
Ice Titan |

Ask them what they do like to do. Ask them to give you advice on how to run your game and what they'd like to do or see or what you can do better to engage them.
If they aren't prepared to even ponder on an answer, or answer that you're doing just fine and everything's great, the truth is that they don't like playing.
If they answer you, do what they say and everything will turn out fine.

shadowmage75 |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |

yes, because you're the slave to their desires. once you take the gm spot, you're the one in the wrong, and as long as you cater to their every whim, then you'll earn the right to call yourself human again.
Look, first there are a million aspects that may come into play. Are they new players? Then they may be trying to find their niche as much as you are as a gm. Are you delivering a home brew of your own? then they may be hitting rule and story dead stops because you havent fleshed out the part, and that's ok, because players invariably take random right turns in any campaign.
Be realistic, are you enjoying being a gm for them? address your own 'bleh moments' first, honestly and from a neutral perspective. You can only control you, after all.
Yes, ask them (and don't do it at the gaming table during a session) what they want to do or see. Many players, especially ones new to the system and concept, find it really hard to get away from the MMO mentality or to let go of the social media link they've learned to rely on for human interaction. It may just be a case of learning to be comfortable interacting with living people face to face, or it could be discomfort with rules, fear of getting 'the answer' wrong, what have you.
There is no perfect clear cut answer, and just because your players may answer vaguely and without a detailed list of all you're doing wrong, doesn't mean they don't like playing. Nor will jumping to answer their every request magically make everything right. It's an interaction between all players, including the GM, and it takes time to grow in all aspects.

Screaming-Flea |

As a starting point for me when I GM, I ask myself what would I like to do or see as a player. What would I think is cool or fun to do as a player in this game. It seems to be a good starting point for me. This is just a step 1. The next step (maybe the more important one) is getting feedback from the players on what they would like to do and what they think will be fun. Once you have a solid idea in your head about what you and the players want in the game it's easier to enjoy the game together.
-Flea