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Minimizing Prep Time - Forked from "DMing: from fun to work "
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<blockquote data-quote="Blackbrrd" data-source="post: 5166118" data-attributes="member: 63962"><p>Now, I must say you have low expectations of pre-made modules. I am currently running the best pre-made modules I have gotten my hands on, WotBS and they have plenty of opportunity for role-playing. The plot is driving the story, but by no means is it a straight railroad.</p><p></p><p>My prep-time was reading through the module twice, which took maybe 4 hours and then re-reading the relevant parts before each session and looking at the encounters which should take about 2 hours, but can be rushed in 1 hour. A typical session of mine has 4-6 hours of play time. The first module lasted 5 sessions.</p><p></p><p>Total prep time 14 hours, total play time 25 hours. That doesn't take into account the time I spend thinking about the story and getting it straight in my head, or the time reading what other people have done with the module here on Enworld.</p><p></p><p>The first hook to the module I kept quite simple, but that is in line with my game which is pretty lighthearted and fun. My players will get really fond of their characters and nag me to DM more, but at the same time, it isn't exactly serious business. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p></p><p>Character motivations during the game is something the players usually come up with, not me as a DM, but they do align it with the story I am starting to tell, making my job much easier. We usually do this by talking a bit about what has been happening before they start playing and is an important part of making a pre-made module work. </p><p></p><p>... It's also time I forgot above when mentioning my prep-time. I bet I used 10 hours putting the party and character backgrounds together, but it isn't prep time in the usual sense, since I am coming up with a story together with your player. It's more like very free-form role playing. It's as fun as playing the game. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p></p><p>The REASON I use pre-made modules is that I am not creative enough on my own - it's not one of my better qualities. I am really good at refinement and adaption. </p><p></p><p>One friend of mine is really creative but as a DM he is really really really bad at refining his ideas into something playable. He is extremely helpful to have along as a player though. He will create whole subplots by himself. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p></p><p>Conclusion - I use about as much time preparing to play as I do playing, but quite a lot of it isn't "boring" prep-work but thinking about how I want to run it and how MY player characters will act and react.</p><p></p><p>Addendum: There are nearly no modules available in high enough quality, the last one I liked was Red Hand of Doom, the rest are starting to feel really shallow. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Blackbrrd, post: 5166118, member: 63962"] Now, I must say you have low expectations of pre-made modules. I am currently running the best pre-made modules I have gotten my hands on, WotBS and they have plenty of opportunity for role-playing. The plot is driving the story, but by no means is it a straight railroad. My prep-time was reading through the module twice, which took maybe 4 hours and then re-reading the relevant parts before each session and looking at the encounters which should take about 2 hours, but can be rushed in 1 hour. A typical session of mine has 4-6 hours of play time. The first module lasted 5 sessions. Total prep time 14 hours, total play time 25 hours. That doesn't take into account the time I spend thinking about the story and getting it straight in my head, or the time reading what other people have done with the module here on Enworld. The first hook to the module I kept quite simple, but that is in line with my game which is pretty lighthearted and fun. My players will get really fond of their characters and nag me to DM more, but at the same time, it isn't exactly serious business. ;) Character motivations during the game is something the players usually come up with, not me as a DM, but they do align it with the story I am starting to tell, making my job much easier. We usually do this by talking a bit about what has been happening before they start playing and is an important part of making a pre-made module work. ... It's also time I forgot above when mentioning my prep-time. I bet I used 10 hours putting the party and character backgrounds together, but it isn't prep time in the usual sense, since I am coming up with a story together with your player. It's more like very free-form role playing. It's as fun as playing the game. ;) The REASON I use pre-made modules is that I am not creative enough on my own - it's not one of my better qualities. I am really good at refinement and adaption. One friend of mine is really creative but as a DM he is really really really bad at refining his ideas into something playable. He is extremely helpful to have along as a player though. He will create whole subplots by himself. ;) Conclusion - I use about as much time preparing to play as I do playing, but quite a lot of it isn't "boring" prep-work but thinking about how I want to run it and how MY player characters will act and react. Addendum: There are nearly no modules available in high enough quality, the last one I liked was Red Hand of Doom, the rest are starting to feel really shallow. ;) [/QUOTE]
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