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4e increased my DM prep time...
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<blockquote data-quote="Novem5er" data-source="post: 5111477" data-attributes="member: 57859"><p>After running 4e pretty regularly for about a year now, I've found that the system really is a paradox...</p><p></p><p>The rules, presentation, and tools make it tremendously easy to run...</p><p></p><p>but the intricacies make it difficult to run <strong>well</strong>.</p><p></p><p>As my group of players became more comfortable with the system, their tastes matured from straight dungeon crawls to character-driven stories. With a focus on RP and story, I had to create more interesting combat encounters. Since a 4 hours session might feature just 2 combat encounters (45-60 mins each!), these had to be fun!</p><p></p><p>I'm proud to say that I've turned into a pretty decent 4e DM, but it's been tough, and my prep time is definitely UP. Here's a process for what I go through to run a night's session:</p><p></p><p></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Flesh out the story with a Web Chart of possible story paths (while remaining flexible to other options the players may create).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Find spots where combat encounters will occur (select enemies, motivation, and the area)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Open the Monster Builder and find 2-3 monsters that fit my story need (1 soldier/skirmisher/brute, 1 artillery/controller, and MAYBE 1 leader type)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">For the first monster, use the builder to adjust the level to match party, reduce HP by 33%, increase each attack power damage by +50% average (I've done this for about 6 months to speed combat up and it works!!!!)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Repeat for each of my monsters.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">TOKENS - Select monsters stat block and "Copy as Image", then paste that image into a Microsoft Word document (landscape w/ 2 columns)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Repeat for each of my monsters.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Print my Word document with all my collected (and adjusted) monsters stat blocks.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Search the Internet for appropriate monster picture; download to PC.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Crop photo into square to make a portrait, copy/paste it into another Word document, and then resize image into 1" square. Copy/paste to create duplicate monsters.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Repeat for each monster I will use, pasting the cropped pics into the same document.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Print document with all my 1" square monster tokens (on cardstock).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Use my Martha Stewart 1" circular hole-punch to "punch" my square tokens into neat little circles!</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Use double-sided tape to stick card tokens to 1" circle wooden disks (bought from local Michael's). I find the wooden disks NECESSARY or else the cards are too thin to easily move on the battlemat.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">TERRAIN - Make sketch of encounter area, so I can draw on my TACT-TILES later. This takes some creativity to keep things interesting. I try to make the layout encourage movement, as per DMG2 suggestion.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Design or copy at least 1 usable terrain feature. This can be a terrain power, a trap, a fantastic feature, or something! I often incorporate a mix of 2 elements.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Repeat for each encounter.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">TREASURE - Assign a treasure parcel for an encounter (from DMG).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Use the Character Builder or Adventurer's Vault to look up and choose appropriate Magic Items (more frustrating than it should... WHY NO RANDOM treasure charts for PCs who don't care what they get?).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Repeat for each encounter.</li> </ol><p>Is that all?.... Once all this is done, the sessions are a blast to run and flow very well, but it takes me hours to do all this for a multi-encounter evening. Of course, this is all just the encounters, never mind the actual plot, NPCS, flavor text, etc, etc.</p><p></p><p>Thankfully, the WOTC provided tools and books make this all possible to do... but I've become a little resentful that it all feels NECESSARY. Seriously, how many pages have been devoted in the DMG and DMG2 to just creating encounters? It's all great advice, too, but I've found that it's not optional if I want my players to stay engaged in the combats!</p><p></p><p>We played 4e for just about a year before we took a good break. We've been playing Mouse Guard every few weeks since January, and it's been a blast. I think we're going to pick out 4e campaign again, but.... I'm not looking forward to all that busy work!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Novem5er, post: 5111477, member: 57859"] After running 4e pretty regularly for about a year now, I've found that the system really is a paradox... The rules, presentation, and tools make it tremendously easy to run... but the intricacies make it difficult to run [B]well[/B]. As my group of players became more comfortable with the system, their tastes matured from straight dungeon crawls to character-driven stories. With a focus on RP and story, I had to create more interesting combat encounters. Since a 4 hours session might feature just 2 combat encounters (45-60 mins each!), these had to be fun! I'm proud to say that I've turned into a pretty decent 4e DM, but it's been tough, and my prep time is definitely UP. Here's a process for what I go through to run a night's session: [LIST=1] [*]Flesh out the story with a Web Chart of possible story paths (while remaining flexible to other options the players may create). [*]Find spots where combat encounters will occur (select enemies, motivation, and the area) [*]Open the Monster Builder and find 2-3 monsters that fit my story need (1 soldier/skirmisher/brute, 1 artillery/controller, and MAYBE 1 leader type) [*]For the first monster, use the builder to adjust the level to match party, reduce HP by 33%, increase each attack power damage by +50% average (I've done this for about 6 months to speed combat up and it works!!!!) [*]Repeat for each of my monsters. [*]TOKENS - Select monsters stat block and "Copy as Image", then paste that image into a Microsoft Word document (landscape w/ 2 columns) [*]Repeat for each of my monsters. [*]Print my Word document with all my collected (and adjusted) monsters stat blocks. [*]Search the Internet for appropriate monster picture; download to PC. [*]Crop photo into square to make a portrait, copy/paste it into another Word document, and then resize image into 1" square. Copy/paste to create duplicate monsters. [*]Repeat for each monster I will use, pasting the cropped pics into the same document. [*]Print document with all my 1" square monster tokens (on cardstock). [*]Use my Martha Stewart 1" circular hole-punch to "punch" my square tokens into neat little circles! [*]Use double-sided tape to stick card tokens to 1" circle wooden disks (bought from local Michael's). I find the wooden disks NECESSARY or else the cards are too thin to easily move on the battlemat. [*]TERRAIN - Make sketch of encounter area, so I can draw on my TACT-TILES later. This takes some creativity to keep things interesting. I try to make the layout encourage movement, as per DMG2 suggestion. [*]Design or copy at least 1 usable terrain feature. This can be a terrain power, a trap, a fantastic feature, or something! I often incorporate a mix of 2 elements. [*]Repeat for each encounter. [*]TREASURE - Assign a treasure parcel for an encounter (from DMG). [*]Use the Character Builder or Adventurer's Vault to look up and choose appropriate Magic Items (more frustrating than it should... WHY NO RANDOM treasure charts for PCs who don't care what they get?). [*]Repeat for each encounter. [/LIST] Is that all?.... Once all this is done, the sessions are a blast to run and flow very well, but it takes me hours to do all this for a multi-encounter evening. Of course, this is all just the encounters, never mind the actual plot, NPCS, flavor text, etc, etc. Thankfully, the WOTC provided tools and books make this all possible to do... but I've become a little resentful that it all feels NECESSARY. Seriously, how many pages have been devoted in the DMG and DMG2 to just creating encounters? It's all great advice, too, but I've found that it's not optional if I want my players to stay engaged in the combats! We played 4e for just about a year before we took a good break. We've been playing Mouse Guard every few weeks since January, and it's been a blast. I think we're going to pick out 4e campaign again, but.... I'm not looking forward to all that busy work! [/QUOTE]
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