[ALL] Creating history on the fly

[@morrigankasa570]

The moment you mentioned Chalice & Hope I immediately thought of a "Marriage Chalice". Then you got into the details/designs on the Chalice it reinforced that idea to me. It could have been made centuries ago for Royal Weddings, during the ceremony it could be filled with Wine or Mead and blessed by the Cleric performing the ceremony. The newly married couple would each drink from it at the end of the ceremony. 3:24

[@Deluge4000]

Notes & time stamps: Emote - attach an emotion to the experience. What do you want it to feel like? 1:43 Evoke - Think how the object would evoke that emotion, eg appearance, history 2:25 Establish - ability check to provide that background lore 4:01 Expand or End - Decide if you need it for directing the main plot or not 5:58

[@macoppy6571]

Thank you for your diligence and dedication. Now I have the power to reshape worlds 🌎 🙃 💪

[@mirkozohren1139]

For a moment I felt like it would be a good idea to have a text-to-speech app running during sessions to keep track of what the *curse* I've come up with that my players will surely remember half a year later that I most certainly did not pay the slightest attention to. Then again, nah. I'll make up someting completely bonkers again, if that happens.

[@bigsarge2085]

Yes! I appreciate the way your techniques simplify our GM approach, yet get more comprehensive detail. I'm not a writer, so I thank you.

[@vinnycarbone4407]

I will often make things up on the spot that are funny or make sense in that space for the enjoyment of the session. That can be to assist them in the moment or for flair. Either way I will make sure to keep detailed notes on what I've said so afterwards, during planning and prepping, I can then use those items for a greater purpose. By keeping the item consistent with what it was when it was introduced, in my experience, it creates a feeling of intentionality and allows my players to help my forge the world I'm building.

[@georgelaiacona111]

Hahahaha! Yeah, I can relate. I had put a signet ring in a treasure for some colour, and the party then forgot the storyline they were following and focused on this random ring I had not prepared anything for. Excellent video. Thanks for this.

[@darcyw156]

Lol, the eeeeasy method is still winging it, it just had more structure. But I like it. I didn't need to clutter my brain with useless info like, what scene is depicted on the tapestry, or what are the books in the library. Great vid. I can always use new tools.

[@armedwombat6816]

I often just improvise some basic info and hint how they could gain more information. That spikes intrigue and gives me a little time to figure out the details. Also players tend to remember stuff better if you make them work for it (even if all that means is a visit at the library or some expert). "These patterns remind you of an early period of dwarven history. You don't remember the details, but with a good book about dwarfen architecture on your hand..." "The scene on this painting reminds you of a battle your teacher told you about. You don't remember everything, but the part about elves allying with fishfolk stuck in your brain." "You recognise the craftsmanship, that is clearly bragonian. But also... they're allergic to silver, and this is clearly silver."

[@PaddyPipes727]

I enjoy letting the Force decide sometimes. I run games using the Star Wars RPG system and that includes a D10 with sides depicting 1 - 2 light side or dark side points. I let the roll help guide me in deciding if the item will be benevolent or malicious in nature and then roll a D20 to decide if it will have an immediate dramatic effect (such as a force vision when touch) or if it's junk.

[@ItsMrFresh]

Thank you! I will be adding this tip to my DM screen and using it as reference moving forward ❤

[@erickingsepp]

Great advice!! Thanks so much for this video. Now you've got my brain running …

[@the6ofdiamonds]

My method is very similar, I operate on the notion that every crafted thing has a one thing in common: someone made it for a reason. Who made it? Why? Where the PCs are can tell me that it might've been commissioned for a noble, or stolen from one. Maybe some dark wizard or warlord had a chalice made with the skull of his rival, or a challenger. Maybe someone stole it, hid it away, and never got to retrieve it. Maybe a king just wanted a fancier chalice... which would mean he'd need to pay for it, so maybe he was a big deal historically. Maybe the craftsman who made it hated whoever commissioned it and included jabs or intentionally shoddy work. It feels so natural for me, and the options are limitless and dynamic.

[@derkrischa3720]

Great video! Good to see your still doing this, makes me very happy! I use a similar trick, with a question-answer aproach. It as usual starts with the set dresssing discriptions for example your "painting of a prince". When a player aks more about it, I start discribing it with some more details, buying myself time "the prince seams to wear cloths from an old age but of a stile, reminicent of the kingdome over the mountains, holding a book and a sword" HOPEFULLY anything in this clicks with my players, best case with something I have seeded or something they just remember. When they ask if they know more abou this/can make a check, I ask what they are interested in and let them role. Also just to get more thinking time and creating a story about said thing they asked about OR if I can link it with a personal story or seeded plot or something like that. So if they have dragon problems and someone searches for their true ancesters "The sword could be a rendition of the dragon killing sword Scalebreaker, frome someone who hasn't seen it personally. But what you know is, that the only Prince from over the mountains, in the last age, that was known for their knowlege, was Plince Plothookius, whos sigil was something very close to the [lost heir]'s personal amulet..." Now they want the sword and follow the family line hook and go over the mountains to find said princes grave...

[@vodostar9134]

I mostly wing it. But I also listen to my players' theories about the world lore and sometimes just decide they're right.

[@parttimehero8640]

Yes I know that feeling

[@EvilVampMuffin]

Typically I wing it. Uncannily this has come back into play more times than I can count and it fits the game and still works in my worlds history, my friends are always impressed on how it happens. As if I planned it all along. Haha

[@Saadis666]

Great ideas!! Thanks for sharing these!

[@edwarduribe2910]

I had to create a whole spur of the moment side quest related to an item I described at the top of my head. They enjoyed the quest. I learned not to elaborate to much on non plot items.

[@boatsandhoes4381]

You rock dude, thank you

[@thesarge.307]

Awesome as usual.

[@RyuuKageDesu]

I have a similar method, though I've never put a name to it. I do like the four Es. I basically start with the established lore, and end with the emotional impact.

[@giovannigarciadesouzapasto2249]

The players sold the Chalice of Hope to a human arts collector. Immediately after that, they heard bangings, as if someone was crushing metal with a hammer, but they chose to ignore. Some days later, this noble contacted them and asked if they could find other human-elven artifacts, and also historic human and elven relics, which the players adored for it seemed easy and lore rich money. Fast forward and in the eve of a human-elven war they discover the arts collector was, in fact, destroying elven and human elven artifacts, while privileging human ones, financing extremist militias and fostering hatred of the elves.

[@G.A.N.]

i rememmber well the Bloody Goblets - a history of normal Barony that take too much care about Nobles around instead of rest of population. One night Baron invited 6 noble familly heads to discuss important matter while also party a bit among wine n expensive dinner. Each of Noble familly heads had a golden Goblet where Baron himself were pouring most expensive wine brand he had. little did they know that Angry folks prepared Raid this night for their place during which Baron, nobles and townfolk were lying dead in a hall, leaving only few guards alive. The place has been locked out with little of people left alive untill time later it was properly cleaned. Legends say that Golden Goblets metal soaked the pools of blood, resulting in unnatural sheen of Red on them. Today Those 6 Bloody Goblets may hide among other shiny treasure, but only the Keen eys can realise what their history is and only an Owner of all 6 piece collection will be able to sell it to Proper collectors for a Massive sum of gold, compare to normal golden goblets prize that is.

[@jeffreyadamo]

Guy looks like he's slimmed down a bit. Looking healthy!

[@dm_nimbus]

This feels like something I could practice with my six year old. So I'm gonna!

[@edwardmartin7312]

Sadly when I am asked, my tiny brain panics and I improve on a wing and a prayer. 😅

[@fergusryan1486]

All hail The Hamster In The Wheel Of Fire ❤‍🔥

[@bonzwah1]

Something I've been trying is using chat GPT degenerate all the random details in my world. I really enjoy the feeling of discovering the world with my players. Maybe that's a little selfish, but I really think that it's more fun for myself it helps me immerse myself in the world. I have this prompt written out with the campaign setting premise and all the world building details that I cared to create. I have literally been adding to the prompt campaign session notes each time we play and every time I need to generate content on the fly, I just copy paste the whole prompt into chat GPT and ask for it to generate whatever this thing I need is. Obviously you need to interpret edit and exercise some judgments when reading whatever it spits out but it has been surprisingly effective so far. We'll see if it wears thin as the campaign goes on. It might be fun to incorporate the E's into the prompt. It could add a little bit of intentionality behind this otherwise random generation

[@skidmoda]

Honestly I use a bit of AI now in days for description, music, and images. It isn't perfect, but having custom bard songs about my PC party is pretty cool. Lore wise use a bit of AI to help inspire if I am just brain dead for a bit, but always ties it back to the background religions, heroes, or lore. Example, you get a dagger +1...that has a bit of black scorch marks on it. With a history check X you realize this is from the Fallen City of Xoth. It is rumored a City Corrupter Demon assisted the already corrupt city fall into the 9 hells, and it's still there were the corrupted tortured souls dwell still. All that remains is a blacked scar of earth and ruins where no life can grow as a reminder of the once proud city. The black marks on it's hilt show the scorch of the hellfire it has been through. How did it get out or did it ever go to hell, who owned it before and are they looking for it? Now I have an extra paranoid player about it being cursed or hunted and a subtle lore drop.

[@Dreamfox-df6bg]

Every item, especially one of art and the masterwork variety, not to mention a magical one has a history, a reason why they were made. So you are short on adventure ideas? Any expensive item you have sold could be recognized by someone and wants you to search for one matching it to complete a set. Your magical dagger might be an heirloom, a symbol for an alliance or just a 'Secret Society' created by some rich noble kids as a hobby. Or the signature weapon of an assassin that was thought to be unkillable, until they made an ambush of Rasputin-like A picture or statue might have a hint to an lost heir or hide a scandal that could damage a family's reputation even centuries later. And this can be used in so many ways. Adventure hooks, distractions, side quests, player character's background and so on. And if a GM has no answer, he can delay it a little. The expert the players asked needs to make some inquiries first. Come back next session.

[@jierdareisa4313]

I love ALL How to be a Great GM videos!!!! ❤

[@cadenceclearwater4340]

_Reeeeally_ 🤔

[@JazPrimo]

That was helpful information, Guy. I’ll use it moving forward in my GM efforts. Thanks so much! 😊

[@TheGenericavatar]

You don't have a backstory for everything in the setting because you aren't George Lucas. :D

[@russelljacob7955]

The first E is Expand or End. Your advice here is a trap I have seen destroy games. "Is nothing special. Just a gold chalice. A sign of oppulence normal for a rich lord like would have lived here" Reason it is a trap, It slows the game down. How much time will be spent now that said player will be digging into all treasure items. Next the painting. Next the ring. And then the next chest. You have given A player an avenue. You will just get bloat. The old attage. Dont tell your players anything more than you want them to know. If it is a mundane item only for treasure, then keep it as such unless you want it to be something. In your friday game vid, you have experienced players who can self manage. But can just as easily end up with a lot of time wasted and campaign bloat.