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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mark" data-source="post: 289871" data-attributes="member: 5">I like icing, and lots of it.  Keeps me fat and sassy, so to speak. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Call me a dreamer <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" /> but I've been running games since the mid-seventies and it's that big bowl of icing that helps make it so. <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" />I've been fortunate enough to share games with hundreds of players, of all kinds, and while nobody's perfect, the preparation isn't just about doing the work, it's also about doing the work that works.  When that is done, other things fall into place.  In some cases, this means creating enough possibilities that even someone not completely "queued in" can't miss them all.  It can also mean presenting them in such a way that a number of good plans naturally spring to mind for players.  In other cases, it goes to drawing players out when they are tentative about role-playing even reigning some in so others have a level playing field, opportunity-wise.  It's a delicate balance at times, but not one that requires a gift if the prep work is approached with it in mind.Playing to the audience, always, but that's really where my training lies.  I spent a couple of years doing stand up comedy before going back to college to major in Speech and Performing Arts, following that with fifteen years on the Chicago scene acting, directing and writing plays, so you're preaching to the chior.  For me the presentation, facilitating and writing is easy, and it is the building that requires my main focus.  However, I've met DMs who who have engineering backgrounds (to give an example) who find the world building aspects easy.  They make sure they do that up front, then put their main energy toward prepping the presentation.  There are ways for anyone to use the same techniques used in other fields without having your main strengths lie in those areas.  It requires knowing where you need to do the right work.Burnout can and should be avoided.  It's especially difficult if your involvement in RPGing is geared toward the DM side of the screen.  The key, as in all things, is focusing your main energies toward the places that are your stumbling blocks and allowing your natural skills to shine in the areas where you have them.  This allows you to better manage your prep time.I'm not convinced that this approach requires a perfect world to implement.  Truly, the test of time has bourne out that these methods do work not only for myself but for the great many DMs I've seen who follow similar lines.  Certainly I didn't revolutionize the methods I use and but have picked up tips along the way (still do with each and every game).  As you say there are no quarantees but I start with what works, and keep adding what I've learned.  Ultimately, results vary by fewer and fewer degrees and the curve moves closer toward perfection (a place no one will ever truly reach) with each game I play.  This approach helps maintain consistency along the way to that goal.  I can't remember the last time a game wasn't a fun time. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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