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<blockquote data-quote="ExploderWizard" data-source="post: 6600555" data-attributes="member: 66434">I enjoy game prep so I don't mind spending a little time on it. I do prefer to spend more time on the interesting parts and minimize stat block and mechanics stuff. I also like making maps. Miniature painting is also part of prep for me and that is also really fun. Making up cool stuff that is happening in the game world and interesting NPC personalities is what I like to spend the most prep time on. Stat blocks for many NPCs will often be very similar so they can use templates. I like to prepare template stat blocks for generic character types that can be used to run a whole slew of NPCs. First I generate a list based on what is needed. For example: CommonerTown guardGuard officer street thieftypical mercenaryexceptional mercenaryMuch like the blocks already in the MM. As I create these templates they are saved because many can be tweaked and recycled as something else. Once a decent supply of templates are generated I can make plenty of interesting NPC personalities and just note the differences between the template chosen and the individual. I may use the commoner template for a barmaid but note that this particular character is exceptionally clever and has a 14 INT. The same technique is used for custom monsters. Quite often a typical or custom monster is used as the base for a new custom monster. The more of these that I prep at the beginning, the less time it takes to get ready for each session.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="ExploderWizard, post: 6600555, member: 66434"] I enjoy game prep so I don't mind spending a little time on it. I do prefer to spend more time on the interesting parts and minimize stat block and mechanics stuff. I also like making maps. Miniature painting is also part of prep for me and that is also really fun. Making up cool stuff that is happening in the game world and interesting NPC personalities is what I like to spend the most prep time on. Stat blocks for many NPCs will often be very similar so they can use templates. I like to prepare template stat blocks for generic character types that can be used to run a whole slew of NPCs. First I generate a list based on what is needed. For example: Commoner Town guard Guard officer street thief typical mercenary exceptional mercenary Much like the blocks already in the MM. As I create these templates they are saved because many can be tweaked and recycled as something else. Once a decent supply of templates are generated I can make plenty of interesting NPC personalities and just note the differences between the template chosen and the individual. I may use the commoner template for a barmaid but note that this particular character is exceptionally clever and has a 14 INT. The same technique is used for custom monsters. Quite often a typical or custom monster is used as the base for a new custom monster. The more of these that I prep at the beginning, the less time it takes to get ready for each session. [/QUOTE]

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