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<blockquote data-quote="Blue" data-source="post: 7153637" data-attributes="member: 20564"><p>I run sorta-sandbox. In that there are many big plot arcs, ones that the players have chosen by their character interest (and some meta discussions). So while I may have an idea of what a session will bring, I've been proven wrong more times then I've been right.</p><p></p><p>Much of my prep is "big story" prep, especially because I beleive anything that hasn't been formalized at the table is still flexible - my big plots change often not just in direct reaction to what the characters do, but also as new and cool things come up.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, my session prep is basically some along what I think is the most likely lines, and some things to help with Improv. Notable NPCs and a list of pregenerated names for more. Some combat stats for other things as well. (I'm running 13th Age which is very similar to 5e but gives youthe PDFs when you buy the print, so I just copy-n-paste monster states to my session notes so I have everything.)</p><p></p><p>Time spent:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">So, any new large locale (city, whatever) is probably a few hours prep, but that's not common. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Current adventure prep is usually two to three hours. No grid-level maps, I run theater of the mind, though I may have others as a player understanding aid. That time includes making up flavorful magic items and putting them on index cards to hand to the players if they find them, getting all the foe stats, printing pictures of new NPCs as well as actually making up the next part of the adventure. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Oh, they are going off the rails" improve prep is another hour or two but much of that can be carried from session to session.</li> </ul><p></p><p>I try to avoid having a laptop at the table. I print out my session notes, roughly 8-10 pages plus maybe a page of pictures. I do it single sided so I can do things like have my encounter notes and my foes all in front of me so there's no paging back and forth at inopportune times.</p><p></p><p>Those session notes also have static reminders about character background (read: skills), relationships, and class features that I want to spotlight, very useful for when I'm improving. Also has a two-column section with a summary of big plots that I can steal foreshadowing and such from when I'm improving details about things.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Blue, post: 7153637, member: 20564"] I run sorta-sandbox. In that there are many big plot arcs, ones that the players have chosen by their character interest (and some meta discussions). So while I may have an idea of what a session will bring, I've been proven wrong more times then I've been right. Much of my prep is "big story" prep, especially because I beleive anything that hasn't been formalized at the table is still flexible - my big plots change often not just in direct reaction to what the characters do, but also as new and cool things come up. Anyway, my session prep is basically some along what I think is the most likely lines, and some things to help with Improv. Notable NPCs and a list of pregenerated names for more. Some combat stats for other things as well. (I'm running 13th Age which is very similar to 5e but gives youthe PDFs when you buy the print, so I just copy-n-paste monster states to my session notes so I have everything.) Time spent: [LIST] [*]So, any new large locale (city, whatever) is probably a few hours prep, but that's not common. [*]Current adventure prep is usually two to three hours. No grid-level maps, I run theater of the mind, though I may have others as a player understanding aid. That time includes making up flavorful magic items and putting them on index cards to hand to the players if they find them, getting all the foe stats, printing pictures of new NPCs as well as actually making up the next part of the adventure. [*]"Oh, they are going off the rails" improve prep is another hour or two but much of that can be carried from session to session. [/LIST] I try to avoid having a laptop at the table. I print out my session notes, roughly 8-10 pages plus maybe a page of pictures. I do it single sided so I can do things like have my encounter notes and my foes all in front of me so there's no paging back and forth at inopportune times. Those session notes also have static reminders about character background (read: skills), relationships, and class features that I want to spotlight, very useful for when I'm improving. Also has a two-column section with a summary of big plots that I can steal foreshadowing and such from when I'm improving details about things. [/QUOTE]
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