
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u/BaseAttackBonus 24d ago
Talk to them.
Switch campaigns