Wiglaf
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Hey Dude, that is a tough patch to go though. I've been going through something similar in that the idea of GMing Pathfinder games and creating my own adventures seems more like a chore than a joy. Maybe this won't work for you, it sounds like your group are pretty stubborn on this count, but perhaps they might be willing to return to 2nd ed AD&D?
I really like the setting of Pathfinder, and making a character for the game can be a lot of fun. However, I sometimes feel that the system tries too hard to give us an answer for 'everything' as a port of the rules. This can lead to spending more time double-checking the 'rules' then working on story ideas, or even throwing out story ideas because they don't match the rules. This has been an issue for me because I feel like the massive sprawling rules of Pathfinder are sometimes actually constricting my creativity, and thus my joy for gaming. Sadly, my group are very much a hard core bunch of RAW types. Thankfully, I'm not DMing at the moment and taking the break to come up with something different and new for my next campaign.
Recently I have been taking another look at the older game systems. It was then that I started to get the passion back. I'm actually looking into the Microlite20 system because it is based on the concepts of d20 but leaves plenty of room for a player and DM to modify the system with what they feel that they want or need while still keeping to the philosophy of as few rules as possible.
With simply switching THAC0 to the ascending AC system 2nd ed starts to feel more comfortable, and that opens up a lot of opportunities to return to the 'feel' of the game that you enjoyed so much. It sounds like it was the actual act of discovery and creating that inspired you and your players. Perhaps a less detailed rule system, or one that your players haven't memorized, will bring back those feelings?
Beyond that, would it be possible to consider starting a new game world? Something that is different from what you made before and filled with other challenges and adventures? Maybe something happens and your player's characters are transported to this new place and now must find a way to survive, and explore this new place, from the perspective of complete newcomers.
