I have been playing D&D for years now. I have played many characters and made countless more, a few of which I have shared with you since joining DDB. I have created and run homebrew worlds and games, ran modules and collaborated with others to write some of the lore for their worlds (nobody famous, of course), and in that, I have made my players laugh and cry; I have made them happy and frustrated. Some have hated me because I killed their beloved character, while others have loved me because I enabled their defining moments.
None have forgotten me.
I argued and agreed, held opinions that made me less than popular and have been persuaded away from them to sleep with the enemy on the greener side of the fence. I coaxed back into the light and found it wondrous when I finally relented.
I love D&D and the people. Although I have played other games, D&D remains my favourite. However, over time, I have become stuck in my ways and have become more of a complainer than anything.
Recently I was complaining that I could not play as a Chosen of Mystra in 5e, and while interacting with the people in the comments, it dawned on me. I have become crusty and stale and quite a brat.
I want things I can't have and then complain when I can't have them. I hate all the new changes and recent popularity of the game simply because it's new, and I don't want MY game to change.
I don't like where I'm going, and I don't want to end up as that old greybeard still clutching his first character sheet close to his heart because it helps him sleep at night.
So!
How do I start again, from the beginning, with the eyes of a newbie.
I have been playing D&D for years now. I have played many characters and made countless more, a few of which I have shared with you since joining DDB. I have created and run homebrew worlds and games, ran modules and collaborated with others to write some of the lore for their worlds (nobody famous, of course), and in that, I have made my players laugh and cry; I have made them happy and frustrated. Some have hated me because I killed their beloved character, while others have loved me because I enabled their defining moments.
None have forgotten me.
I argued and agreed, held opinions that made me less than popular and have been persuaded away from them to sleep with the enemy on the greener side of the fence. I coaxed back into the light and found it wondrous when I finally relented.
I love D&D and the people. Although I have played other games, D&D remains my favourite. However, over time, I have become stuck in my ways and have become more of a complainer than anything.
Recently I was complaining that I could not play as a Chosen of Mystra in 5e, and while interacting with the people in the comments, it dawned on me. I have become crusty and stale and quite a brat.
I want things I can't have and then complain when I can't have them. I hate all the new changes and recent popularity of the game simply because it's new, and I don't want MY game to change.
I don't like where I'm going, and I don't want to end up as that old greybeard still clutching his first character sheet close to his heart because it helps him sleep at night.
So!
How do I start again, from the beginning, with the eyes of a newbie.
:D
Try a new system. For me, the true enjoyment is the act of gaming, kinda regardless of the particular rule set I’m using. You might find this as well.
I echo Born_of_fire74's answer of playing a different system. I saw this question a lot on the World of Warcraft forums, and the answer was "you can't," at least up until I played Final Fantasy XIV and my love of the MMORPG genre was rekindled. The answer isn't to keep playing D&D, but to do something entirely different when you're ready to do it. Forcing yourself into playing it like it's the first time will only burn you out more. Such a feeling has to come naturally.
The sad thing is there's just some things you won't ever experience again like it's the first time, and D&D is probably going to be one of them, or at least this edition. Trace your way back 50 years, to the glow of BECMI, blood and tears...
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Zero is the most important number in D&D: Session Zero sets the boundaries and the tone; Rule Zero dictates the Dungeon Master (DM) is the final arbiter; and Zero D&D is better than Bad D&D.
"Let us speak plainly now, and in earnest, for words mean little without the weight of conviction."
I feel like your best bet for finding a group is going to be Pathfinder 2e, maybe 1e as they seem to be fairly common in my area at least. One of my old regulars runs a Call of Cthulhu game online now that his schedule means he can’t play with us anymore since he’s had to return to work post-Covid. I’m not sure if it would be better to find a system that you’d like to play and try to make/find a group for that or to find an existing group in your area playing some system that appeals to you. I think I’d start with the second option because I prefer in person games. If you prefer or expect online, the first option gains some traction.
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Hi, beyonders,
I have been playing D&D for years now. I have played many characters and made countless more, a few of which I have shared with you since joining DDB. I have created and run homebrew worlds and games, ran modules and collaborated with others to write some of the lore for their worlds (nobody famous, of course), and in that, I have made my players laugh and cry; I have made them happy and frustrated. Some have hated me because I killed their beloved character, while others have loved me because I enabled their defining moments.
None have forgotten me.
I argued and agreed, held opinions that made me less than popular and have been persuaded away from them to sleep with the enemy on the greener side of the fence. I coaxed back into the light and found it wondrous when I finally relented.
I love D&D and the people. Although I have played other games, D&D remains my favourite. However, over time, I have become stuck in my ways and have become more of a complainer than anything.
Recently I was complaining that I could not play as a Chosen of Mystra in 5e, and while interacting with the people in the comments, it dawned on me. I have become crusty and stale and quite a brat.
I want things I can't have and then complain when I can't have them. I hate all the new changes and recent popularity of the game simply because it's new, and I don't want MY game to change.
I don't like where I'm going, and I don't want to end up as that old greybeard still clutching his first character sheet close to his heart because it helps him sleep at night.
So!
How do I start again, from the beginning, with the eyes of a newbie.
:D
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
Try a new system. For me, the true enjoyment is the act of gaming, kinda regardless of the particular rule set I’m using. You might find this as well.
I echo Born_of_fire74's answer of playing a different system. I saw this question a lot on the World of Warcraft forums, and the answer was "you can't," at least up until I played Final Fantasy XIV and my love of the MMORPG genre was rekindled. The answer isn't to keep playing D&D, but to do something entirely different when you're ready to do it. Forcing yourself into playing it like it's the first time will only burn you out more. Such a feeling has to come naturally.
The sad thing is there's just some things you won't ever experience again like it's the first time, and D&D is probably going to be one of them, or at least this edition. Trace your way back 50 years, to the glow of BECMI, blood and tears...
Zero is the most important number in D&D: Session Zero sets the boundaries and the tone; Rule Zero dictates the Dungeon Master (DM) is the final arbiter; and Zero D&D is better than Bad D&D.
"Let us speak plainly now, and in earnest, for words mean little without the weight of conviction."
- The Assemblage of Houses, World of Warcraft
Thanks for the replies. Any suggestions on which game I should try?
A caffeinated nerd who has played TTRPGs or a number of years and is very much a fantasy adventure geek.
I feel like your best bet for finding a group is going to be Pathfinder 2e, maybe 1e as they seem to be fairly common in my area at least. One of my old regulars runs a Call of Cthulhu game online now that his schedule means he can’t play with us anymore since he’s had to return to work post-Covid. I’m not sure if it would be better to find a system that you’d like to play and try to make/find a group for that or to find an existing group in your area playing some system that appeals to you. I think I’d start with the second option because I prefer in person games. If you prefer or expect online, the first option gains some traction.