Comments on: 100-Word Solutions to GMing Problems: Forgetting to Prep http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/100-word-solutions-to-gming-problems-forgetting-to-prep The Game Mastering Blog Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:00:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Martin Ralya http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/100-word-solutions-to-gming-problems-forgetting-to-prep/comment-page-1#comment-2660 Martin Ralya Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:22:43 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=249#comment-2660 @All - I wasn't the only gnome to struggle with squeezing our advice into 100 words, so it's fun to see how many fewer words some of you needed. Good stuff! <a href='#comment-2599' rel="nofollow">@Swordgleam</a> - Reading posts on the Stew instead of [fill in the blank] is ALWAYS the best approach! ;)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2660','Martin Ralya'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @All – I wasn’t the only gnome to struggle with squeezing our advice into 100 words, so it’s fun to see how many fewer words some of you needed. Good stuff!

@Swordgleam – Reading posts on the Stew instead of [fill in the blank] is ALWAYS the best approach! ;)

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]]> By: Swordgleam http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/100-word-solutions-to-gming-problems-forgetting-to-prep/comment-page-1#comment-2599 Swordgleam Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:03:38 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=249#comment-2599 Read posts on Gnome Stew instead of working on NPC character sheets! Hey, wait a second...<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2599','Swordgleam'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Read posts on Gnome Stew instead of working on NPC character sheets! Hey, wait a second…
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]]> By: Omnus http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/100-word-solutions-to-gming-problems-forgetting-to-prep/comment-page-1#comment-2598 Omnus Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:58:48 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=249#comment-2598 I run an embarrassing number of games on the fly. I seem to thrive on the pressure too. Mostly I look for a few entertaining encounters or situations, decide how much xp/karma I want to give out, then let it fly. For the most part, I don't even keep track of stats...if I want a critter to do something cool, it can, and I give it a generic amount of damage/effect. For the most part, my players never know the difference. If all else fails, give them a deck of many things.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2598','Omnus'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I run an embarrassing number of games on the fly. I seem to thrive on the pressure too. Mostly I look for a few entertaining encounters or situations, decide how much xp/karma I want to give out, then let it fly. For the most part, I don’t even keep track of stats…if I want a critter to do something cool, it can, and I give it a generic amount of damage/effect. For the most part, my players never know the difference. If all else fails, give them a deck of many things.
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]]> By: Tommi http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/100-word-solutions-to-gming-problems-forgetting-to-prep/comment-page-1#comment-2595 Tommi Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:39:52 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=249#comment-2595 Run the game as usual: Poke player characters until they do something interesting, then zoom in to that activity and poke them more if they slow down.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2595','Tommi'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Run the game as usual: Poke player characters until they do something interesting, then zoom in to that activity and poke them more if they slow down.
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]]> By: BryanB http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/100-word-solutions-to-gming-problems-forgetting-to-prep/comment-page-1#comment-2594 BryanB Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:23:36 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=249#comment-2594 Good Suggestions... I'd likely follow Scott Martin's suggestion of pulling something from the PC backgrounds and running with it. When all else fails: Send in the Ninjas! :D<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2594','BryanB'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Good Suggestions…

I’d likely follow Scott Martin’s suggestion of pulling something from the PC backgrounds and running with it.

When all else fails: Send in the Ninjas! :D

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]]> By: Matthew J. Neagley http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/100-word-solutions-to-gming-problems-forgetting-to-prep/comment-page-1#comment-2593 Matthew J. Neagley Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:07:55 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=249#comment-2593 How could we forget the KODT classic: "You're stting at the bar. A grizzled dwarf walks in and says: 'I'm looking for the toughest man here!'" This pretty much guarentees your players will waste the entire session fighting each other in a series of grudge matches for bragging right to "toughest".<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2593','Matthew J. Neagley'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> How could we forget the KODT classic:

“You’re stting at the bar. A grizzled dwarf walks in and says: ‘I’m looking for the toughest man here!’”

This pretty much guarentees your players will waste the entire session fighting each other in a series of grudge matches for bragging right to “toughest”.

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]]> By: Cole http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/100-word-solutions-to-gming-problems-forgetting-to-prep/comment-page-1#comment-2591 Cole Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:04:29 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=249#comment-2591 <b>Use a generic plot idea</b>: You meet with the evil tribal leader who had previously imprisoned you. He tells you that if you help him against his rival, you will get: Your freedom, gold, and someone else's freedom. <b>Ask the players to fill out a background sheet</b>: Use the <a href="//www.neceros.com/forum/index.php?s=43215bc9b66b3fddd8fa84af983c806d&automodule=downloads&showfile=12" rel="nofollow">10 minute background sheet</a>. Ask specific questions: Why were you imprisoned? Is there anyone else you want to set free? <b>Use the player's information on the first encounter with the leader.</b> <b>Make the city map</b>: Follow <a href="//singularmoments.blogspot.com/2008/08/creating-city-maps.html" rel="nofollow">these</a> instructions. <b>Give an easy first task</b>: Go steal some horses.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2591','Cole'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Use a generic plot idea: You meet with the evil tribal leader who had previously imprisoned you. He tells you that if you help him against his rival, you will get: Your freedom, gold, and someone else’s freedom.

Ask the players to fill out a background sheet: Use the 10 minute background sheet. Ask specific questions: Why were you imprisoned? Is there anyone else you want to set free?

Use the player’s information on the first encounter with the leader.

Make the city map: Follow these instructions.

Give an easy first task: Go steal some horses.

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]]> By: Rafe http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/100-word-solutions-to-gming-problems-forgetting-to-prep/comment-page-1#comment-2590 Rafe Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:52:38 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=249#comment-2590 5-Room Dungeon. Use Scott's idea to bring in a character background element or hook and tie it to the 5-room dungeon. Possibly spend a bit of time allowing others to have the spotlight before arriving or finding it: Rogue gets to sneak in and find a map for it, Ranger needs to track the creature from X to the 'dungeon.'<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2590','Rafe'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> 5-Room Dungeon. Use Scott’s idea to bring in a character background element or hook and tie it to the 5-room dungeon. Possibly spend a bit of time allowing others to have the spotlight before arriving or finding it: Rogue gets to sneak in and find a map for it, Ranger needs to track the creature from X to the ‘dungeon.’
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