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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ktulu" data-source="post: 5146228" data-attributes="member: 13465">I'll throw my hat into the ring on this.  Here are the 5 things I must do for each session.1.  Determine location - There are two things I need for the game to feel awesome; one is location.  I figure out what the overall scene will be like (weather, terrain, location, etc...).  Sometimes this is easy, like when the players haven't left a previous one.  I always shake it up, though, to keep it fresh.  Maybe the rain's picked up, or the winds are now howling....2. Determine Objectives -  What are the antagonist's wanting to do?  What happens if they succeed or fail?  What are the PC's wanting to do?  What happens if they succeed or fail?  Knowing what the most likely outcomes in situations are will help when your evil wizard gets killed by a crit, or when the players get beaten severely.3. Build Encounters/Skill Challenges - If fights have to happen, where will they?  What interesting terrain features can I put in the scene?  What are the likely outcomes? (Win, Lose, Draw, what happens?)4. Looking back at previous sessions - This is important if you're doing a long-running game with secrets and prophecy.  Look back often.  Read your old notes and blog-posts.  You're bound to find something that'll really get the players invested in the history of the world.5. Be done at least 24 hours before the game - By this, I mean have your maps, minis, notes, sheets, books--everything you are using prepped and ready.  If, like me, you travel to another place to game, have everything in the car.  I find that the earlier I finish, the more time I have to think about the NPC's, speeches, and overall plot.  If I'm still scrambling to finish on game-day, my games often feel a little more rushed and haphazard.Enjoy.</blockquote>

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