What takes you the longest in adventure preperation?

[Gundark]

Looking at this new DMG 2 got me thinking about what is it about preparing for the gaming session that seems to take a lot of time. Is it generating the idea? Designing the dungeon? "stating out hte badies?. For me it's stating out the badies. I'm gald to see that the DMG 2 has help with Prcs, as that can eat up loads of time. What is it for you? Let me know!

 

[Samuel Leming]

Statting out the NPC's eats up about 90% of any time I spend preparing to run a game. This is the biggest reason why I play instead of DM.

Sam

 

[Breakstone]

I love coming up with the story, cool monster designs, and neat dungeons. But once I sit down and actually have to stat out the NPCs, Monsters, and Dungeons... well, that's where I definitely... slow..... down..................

 

[Anthelios]

Coming up with the idea is the hardest part for me. Not to say I don't enjoy it, just that the crunch comes a lot easier than the fluff. Its easy to sit down, jot out a dungeon or stat out a random NPC. Its giving the NPC a reason thats the hard part. The reasoning behind the idea influences everything else, once you have that, the rest just flows out.

Oh and treasure, I hate rolling up treasure. I hate picking out treasure even worse. I wish I could just press a button and have a balanced, fair treasure for every encounter.

 

[Sammael]

Statting out NPCs. Now that my campaign has reached high levels, it can take me anywhere from half an hour to two hours to fully stat an NPC. Of course, I do that only for importan, recurring NPCs, but still...

Ideas come and go. When I have the inspiration, I can pre-plan a dozen sessions in advance. When I don't, I can sit and try for days without success.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

I chose "Other," as it's writing the crap down to ensure consistency (and for record keeping).

 

[Firavel]

Giving the NPC's stats and or background takes the longest. The idea, concept and any locations are easy compared to a well balanced NPC who can kick-ass but won't kill the entire party.

 

[Asmo]

Another vote for NPC stats!
It´s a major pain in the back.

Asmo

 

[Wild Gazebo]

The problem is: I can design and brainstorm during any spare thought. So, it's not really a tangible length of time. I could be at work, driving, playing poker, sleeping, ect...and still come up with some reasonably fun ideas--including dungeon design and story arcs.

I actually spend far more time on design and ideas...but not physically. Writing stats, drawing dungeons and towns takes up physical time which detracts from other aspects of my life. So, the physicallity of the work involved in, stats and maps, is more consuming and invovles more of a commitment. 'Course, I'm usually still brainstorming while I'm doing the the stats and maps.

I gotta go with the brainstorming--with a more realistic nod towards the stats. If you had asked: what aspect of game prep most interferes with your life? I'd have to say writing up the stats.

 

[Geoff Watson]

Stopping putting it off.
I've got plenty of time, I am very easily distracted by other things.

Geoff.