Dumping your gaming group

So I have an issue. I run a game for a group of my friends and I've reached a point where I don't want to be their GM anymore. Frankly, I'm not sure I want to game with them ever again.

Now the issue is, it's a small group, four including me, and if I drop out, it probably means the group dies. Any idea how to best tell them that I'm pulling the plug ?

Be honest and tell them why you don't feel like running the game and why it's not fun for you anymore. It's a game. Even the GM is supposed to have fun. You've not waived your right to have fun for the sake of the group.

Treat it like a breakup. Reflavour the cliches with dice metaphors. Profit.

I know I'm suppose to have fun, but the part I enjoy the most about G Ming (designing a world and characters with their own motivations and reactions) seems to clash with what they seem to want (faceless mooks who'll cave at whatever approach they take, usually violence).

It's hard to discuss with them when my problem is that they aren't in any way proactive and give up at the first difficulty. I have no idea how you say that without it being personal. :)

Well, I've certainly thought about breaking up with my current group, too. It seems that most of them don't want what I want out of a game, either. So I feel for you.

Here's the thing... while it might not be a grudge, it is personal, and you're lying to yourself if you think it isn't. What you,re describing, Anteres, is a complete philosophical difference between you and the rest of your group. I believe what you're trying to say is that it isn't malicious - they're not trying to cause you to have no fun. It's just an inevitable consequence of the discord between what you want and what they want.

It comes down to personal philosophy, and you need a group that more closely aligns with your own. I'd base any approach about a breakup with your group along those lines.

Yeah, the more I think about it, it's just a style clash. I want to give my players a sandbox and let them run free. They want a linear path adventure. Unfortunately, that idea bores me and they flounder without a clear direction.

Ah, I'll just have to bite the bullet. I've been solo gaming with Mythic and enjoying that so I'll get my fix that way. It's just, given how much they avoid the idea of G Ming, I'm not sure how if their game will continue but I suppose that's not, in the end, my problem. They're grown-ups, they'll adapt or quit. Hell, they might even thrive.

Cheers. Has helped clarify things for me. I can't keep putting work into something I'm simply not enjoying.

A vitriolic blog post, while not being exactly mature, should be enough to call them on their bullshit.

At least that's what I did to call my GM on his bullshit, and he didn't take it well.