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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Manbearcat" data-source="post: 8436281" data-attributes="member: 6696971">Here’s some advice on Improvization I just put in the railroading thread that may be of use to folks reading this thread:Effective improvisation is deploying a very different muscle than working from prep. I’ve seen a lot of people say they don’t believe that either (a) they can do it (and maintain coherence) or (b) that anyone can do it (and maintain coherence).I’m sure there are a small number of folks in the world where (a) is true (because some of the below becomes a barrier). However, (b) is is absolutely not true because GMs have done it and have been doing it for a time.Things to work on to become better improvisers:* Practice your listening skills (the less you talk, proportionately, the better you become at improvising).* Be humble, ask questions (about the setting at large, about the present situation), and offload some of your mental overhead onto table/system.* Embrace structure. Chunk your information mentally so it’s very digestible and write down pithy statements as play develops so it mentally cues you for future use (Master Seargeant Rosco Hicks, I say I say, loves mint juleps).* Pick the right system. Systems with overwhelming cognitive load (and that doesn’t mean rules heft, although it might…that absolutely can mean setting and expectations of canonical lynchpins for play) or creative restrictions (that you must reference) are not good for consistent improvization. Systems that embrace improvisation will provide clear and organizing structure for the conversation of play and moving around it and will be an intuitive and creatively liberating experience for all participants at the table.* Start small (practice various conflicts and get good at that before you put it all together), set goals, be mentally prepared for stumbles and adversity, and recognize what success looks like (it’s not perfect).</blockquote>

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