D&D General Zero-Prep D&D Game?

[M.T. Black]

Is anyone here running a zero-prep game of D&D (any edition or clone)? A game where you, as DM, just show up and start playing each session, and it results in a satisfying experience?

If so, can you please explain your approach, tools, etc?

 

[zakael19]

@prabe

 

[Theory of Games]

This should be GOOD

 

[Zardnaar]

Regular basis no.

Occasionally yes.

When I do it I recycle a lot. Grab an adventure ove already run or distract tge PCs in various ways.

Combat if it apoens us usually 1 Mook per PC +1. Mook is about half or a third CR.

Generally buying time for next session.

Each session is Generally planned along with overall aec. But very light I'll change it based on PC actions.

 

[TwoSix]

I dunno…it’s hard to explain how not to do something.

I don’t quite “zero-prep”; I usually think of an encounter scene or two on the drive over to the game when I’m DMing.

But otherwise I just riff on what the PCs want to do. If they seem to be fumbling, I’ll create some kind of conflict or something to grab their interest.

 

[GMMichael]

Is anyone here running a zero-prep game of D&D (any edition or clone)?

Totally!

A game where you, as DM, just show up and start playing each session, and it results in a satisfying experience?

Oh, yeah, no. PCs can see thru that. Each session should have a map and at least one encounter planned.

Why do you ask?

 

[M.T. Black]

Why do you ask?

There are people who claim to run D&D with zero prep (google "no prep D&D"). I was hoping to hear from someone who is actually doing it to see how they achieve it. It sounds like an interesting experiment.

 

[BruceWright]

Sly Flourish has “Lazy GM Prep”, which uses steps to keep prep time efficient.

It’s not really a goal of mine to eliminate prep or even reduce it too much. But i find the steps helpful nonetheless.

I have definitely PLAYED games where the DM seemed unprepared. Maybe’s they thought they were good at winging it.

 

[DEFCON 1]

There are people who claim to run D&D with zero prep (google "no prep D&D"). I was hoping to hear from someone who is actually doing it to see how they achieve it. It sounds like an interesting experiment.

I'd be more interested to see who the players were that actually play in the 'zero-prep' game. I have to imagine there's a certain... unconcernedness... with how the game runs for those people. Ones for whom just getting together to hang out is the most important part of the evening, with the game itself a pretty far second.

It's probably much, much easier to run a zero-prep game if your table is filled with players who would be just as happy sitting there doing nothing but shooting the sheets with each other as they would be supposedly playing a game of Dungeons & Dragons.

 

[John R Davis]

Lots RPGs where no prep is one of its features
Id say DND 5e is not one of them
If the GM sat down and from cold said right " We are gonna play DND, off you go" id think it would fall flat, especially on a weekly basis

I like to have a map/adventure/town/dungeon kind off ready. And even if things go elsewhere at least I have some NPC names, features, encounters there if needed .

Zero prep different from unprep. I have been in those in con games and it's awful