This post is part advice, part question, regarding how much prep you put into your adventures.
I've been a gamer for decades but I'm relatively new to 5e and very new to DMing in 5e so I tend to make more complete notes than most. I do quite a bit of seat of the pants DMing because I encourage my players to be creative so I try to have a solid idea of the plot but I leave many of the details pretty loose.
However, one thing that I hate is having to break the flow of play to look stuff up. When I make my notes I put the pertinent stats right on the page so I don't have to stop and look anything up, including spells the NPCs and enemies can cast (because I'm not that well-versed with spells yet). So I'll often have a stat block and a few spell descriptions in italics right in the middle of the page or whenever I think the party will encounter them.
So how much stuff do you all have behind YOUR DM screen? How many notes do you feel that you need to keep things moving?
My "DM Screen" is a laptop, and all my notes are in Google Docs.
I find that DnD Beyond is actually pretty good to use as my "books" in the gaming session - supplemented by some Google searches if needs be - so I don't often embed stat blocks or spell descriptions in my notes - I can look them up on the fly quickly because of search engines ( and opening web pages on other tabs ).
If I need to come up with an unexpected NPC, I often use RPG Tinker to come up with a quick semi-random stat block.
The story notes I write in Google Docs are pretty detailed, however.
However, one of the smoothest sessions I've had recently, was when I forgot my laptop at work. I had created all my story notes in detail, and having typed those out, I had the brroad strokes in memory. Stats and names I just made up on the fly. Rules I either knew or delegated to someone to lookup ( as I didn't have any of my "books" with me ).
That session went smoothly, and we covered a lot of story ground.
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My "DM Screen" is a laptop, and all my notes are in Google Docs.
I find that DnD Beyond is actually pretty good to use as my "books" in the gaming session - supplemented by some Google searches if needs be - so I don't often embed stat blocks or spell descriptions in my notes - I can look them up on the fly quickly because of search engines ( and opening web pages on other tabs ).
If I need to come up with an unexpected NPC, I often use RPG Tinker to come up with a quick semi-random stat block.
The story notes I write in Google Docs are pretty detailed, however.
However, one of the smoothest sessions I've had recently, was when I forgot my laptop at work. I had created all my story notes in detail, and having typed those out, I had the brroad strokes in memory. Stats and names I just made up on the fly. Rules I either knew or delegated to someone to lookup ( as I didn't have any of my "books" with me ).
That session went smoothly, and we covered a lot of story ground.
There may be a lesson there :)
I agree that sometimes I over-think or over-plan. One thing that I'm habitually bad at though (and trying to remedy this time around) is names and other small details. I'm good at coming up with names but bad at recording or remembering them so this time I'm making SURE to keep notes as to the important names of people the PCs meet, places they go etc.
I keep it simple. Make sure to know and understand the setting and big red outlines/key points of the story/location. Have a sheet with a handful of encounters I can throw randomly around if need be. Have a sheet for NPC's and the rest just wing it on the spot.
Since I mainly run pre-made modules it is a lot of work to read through them all. Then adjusting plot hooks/important NPC takes most of the work. but the actual sessions are so simple to do when you know the big events and the important points.
I keep it simple. Make sure to know and understand the setting and big red outlines/key points of the story/location. Have a sheet with a handful of encounters I can throw randomly around if need be. Have a sheet for NPC's and the rest just wing it on the spot.
Since I mainly run pre-made modules it is a lot of work to read through them all. Then adjusting plot hooks/important NPC takes most of the work. but the actual sessions are so simple to do when you know the big events and the important points.
One of the best parts about pre-made stuff is that you don't have to worry about maps. Even the most out-dated material likely has a map that you can use.
This post is part advice, part question, regarding how much prep you put into your adventures.
I've been a gamer for decades but I'm relatively new to 5e and very new to DMing in 5e so I tend to make more complete notes than most. I do quite a bit of seat of the pants DMing because I encourage my players to be creative so I try to have a solid idea of the plot but I leave many of the details pretty loose.
However, one thing that I hate is having to break the flow of play to look stuff up. When I make my notes I put the pertinent stats right on the page so I don't have to stop and look anything up, including spells the NPCs and enemies can cast (because I'm not that well-versed with spells yet). So I'll often have a stat block and a few spell descriptions in italics right in the middle of the page or whenever I think the party will encounter them.
So how much stuff do you all have behind YOUR DM screen? How many notes do you feel that you need to keep things moving?
My "DM Screen" is a laptop, and all my notes are in Google Docs.
I find that DnD Beyond is actually pretty good to use as my "books" in the gaming session - supplemented by some Google searches if needs be - so I don't often embed stat blocks or spell descriptions in my notes - I can look them up on the fly quickly because of search engines ( and opening web pages on other tabs ).
If I need to come up with an unexpected NPC, I often use RPG Tinker to come up with a quick semi-random stat block.
The story notes I write in Google Docs are pretty detailed, however.
However, one of the smoothest sessions I've had recently, was when I forgot my laptop at work. I had created all my story notes in detail, and having typed those out, I had the brroad strokes in memory. Stats and names I just made up on the fly. Rules I either knew or delegated to someone to lookup ( as I didn't have any of my "books" with me ).
That session went smoothly, and we covered a lot of story ground.
There may be a lesson there :)
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
I agree that sometimes I over-think or over-plan. One thing that I'm habitually bad at though (and trying to remedy this time around) is names and other small details. I'm good at coming up with names but bad at recording or remembering them so this time I'm making SURE to keep notes as to the important names of people the PCs meet, places they go etc.
I keep it simple. Make sure to know and understand the setting and big red outlines/key points of the story/location. Have a sheet with a handful of encounters I can throw randomly around if need be. Have a sheet for NPC's and the rest just wing it on the spot.
Since I mainly run pre-made modules it is a lot of work to read through them all. Then adjusting plot hooks/important NPC takes most of the work. but the actual sessions are so simple to do when you know the big events and the important points.
One of the best parts about pre-made stuff is that you don't have to worry about maps. Even the most out-dated material likely has a map that you can use.
even when doing "homebrew" content. you can still use maps and parts from modules to cut down prep time.
I tell my players that I spend about eight hours a week preparing for each session*.
*Actual preparation time is roughly roughly ten minutes, including the time taken to eat dinner.
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
― Oscar Wilde.
LOL You're a BAD man!