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Message: <blockquote data-quote="steenan" data-source="post: 6236464" data-attributes="member: 23240">I usually play games where character relations, motivations, goals, beliefs or something similar are an important part of character creation. We start by creating characters, so when I begin planning the game, I already have character sheets at hand.I draw a mind map, with PCs as central nodes and the NPCs mentioned in their backgrounds around them. Lines between them represent relations. Then I add more elements (NPCs, places, items, past events) until I have something to engage each goal and belief. And after that, I complete the graph by defining relations between the NPCs.If I have enough time, I prepare character sheets for the NPCs that look like they can be important (tied to main motivation of any PC, or tied somehow to many PCs). If not, I just write down what are their main strengths and weaknesses. I add a few adjectives to guide me in roleplaying them.I also prepare things that I know I will need at some point, but don't want to waste brainpower improvising or I'm just not good at improvising. Things like list of names for NPCs in various cultures (also names of villages/towns, names of ships etc.), a map to show how far the major locations are from each other, mechanical writeups of nameless NPC types (generic bandit, generic guard, generic thief etc.).For the first adventure, I prepare a situation that lets me present a significant part of my relation map and that pushes PCs into action. I don't prepare a "plot" and make no assumptions about what my players will do. I just throw them into a situation that pushes their buttons, and react to what they do.After each session, I update my mind map and use it as a guide on what to put in the spotlight next.</blockquote>

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