Writing an RPG Session

[@Runesmith]

GO LOOK MY BOOK FRIEND: www.kickstarter.com/projects/415994272/stibbles-codex-of-companions?ref=at298h

[@An0xymoron127]

LOOK THE BOOK

[@i_dontexist4951]

LOOK AT THE BOOK

[@beastboy0078]

I will buy 2 books if you have a stitch from lelo and stitch

[@randomrants148]

Well crap, I want RP your story right now.

[@zormarrivaks8257]

Hi! I have a question about "Danger Spectrum" that you showed when discussing Mayor. It looks like a useful tool, could you expand on what it means?

[@viktorthecreator4458]

The Quietus: "Why?" Player: "because I'm one of the idiots that lives here"

[@davidpotts7116]

Viktor the Creator can’t help but think of an answer that Ryuji from Persona 5 would give lol. Just walk right up to the god and tell him to fuck off

[@OMartinez91]

Was that an Unexpectables reference?

[@DerUbermonke]

Was that a Guardians of the Galaxies reference or am I stupid?

[@adammclauchlin7605]

Dylan 'El Danko' Thunder you are stupid but yes it is a Guardians reference

[@DerUbermonke]

Napoleon Bonaparte oh thank god. Confirmation, I knew I was stupid!

[@morganrosenfeld5917]

"Players are unpredictable" *Flashes back to my players deciding they wanted to start a harem after meeting my favorite NPC who they immediately started to call a Goth GF*

[@AI-ke9pp]

Means you made a good char 😉

[@bullboy7880]

We refer to our BBEG as mommy

[@DaBlueIghuana]

That would have been predictable if you thought about the fact that she was a big tiddy goth gf

[@Moon-Raven]

Dming is about improv. It's not you against the players, it's about creating a fun session together.

[@pal1d1nl1ght]

Part of my Dm "notes" is a sticky note that says "fuck it, improvise." I make locations, people, and quests. I dont make a story. I let the story build itself. That sticky note has never been seen by my players.

[@meris8486]

Improv is important, but you do need _a_ plan or at the minimum an outline.

[@Moon-Raven]

What I always do is have the worldmap, city maps, major NPC characters, possible encounters and a general idea of what I have planned. I outline what's going on and I act upon what the players do. Apart from the map making, it's relatively little effort on my end and keeps it open to let the players do what they want to do.

[@commandercaptain4664]

@@meris8486 "Preparation begets improvisation" is my DM Rule #3

[@luke_fabis]

DM vs players is not an invalid way to play, though, if that’s what the group wants.

[@SunsetSullivan]

DND isnt about planning ahead so that every conceivable outcome is being calculated. It's about tricking your players into thinking that it is. Jokes aside, this is why I tend to take a "skeleton" approach to worldmaking or storyline writing because planning ahead too much can result in wasted effort if things go in a different direction. I once scrapped an entire storyline arc in one go because the players decided to just shoot the villain instead of dealing with his shit.

[@MeTaLISaWeSoMe95]

I feel like world building should be a mix. A heavy amount of history , but enough room to change things if it fits your story a bit better

[@joshwist556]

Sunset Sullivan 10/10, Indiana Jones the BBEG

[@bobthetitan1]

One time my poor, long-suffering DM started a campaign where we were going to fight a cult. Little did he know, three sessions in, we would join the cult instead, destroying every campaign plan he had written

[@knightofficer]

I like to have the pieces set about so whatever direction they go they have something to knock over, and just let the story kind of grow from them on the fly, however I'm really bad at doing either and I just want to be a dumb player again.

[@SunsetSullivan]

@@MeTaLISaWeSoMe95 One of the things I always say is that if the players want to change a detail of the setting I hadn't considered then they're free to do as they please. For example in my most recent campaign, a player wanted to be from a local magic college. The starting zone is my settings equivalent of industrialized mid century Russia, so a magic university of some kind sounded plausible. And now I have the incentive to make them into an entire faction to flesh out the world.

[@sheldorf11]

No joke, DMing my first session tomorrow night and I see this notification. Nice

[@ferikk92]

good luck mate have fun with your players

[@thoronbar]

Be calm, and be prepared to improvise. I've been a DM since the start of the school year, and I have fun the most when I don't worry about too many details.

[@an8strengthkobold360]

Good luck.

[@CasualBrolyMain]

Bazar Games look it is hard but after 9 11 sessions then you get the hang of it so hope you go do it have a good time

[@jasmineiii3966]

as a full time dm of 3 years, my number one tip is, let you players ave some fun, but make sure it doesn't go too far outside the rules. i wish you luck, have fun

[@eyospin]

"You want the whole game to be the best story ever told. Which is unreasonable, Spiderverse already exists" glad to know Runesmith also has impeccable taste in movies

[@commandercaptain4664]

I kinda feel sorry for every other Spider-Man movie. Kinda.

[@smartart6841]

Agreed

[@gogostarr6109]

Me as an Icelander reading the names of the Undead kings; "Shame King", "For Older", and "Fiaee the slow" - Love it!

[@jamesrobillardjr]

I ran the first session of what I feel is my first real campaign as a DM, and it went really well. I think the most memorable moment I had is when I let my players just RP having lunch together and then quietly put a mattress on the floor on the other side of the table, which I then jumped on, screaming. I then informed them that they see a man on the ground under a broken window.

[@Zerpderp0]

Dude, I want you as my DM. Literally amazing

[@drizztiley8740]

*IMMERSION*

[@commandercaptain4664]

If you ever scared me like that, I would have no choice but to let you continue.

[@akumari6450]

Pls be my dm xD

[@Zerpderp0]

@@akumari6450 I mean, we may not get James irl, but if he's willing to use Roll20, I am so down for a game man!

[@adwitatherealadwita]

"If you're new to world building..." then you should use WORLD ANVI-

[@silvertheelf]

Forgot the L there or did someone slap duck tape on your face.

[@adwitatherealadwita]

Sorry, I was cut off because WORLD ANVIL'S AWARD WINNING WEBSITE DESIGN MADE ME SPEECHLESS

[@silvertheelf]

Lol

[@mikechurvis9995]

I'm rolling. This is too accurate for comfort.

[@MeltUp3]

I use WA all the time and that's why I'll never finish my stupid worldbuilding... I'm down to detailing the different chapters in the declaration of independence for one of my countrys.

[@zeinnerp7609]

Me: spends months working on the campaign Also me: so let's start planning the first session Also also me: I have no idea what I am doing

[@The_Sharktocrab]

My session notes for every game: "lol idk the tarrasque attacks or somethin"

[@ROYBGP]

That killed me. GG. Lmao

[@theblazingcrusader6322]

Time to sing karaoke.

[@lsedge7280]

I've had the idea for a campaign I want to run of slightly mortal-engines-esque mobile settlements because it's actually not just 1 tarrasque but a whole bunch and they're not all sleeping in the core of the planet but rather storm across the planet surface somewhat like titans/godzilla. It'd not so much be the party fighting these creatures, but they'd shape the world and sometimes it'd be like "oh shit we gotta start packing up town and get out the way" when one happens to be spotted starting to come your way. *I suppose* they could try and fight it, and might stand a chance at a higher level or if they're being particularly creative and clever, but it's not something they necessarily have to do at all. Rather something which just really shapes the world a lot. (After all, given the tarrasque is like the ultra-strongest-creature-ever, it's kinda bland isn't it?)

[@albusvoltavern4500]

This is how I do it, it hurts

[@thee_bard7004]

5 secs in I'm like: wait there's a process to this??

[@BlondieHound1]

Me planing a session: they'll go talk to a dragon and then go on a trip through time and learn about the world. Me during the session: you guys were just supposed to go talk to a dragon, not spend 3 real world hours shopping in game.

[@i_dontexist4951]

This might be a problem with too open world games. No directions. But just abandoning every village or having silent npc telling the players to leave and continue might be too plain. Hopefully they got to the dragon and your didnt tell them after the session. Just a grain of salt.

[@BlondieHound1]

@@i_dontexist4951 They got to the dragon but they had to grab winter jackets to go to the dragon cause it was at the top of the mountain and they just kinda started shopping for other things.

[@jonispatented]

BlondieHound sounds like your session went well. Not joking. If your players wanted to shop and you let them, then congratulations, you had a good time with your friends. That’s what this game is about. Keep doing what you’re doing. If you don’t get to do all the stuff you wanted to, save it for next session. Less for you to worry about writing.

[@fredflintstone1787]

@@jonispatented I absolutely agree. I'm a new DM so I feel like I spend waaay too much time writing and planning scenarios than needed, but I try to be as prepared as one can be. Well, two weeks ago my players decided to start a business. They spent 4 hours on getting a blacksmith shop going, with players persuading people to work for them, intimidating competition and getting rare materials. Everything improvised, we didn't do ANYTHING that I had planned, everyone had a fantastic time.

[@commandercaptain4664]

Session .5 is your friend. Talk to the players between adventures to see what they want before you design it. Then if they deviate, it's their fault.

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

"Young man. To defeat the Demon Lord, I need an... *ESCORT* ... What say thee?"

[@Zerpderp0]

I cost 50 G an hour, 60 if you want it weird

[@isultansultangaliev5852]

That sounds like a proposition to go distract Graz'zt.

[@bmusic4213]

@@Zerpderp0 i read this to the tune of ymca... oh no

[@MimmyckChor]

YOUNG MAN! To meet with demon lords, I say YOUNG MAN! Will you be my escort? You can SLAY HIM! If you do so fancy, you can strike! Him! Down! Now what say thee!?

[@fourfascinatingfrogs]

Thank you, Grand Lord Runesmith, for your absolutely perfect timing.

[@Overclocked-nm2vu]

Bennett Hansen IKR, I am asked to write a game within this week, and then I see this after they text me this

[@Cyb3rHusky]

In relation to talking about how you cannot completely prepare for a session; "Art is never really done, you just run out if time." - Making of Halo 3

[@RuneKatashima]

Where did you see or hear that quote?

[@leahbeah1585]

I do not agree, there is definitely a point where you should stop adding to something. If you don’t it will over complicate things and stress you out, don’t try and make it perfect. The advice in this video is telling you to make a skeleton and not prepare too much.

[@zacharywoolstenhulme5614]

My notes for every session inevitably contain the phrase “wing it”

[@Freezo90967]

bro that is my dm every time he didnt even plan for me and da party teaching chikcens how to speak draconic.

[@Deathven1482]

Honestly perfect timing. My party just finished Lost Mines of Phandelver and want to keep going.

[@ataberkdedemen9802]

Continue with “Storm King’s Thunder”. Its story could be tied directly to the Lost Mines. (There is a section in the campaign book which explains ways to connect this with lost mines)

[@Deathven1482]

@@ataberkdedemen9802 That is pretty awesome as well. There is a moment in Lost Mines that connects it to Hoard of the Dragon Queen and its books

[@Venthryx]

I keep coming back to this video any time I feel lost before a session or a new campaign.

[@barefootwalk1798]

This is good advice, though instead of using a single story shepherd, I start with two (to represent some conflict), then slowly inflate to between five to seven that are phased in and out as their interests are touched by the session. Also I'd oppose the notion that there should be a fight or interesting conversation each session. I'd rather say that you need two to four meaningful interactions per session, depending on the sessions length. These can be conversations, fights, or other challenges.

[@Hazel_Comedy]

I'm gonna be honest, I've never DMed in my life, so in preparation for running a campaign for my friends I've been taking online improv classes, and churning as much information as I can think of into google docs, and creating character after character in a D&D app to make sure I had enough NPCs for my players to interact with. Thank you so so so so much for making this. It's a massive weight off my shoulders. Thank you.

[@chevronred]

This is the kind of video I want every RPG KZbinr to make. Because your style is slightly different from Colville, Mercer, Mr. ToLevel3. Please don't be apologetic for longer content. You have more than earned our attention and patience.

[@TrentlarKane]

0:08, nah I just click on all of your videos cause I like your voice.

[@belugawhale8128]

Same lol

[@maxwolf8559]

Yah man

[@theadhdgamer7590]

I have to admit. I love all his videos, and they have given me some awesome ideas for my games. However. I do enjoy listening to him talk 🤣

[@jordank6961]

Wait you mean there's people who dont do that? O_O

[@luuuvbung8990]

mans got ASMR voice

[@somethingsuperdankImsure1304]

I noticed during the mayor's "personality block" something labeled a danger spectrum. I was wondering what the context of that was, to me it looks like a tool for how an NPC might react to different things and I'm interested in it. I think it could help me and other DM's as well. Awesome video as always, I'm looking forward to the next one.

[@Dawning_Light]

I was wondering this too, it looked like his skill modifiers up until the bloody and afraid descriptors.

[@Hlast1]

Love seeing how other DMs prepare! I take a couple of different approaches, ranging from very free form to quite rigid, depending on what's going on. If there's a dungeon that I know the players are going into (and, more importantly, that they know they're going into, which makes it a certainty), I'll stat out the monsters, write about the traps or puzzles in the rooms, and have a few bullet points on the overall feel of the place. That's the most rigid of my planning. For downtime sessions or when we're sort of in between bigger plots, I'll have a bit written about each player character's current motivation, after asking the players, as well as enough to run a single encounter if things get really slow or boring for everyone. I'm confident enough in my world building of their immediate surroundings that I can work with anything they decide to do around there. That's max freeform. When they're in the middle of an adventure that takes multiple sessions, I write out as much as I want to for each area. When meeting an important NPC, I'll write out what they're wearing and a few lines of dialogue. I might not use those exact lines, but it lets me know how this person speaks and what their most important things to impart to the party are. I include narrative beats with a lot of detail (like a dragon attacking a town, the way into and contents of a secret basement, or getting out of the way of some pompous noble in a procession down the street), then write up some more generalized, fun details that I can place at any time. The players will investigate the adventure in whatever way they want and I just put in whichever of those beats I want to when it's appropriate, using the generalized stuff to fill in gaps between those. Sort of a mix between freeform and rigid. I know that I tend to prepare a lot more than other DMs out there, but I legitimately enjoy doing it. If something doesn't get used, that's fine. Keep it in the notes and reuse it another time. Flavor and NPCs are always useful, as that's a bit of world building, which builds up over months and years into a huge repository I can draw on whenever I need anything.

[@AllTheOthers]

I usually have a lot of loose ideas that can fit any setting and then just spring them on my players whenever its appropriate and then I improv together whatever I need too. It works amazingly well and has lead to some genuine stories where my players have gotten emotional and had a fantastic time.

[@celestialtree8602]

Meanwhile, my session notes: "well eventually they should do this, and that unidentifiable item they got last session is this"

[@chanceasteria]

“A story is never done, and everything left unsaid should remain a mystery.”- Hulk Hogan 1786

[@ComXDude]

Personally, I write lots of very vague notes so that I can plan several sessions at once. I make a central area, a few important NPCs, and several locations of interest, as well as a list of ways each can link back to my main story if I want it to, as well as its more general purpose. I also have several list of 100 things to progress the session or make up for an unanticipated turn of events; random encounters, throwaway NPCs, short dungeons, and the like. For instance, when I started a recent campaign with a group on Discord, I started with the party on a ship as it got ready to dock. I only wrote for the captain, first-mate, quartermaster, and a mutual friend of each of the party members who actually brought them together, as well as a general description of the other passengers and crew on the ship (mostly human, but with a few scattered members of other races). Even then, I only gave a brief excerpt of their physical appearance, a couple personality traits, and some notes to myself about how to play them. I also wrote a few notes about the dock town they will dock at, only saying things like, "it is a small town" and "there's a gang that's been causing trouble," as well as giving out the most important locations: the tavern, town hall, an abandoned building the gang is using as a hideout, and a shop. I gave each an important NPC, with the tavern having a tavernkeep, the bandit hideout having the bandit leader, and so on, as well as one who gets off the ship with them that I used purely to buff up the party since they were all squishy at level one, and our fourth member couldn't make it. After that, I wrote several hooks. At the tavern, either the tavernkeep could tell them about the gang, or some of its members could show up and cause trouble by demanding the party pays a "traveler's tax," or something along those lines. In the town hall, they could find the mayor being threatened by some thugs. If they stray too close to their hideout, they might be jumped by thugs after a time. All of these lead into the bandit plot, which I would then use as the first step towards reaching my larger story. If they decide not to pursue my main quest, I could instead use each of these as staging points for side quests that would eventually factor into the main story. With these, I always leave a lot of room to improvise, and I tend to rely on my list of random encounters and NPCs more than my notes, as I find it easier to adapt a generic prompt to whatever I need than a short paragraph. However, that's just me. Like I said, I like writing enough notes for several sessions without going into much detail with any of them, but some may prefer to plan out every session, or to just wing it entirely.

[@maximeflageole770]

It is really similar to how I plan my sessions! As a new DM years ago, I used to plan everything, It obviously went out the window at the moment the players decided to do something I did not plan. Now, I mostly improvise with about one page of "what if's" and general guidelines for each session. Great quality, you got a subscriber!

[@janelantestaverde2018]

I know a lot of people joke about not making many notes and stuff but I genuinely like making a lot of them, planning ahead, and I find them 100% useful.

[@CyberColossus]

This videos variety and it's clear simplicity of explanation was a joy to behold and a pleasure. Thanks for sharing this dude. You're a friend to all DM's

[@imclueless5744]

I'm DMing for the first time, and session 0 is only a couple days away. I'm really nervous about it, but I feel confident about the campaign I've built so far. Your videos have been incredibly helpful, and I'm really glad I stumbled across your channel :D

[@cobyblessing4359]

I was literally in the middle of writing my next session when I got this notifications. Thank you so much

[@sigurdgram]

I couldn't help but notice "henshin hero" was one of the four people who answered the question of "why." what class are they using? is it homebrew? if it's from the unearthed arcana subreddit I probably already have it...

[@Runesmith]

It's a game I run for my patreons, and it's a class I got commissioned to make (basically a magical girl)

[@seansimonalle8896]

@@Runesmith is there, by any chance, a way that we can obtain this class, or did the terms of the commission prevent that?

[@jraywagsii]

At the start of the video you assumed I was here for writing advice! But little did you know I'm only here for your smooth narration skills! Ahaha you've just been bamboozled!

[@hurdydurdy7034]

I'm first time DMing and totally not panicking and wOW it's like he knows

[@yitzledee]

Ok I'm literally 0:58 seconds into this. Neverwinter + Skyrim soundtrack? Instant Subscribe.

[@Luis-ij1jk]

How did you know I needed this? Literally this weekend is my first session as DM and I’m equal parts nervous and excited

[@bruuze1258]

10:56 Such a beautiful quote, gonna keep that one with me

[@Jane_8319]

I watch this nearly every Friday before I run a game. Thank you, Runesmith. (I would just use my notes but I keep losing them!)

[@bastianhobbs7375]

Gm'ing my first proper 5e session very soon. This helped, I'm regularly a very planned and schemed person. I enjoy routines. I hope I learn from my mistakes as you did!

[@timelorddialga815]

10:55 Jk Rowling: This sign wont stop me because I can’t read.

[@johnstarinieri7360]

I legit did the same thing for my first session with an enormous script, and now I'm mostly winging it with some help of my own plans and some help from the module that I'm loosely basing the game off of.

[@ferrousoxide7806]

For me, I just improv litterally everything. Often times I don't have a single plan for any individual session. I have my big bad guy, his goals, and the speed at which his plan progresses. Other than that, I have literally nothing planned and everything is based solely on what my players decide to do that session.

[@NobleLeader6]

This is how I plan to do it, as I suck at creating stuff beforehand. Currently using Dragon of Icespire Peak as a way to have my players get familiar with their characters, and to buy me time to figure out some of the major points in the campaign.

[@writative8285]

I've learned to improv heavily, but this has become my go to method of designing a session. I remember it as STRNF (strength) -- See something cool, talk to someone interesting, rewards, new info and fight! Thank you for introducing me to that!

[@tagaloatia]

Thank you so much!! I'm a first time Dm! my first session did not go well at all in my opinion, though I the players said they had fun so that's what matters. This video eased a lot of worries and fears for future sessions and simplified a lot of things I was making unnecessarily complex. I hope my players can have even more fun with my next session and grow their love for DnD and RPGs in general, thank you!

[@celeb7295]

I personally LOVE how Dungeon world suggests you write adventures. Basically, all you should do is write "fronts". You then fill the front with "actors" and "dark signs" that advance the story. For example, the front yould be the black atoll, with the actors being the three villains. Dark signs would be the villains getting closer and closer to their goal. This keeps the game open, but you do have a little plot outline what can happen. As a DM, you have to be ready to improvise a lot, but it works like a charm for me.

[@Parttous]

I always make a scaffolding of sorts. Things that might happen at some point, npcs that they may meet, items they might find, that sort of things. I never write any dialogue beforehand. The only thing that I plan to much detail are the combat encounters. I try to always be ready to change anything at moment's notice to react to the players' solutions.

[@dannyr.8634]

I really enjoyed the video, my group has a strange way of DMing, we have three players which are all DMs, the way that we keep things fresh is that one person finds a module and we all play it, even the person who picked it, we just ride what is needed and run with that

[@jclarkent3757]

Dawg. I’m sitting here rn trying to write a DnD session, and this video drops. The gods are good

[@void-bear455]

5:36 I agree but the only thing is, sometimes it is good to have some made and just improve a few things and you have an encounter. As a DM I love combat encounters when it comes to travel bc i can work on world building as well as the fun that combat has.

[@whatcaniwriteinhere7407]

This was so great! I'm a new DM and I like to just improve the session but this gives it more structure without taking away the freedom of the players

[@andreas9030]

I like to come up with random side quests and events on the spot also in reaction to player choices and actions helps everything in the game flow better and feels more natural, it ties the world together nicely.

[@user-ve3bs2ye7w]

I’m DMing this Friday for the first time. So thank you!

[@FionaAnimatesBagels]

1: Go Somewhere Cool 2: Talk to Someone Interesting 3: Learn Something New 4: Fight Something 5: Get a Reward Is basically the 5 room dungeon method of designing gameplay, but with WAY more useful ideas behind each step. Hats off

[@CoyoteGris]

for my 3 groups, I start with the Background of the players, with them we change things of the background to make it fit the Homebrew setup, and then I build the campaign around their story and made new things to their story while moving forward, this helps me keep inspire to write more and more campaign, and their insterest in their characters backgrounds makes them keep going on the options I created, so far, all good, a few derailed that I contoled, and happy players with their very important PCs. also the players have heard of the other groups, I hope to take them to lvl 20, and reunite the 3 parties into a Great super BBEG final fight.

[@jediporg1245]

I plan the narrative main points. Who's the bad guy? Who's the guide? Basic locations of the world, who is in conflict with whom. Every session is mostly sandbox based, with the story being their goal. Its the overarching goal, and it flows like a open world game where you can explore anywhere. Seems to be fun for my players.

[@ashwinnmyburgh9364]

Been thinking of trying to DM for my friends, and have been trying to create a campaign on and off. This video is EXACTLY what I was looking for!

[@IbraheemM98]

This is an interesting video, your choosing to display your vulnerability to the internet and I'm happy for you. Just putting up the front of a well oiled machine can be tiring. Vulnerability is risky, but I like to live dangerously.

[@BigMcStronghuge]

Hey thanks for this, big guy. I'm running Krenko's Way but a buddy is running a Pathfinder campaign where last session was literally one fight, we didn't even get to move into the next room. This helps make it way better than that.

[@ZanraiKid]

Could have used this a few hours earlier last night. The sesh went off without a hitch, but it was touch and go in some parts. Will definitely try to use your advice.

[@Cloudydawn25]

that's certainly an interesting way of thinking, the only issue I have with this is the checklist, According to most of my players, my best session yet was pure improv'ed roleplay with no combat, and the only reward was learning something new.

[@BayBerry1337]

The final part of it being so free from sticks with me. I had 2 out of 5 players cancel last minute last session due to corona virus, and I already had the other three at my house. I decided to run a one shot ( this is their first campaign, and this was session #2), with literally nothing prepared. Ended up having them collecting a bounty the local sheriff put on some bandits that were raiding the trade route between this dwarven town built into a ravine, and the nearby dwarven city, which lay beneath a mountain. I think it went really well, and I’m excited to continue running the regular campaign.

[@Brokensnowball]

im just now getting into learning the Hyper Light Drifter ttrpg. this was very helpful, especially since i've never ran a campaign that went for more that 6 sessions. One of the best things about HLD is that it give the Dungeon master and players different names; The Narrator and The Characters. Definitely helps the mindset of how these types of games should be played.

[@FloppeyPyro]

Writing this right before watching, ill be real, when this popped up on my feed i was actually about to sit down to think of ideas and write stat blocks. Good timing

[@WyrdRune]

I haven't played DnD in a long time but I run a Mage: The Ascension game for a few years now. It's a slow burning all over story arc with other character stories entwined. Usually I prepare stories in a mindmap by making notes of the main scenes of the story I want to happen. I don't prepare how the players get there, as it usually naturally progresses in that direction when they are presented with the narrative. I prepare my NPCs and non-NPC encounters a little bit. With Mage's free form magic system you can't imagine what the players will do, so I don't have a lot of a prepared script apart from the above. Because most of the stories are character stories giving each player his time to shine we play scenes from several stories in one session and so I have several stories prepared in advance. During and after the sessions I make a lot of notes, because I use a lot of references to things coming in the characters future so they can prepare if they are not too oblivious with the occasional Checkov's Gun lying around. It's a little bit like Gravity Falls or similar show. Also in a game with mystics and time magic there are a lot of visions and precognitions hanging around (luckily no time travel yet), some of which are prepared long time in advance for scenes and arcs that are happening some time later. I also write it down in prose on a web site for the players to read so they cannot say they did not know or do not remember, but they still have to find that odd tidbit or reference. Some stories or story ideas are written months before playing them, fleshing their respective mind maps out when I got a new idea or when I got that specific detail right in my head that I really do want to have in the game. And as for the main arc, I surely know where I want to go, but as players tend to mess things up a bit, I establish that road part for part - but that's part of the fun being a GM.

[@luuuvbung8990]

Literally the most useful thing I will ever need for DMing. Ty sir 🥺💗

[@MrBlack0950]

My system is simple I ask a few questions Where are they? Where are they headed? Where are my players likely to go the other way? I then take the answers and combine them with notes on where the players have been and the things they have done, as well as general world notes, then make general plans for every possible main path and notes on how to subtly bring them where they need to go for plot.

[@arcadedomination8006]

I'm currently off DM-duty for a while, which is giving me time to go nuts with my worldbuilding. My campaign, that's on hold for a little while, is focused around the PC's fight against the BBEG and their internal struggle to see who's side everyone's on. The PC's basically determined the flow of the sessions and I enjoyed it very much. It taught me, right in my first campaign, to be more reactive and let them go their own way. There's whole plot hooks and towns I prepared that they missed, at first I was dissapointed but that quickly changed. The Players (2 practically first-time D&D players and 2 veterans) took charge of the entire situation and created their own goals and narratives. I don't fault myself for putting extra effort into things they never saw, I fault myself for not creating interest in the extra things. For my next campaign, that I have all the time in the world for, I've purposefully given myself a huge task of creating a more lively world. My players will still be the proactive type but I want it too feel like the world and the people in it have their own plans and motives instead of remaining motionless like rpg NPC's until the party interacts with them. The party will still be given a sandbox, but one that's populated to react to what they do.

[@patricksundqvist1154]

Not a DnD player, but I always take notes on your world building videos since I do creative writing on my freetime. I acctually really appreciate your conciceness because that is something that doesn't exist in my student/academic world

[@100timesinarow8]

I was going to bs my way through a campaign with 3 max players and a party npc. it was first one, and I was going to do random fun crap bc two of the players were new. Little did I know 2 more players would join both of my forever dms. Now I'm writing a whole story and arc. It's a lot of fun, but a good bit stressful. This video is great!

[@janelantestaverde2018]

I'm currently DMing my first game ever and it's self-made . It is a small one that only goes from level 1-3 before we shift back to our regular DM to play Curse of Strahd for the first time ever. And so far I'm really really happy how I'm handling it. It all takes place in one already existing Swordcoast town so I could focus on fleshing out this town. And I also wrote 10+ pages of location descriptions, story and especially the circumstances under which the players come across their respective subclasses in order to make it more special. A mentor for the Rogue, a hidden letter for the divination wizard, an ominous invitation for the college of whispers bard, etc... And I personally felt that this amount of preparation is actually good because I can still make spontaneous decisions as I have a "frame" in which they take place and fix story points to which they can return to. Therefore I don't get lost when things get out of hand and my players get the feeling of a convincing setting that seems very natural as if they were to explore a real town. I like your idea of having 3 choices or 3 "fractions" involved in the story. Generally the whole idea of 3, it's a good number~ I'll definitely keep them in mind for the future.

[@f4ust-wn]

My first DM session was a complete trainwreck. I had no idea about the plot and stuff, so I just improvised and came up with the plot on the go, to the point where improv became a staple in my sessions, because, quoting one of my players, "it's fun and original this way". From now on, every campaign I run begins with all the characters waking up in a brand new inn by the name "Hotel". Yep. "Hotel".

[@CL30]

Working on fleshing out my own world so this really helps!

[@snormax7691]

So is it just me or would the rest of you guys LOVE an in-depth video about the Tesseract world? It seems so interesting to me and I'd love to hear more about it! Hell, I'd probably buy like a $20 campaign setting for it off DMsGuild if I could. Logan please I want it so bad

[@Shatterverse]

Good video. As an improv heavy GM, I rely heavily in bullet pointed outlines and what-ifs. My rule of 3 is usually a rule of 3-5 though, and recently I've decided to try out the "5 room dungeon" technique for my upcoming campaign.

[@Tansen_]

Thank you for taking the time to make these lovely and funny videos! I'm planning to be a DM for the first time. I'm quite the visual person and so are my few players I'll have. To save money and have fun. I'm using small Pokémon figurines...an Oddish can count as a viscous sea creature right?? Hah. We will be drawing out the characters including npc and the map. I want to write out various characters, locations, phrases, cost of items in the store ect. I've seen some videos where barely any notes are written and it's almost all improve and nothing but one dice per person. Maybe one day I can work my way to being a minimal DM. I just find it so fun building everything.... That and I'm nervous I'll freeze up or struggle to come up with ideas or what the NPC might say or do next. So doing what I can to learn from you and many others!

[@LeoxandarMagnus]

So far my notes have been an outline of situational consequences and a map that I fill with monsters as need demands it. I’ve learned to make up descriptions on the fly, so I’m glad to see more DMs just throw up their hands at times.

[@MastertheGamerpg]

I love the Game Designers Checklist you have. 1) Go somewhere cool. 2) Talk to someone interesting. 3) Learn something new. 4) Fight something. 5) Get a reward. Simple yet effective.

[@joshelguapo5563]

I'm running the Witcher TRPG and there are exactly 2 modules for it so I have to make up everything past that and I am at the point where set up a scenario and a setting and then let them loose. I might have some scripted events or pack the room with guards that will attack and kill them if they do not comply, but mostly I leave things up to the players. For example, there was a situation where guards in a town were sent to find and kill the party, they did not have the firepower to take all of them on so they needed to make their way to a tower, so they decided to start a fire and distract the guards so they can climb on all the rooftops and make their way to the tower. Basically, I gave them a situation and the tools to deal with it and then the rest was up to them

[@jefescdo88]

Impecable timing as always my dude. 10/10 thanks

[@CthulhuOnCam]

You're general creativity with world and encounter design is really impressive. Would love to run around in one off your worlds

[@b.roekmanh.ellemonds3449]

This whole video is a big flex. Damn you write interesting and creative stuff

[@Muzakality]

Could you go over your “danger spectrum” in your NPC notes? I hadn’t seen this anywhere else. Curious to what the numbers mean.

[@zormarrivaks8257]

Based on the NPC shown and information we have about him, he would say that the higher the number, the more competent the character and how he can interfere with the world. A diplomat, of course, that a diplomat will be very good at convincing others to different things (hence 5), may have some experience in Intimidation (2), but he is essentially not a threat in combat / physical danger (Bloody 1), in and of itself is not very scary (Afraid 1). On this basis, I would assume that the spectrum looks something like this: 5 - very competent / dangerous 4 - Dangerous 3 - Better be careful 2 - very low threat 1 - does not pose a threat

[@infamoushavoc3590]

"Know your players..." as the most level-headed player at the table betrayed the party last night and caused me to throw away notes for level 2-5 for my players. Hey, it's keeping me on my toes and is taking this campaign in a whole other direction. No hard feelings are at the table and what not (and this is my first campaign and this happened in session 2).

[@kief453]

I come back often to this video. Brilliant advice.

[@connordunn7706]

My friend didn't do any worldbuilding, campaign notes or anything, he didn't need it he created everything on the spot, I only learned this after session 1

[@askyw69]

that was the best plug you've done for the codex. well balanced all around.

[@wapowman]

My first session went totally different than I had planned. They were supposed to start off by going to slay a creature that was harassing the town, but ended up all getting arrested for various reasons like public drunkenness, assault, and arson. They spent the session coming up with escape ideas and eventually got out. Even though I hadn’t planned the session going in that direction at all, it was a blast.

[@crow.378]

Welp 1 year later and I've got people interested in playing. I am excited to DM and make cool voices lol. Your guides are amazing!

[@SenorVilla]

The thing is, my group plays like once a month and I like using dnd as a creative outlet so I tend to go a little overboard with the planning. I just like creating characters and tables of possible encounters I could reuse later, but who am I kidding? I'm just gonna create more stuff as they keep progressing.

[@DukeNightmare]

I do the same thing, and worst case what i don't use in my campaigns i can still put in my short stories since they're based in the same world/universe

[@JelliThePilot]

My World Building: *insane amounts of lore, maps at every scale from continents to villages, NPCs with well written and relatable backstories and character drama* My Session Building: uhhh Goblins in a cave!!!

[@BlueInkAlchemy]

Thank you so much for this insightful video! You create great content and I'm sure your players enjoy both your presence and the worlds you create.

[@gamelover260]

I know you mostly run these giant campaigns with gods and such, but your stuff is really helpful with writing my call of cthulhu campaign. I love it all.

[@turtlehub2731]

I wrote a session but I don't know what I am missing. Please help/ History: 10 years ago, the dark necromancer Dralac attacked the 5 kingdoms (Wallect, Mushsuse, Tarren, Davvoh, and Octell) along side is army of undead. The Kingdoms just barley won. Dralac retreated saying he would come back and rebuild his army bigger and stronger then before. After that, a combat academy was formed in each kingdom to keep the kingdoms in order, and to prepare for the day when Dralac would strike again. players: the PCs are new students of Wallect Combat Academy. The player must be 12-16 years old or there race equivalent. They cannot be angles, feind, fey, or other worldly beings. Session 1: The players are having trouble finding their way to the academy, they bump into one another and hopefully group up. They then come across a teacher named Gequim whom guids them to the academy. Bandits jump them and Gequim asks the PCs to stand back and knocks them out if they don't. She then beats the shit out of the bandits and tellaports them to the prison. They then finnally get to the academy. They meet some of the other students and get a tour of the Academy. The PCs then begin the initiation exam witch is run by Gequim. They start with an obstical course, (DC 15 dex) then a train dummy, (DC 15 streagth or DC 15 charisma if spell) then a quiz, (DC 15 Intelect) then they fight aganist a equal number of students, (bandits) to the Players. The PCs will get accepted anywat but failing some tasks with effect role playing. The PCs then get sent to there dormataries and are free to explore the school. The PCs then do combat vaious leasons. The PCs are then assigned to kill 6 boars witch were trampling a farmers crops. The PCs will be rewarded with 5d4*2 gp on a success. The PCs then go back to the academy. The sesion ends. Esvon: Male gnome age 363. Head master. level 17 wizard. Chill but takes thing with extreme sirousness. arch mage stat block. Gequim: female elf age 131. Stratagy teacher. sandy white skin, light green eyes, long blond hair in braided ponytail, She is cheerful most of the time but gets tempered easliy. Assain stat block Alen: male human age 15. Student. Level 1 wizard. Leo, plays as a rival for the PCs. commer stat block Wallect Combat Academy: A large building about 6 stories hight with a basement. It is made of light gray stone and redwood (witch both have runic carvinngs.) Its window are formed from 2 iron bars shapping a cross. Its doors are made of dark oak planks labbled with dark red paint. It has purple and red hex carpets in the halls. It is ilumated by magic torches pruducing a blue flame. It is decorated on the outside with Wallect's banner (A tower with a firework coming from the top.) As well as the many class rooms, the Academy contains a outdoor quart room, a zen garden, a libary, a training room, and a temple.

[@somethingknew9152]

I think of campaigns like a string that is attached at both ends. You want that string to be loose so the players can design what shape it is even even if the general end game might be the same.

[@linus8639]

Being a new dm I have just made island, put some stuff on them like encounters including npcs and monsters. The main theme is there are demons coming from the abyss so I just slapped a few of those on but apart from that I’ll improvise it’ll all be fine I’m not stressed at all nope to me.

[@ಇLiv]

Less is more is so true, I tried winging an open world campaign and although it was fun doing encounter generators along the way, its a huge task trying to keep track of everything and having a simple goal other than just going from place to place. I am confident at my improvisation but bad at planning ahead of time and it leads to a lot of side tracking conversations and wasted time. Luckily my brother is okay with whatever so having it make sense isnt a huge priority. We're running a "procedurally generated" dungeon that Im drawing on the fly and he has the minecraft death ability so theres no real consequence for killing him other than the location of his inventory. He also has a ghost companion that possessed a giant storm skeleton...

[@gabrieldossantos3195]

I am happy to say that your way of preparing the game reminds me of mine. You help me a lot to improve my method.