#RPGChat Archive, 9 August 2012: Last Minute Game Prep
#RPGChat Archive, 9 August 2012: Last Minute Game Prep
Aug 09
The topic for the August Ninth chat was last minute game prep:
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Tweets of Note:
@d20Blonde
Tonight, as I scramble to get things together for my GenCon game, we’re talking about last minute prep. #RPGchat
one of the best tips, IMHO:
@TheUniverseGM
Game master, know thyself: only YOU know what your bare minimum prep for fun really is
for GMS that focus on reacting and improv in their style:
@Alpharalpha
I am so much of a “react” DM that prep is minimal, plus thats one reason I like Savage Worlds so much, I can just wing it #rpgchat
@phalanx
@Alpharalpha Ditto. I just set up a framework and roll with what my players do.
@CUnderkoffler
#rpgchat I prefer reacting to players actions, so not much prep. I have maybe a paragraph’s worth of an incident in mind, just in case.
@TheUniverseGM
RT @Warden_Op: @TheUniverseGM Agreed. So long as theres stats for the baddies, you can wing a lot from there.
@TheOtherTracy
With something like Pathfinder, I prep more. Baddies, traps, etc. Still leave room for improv.
tips for prepping prepared adventures
@bryce963
Also, any tips for prepared adventures? I want to do #Pathfinderadventure paths, but run off the cuff usually
@ir0nwolf
@bryce963 I try to skim as much as I can, then study the pinnacle combat or the ones that seem the most complex or intricate
@jsepeta
#DnD #rpgchat our players often take the game in different directions, and I refuse to railroad them. Sketch out 2 or 3 possible directions
some general advice:
@TheUniverseGM
Two different discussions here: 1.What games are good for no/low prep? 2.How do you squeak by on low prep for a hi-prep game?
@TheUniverseGM
RT @XenoSean: I think the key to last minute prep for more complex games is focus on NECESSARY, write it down, embelish later.
@SavageGM
Savage Worlds has been some of the easiest prep for me. Pathfinder and World of Darkness are heavy prep.
@RDNottingham
@d20Blonde Always. I’m trying to learn up on #MarvelRPG to be able to play or run.
Saving time in prep for combat:
@Bruxistential
If I know there is going to be a huge combat, I like to roll about 50x in advance and write down the results to use for the NPCs
also good is prepping names ahead of time:
@Alpharalpha
tip for running games on the fly – keep a list of people names near, when the players meet a NPC just pick a name and cross it off
@JediSoth
@Alpharalpha I have AEG’s Toolbox & Ultimate Toolbox for that. Very handy.
user bastlynn asked about prepping and running con games:
@bastlynn
I honestly want to learn how to run con-games. I feel it’s a weak spot for me as a GM
@Bruxistential
@bastlynn gotcha! Timing is key. a 4 hour slot is lucky to have 3 real hours of gaming. I subscribe to the rule of 3′s
@Bruxistential
@bastlynn at most, you can fit in 3 real roleplaying encounters, and 3 combats.
@TheUniverseGM
@Bruxistential @bastlynn I gotta say even those numbers seem pretty ambitious. I usually plan for one “thing” an hour.
@MageMistress
@bastlynn For cons I try to plan one or two “filler” sections that can be added or dropped to fit the time slot as needed
game prep session?, need fuel?, try coffee:
@MageMistress
For last minute all-nighter planning sessions I make sure I have plenty of coffee on hand: http://magemistress.com/2012/08/08/coffee-shop-of-horrors-retcon-and-you/
random name generators help immensely at times:
@Alpharalpha
RT @therobotviking: The random name generator (and other d100 tables at RV) is ideal for on the fly DMing.http://www.robotviking.com/2012/04/27/100-and-more-random-character-names/
focus on the characters when time is short:
@MageMistress
I find that knowing the goals and personalities of NPCs is the most helpful thing when my players ruin my plans.
@Warden_Op
@bastlynn If you don’t know the players, run the game for the characters. It’s a good starting point.
designer Keith Baker chimed in:
@HellcowKeith
@TheUniverseGM I wrote a short article about how I run sandbox games a little while back – http://tinyurl.com/c9ukoya
@HellcowKeith
@TheUniverseGM I do like a combination. Even in a full sandbox, I like to prepare possible scenes.
@HellcowKeith
@d20Blonde For me, the best part of a campaign is the story that evolves from the PC’s backgrounds & consequences of their actions-
one trick is to steal from pre-published adventures:
@XenoSean
Great! RT @Bruxistential: @TheUniverseGM One thing I love to do is rob stats from prepublished adventures to use for other NPCs.
@chrishopper2
@d20Blonde #RPGChat when I QA DMing I always took pre-published adventures and adapted them with world-specific templates.
lastly:
@TheUniverseGM
Protagonists are unpredictable. So always know what the antagonists want, and how they plan to get it. Adventures flow from there.
As always, the full archive is here.
Alpharalpha
