Never mistake prepping a #ttrpg game and planning a narrative like a story or film.
https://twitter.com/NPC_Creations/status/1467941637905170448
I used to plan out adventures meticulously, but that DOES NOT SERVE THE PLAYERS.
Prep for me is having all the pieces for an adventure ready to use with whatever the players throw at me.
Some plot ideas.
Some maps.
Some items.
Some npcs.
A list of random names, mannerisms, visual hooks and adverbs that I can use to pull stuff out of my butt
Some plot ideas.
Some maps.
Some items.
Some npcs.
A list of random names, mannerisms, visual hooks and adverbs that I can use to pull stuff out of my butt
Think about prepping to be like running a burger bar. Get your patties, buns, sauces and drinks ready but let them order the food they want.
Double chicken with bacon and cheese? You got it.
Vegan patty on turkish? Done.
Double chicken with bacon and cheese? You got it.
Vegan patty on turkish? Done.
Investigate the old windmill because it may be haunted?
Cool, maybe it is.
Ignore the windmill and focus on getting to the town to stock up?
Getting mixed up in a war between two store keepers it is.
Cool, maybe it is.
Ignore the windmill and focus on getting to the town to stock up?
Getting mixed up in a war between two store keepers it is.
Prep good ingredients and you will be ready to cook up adventure when the players show you what their interests are.
Don't write stories..
The players will do that for you. Instead make up interesting places, people and things.
The players will do that for you. Instead make up interesting places, people and things.
When I prep, I scrapbook. Pictures of actors, symbols, photos, fantasy art... i give myself the ingredients for my imagination to kick off.
I NEVER WRITE A PLOT OR STORY ARC
I NEVER WRITE A PLOT OR STORY ARC
Nobody writes plots like suspicious players. They will discuss what they think is going on and you just listen and smile.
You enter the tavern... the barkeep cheers and says "finally! Come come, you must be Saroya's friends. Welcome!'
Seed planted. Who is Saroya? Why is he pleased to see you? Will you play along? Dig for details? Ignore it?
Seed planted. Who is Saroya? Why is he pleased to see you? Will you play along? Dig for details? Ignore it?
This is a 'hook'. If you keep throwing hooks at players, they will bite something that interests them.
And there is nothing wrong with asking players to invent stuff for you.
The merchant guild here is infamous... (player one) what do you think is whispered about them in your city?
The merchant guild here is infamous... (player one) what do you think is whispered about them in your city?
The latter is fun because players buy into a world they help create.
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