DM Forge: Simple RPG Prep, Pt. 1

[@edheldude]

I've found that prepping situations from the antagonists' point of view is the most useful thing to do for me. I make no assumptions about how players will go about the adventure. You could e.g. write down that the McGuffin is in the tunnel 57, there are N security droids and other resources, there are Y spaceships in the hangar, and how the security will react to threats. Writing down npcs and their resources or knowledge might be useful too if you can't come up with them on the fly. Captains of the Evil Mage will be important only if situations turn him into one - he escapes or thwarts PCs actions. Don't assume players will care about him or not kill him.

[@Enn-]

I think the first time I saw this, I wasn't ready to absorb it. Thanks Matt!

[@aFistfulofDice]

You're welcome!

[@Johnggernaut]

Haven't played PnP RP for a really long time. Just started up Pathfinder with my wife, so currently just DMing for 1 and I'm finding that to be a good way to ease into the DMing. These videos are helping me greatly as well! I have the basics of DMing down as I DM'd a million years ago for 2nd Ed. D&D, but I'm getting the mechanics down. I never thought about laying the plots out ahead of time, but this is a great and quick way to get started and have some direction. Thanks!

[@aleandadventure]

Matt, thank you very much for this. This type of adventure outlining has really saved up on a lot of my time in prepping for adventures. It also helped develop my improv skills since a lot of the small details is not yet set in stone and just waiting for the DM to flesh it out in-game.

[@nikoraito]

Great timing! I was just about to prepare for the game. Thanks for sharing!

[@xailianklaskerking5904]

You have transformed me from a scared pre-first time GM to one that is very excited and prepared for every session. Thank you so much for all of the help that you have given out to game masters everywhere! :) Please keep up your amazing work, you're definitely one of the best I've seen.

[@SomethingEls]

Your vids give great advice. I've watched some and I'm glad to say I did most of the stuff you talked about intuitively. I don't have much to do with this particular video - I've done very little prep for my GMing. I appreciate your tips and what you do to show them in your channel. Thanks!

[@stevenback7295]

I love the bullet point method man, This is exactly how I prep!

[@aFistfulofDice]

It's very versatile!

[@gamemastergrimoire6551]

Awesome. This is now my session prepping format. Will be playing my Zombie Apocalypse session 1 tomorrow, used this format.

[@iptminis]

Great to see you back at it! Can't wait for the next Provokers.

[@aFistfulofDice]

Thank you! Feels good to be putting out content again.

[@kurasoe]

I really like the IARR tool. It has helped. I wouldn't say it locked me up, but there were still elements of it I didn't use everytime I've prepped that way recently. I'll give this method a go as well, although you're much better at improv than I am. I'd love to see a post-Provokers video going through your maps and notes and whatnot. I can definitely see the more you can rely on players to collaborate in-game the better this will go.

[@aFistfulofDice]

A post-Provokers video showing my prep and how it compares to the actual session is a great idea. Might do that soon.

[@AlexBradyMusic]

Yay! New Fistfull of Dice tips videos! I missed these! I'll def try this for my next session :). So far I've been using IARR and I really like it.

[@aFistfulofDice]

Glad to hear you've been enjoying IARR. I am a fan of it as well.

[@TheOwlslayer]

As a new DM, this stuff will surely be really useful. Especially the first one, not sure what it was called, ( 333? The one with five different ...thingies), wrote that stuff down into my notebook. Thanks for the video!

[@palpytheemperorofelevators4937]

Thanks, man. I'm really learning a lot from your videos and can't get enough of your Provoker games. You all are such a boon to us learning GMs. I absolutely love gnome stew, by the way! Peace out, mang!

[@MikeThepiper]

This is a fantastic way to prepare for a session! I will have to try this out for my Star Wars game

[@aFistfulofDice]

Awesome! Let me know how it works for you. :)

[@gamervideos11]

Love the DM tools, prep vids. Keep them and other DM tips coming ,man!

[@mysticmaps3634]

Great video! Could you make a future video bout one-shot prepping? Would really come in handy!

[@ESBQ]

Absolutely fantastic advice! I tried the IARR method before, and didn't really fit into my DMing style, but the 3-3-3 method you exemplify here is awesome. I'm curious about the Iron Lords of Zhekesh prep you teased us with, ahaha

[@DarkKnightBlackJack]

Very cool. I also recognize the Character Names from the Edge beginner box. It's a really fun system. I have a question, did you prepare for the last Provokers session in a similar fashion?

[@MastertheGamerpg]

I have seen the Gnome Stew Method but I saw it first in RPG Tips Newsletter I think. Great way to prep for sure. My question is how come you are using your notebook backwards? Love ya Matt.

[@EverJ13]

where did you get that little notebook with the grid paper?? I've never seen those around

[@notoriouswhitemoth]

Feeling constrained isn't necessarily a bad thing - creativity begins with "no". Being creative requires that you step outside your comfort zone, that your go-to solution doesn't work.

[@GizmoBeetle]

As a new DM, this was a super helpful video! Do you have any advice planning the mechanics of a session, like stat blocks or environment? For instance, how do you prep/plan whether Tunnel 57 will have alcoves for cover vs smooth walls? Are there sentries/automated defenses or is it quiet? Once you have these "macro" scale ideas, how you prep and plan for the "micro" stuff (aside from the improv-able aspects)?

[@aFistfulofDice]

Great question. For me, this stuff is part of the improv and collaboration. I use improv language like "Yes, and," "yes, but," and "no, but." The players may ask "Is there somewhere to take cover in this tunnel?" To which I might respond "Yes, and the thugs down the hall are taking cover as well behind some durasteel crates." If there are aspects that I know for sure I want to include, I may include it in a brief description of the location or under the "Cool Stuff" category. As far as statblocks go, I always have these prepared separately. I find blocks that work for me, adjust them if I need to, and go from there. I hope that helps!

[@FontofInspiration]

"Cool stuff to 'spice' things up"

[@Johnmccoolwriter]

So here a question... how can I play D&D with a friend that lives across the country but that friend doesn't have internet but has only a phone?

[@tmcalli3]

Awesome stuff! Question: When you do something like revealing that an NPC is actually a PC's relative, do you consult with the PC, or just reveal it during play?

[@aFistfulofDice]

Most of time I consult with the player beforehand, but they don't necessarily know the exact details. So in this case, the player is aware that their sister is a slave in the spice mines. But they don't know that their sister is the leader of a revolt in those mines!

[@tmcalli3]

+aFistfulofDice Thanks! That makes the most sense to me.

[@noahdollimount1398]

This is awesome advice!!

[@sticksofdymamite]

Matt do you play league of legends? Because teemo spelt exactly as you have it spelt is one of the most hated champions in league

[@imreadydoctor]

fellow Panera Bread fan, I see.

[@katastrophecy]

Teemo?! NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE SCOUT'S CODE.

[@CesarIsaacPerez]

Your map drawings are great! Would you recommend buying one of those methods? I was considering "The Lazy Dungeon Master" because he has a cool video I saw once.

[@socialmmospeeddancing2729]

+Cesar “Isaac” Perez I use to have The Lazy Dungeon Master, until I had to format my computer. lol I will say, The Lazy Dungeon Master is really good. It cut down my prep time from a couple of days to about 45 minutes to 2 hours. Most of my prep comes from combat encounters. I really wish the Lazy Game Master had a bit more info on how to cut down prep for encounters. lol In addition, I just recommend naming things later on during your prep. That will take up a good chunk of your prep time.

[@blakehoss6837]

danke!

[@whatever3554]

Thank you ^_^

[@aFistfulofDice]

You're welcome!

[@jeangodecoster]

Why am I watching a video that's centered on a man's crotch the whole time... please don't do this