Limiting Prep to Practice Imagination

[@SHONNER]

I haven't watched the video yet. I do most of my imagination for a session's setting just from bouncing ideas back and forth with players before we even commit to making our characters. Usually during session -1.

[@Tablerunner]

Good suggestion. I really enjoy playing "what if" with players when they are brainstorming character concepts.

[@winterhamilton1882]

Play the setting, thats your character. Roll with what first comes to your mind.

[@Tablerunner]

Agreed. Thanks for your comment.

[@squirekev]

Commend you on taking the leap into the unknown, rather than expectantly codifying all the possible scenarios beforehand: it becomes an impossible hurdle as decisions become exponential. The setting being internally consistent is a good point, as nothing breaks the suspension of belief more than haphazard varying results. I tend to use the KISS method for my own games, as I find I get overwhelmed if I allow too over-arching a scenario: falling into the trap of trying to have objectives filled, rather than just let things go the way they will go. It's tough to let go of the reins (at least I find it to be) and a bit nerve-racking, but rewarding. Some key-bullet points of the situation/setting, some knowledge of how the NPC characters would react is enough to let players paint in the rest of the picture. I'm crap a running a game, so I get the players to do it for me. Over multiple-sessions, I always find it surprising what the players latch onto and what they dismiss: a lot of times things I could not have predicted. If I had tried to control everything, I invariably would have stifled some of those fun moments germinating and making for a better game overall: one that the players feel part of as their decisions/actions created a large part of it.

[@Tablerunner]

Thanks for the comment! It is certainly uncomfortable, but I take that to mean that it is worth trying!

[@miksmeistergeneral]

This sounds like a great way to improve your GM skills, not just at improvising, but more generally in designing and running scenarios and in being truly reactive to the actions of the PCs. I've heard Professor DM (from Dungeon Craft) say words to the effect that it's the GM's job to create the conflicts, to put the PCs 'on the hook'. And it's the players' jobs to get their characters out of those situations. I think it's natural to predict some of the ways PCs might proceed and to think about the impact of those decisions on the adventure or the campaign. But if you go too far down that path you can end up with an incredibly complicated flow chart of how to run a session. It's arguably not railroading as long as PCs have genuine agency, but mapping out all the foreseeable choices ahead of time nevertheless has the appearance of a 'choose your own adventure' book. Better to keep RPGs more open-ended and more improvised.

[@Tablerunner]

That's my goal at least (better improvisation). We'll see how it goes! Thank you for taking time to comment.

[@JdrD30]

Interesting

[@Tablerunner]

Thanks!

[@MattLind-oi5kg]

One thing that springs to mind as a way to deal with "he seems to just be making it up" is to work with alternatives when it's possible. So if you are coming up with an idea, try to also come up with a variant to it, or several. Then roll between those. That way there is dice rolling going on and RNG enters into the creative process. This is what I do sometimes during solo play, when I have a "good idea" and I want to keep the creative momentum going, while at the same time having that RNG present. The RNG that represents how the "world lives independently from your creative thought". You can make up "tweak lists" that you use in conjunction with ideas. For instance, you can tweak physical circumstances quite easily with results such as "size / volume", "quantity / number", "Complexity / intricacy", "Condition / quality", "Value / worth / importance", Potency / Strength / impact" and so on. Those were a few from my lists. You can also use techniques such as rolling a word on a word list, like solo players often do for inspiration, and applying that word to a creation that you have established. So if you decide that the players are going to enter a cyberpunk café, and you roll "Complexity / intricacy", perhaps that place has several levels, or rooms. And if you roll a word, like "Involvement", perhaps there are police present, because the owners are involved in something...or perhaps the place can be connected to an ongoing plot line...the idea is to let the extra elements spark new, unforeseen idea streams, not to try and "make them fit".

[@Tablerunner]

I like your suggestion of having a list of qualifier words to modify ideas on the fly Matt. I think that is worth trying. Thank you for your comment.

[@Runeslinger]

I would like to chat with you on KZbin and/or podcast in regard to this topic (one close to my heart). Clipboards welcomed~

[@Tablerunner]

It would be an honor and a pleasure!

[@Runeslinger]

@@Tablerunner You are too kind. I will add you on X so we can sort out a schedule~