Dealing with In-Game Burnout

[Salmijr]

But, But, how will I get my Dring if we dont do kings? Never mind that Phoenix hasnt seen a Dring in a year...

And yea, I like kings, I just dont like kings at ass-o-clok in the morning because 5 maintenances keep shifting them.

[arus2001]

Taking some time to investigate personality clashes could help in easing some LS tension, too. I'm not wild about some of our shell's current sacks, but jumping for Aion for 8 months probably invalidated any "say" I might've had in their eventual appointment. With that in mind, if they're not keen on giving off days, I just take my own. Should they feel so compelled to boot me, then their loss. Probably the only thing that's kept me around is me being fairly chummy with the two older leaders and at least on good terms with the third. I made it pretty clear when I came back to the game that I'm not going to "live" it. I know it's hurt me in some aspects when it comes to getting help for little things, but gone are the days of me keeping myself up for a Kings camp or something stupid like that.

Anyway, guess my main point was while you can't expect everyone to get along, sometimes the reasons are pretty legitimate. If you find there's a centralized source of discontent, it might be good to do something about it. Just don't get too critical, as I see some shells acting like this is still 2005 and are hyper-critical about future admittance while their own active member lists steadily decline for varying reasons (XIV is likely to be a hit for most rosters).

[kittycatrag]

Do you even like the people you're getting items?

Being a linkshell leader has perks, so make sure you're not missing out on them:
Relic sponsorship, getting internet women to come to your place for some jail lubbin', and a rise in social status. Get some

[Claim]

Do you even like the people you're getting items?

Being a linkshell leader has perks, so make sure you're not missing out on them:
Relic sponsorship, getting internet women to come to your place for some jail lubbin', and a rise in social status. Get some

go away.

[Tagus]

If you're burned out and you're not logging in for days at a time, you need to take an extended leave (at least a couple of weeks), and reconsider what your motives are for continuing to play the game. You might find that it's been so long since you actually took a look at your goals that they've completely changed. If you try to fight through it and keep playing without doing this, you're probably going to have an emotional or intellectual breakdown.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... this game is an intricate psychological manipulation designed to get your monthly fee. It's a great experience, but it will fuck you up if you let it.

[Francisco]

I disagree with the vast majority of this post. I do agree with delegation being the most important thing, however. No idea what your LS does, but if you do shit 7 days a week, cutting back to 3 days a week is just going to make you lose members, IMO. Cutting back to 5-6 is probably healthy, however. If you currently do 3 events a week already, then /shrug.

I guess it's a case of "to each his own".

Our LS has killed everything in the game as a linkshell except for AV, the big Abyssea NMs and RoZ Kings (because we can't be bothered with them)... we've done Pandemonium Warden as well.

After playing since launch, I personally don't have any interest in fully clearing Dynamis Bastok for the 300th time, or killing my 200th Steamcleaner or 76th Proto Ultima. I also don't like to feel obligated to log on 6-7 nights a week anymore.

The LS I'm in basically does LS Abyssea twice a week, and randomly does stuff like ZNMs, VNMs, Dynamis and Einherjar... but generally it's no more than 2 LS events a week. The rest is free time for experience parties, magian trials, missions, quests, mini-events, whatever the hell people have to do...

I was in a LS long back that did everything - then eventually started doing EVERYTHING (camping Fafnir, KB, Aspi... all three everyday...) - we basically had zero time to do shit on our own... I'd switch to my level 40 MNK, get an invite - then be told to head to Aery on WHM - so I'm pretty much against a LS having no "downtime" (and 11pm - 7pm doesn't count as "downtime" for most people - it counts as sleep/work/school time.

[FailureMidgard]

I guess it's a case of "to each his own".

Our LS has killed everything in the game as a linkshell except for AV, the big Abyssea NMs and RoZ Kings (because we can't be bothered with them)... we've done Pandemonium Warden as well.

After playing since launch, I personally don't have any interest in fully clearing Dynamis Bastok for the 300th time, or killing my 200th Steamcleaner or 76th Proto Ultima. I also don't like to feel obligated to log on 6-7 nights a week anymore.

The LS I'm in basically does LS Abyssea twice a week, and randomly does stuff like ZNMs, VNMs, Dynamis and Einherjar... but generally it's no more than 2 LS events a week. The rest is free time for experience parties, magian trials, missions, quests, mini-events, whatever the hell people have to do...

I was in a LS long back that did everything - then eventually started doing EVERYTHING (camping Fafnir, KB, Aspi... all three everyday...) - we basically had zero time to do shit on our own... I'd switch to my level 40 MNK, get an invite - then be told to head to Aery on WHM - so I'm pretty much against a LS having no "downtime" (and 11pm - 7pm doesn't count as "downtime" for most people - it counts as sleep/work/school time.

And that's fine, but I don't think it's right to tell a shell that 3 events per week is the way to do it. Don't get me wrong, I like time to myself too, but I actually like playing the game and doing stuff. Magian trials are the worst goddamn thing ever, and I'm gonna have a ton of gimp jobs forever now because of them.

[Grey Jorildyn]

This all sounds very familiar Kimiko.

There is no one solid answer to how to manage under the stress, but there are certainly a few pointers worth mentioning, some of which have come up already.

Delegation is very important, but with the age of this game, there are so many events out there now that having one event leader per event is going to pack the house with a lot of leaders. After 6-7, this becomes a really bad idea and diffusion of responsibility hits. When there are too few heads (2-3), a similar phenomenon occurs but this time, everyone's starting at you with puppy-dog eyes to do it for them.

Taking over a linkshell from someone else is never easy. If you have a lot of rules in place, that's great, if you're familiar with them, that is. If you aren't, members will chew you out over it and that will undoubtedly lead to stress. You have to either scrap your rulebook and rewrite it yourself to have legitimate understanding of what's going on, or you need to seek the counsel of your leaders. That kind of exploration will not only bring you closer to them in terms of respect, but also allow you to figure out what kind of leader they are. You need to be able to trust those people and vice versa. Do not be afraid to desack someone for being inactive as a leader--if that goes on too long the only result is complacent leadership.

If events are becoming an overwhelming concept and you need a break, maybe the entire linkshell does. A quick way you can settle things down is putting the guild into a reformation stage. Tell members the linkshell is on hiatus for two weeks while you do some legwork in the short-term to make it better in the long-run. Put up a few polls on your forums. Gauge the interest of members for events and gears. Announce a rotating "day off" each week so members can plan ahead for personal stuff. Implement a strategy/maps section to put more responsibility in the hands of members/leaders. Add some new stickies to interest members/leaders (wishlist posts, a funny picture thread, etc. [the idea is to change the mood]). Post what your vision for the linkshell is in an address to the members. Ask if there are people interested in becoming leaders. This will help you figure out the direction of your linkshell in a short amount of time. While this seems like a lot of work in such a small period of time, it will be beneficial for everyone to have some breathing room, yourself included.

Whether the above is an option or not, think about the software your site is running on too. If is adequately meeting your needs? If it isn't, look around for something that makes it easier to input raids, track points, make sign-ups, manage banks, etc. (I prefer EQDKPPlus, but Stanislav is also working on Guildwork, so check these out). As an admin, you need to have the proper tools to work with as well as the proper personnel. Do a little soul-searching and figure out what is a bitch to maintain and what isn't. Make a choice to enhance your life and your guild's functioning all in one shot.

I've been there, done this kinda stuff, so I have a lot of ideas. If you need more, feel free to PM me.

[Yugl]

I say you get working on LS Trials. Stat gear (Read: Not specialty dynamis pieces) are likely to meet replacements in the next few updates or already have through Abyssea. Trials is the wave of the future for weapons. You might as well circle around these two events from now.

Edit: OP, call the police and tell them your problems. Go!

[Silenka]

If you're burned out and you're not logging in for days at a time, you need to take an extended leave (at least a couple of weeks), and reconsider what your motives are for continuing to play the game. You might find that it's been so long since you actually took a look at your goals that they've completely changed. If you try to fight through it and keep playing without doing this, you're probably going to have an emotional or intellectual breakdown.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... this game is an intricate psychological manipulation designed to get your monthly fee. It's a great experience, but it will fuck you up if you let it.

This guy speaks the truth. I can't remember the last time I actually felt like playing FFXI, even though I was so excited to log on every day even up til a couple months ago. It changed suddenly and dramatically. If the prospect of logging in seems like a huge drag that's probably because it IS a drag, it's quitting time and no amount of being hopeful or getting advice will change that. Sometimes it's just time to move on. If you still enjoy logging in sometimes, but running the shell is your only issue, then stop. Give it to someone else or let it die. If it's C&D we're talking about it's prolly long overdue for that anyway >.>

[Eldelphia]

I just wanted to add a bit more from my personal experience. You need to get this sorted out now. I happened to have my particular 'crisis' during an incredibly stressful time in real life (I was moving and starting a new job). You should have measures in place that should you be away for a couple of weeks, the shell won't collapse without you.

And if I'm honest, it often won't

Don't take no, for an answer. I found I still like to 'lead' certain events but I could hand over parts of them. So... for Dynamis, I handed over attendance taking completely to someone else. I just deal with the flow of the run and the banking. During the run, someone else handles what we do with the drops. I'm trying to get the applications taken care of, but usually we muddle through for dyna/ein and then one of our officers is trying to step up and deal with the main shell apps.

Review your schedule. We've cut down how much we do Limbus, and honestly? No one cares. There was some minor outrage and now we just go once a week instead of twice. We split into 2 runs if we can.

Ditch older events or change the basis upon which they're done. We don't schedule sky unless people have pops. We occasionally schedule Kirin. If people want sky, they farm for it and we pop once they're ready. Happens occasionally but less and less.

My schedule is like this:

Mon - Free
Tues - Salvage (6-7 peeps)
Weds - Salvage (6-7 peeps)
Thurs - Abyssea (NMs)
Fri - Free
Sat - Dynamis
Sun - Einherjar/Event/Limbus

Sundays are busy but its the easiest time to get peeps together. Throughout the week, people work on xp, missions, trial weapons, NMs - anything they want and then come together at the weekend. Small groups seem to form to get things like trial weapons done.

Mart runs Salvage (I have input because we started the group together but he makes it all happen, plans and directs runs/drops etc)

Carp runs Limbus - I was so burnt out on Limbus I was about ready to kill. We still need Ultima/Omega drops but almost nothing so its nice to push this back a bit

I lead Dynamis runs and do the banking/points based off attendance taken by 2-3 peeps. Carp handles drops. During the run I don't have to worry about anything other than making it happen. Mid week I take the numbers I'm given and stick it into our spreadsheet. But I love Dynamis even after 5 years so the energy is there for this.

Einherjar. I would actually rather step back a bit on this but the guy who lead this quit for a while. Eventually I picked it back up but I don't deal with the points/attendance at all. I set up alliances and push people through the run.

On Sundays, who runs our main event changes. If its KSNM99 they pretty much run themselves now. Mart ran Sea for us yesterday. Tends to be the same 3-4 people who are involved but we have had members run something in particular.

Abyssea I'm looking at handing over to someone in particular as they're super interested. We need to schedule runs to go for particular NMS etc.

If your sacks are reluctant to get into stuff - talk to them. Ask them if they want to step down. There are some people who are great at getting people moving but are absolute shit at actually running anything. Encourage that but don't give them pearl sacks. Some peeps are just better being vocal rather than responsible.

[Dantrag]

Dant, if you keep spreading blasphemy like this, I swear to god I'm not going to send you back to the Aery: I'm going to send you into the mines with the Galka.

Not the mines!

[scaevola]

Learn to say "no".

[Kimiko]

This guy speaks the truth. I can't remember the last time I actually felt like playing FFXI, even though I was so excited to log on every day even up til a couple months ago. It changed suddenly and dramatically. If the prospect of logging in seems like a huge drag that's probably because it IS a drag, it's quitting time and no amount of being hopeful or getting advice will change that. Sometimes it's just time to move on. If you still enjoy logging in sometimes, but running the shell is your only issue, then stop. Give it to someone else or let it die. If it's C&D we're talking about it's prolly long overdue for that anyway >.>

Nah, C&D kinda died after <he whos name shall not be mentioned on BG> left for Japan. It's actually HappyEnding which I ended up inheriting the lead from Keziiana and Danita.

[mcb]

so most people are saying delegate and get better sacks. recently our leadership group tried to get an extra sack or two and not one person showed interest. we have tons of new people (a few stay, most move in a month) and a solid long term group and haven't really had much trouble with events until abyssea (people are trying to spam levels late at night and are just too tired to so other stuff). any thoughts on how to spur people to want to become sacks??

[Despain]

After seven years, spending 4~5 hours average a day playing FFXI, I had no other choice but to quit playing. I had done absolutely everything the game had to offer pre-Abyssea; nothing was challenging anymore, all the fun I had in the game came from its social aspect, and honestly the game had hit rock bottom. Doing HNM for final moments of this game probably dug that hole deeper. Ended up selling my account for 800 bucks (was selling it for 350, but ended up having to auction it off) and haven't regretted it at all.

I have every intention on playing FFXIV once it comes out, but as far as FFXI is concerned.. soon as my account sold, I went ahead and uninstalled the game from my PC. Met so many people; ran into many instances where I had to remove people from my friend's list to fit more people. Was always hard to do because every single person on my friend's list had some significance in my time playing FFXI.

So how I dealt with the burn out? Sold account and went to WoW with some IRL friends until XIV comes out. You could just quit for a while and give someone else leadership obligations. This game is not a job, stop treating it as such. Who cares if people count on you. There's no point in doing something if you're not enjoying it, period, especially on a video game.

Ran into many people like that in my day. They treated this game like a second job. Shit was annoying. It'd be funny seeing a sack in your linkshell telling other people to "behave" or "stop acting so immature" in linkshell chat, acting as if they're obligated to be some sort of mother figure to you because they're like 80 something years old (lol).

Anyway, just take a break/quit/leave your linkshell for a while. There's no other way to deal with it.

[Greatguardian]

so most people are saying delegate and get better sacks. recently our leadership group tried to get an extra sack or two and not one person showed interest. we have tons of new people (a few stay, most move in a month) and a solid long term group and haven't really had much trouble with events until abyssea (people are trying to spam levels late at night and are just too tired to so other stuff). any thoughts on how to spur people to want to become sacks??

That's really not a healthy trend in general. Right now is just a bad time for most linkshells, as far as I can tell. Tons of people recruiting, not enough people applying. In order for a linkshell to succeed, period, it needs to have a solid foundation. Even if every new member that applies in June is gone by July, the linkshell needs to be able to function properly (albeit slower, less effectively, etc) with the older members and leadership alone.

There's no real way to force someone to become a sack, or get them to want to do it. Being a sack in a shell is a lot of work when duties are delegated properly. Some linkshells offer incentive to sacks, but in my personal opinion all that serves to do is alienate non-sacks and cause less than qualified members to want to be sacks. You never, ever want to give someone a sack just because they're your friend or an old member, or keep pestering you about it. In my linkshell, being a sackholder is a volunteer position in every sense of the word. All the same rules apply to us as every other member, no additional drop priority is awarded to us, so on and so forth. It ensures that the people who do have sacks have them because they legitimately want to have them, and want to put in the extra effort to make the linkshell successful. Sacks can quit and become normal pearls at any time, but to date (the shell is over 3 years old) absolutely none (that I know of) have ever gone this route.

If your current leadership is just completely overworked, I wouldn't ask for sacks in general. Instead, try to pick out one or two people who would actually make functional sackholders. Make sure these people are responsible, knowledgeable enough about the game to properly lead events, diplomatic enough to handle whatever minor personal disputes may arise on their watch (and to ensure that they don't cause any of their own), and have a personality which is compatible with the position of sackholder. People who are constantly burning out as a normal pearl, who tend to whine a lot ("I don't wanna come brd!", etc), and who tend to polarize people and can't get along with anyone else in the shell will generally not work out well as sackholders. Sackholders need to set an example for pearls, but they do not (and should not, ever) have to babysit them. Once you have a couple people in mind, I would approach them in private. If your linkshell uses a forum, a Private Message is a great way to eloquently and precisely detail why you want them to be a sack, what their responsibilities would be as a sack, and politely ask if they are willing to accept the promotion. If someone declines, don't give them a hard time, or pester them, just move on to the next candidate.

If, after all of that, you are unable to find a candidate who is willing to take the promotion, and your leadership staff remains completely overworked, I'd suggest toning your schedule down a little. Give your sacks a bit of time to relax, log off, exp, craft, do something that doesn't make them want to tear their hair out. If people have an issue with the reduced event time, the burden is on them to be more proactive and help the sacks out so that burnout doesn't crop up in the first place.

[aduidarnenye]

When you're burnt out, stop being a leader. You'll regret it if you don't give up when it's time to give up. Don't feel as if you're obligated or that it's your duty to continue leading the linkshell. The members might try to guilt you into continuing because you got this or that item from them and somehow owe them, but if you just spent two years of your life organising crap then you don't owe them anything.

Don't delegate too much, you might regret that as well, or if you delegate to the wrong people. You might find that the leadership of your shell is taken away from you once people decide they can do everything better than you can, even if you're the one who did all the original research on an event and organised it for years previously. So make sure you're delegating to the right people.

Finally, don't saddle yourself with a super complicated lotting system that will just cause arguments and drama. You can't please everyone so don't even try by putting a bunch of "safe-guards" against loot whores in your lotting system. Arguments about who gets what will wear you out really quickly.

[Chen]

it can be pretty difficult stepping down as leader and watching new people do the job worse. gets to the point were you're co-leading the shell with no pearl sack.

also if you did your job correctly people will follow your orders before the new sacks, which can cause some division

[mcb]

it can be pretty difficult stepping down as leader and watching new people do the job worse. gets to the point were you're co-leading the shell with no pearl sack.

also if you did your job correctly people will follow your orders before the new sacks, which can cause some division

worse job, or nobody doing the job are our two big worries atm. don't want to see the ls die after putting in all the work to build it up.