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DM Prep Work Leading To Burnout: Help?
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<blockquote data-quote="Vascant" data-source="post: 3612937" data-attributes="member: 13927"><p>I run 3 games a week so I know the feeling all to well and found the a bulk of my time was being spent on creating the NPCs that revolved around or were encountered by the PCs. Maps I could either draw by hand or find one I liked already done and just took a few notes to handle room descriptions, the over all plot or events were done in an outline format to allow for different things the PCs might do during game play and allow me for expanding it rather quickly.</p><p></p><p>For NPCs I use two things, NPC Designer and NPCs from Dungeon Magazine. NPC Designer allows me to create 3x5 index cards for NPCs and I scan/ocr the NPC I want from Dungeon to put it into it myself by hand (Yes the later is more of a hassle but over time you end up with a nice collection). </p><p></p><p>(Note I have over 4000 index cards after 2 years of doing this constantly)</p><p></p><p>Now when I am creating a new adventure/encounter or evening winging one, I simple pull the cards I need and build around them. </p><p></p><p>One additional step I also do during adventure creation is usually create a point where I can have a wing-it session, this means very minimal to no prep work for me and has become almost more fun for me to run then for the players.</p><p></p><p>Use the computer as much as possible during prep work, here is an example that may seem small.</p><p>Generating mundane treasure, lets me honest.. this is the payoff the players have been fighting for so it should be something rather then.. a ring (100gp) There are quite a few useful software tools that will handle this generation for you, while this task may seem small.. if you could have all of your mundane needs taken care with a click of a button (the minutes will add up and your imagination will both be saved for better things).</p><p></p><p>I also have a book while I GM, it has generation results for odd things (Some based on current party level). Book names, subjects, personal descriptions.. the list goes on and on. It has become habit now to turn to my book when needing some information rather then churning the old brain cell. (I also use this book during prep work)</p><p></p><p></p><p>In conclusion, look at your prep work and find the most time consuming tasks.. then you can work stream line them and back to enjoying being a DM.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Vascant, post: 3612937, member: 13927"] I run 3 games a week so I know the feeling all to well and found the a bulk of my time was being spent on creating the NPCs that revolved around or were encountered by the PCs. Maps I could either draw by hand or find one I liked already done and just took a few notes to handle room descriptions, the over all plot or events were done in an outline format to allow for different things the PCs might do during game play and allow me for expanding it rather quickly. For NPCs I use two things, NPC Designer and NPCs from Dungeon Magazine. NPC Designer allows me to create 3x5 index cards for NPCs and I scan/ocr the NPC I want from Dungeon to put it into it myself by hand (Yes the later is more of a hassle but over time you end up with a nice collection). (Note I have over 4000 index cards after 2 years of doing this constantly) Now when I am creating a new adventure/encounter or evening winging one, I simple pull the cards I need and build around them. One additional step I also do during adventure creation is usually create a point where I can have a wing-it session, this means very minimal to no prep work for me and has become almost more fun for me to run then for the players. Use the computer as much as possible during prep work, here is an example that may seem small. Generating mundane treasure, lets me honest.. this is the payoff the players have been fighting for so it should be something rather then.. a ring (100gp) There are quite a few useful software tools that will handle this generation for you, while this task may seem small.. if you could have all of your mundane needs taken care with a click of a button (the minutes will add up and your imagination will both be saved for better things). I also have a book while I GM, it has generation results for odd things (Some based on current party level). Book names, subjects, personal descriptions.. the list goes on and on. It has become habit now to turn to my book when needing some information rather then churning the old brain cell. (I also use this book during prep work) In conclusion, look at your prep work and find the most time consuming tasks.. then you can work stream line them and back to enjoying being a DM. [/QUOTE]
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