DM, How much time do you prepare before a session

[MoonZar]

Hello fellow Dm !

I want to know how much time do your prepare your gaming session ?

What take you the most of your time in your preparation ?

Do you rely much on not much preparation and you do thing on the fly during the session ?

 

[EricNoah]

I think I spend about 2 hours preparing for every 3 hours of play.

The vast majority of my prep is done before writing much down -- lots of mulling things over in my mind, making it "make sense". Getting the stats for NPCs and monsters is not too much of a chore with some electronic help.

If I shortchange myself on anything, it's flavorful details and NPC background, which is too bad because I enjoy doing that sort of thing if I have time. This is the sort of thing I end up winging at the table and it's usually not much of a problem.

 

[diaglo]

4hours of prep time for every hour of gameplay at a minimum

 

[MojoGM]

I'd say I spend a lot of time thinking about my game, at work, while driving, out for a smoke, etc.


Actual prep is usually only a few hours the day of the game. Without E-Tools to do up stats really quick I'd be doomed.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

It really varies, but I suppose I average about 3 hours for a 6 hour session. This isn't all at once, mind you, but spread out over several days before the game itself.

 

[Psion]

Ideally 1:1 ratio of prep to play time, though my hectic life often requires me to cut corners.

Detailing interesting and mechanically complete NPC stats are probably one of the most time intensive tasks, though it is often the first one I cut corners on. I can fake a spellcaster or psion with a spell list. Faking an interesting and engaging scenario is more difficult.

Generally, at a minimum, I try to make sure I contemplate the events that occur during the game, the challenges, etc. I rip off various modules and other resources to fill the gaps.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

The more experienced a DM you are, the easier it is to create things on the fly. I've been DMing for over 15 years so I generally just flesh out the adventure and stat out the creatures/NPCs. I also find that the PCs come up with unanticipated ideas that make the story even better, and these can be easily incorporated into the adventure when everything isn't set in stone.

Experience has taught me not to waste time creating stuff that the PCs have a 50/50 chance of ignoring anyways. Knowing what is essential and what is not is the trick, and it generally can only be learned through experience.

If I had to guesstimate how much time I actually spend prepping, it would probably be about 3-4 hours per hour of game time (spread out over weeks of real time).

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I have so little prep time that I really have a feeling it would terrify my players. But I'm just a fan of winging it.

 

[reanjr]

Hello fellow Dm !

I want to know how much time do your prepare your gaming session ?

The car ride over.

What take you the most of your time in your preparation ?

Thinking of what the adventure is going to be.

Do you rely much on not much preparation and you do thing on the fly during the session ?

I'd say I'm a flyboy.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I reckon about an hours writing time for 2 hours of play. Although I probably spend a fair bit more than that mulling over things. Generally when I should be doing something more important.

Tend to spend more time the higher level the game is. That's just NPC creation stuff...

Every now and again I like to sit down and write out some sidetrack adventures. Generic stuff that I can drop in almost anywhere. I like to have at least 3 of these things lying around... Use them for thinking time when the players throw me a curveball... They take a while to do.