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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rechan" data-source="post: 4644841" data-attributes="member: 54846">The effort is not an end unto itself. The effort has a purpose. It is preparation so everything goes smoothly. And, it is done so that the Dm doesn't sit there gaping like a fish out of water to come up with something to do. The Preparation is to make the game at the table good. If that preparation is not used, then the end result is that it is in fact wasted. There is, of course, a line to be drawn. Those DMs who feel the need to map out the family history of the farmer the PCs meet on the road for five minutes and then move on, the DM who gives each and every humanoid a name and a goal in life - only for the PCs to wantonly slaughter? That guy is overdoing it, to the detriment of his own enjoyment, since that is clearly not going to get used. This also isn't limited to mapping/story. Recently, I sat down and wrote up a bunch of monster cards and planned several encounters for a group of enemies the PCs expressed during several sessions they wanted to kill. Suddenly the PCs decided to negotiate with these guys. There goes the time spent working on the encounters/monsters. Granted, they could be re-adapted, but the point still stands.</blockquote>