Prep Like a Pro: Efficient Techniques for Game Masters

Game Masters know the all-too-familiar struggle of session preparation. Between work, family, and other commitments, finding the time to prep for each game session can seem like a Herculean task. But fear not! With the right approach, you can streamline your prep process and still deliver an engaging and memorable experience for your players. Let's dive into effective techniques that will save you time and energy, allowing you to focus on the fun parts of GMing.

Understand the Power of Modular Prepping

Modular prepping involves creating and preparing interchangeable scenes that can be reused across multiple sessions. This approach allows you to quickly swap out elements or adapt them for different scenarios, significantly reducing prep time.

• Create versatile encounters: Design encounters that can fit into various parts of your campaign. This could be a general marketplace scene, a forest ambush, or a goblin raid.
• Multi-use NPCs: Develop non-player characters (NPCs) with unique personalities and motivations that can easily be transported from one scene to another.

Leverage Published Materials and Online Generators

Make use of existing resources to fill in the gaps when prepping for a session. Not everything needs to be built from scratch.

• Downloadable adventures: Many publishers provide pre-written adventures that can be adapted to suit your campaign's needs. Consider using these as a backbone for your own storytelling.
• Online generators: Utilize online tools to generate names, random encounters, or treasure. This saves time and sparks creativity when you're in a pinch.

Focus on What Matters: The "Lazy GM" Style

Adopt a "Lazy GM" approach, popularized by Sly Flourish's Lazy Dungeon Master method, which focuses on minimal prep that makes a maximum impact.

• Key NPC motivations: Concentrate on understanding the main motivations and goals of your key characters instead of getting lost in minutiae.
• Broad strokes: Sketch out general outlines of important scenes rather than scripting every detail. This method provides flexibility and can lead to spontaneous, exciting gameplay.

Accelerate Prep with Digital Tools

Digitalization offers numerous tools designed to enhance your prep routine and session management.

• Campaign management apps: Organize your sessions, track character progress, and manage world-building elements through intuitive platforms like Obsidian Portal or Notion.
• Ultimate Game Master resources: Our campaign planner sheets and UGM Screen offer handy templates and on-the-fly reference, keeping essential information at your fingertips during gameplay.

Conclusion: Embrace Smarter Prep Tactics

By implementing these efficient prep techniques, you'll spend less time on the repetitive aspects of preparation and free up energy for creativity and improvisation. Embrace modular prepping, utilize valuable resources, and explore the "Lazy GM" style to become a more effective Game Master. Enjoy crafting lively sessions with ease, and let your storytelling prowess shine. What are you waiting for? Start prepping like a pro today!

For more tips on mastering the art of GMing, check out our recent post on creating immersive narratives or visit our Ultimate GM community for ongoing support and insights.