DM's, when do you prepare for your game?

[weem]

I was talking to a friend of mine about this recently.

I am the kind of person who is never satisfied with anything I do - I'm always changing things until it needs to be done. So when I plan games, I have found there is no point to do it a week before the game because I will change it all the night before. Now, I simply prep a day or two before the game.

So, for those of you who prep, and regardless of how much prep work you do (5 minutes, or 8 hours), how close to game time to you prep for it?

Bonus question: What time of day is best for you? For me, I tend to be most creative in the morning but do my best actual prep work late at night (11pm - 2am the night before the game).

 

[Crothian]

I think about it lots at work and school. I'll sit down and write things out as I have the time.

 

[delericho]

I try to do my prep the weekend before the game, or failing that on the first available evening during that week. I really do try.

I usually end up actually doing the prep on the evening before the game, probably late. And that's assuming I don't leave it to the morning, immediately before I have to run out to the game.

 

[Derulbaskul]

It's one of my primary forms of relaxation so I do it anywhere, anytime, simply as the mood takes me.

If I'm on a roll I will even stay home from work (it's my own business and some days my role is minor- I don't stay home if something important is happening!) and just keep tapping away. I travel a lot so I enjoy working on stuff when I'm on a plane and have done for years.

I struggle with insomnia (a legacy of too many time zones) and I know if I can't sleep there is no point fighting it so I try and get some value out of the time and maybe do some work on either the campaign I'm playing now or the three or so I have "in development".

 

[Wombat]

Depends on the session and the game system ... and the particular players.

I have learned to stay a lot looser with my game outlines anymore, as most of my players are pretty freeform and develop a lot of their own adventures. I have certain set pieces that I make sure are prepared, and a lot of NPCs, but a lot of the rest I wing as needed.

I think up ideas at work, on the bus, while talking to friends, etc. I always keep a notebook with me for scribbling down these notions as they come to me, and then I prepare 3-5 sheets of adventure outline the night before, plus stats where needed.

 

[Bold or Stupid]

My mind is constantly mulling some plot point over in my head... does thant count.

Actual prep occurs randomly usually in breaks at work on the game day. Sometimes (okay lots) it occurs mid game due to me not getting round to it.

 

[Blackbrrd]

I have run premade modules and I read the module some time in advance, but enter monsters into excel and re-read the relevant encounters an hour before we start playing. In other words, I am just finishing up as the first players arrive.

Due to my inability to do preparations in advance I have some problems running my own modules instead of premades. Maybe because I am never satisfied with my work.

 

[Rel]

Constantly.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

As I am running it.

 

[Umbran]

General plotting, planning, and scheming happens anyplace, anytime.

Actual sitting down and working out details - by preference I like to do it the evening before the game. Lacking that, some time in the week before the game. Lacking that, I probably wing it during the session off of notes I've jotted down when I can.

If I am running a published module, I like to read it through a couple of times during the week before the session.