This is super helpful. I’ve found that “secrets and clues can be anywhere” is a HUGE bit of advice that is constantly paying dividends. Sometimes an NPC tells them, sometimes they find a note. Being able to move things where the players already are without having to “undo” a setup in my brain is MASSIVELY helpful. Thanks Mike!!
Really eye opening advice to not “set” scenes/scenarios that are filled in with all the components, but just to prep the components and combine them at the table! I have been struggling with this as a new dm, feeling like I have to pre-fill every room in a dungeon to such detail that it become overwhelming, this approach seems a lot better and fun! Will try this for my next session, thank you!
Great vid I will say, depending on one's level of improvisational prowess, you can whittle this down to like 2-3 steps. But having some in your back pocket is sweet It has constantly shocked me how little of my prep my players get thru.
Something that can really help (in my opinion) with secrets and clues, as well as outlining potential scenes, is something I read in a book (I just can't remember what book it was right now). The writer advised creating a timeline with events as it would happen without PC intervention. What would happen in the world if the PCs didn't exist (which is the only part a GM really has total control over right)? So, if the evil villain would send his minions to poison the town's water supply, write it down, together with the in-game date that it would happen. Outline (high level) the scene as it would play out without PC intervention. That already gives an outline of potentials scenes as per the 8 steps, without specifying the part the PCs will play in it, leaving that open to them. It also seeds Secrets and Clues, as you can now build your secrets and clues off of this event timeline. If the players don't interfere with the timeline, the events happen as you planned them, and the PCs may or may not learn about it from some other source (a future secret/clue perhaps?). If the players do interfere, you have enough details planned to run the scene and incorporate your player's agency into it. After the session, you then revise the timeline to include the influence the PCs actions (or lack of actions) had on the timeline, and write out a new future timeline that assumes no further intervention on the PC's part. Rinse and repeat.
Bought your book and used the steps for the first time in my prep and it made it SO MUCH EASIER. Normally I am stressing in the morning of a session over prepping. Not this time - felt totally relaxed and knew i could roll with the punches because i had all the info i needed on one page.
Ran into this channel a few weeks ago and you really help simplify prep work efficiently and effectively. I listen to the podcast on my commute to work and am stoked to support all your content - buying the Return of the Lazy DM now! Love your teaching methods and how you seem to magically break down complex topics - excited to learn all you have to offer! Glad you roped me into this amazing hobby
Great stuff! I love the idea that you don't have to tie everything to specific places. It's like those old modules and their rumors tables. The info, npc's, monsters, and encounters could come from anywhere any time, all depending on the pc's and their choices. Makes it a lot easier than hoping they find it or they'll miss half the good stuff, or trying to have it chase them around and guess where they'll land.
As a long time fan of the clue system, I think an example using a famous story would help people understand how to use them! I would say use BG3 as it uses it really well (albeit in a linear fashion, which table play isn't), but BG3 spoilers would be a bad idea.
Random tables. Throw anything you can think of at the wall, write it down, then expand upon it. Try to get into the mindset of your world and current events. What is happening in your game? Who is involved? What do they want? Where is it happening and how is that place unique? How does it relate to your party? The secrets and clues you come up with do not need to be directly related to current events. Some of them can just be cool lore, history, or other random information anything you think is fun. And if you're really struggling don't worry about getting to 10. Do 5 instead. Like all DM related skills, you'll get better over time. I still struggle with hitting the 10 mark some weeks. Other weeks I hit 12 and still have fun ideas! Don't stress about the number or quality tho just keep at it! :D
This is super helpful. I’ve found that “secrets and clues can be anywhere” is a HUGE bit of advice that is constantly paying dividends. Sometimes an NPC tells them, sometimes they find a note. Being able to move things where the players already are without having to “undo” a setup in my brain is MASSIVELY helpful. Thanks Mike!!
Really eye opening advice to not “set” scenes/scenarios that are filled in with all the components, but just to prep the components and combine them at the table! I have been struggling with this as a new dm, feeling like I have to pre-fill every room in a dungeon to such detail that it become overwhelming, this approach seems a lot better and fun! Will try this for my next session, thank you!
Great vid
I will say, depending on one's level of improvisational prowess, you can whittle this down to like 2-3 steps. But having some in your back pocket is sweet
It has constantly shocked me how little of my prep my players get thru.
Something that can really help (in my opinion) with secrets and clues, as well as outlining potential scenes, is something I read in a book (I just can't remember what book it was right now).
The writer advised creating a timeline with events as it would happen without PC intervention. What would happen in the world if the PCs didn't exist (which is the only part a GM really has total control over right)? So, if the evil villain would send his minions to poison the town's water supply, write it down, together with the in-game date that it would happen. Outline (high level) the scene as it would play out without PC intervention. That already gives an outline of potentials scenes as per the 8 steps, without specifying the part the PCs will play in it, leaving that open to them. It also seeds Secrets and Clues, as you can now build your secrets and clues off of this event timeline. If the players don't interfere with the timeline, the events happen as you planned them, and the PCs may or may not learn about it from some other source (a future secret/clue perhaps?). If the players do interfere, you have enough details planned to run the scene and incorporate your player's agency into it.
After the session, you then revise the timeline to include the influence the PCs actions (or lack of actions) had on the timeline, and write out a new future timeline that assumes no further intervention on the PC's part. Rinse and repeat.
Bought your book and used the steps for the first time in my prep and it made it SO MUCH EASIER. Normally I am stressing in the morning of a session over prepping. Not this time - felt totally relaxed and knew i could roll with the punches because i had all the info i needed on one page.
Ran into this channel a few weeks ago and you really help simplify prep work efficiently and effectively. I listen to the podcast on my commute to work and am stoked to support all your content - buying the Return of the Lazy DM now!
Love your teaching methods and how you seem to magically break down complex topics - excited to learn all you have to offer! Glad you roped me into this amazing hobby
Thank you!
Great stuff! I love the idea that you don't have to tie everything to specific places. It's like those old modules and their rumors tables. The info, npc's, monsters, and encounters could come from anywhere any time, all depending on the pc's and their choices. Makes it a lot easier than hoping they find it or they'll miss half the good stuff, or trying to have it chase them around and guess where they'll land.
I got The Retunr of The Lazy Dungeon Master for christmass, great book.
Bought return of the lazy dungeon master and by far it was the best investment I could've made to improve my DM'ing
I like describing the steps as a sort of mise en place for roleplaying.
As a long time fan of the clue system, I think an example using a famous story would help people understand how to use them! I would say use BG3 as it uses it really well (albeit in a linear fashion, which table play isn't), but BG3 spoilers would be a bad idea.
This is a good video! I got really comfortable with this process when using Mythic GM Emulator and learning how to rein the chaos.
I struggle with coming up with secrets and clues every week. Any advice?
Random tables. Throw anything you can think of at the wall, write it down, then expand upon it. Try to get into the mindset of your world and current events. What is happening in your game? Who is involved? What do they want? Where is it happening and how is that place unique? How does it relate to your party?
The secrets and clues you come up with do not need to be directly related to current events. Some of them can just be cool lore, history, or other random information anything you think is fun. And if you're really struggling don't worry about getting to 10. Do 5 instead.
Like all DM related skills, you'll get better over time. I still struggle with hitting the 10 mark some weeks. Other weeks I hit 12 and still have fun ideas! Don't stress about the number or quality tho just keep at it! :D
Improv Prep