D&D Slumps

There are a few types of slumps you can go through in playing Dungeons and Dragons or other ttrpg platforms for an extended period of time. My husband and I have hosted a steady table for three years now and after a huge 1-20 level campaign we were all feeling the slumps. It doesn’t mean you are losing love for the game or don’t want to play anymore but like any other game, sometimes you want to try out different things.

For Dungeon Masters things can get overwhelming. After months or years of being all the npc’s, creating all the scenarios and combat encounters, building a world or part of one, they might want a break. In our case, after the campaign was over and the curtains had closed, I planned my own one-shot. I did it for three reasons. First, I wanted to give him a break from DM’ing. Second, I wanted him to be able to make a character because he’d never been able to play as a Forever DM. Third, I wanted to try it out. It was his first character and he like it but the one-shot also reinvigorated his passion for DM work, he hated not being in the DM’s seat.

For player’s, especially those who have played long term characters like I did, want to try something different. If you do become disillusioned with your character I would not recommend just killing them off for no reason, and no “slipping” and “falling” into lava, is not a reasonable excuse. Characters deserve better than that. As adventurers they are the definition of survivors. They run headlong into danger knowing what lies ahead and always fight for their lives. There are other ways to take a break. I really liked what Scanlan did in Critical Role. Instead of killing him off, he had him take a break for personal growth. Leaving like that gives you a chance to come back to that character if you’d like and if not, they live a happy fulfilling life somewhere else.

For miniature painters, we can lose the drive to paint. I love painting miniatures and making crafts for the table but sometimes it can be overwhelming. I have been painting almost as long as we have been playing and I haven’t really stopped since. Recently, I’ve been putting off painting. It isn’t that I don’t like it anymore, I do and I want to keep painting. Sometimes you just hit slumps. I usually ascribe a day where I try to get back into it and that usually breaks the slump. If you can’t muster the energy to do that, don’t feel guilty about it. Every now and then you need a break, don’t be afraid to take one for your own peace of mind.

Everyone can get the slumps, the important thing to know is how to get out of them or when to stop altogether. I’m not saying you should quit playing but breaks are never a bad thing. They help us regain our passion and renew our appreciation for the game. If we ever miss a week because of life or unexpected things I always feel more energized for when we do meet. Distance really can make the heart grow fonder.