Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 5847896" data-attributes="member: 42582">I don't find 4e to have higher GM prep time than AD&D (as best I can recall that prep time - it's been a while!). Maps can be drawn on the fly, for example, just as one might do so on the fly in AD&D. I can level monsters up and down on the fly also, provided I have the relevant monster stat block in front of me.But for players it is a different matter. I can't imagine players dropping into a 4e game, especially if they were new (or newish) to RPGing. It is very intensive on the player side, in building but particularly in learning how to play your PC.In my own case, I have notes on the campaign background (about six A4 pages by now). And notes on likely encounters, treasures etc (analagous to a dungeon key, I guess).Because I do exploration either freeform or via skill challenge, I don't need many mechanical notes for that (because the default DC tables do my work for me).I use the monster stats for NPCs to extrapolate to "special moves" in a social skill challenge (eg a failed check against a Pact Hag meant that the hag's instruction was obeyed by the PC, meaning that he stepped onto the concealed trap door).</blockquote>