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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lord Vangarel" data-source="post: 964389" data-attributes="member: 223">Ok, without giving too much away Hackenslash to show you how little prep I sometimes do <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> Monster/NPC DesignIn the current campaign this is taking more and more time as all the high level abilities need to be considered. I've also started using templated or modified monsters alot more and doing this can easily chew up the hours. I would currently say if I have the time during the week I'll spend 2-3 hours doing this. Sometimes it's good because some prep work for this can roll over into the next session so less required there.Story/DialogueI tend to work out a basic story in my head which can be as quick as a few minutes. I'll then add ideas to it throughout the life of the story always modifying bits and adding things as cool ideas present themselves. So per session not a lot. Dialogue is something I tend to wing, I think of the motives NPC's have and will try to react accordingly if the party talks to them.EncountersTies in with developing stats which seems to take forever! I'll try to give thought to the location and attempt to make it interesting but not all the time. Probably spend a few minutes on locations.Maps/Supporting ArtI rarely draw detailed maps. A quick sketch is usually sufficient for me. I hate drawing really detailed dungeons and the pc's don't go down half the areas. I prefer thinking of the story and designing a sketch accordingly. This method can have disadvantages however as cool things can be overlooked because I take an abstract canvas of the scene I want.PC Experience and AwardsUsually about 30 seconds <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p"  data-smilie="7"data-shortname=":p" /> Only kidding. XP awards are sometimes pre-assigned for specific tasks and most often post assigned for things players say or do during the game. I tend to award most of the XP for story awards and roleplaying/skill use so its pretty quick as I know what I want to award. Monster/Challenge XP takes a little longer as I reconsider the level of the challenge and award appropriately.Hope that helps.</blockquote>

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