DM Prep Work Leading To Burnout: Help?

DaveMage · Jul 2, 2007

What DMs really need is an adventure product that *doesn't* require you to have to read ahead to play it. Wouldn't it be nice as a DM to just pick up the module as you are about to play and start? 0 prep time.

I'm surprised no one has designed such adventures.

JohnnFour · Jul 2, 2007

Flynn said:
Johnn,

I would like to take a quick moment here to thank you

Thanks Jason.

DaveMage said:
What DMs really need is an adventure product that *doesn't* require you to have to read ahead to play it. Wouldn't it be nice as a DM to just pick up the module as you are about to play and start? 0 prep time.

I'm surprised no one has designed such adventures.

Agreed. Especially now that publishers are no longer bound by book format (sorry for the pun). PDFs provide lots of design opportunities without being constrained by page counts and printing costs. Internet tools are possible too, though I'm not sure if those would be profitable.

Kid Charlemagne · Jul 2, 2007

DaveMage said:
What DMs really need is an adventure product that *doesn't* require you to have to read ahead to play it. Wouldn't it be nice as a DM to just pick up the module as you are about to play and start? 0 prep time.

I'm surprised no one has designed such adventures.

I think the new WoTC "delve" format is a step in that direction. I'm not sure how you'd go to complete "zero prep." Adding info about the purpose and consequences of each encounter might be one way...

DaveMage · Jul 2, 2007

Kid Charlemagne said:
I think the new WoTC "delve" format is a step in that direction. I'm not sure how you'd go to complete "zero prep." Adding info about the purpose and consequences of each encounter might be one way...

Such adventures would probably not be plot-heavy.

I'm thinking more of the so-called "beer & pretzels" type games where you go in with a basic premise (e.g., go into the dungeon and find the "Scepter of Power") and get out.

Dr Simon · Jul 2, 2007

DaveMage said:
What DMs really need is an adventure product that *doesn't* require you to have to read ahead to play it. Wouldn't it be nice as a DM to just pick up the module as you are about to play and start? 0 prep time.

I'm surprised no one has designed such adventures.

It's an interesting proposition, a 'plug and play' adventure. Hmm....

Ry · Jul 2, 2007

Dr Simon said:
It's an interesting proposition, a 'plug and play' adventure. Hmm....

If you could do a game with cards... say an E6 game so you could control the power level and the statblocks could be short, you could literally have a game that the GM neither prepped, nor really knew what would happen in advance. It could be a bit board-gamey, but the GM could add any plot they wanted to it.