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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Moving Pictures" data-source="post: 9777281" data-attributes="member: 7052268">Dude. As a former professional writer, if I were writing something to sell, it would look like it were worth buying.But hey, if you're going to criticize the note for a first-level bandit that was one of 10, knock yourself out. If I had to flesh out a background, I had generic backgrounds ready to roll. You wanna write a 500-word backstory for cannon fodder, maybe that's why you're feeling stressed. My Main dude had a character, as did his sidekick. I had those dudes fleshed out.Which is unfortunate, because I spin a hell of a tale. You have made the grave error of making several assumptions. Let me spell them out:1) That you are a good DM. 2) That because you write novels for a module, anyone who does not is not a good DM.Now, I agree with you: most of the published stuff I've seen is .... not good. A lot doesn't work for me because I homebrew the ever-lovin' snot out of things. But even then, most of the plots are garbage.So I write my own stuff. And if you dismount your high horse for juuuuuuust a second, you might see that I've got a pretty decent system in place.Example #1: I used fantasycalendar.com to track party events. I also use it to track behind-the-scenes stuff - sandbox events. I know, for example, that a major hurricane will slam into the Octran/Sylvan coast later in the year, cause widespread flooding, landslides, yadda yadda. It's nothing more than a note that says "Widespread storm: Affects far-south Octran lands. Sweeps into Sylvan lands. High winds, flooding."IF the party is in the area, then I can prepare for what might happen to them - and the surroundings. If they are not there but go there in the future, I have a mapping program that flags major events (Obsidian again) and the aftermath. I can figure out where things are when they get there. Or if they are far away, it might be nothing more than an odd bit of gossip in a far-away bar.Example #2: Last session, the PC spirit warrior (samurai) decided to go calling on the baroness. Now the baroness knew the PC's name, because the PC was involved in knocking out a smuggling ring, and that very day, received potions she had ordered to later give to the party as part of a private dinner to thank them all.So when the spirit warrior showed up, she gave an audience. PC went on to tell about the kidnapping of an oracle, who has visions she paints - and the paintings (if one can interpret them) are accurate. You just gotta interpret them.I had no freaking clue that anyone in the party would try this. But it happened. OK. So ... I'm off into terrain I hadn't prepared for .... but I'm not lost, nor am I ad-libbing, because I have notes about what makes the Baroness tick; her mannerisms, her description, her primary protector, etc. I hadn't made a map of her chambers - but I knew what they would look like: functional, with just a touch of understated elegance. Wood and stone. Nice enough but not gaudy. I didn't need a novel to give me the if/then/else/but flow of things. All I did was quietly pull up the baroness in Obsidian - told the PC that I had to do that to remind myself of who she was - and move on. 15-second delay, if that. The session ended with essentially a lot of lore and knowledge being learned. The party now has an idea of who the BBEG is - and is realizing that some of the seemingly disconnected events they've either participated in or witnessed are actually intertwined. They left energized, planning what to do next week as they lingered in my driveway.Example #3A personal messenger - an army Lieutenant the party knows - was tasked with delivering messages personally to each member of the party. Didn't help that the party upped and went to a neighbouring barony .... but I tracked (ahead of time) the efforts this dude would take to find the party (and how), thus able to nicely sandbox his arrival where the party was, and deliver his messages. The note in the calendar app reminds me who is with him. Golber is a well-fleshed-out NPC, but I went and peeked at his notes before the game just to refresh myself on how to portray the guy. This is Golber's entire existence in note form.Zoi Golber is a Lt. in the regional army of southern Wyddin.  He's was promoted after the goblin encounters in Beresford and south of it. [Stats] Golber is a bright, upbeat individual with a quick wit, open smile and odd way of phrasing the macabre in down-to-earth fashion. As in "right, ho. Give me your names so we know where to ship the body if things go bad."That's it. But that's enough for me to remember how to portray the dude. He will be a recurring NPC, quite likely. The calendar note I had was enough to assist me in making a fairly long talky-talky session happen.Calendar note: Golber: Arrives evening. Has two companions.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One is a human woman you're pretty sure you've seen her before. "Scout Sgt. Selene Vaughan," Golber declares. "She's here to keep me out of trouble. Unfortunately, there's only one of her, so she's got a little help keeping me from doing things I ought not to." Golber then points to a fairly well-dressed young man, "Squire Nikandros Llewelyn. He's here to make sure I use the outside fork first when dining, and don't say the wrong things in front of the wrong people."</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Golber explains that he's been sent directly by Camrys to deliver messages to yourself, Shi, Aldora, Nancael and Grimmdark, and ensure each is delivered personally. </li> </ul>I had the messages crafted elsewhere.I don't need to script 20 lines for Golber, because I have built the character.... I only need to glance at those notes or some calendar entries to figure out how he speaks.  I know he's being prepared for bigger things, so the squire is trying to push him to drink wine, rather than beer or cheap distilled booze. Were I crafting a module for someone else, I would provide a whole lot more context and content. But this is for me. It's all I need. Do not assume that because it wouldn't be enough for you that it won't do for someone else.That's kinda what I'm hinting at. It seems I need no more than 1/4 what you do. That doesn't make me bad, but it might - might - make me more efficient, which is perhaps something to ponder.The lesson here is a simple one: what is the story the characters are co-authoring, and what do I need to adequately carry out my responsibility in crafting that story? Where are the NPCs, who are they, how do they act? How do they behave, what are their personalities, how do I portray them? (Ie: what accents am I using?? If it's Maireth, I'm being shy, stuttering a lot, looking away from the party. If it's Norris, he's got a Cockney accent and a bad habit of running his hand through his hair - especially when he's not being entirely truthful. If it's Viiri, the well-meaning Charisma 9 Dwerf, he's going to be quiet for extended periods of time and then speak overlyloudveryrapidlywithouttakingmanybreathsorpausingbetweenwords {INHALE} whichisreallyannoyingjustasalowcharisacharactermightbe.Do I need 1,000 words each to breathe life into these creatures?Nope.So ask yourself - will my way work for you?</blockquote>

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