What do you do before a gaming session ?

[Teflon Billy]

Evening before: Remember that tomorrow is game night. Tell wife that I'll be out for the evening.

Satus: lazy

4 hours before the game: Go to Liquor store on my lunch break and grab something to drink. Give some thought to what the players did last week and what the results should be of their actions on the setting. Make notes like "Guard Captain Vugog is pissed off" in my moleskine.

Status: Zen

2 Hours before: Calling people to ask if they are going to order food, and can I get in on it so I don't have to cook or bring anything.

Status: Not thinking about game.

Start of the Game: for an hour and half with my friends. Accept bribes for bonus XP an suchlike.

Status: Realxed

 

[ForceUser]

I tend to do a lot of last minute thinking about plot elements and such, maybe type up some NPCs, perhaps jot down some notes. I might frame a couple of specific scenes in my mind that are important to forwarding the plot, do a couple of "dry runs" to make sure I have an NPC's personality down. If I'm running the game at my place, I usually spend the last one or two hours cleaning in preparation for having guests over.

 

[KB9JMQ]

I have learned that too much prep ends up in notes that will never be used and or not in the way you planned.
I now just glance a few pages ahead or make a couple of notes and wing it from there. I might bookmark a sourcebook or two so I can turn to a pertinent section if it comes up but that is about it.
I feel much more relaxed now.

 

[Illirion]

Couple of Days before the next game: Prepare an adventure (or two if I'm feeling creative). I came up with an idea beforehand and I mostly begin this prep time by drawing an adventure map in my notebook (not my laptop, but my paper one) and assign suitable encounters to the various places. Then I look up rules I'm going to need for the encounters I've planned and start to think about what to do if my players finnish it early (my adventures generally last exactly 1 session). This generally takes a couple of hours, but I'm not bored for a single minute.

Status: Diabolical Master Plan Mode (all of the possible monsters and situations I can throw at my PC's just get me excited and inspired for the next session).

Morning before the game: Doubting whether I should have that dwarven bridge broken or not, since it doesn't seem such a good idea now than it was a couple of days ago..

Status: Worried

Couple of hours before the game: Trying to get in touch with everyone and making sure they show up on time and haven't forgotten (they do that sometimes and those round-ups makes me feel more secure in what to expect for the evening).

Status: Busy/Stressed (and agitated when it turns out they prove unreliable once again).

1 Hour before the game: Pack up my notes, books, dice and whatnot to go to the gaming store where we play (most of us still live with our parents so dinnertable gaming is usually not an option).

Status: Happy (I'm finally getting to unfold my Diablocal Master Scheme, Bwahahaha.... erhm)

Start of the game: After having some laughs with some of the players who showed up early and tried to convince me I should give them more gold so they can get that full plate, excited about starting the game and get the story moving again.

Status: Depending on the lateness of some of the players. Either: Bummed out some people haven't showed up despite asuring me they would. Or: Cool, we're finally getting started, I remember why I like doing this so much now.

 

[pogre]

I'm surprised at the number of folks who are nervous before the start of the game.

I invariably have the framework for the adventure worked out far before gaming night. That day I get home from practice and help get things set-up: Drag out extra chairs, etc.
Status: Excited.

2 hours before the game: I light the grill. Ten minutes later I put on our dinner.
Status: Hungry.

90 minutes to 45 minutes before the game: Folks show up and throw whatever they want on the grill. We trade war stories from this week at work. We share dishes and ease into the game.
Status: Content, but a bit anxious to get the game going.

During the game: I try to keep the action going.
Status: Content and enjoying the game.

Following the game: I usually do not come close to getting through what I have prepared. I'm still pumped up from the game usually so I write a GM log and e-mail my players to thank them and share the log.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Game -4 Weeks to -2 weeks (or so): Work on the adventure for the adventure after the one I am currently running. About 8 hours a week, if I can spare it. Paint any new or special minis.

Game -1 Week: After this session take notes on what happened, good, bad, or just plain weird. Wonder why PCs did that? (There is always something...)

Game -2 to -1 Day: Refresh memory on adventure that I am running this week. Plan out any changes that last session indicated. About 4 hours total, if I can spare it.

Game -2 Hours: One last glance at my notes. Pack up the minis I am going to need in their boxes.

Game -1 Hour: Pack on back, boxes in hand, tube holding battlemat on shoulder, start walking. Buy munchies.

Game: Run game, wonder why the PCs just did that? (There is always something...) Have fun. Worry if my voice is going to last the night.

Game +4 to +8 Hours: Look at clock and discover that it is way too late. Pack up in a hurry, leaving at least one thing behind.

Game +5 to +9 Hours: Make notes on this weeks's game. Wonder again why PCs did that? (There is always something...)

Game -7 to -10 hours: Bed, for an all too short period of rest before work the next morning...

The Auld Grump

 

[Ao the Overkitty]

Week before game: I usually work on ideas while at work or sitting in front of the computer in the evening. I tend to mull over the notes in my head. I even occasionally write some down.

Status: Annoyed at bastards at work & procrastinating.

Day or two before game: Usually I've jotted some notes down by now or one of these evenings. I brainstorm NPCs and jot down a couple of notes on appearance and motives. Maybe a few lines of script.

Status: Still annoyed at bastards at work & possibly procrastinating.

4-5 hours before game: Get out of work and look over notes. Goof off on the computer. Play a few games of sherlock and read my boards. Maybe watch some tv.

Status: lazy & tired & trying to forget about bastards at work.

1 hour before game: people show up, we order food, I make last minute notes.

Status: relaxed

Game time: sit back and watch the group bummble around in funny and interesting ways.

Status: evil gm mode

Day or two after game: Write the synopsis for the storyhour.

Status: Once again annoyed at bastards at work & feeling lazy about writing.

 

[Sammael]

Right after the session ends (or the morning after, if I'm too tired):

• Write down any important stuff that happened that may influence the future sessions.
• If any of the players missed the session, post a brief outline on the campaign forum.
• Post XP if I didn't get around to giving out XP after the session.
• Post the description of identified treasure found (if any).
• Write down a very brief outline of the next session. Note if there are multiple possible courses of action that can be predicted. Smile if everything is going as planned, or if the players took the campaign in an unexpected new direction. Feel good about myself if the players were satisfied with the session. Feel bad if they were bored and wonder what went wrong.

The next few days:

• Brainstorm ideas for next session.
• Start statting out NPCs (usually finding lame excuses to leave the spells for the last moment).
• Do research on the area where the PCs will be going next and note possible hooks.
• Feel confident that I'll get everything ready for the next session.

The day before:

• Finish statting out NPCs (except the damn spells).
• Try to ensure there's something for every PC to do on the next session.
• Write session outline. Write brief descriptions of places where I'm reasonably sure the PCs will go. Write one-sentence NPC personalities for reference. Note NPC and monster tactics.
• Feel bad about not picking the spells for NPCs.

T-2 hours:

• Clean the room (if playing at my place).
• Prepare the minis and books.
• Feel like I'm forgetting about something.

T-1/2 hour:

• Do a frenzied sourcebook search for spells appropriate to NPC. If the search yields nothing, assign PH-only spells. If there isn't enough time (e.g. one of the players shows up early), curse loudly and swear you'll do the spells earlier next time.
• Feel nervous.

 

[shilsen]

For a weekly game:

Day after previous session:
Start thinking about what may happen for the next session, based on what the PCs did in the last session and previously in the campaign. Update PC XP.
Status: Relaxed

First half of week:
Continue thinking and start noting a few of the broad parameters that may be important. Maybe stat an NPC or two. Email players about anything we need to cover between sessions. Write and post first past of session recap.
Status: Relaxed

Second half of week:
Finish noting down possible encounters/events. Wrap up statting NPCs. Continue exchanging emails as needed. Update PC sheets as needed. Write and post second part of session recap. Maybe post third and final part of recap.
Status: Relaxed

Day before game:
Print out notes. In the evening, add anything that I forgot. Wrap up session recap if not yet posted.
Status: Relaxed

Morning of game:
Read, spend time on the computer, maybe skim notes, decide what books to take, eat something, shower.
Status: Relaxed

1-2 hrs before game:
Leave home and take subway or train to game, depending on which one I'm going to (one of my campaigns is across the state border). Read on the way, usually one of the books I'm carrying and maybe a bit of my notes.
Status: Relaxed

Yeah, I'm just kinda relaxed a lot.

 

[der_kluge]

Bathe

Pfft! There's no room on ENWorld for mere "hobbyist" gamers such as yourself.