Comments on: Shower Insight: A-ha! Moments and Clearing GM’s Block

By: Bercilac

Bercilac — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:44:22 +0000

I use this for essays, mostly (being a lowly undergrad). I'd say it works 66% of the time, and that only includes times that I'm actually trying to write. Sometimes I sit down "to work on an essay" and actually have NO INTENTION of doing it. I write 100-150 words, and before I know it I'm rolling up NPCs for my campaign. Actually, the best way to break GM block for me is to attempt to do some real work.

By: DarthKrzysztof

DarthKrzysztof — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:58:23 +0000

Good point, Telas - writing about anything else, even if it's just a deliberate exercise to get your juices flowing, is often a lifesaver. Working on my campaign's wiki sometimes does the trick - there's always an NPC in need of stats or a portrait (or a page). Also, writing the fiction interludes that get slotted between the sessions sometimes gives me seeds for future adventures.

By: matholwch

matholwch — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:35:24 +0000

I find that playing Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For A Hero, or anything by Wagner clears the little grey cells.

When I’ve finished dancing around like a loon for a few minutes everything just flows

By: Dire Emu

Dire Emu — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:59:27 +0000

Wow, I thought I was the only one who used the shower for brainstorming. The isolation is good for rambling off dialog and introduction tales and such. I do a lot of plot-storming there and while in the car. In fact, any time I am alone and feel that nobody can hear me, I will rattle off possible dialog between NPCs or bits that might be read from manuscripts, or told by storytellers, etc.

By: Sarlax

Sarlax — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:18:26 +0000

I don't spend much time prepping, just about an hour for a session. Still, blocks come - not in trying to plan events (since I avoid that), but in writing people and places. The best thing for me? Reading roleplaying books for a different game. If I can't figure out how to write up the illithid city or the githyanki invasion, I crack open Aberrant, Changeling, or Transhuman Space. It completely changes my thinking and I only need a few minutes before I can get back into the game I'm actually running.

By: Swordgleam

Swordgleam — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:01:39 +0000

I always get my best ideas just as I'm falling asleep. Sometimes I even remember them when I wake up! I'll also bounce ideas off a GMing buddy of mine who isn't in any of my games. Half the time, when I'm explaining something to him, I'll realize more about it myself.

By: Kurt "Telas" Schneider

Kurt "Telas" Schneider — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:44 +0000

I write. Anything, it doesn't matter what. Sometimes, when I'm blocking HARD, I write by hand. For some reason, this loosens up the logjam, and I start thinking again. This works Every. Single. Time.

By: Patrick Benson

Patrick Benson — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:39:45 +0000

Yep, the shower usually works for me too. Often the day of my game I get last minute ideas while in the shower. Another way I get around GM's block is by picking up a random book that has nothing to do with gaming and just flipping it to any page. I read a little bit about whatever I've stumbled across and usually that gives me a fresh idea.

By: DarthKrzysztof

DarthKrzysztof — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:16:50 +0000

Driving's my favorite time to work on plotty / non-crunchy campaign stuff as well, even though my attention wanders. One of my bigger puzzle pieces fell into place while I was at the Police concert last year, not thinking about the campaign at all, just trying to have a good time. @cole: Collaboration is wonderful! One of my players provided me with several useful NPCs who meshed with my existing story ideas very nicely, and our collaboration on those characters and their roles resulted in NPCs and stories more complex and interesting than I ever could have come up with on my own. The right group is definitely a boon; it's nice to discuss upcoming plot events with the players when you know their PCs will react like they had no idea. It also seems to intensify the surprises the players didn't see coming, but YMMV. @mountzionryan: That's really good. Maybe my game could use a breath of Fresh Air too!

By: Cole

Cole — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:39:56 +0000

I usually try sharing the burden of the story with the players. If I add a new player, the players have to tell me the background. While working for a NPC, if they do something crazy, the NPC will ask them how they can tackle the problem. Once they give an overall idea, I have to flesh out the exact details, but that is a lot easier than coming with the entire story myself.

By: MountZionRyan

MountZionRyan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:20:11 +0000

@NOISMS Yup! Here's a technique I use. I imagine I am being interviewed about the final product by someone like Terry Gross (good probing questions about why I choose to do something a certain way). I find that I sorta trick my unconcious into a creative place. Since I'm being interviewed the project I was stuck on must have gone well and I must know the answers so what are they?

By: arthwollipot

arthwollipot — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:16:29 +0000

I have a couple of good friends that I bounce half-formed ideas off. It's always worked for me so far. In fact, one of my most successful recent games was helped along by a particular friend.

By: noisms

noisms — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:12:02 +0000

I have a secret, non-public blog where I write the ideas I get during work. Nothing beats GM prep when you should be working.

By: davethegame

davethegame — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:39:58 +0000

Yep, in the shower or driving for me. The technique I've had the most success with is planning games while I'm in class ignoring a lecture. But I don't recommend that for everyone.

By: Ish

Ish — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:57:34 +0000

I'm actually considering keepign a dictaphone or similar digital voice recorder in my car; ideas always seem to come during the drive to the office or on my way _home_ from the game.