Gauntlet MCs: What are your personal best practices for pre-session preparation?

Gauntlet MCs: What are your personal best practices for pre-session preparation?

Gauntlet MCs: What are your personal best practices for pre-session preparation? What do you focus on? You have 15 minutes to prep for a session, what do you do? (15 minutes is just to help set priorities. If you have limited time, what do you focus on?)

48 thoughts on “Gauntlet MCs: What are your personal best practices for pre-session preparation?”

  3. With 15 minutes? I think a lot of games want more than that. But with just that: Review the agenda/principles first. Consider threats if the player characters won’t be bringing one in their baggage. This is also an opportunity to think of what kind of setting/tone you’re going for. Just start a microfront or two for those threats, I don’t think you even need to finish them. Try and think up outcomes of neglect/failure, stakes questions for testing the characters. If you don’t want to do the work just print out a starter and restrict your players to that situation

  4. With 15 minutes? I think a lot of games want more than that. But with just that: Review the agenda/principles first. Consider threats if the player characters won’t be bringing one in their baggage. This is also an opportunity to think of what kind of setting/tone you’re going for. Just start a microfront or two for those threats, I don’t think you even need to finish them. Try and think up outcomes of neglect/failure, stakes questions for testing the characters. If you don’t want to do the work just print out a starter and restrict your players to that situation

  7. Depends on the system. For FFG Star Wars or Dungeon World I can prep within 15 minutes. Grab a couple of things to fight, right down some npc names and motivations and then improv the rest.

  8. Depends on the system. For FFG Star Wars or Dungeon World I can prep within 15 minutes. Grab a couple of things to fight, right down some npc names and motivations and then improv the rest.

  9. 15 minutes will allow me to read previous sessions’ notes and think of what the situation suggests will happen next. After that I’ll dream up one cool thing I want to see each PC get up to/handle

  10. 15 minutes will allow me to read previous sessions’ notes and think of what the situation suggests will happen next. After that I’ll dream up one cool thing I want to see each PC get up to/handle

  11. Probably remind myself what happened last session, sketch out who the major players are and what their agendas are, and (if I have time) try to think of fun things that could happen if the character’s actions and NPC agendas line up right. Most of my pre-planning is in that 15 minutes before a session, so I’m used to GMing by the seat of my pants!

  12. Probably remind myself what happened last session, sketch out who the major players are and what their agendas are, and (if I have time) try to think of fun things that could happen if the character’s actions and NPC agendas line up right. Most of my pre-planning is in that 15 minutes before a session, so I’m used to GMing by the seat of my pants!

  13. After I freak out, I skim over the rules, try to find a picture to edit that I show the players early on, look up names, and hastily write notes on an inciting incident on a notecard.

    Then, get drinks (a diet pepsi and a big cup of tea), tell my family I’ll be gaming, and stare at the screen until it is game time.

  14. After I freak out, I skim over the rules, try to find a picture to edit that I show the players early on, look up names, and hastily write notes on an inciting incident on a notecard.

    Then, get drinks (a diet pepsi and a big cup of tea), tell my family I’ll be gaming, and stare at the screen until it is game time.

  19. I used to prep HARD CORE. But once I fall in love with an idea, then I find it hard not to push towards it. I’ve found with PbtA games that it’s best to be a facilitator and to have inklings and strong drives for NPCs vs. “a plan”.

  20. I used to prep HARD CORE. But once I fall in love with an idea, then I find it hard not to push towards it. I’ve found with PbtA games that it’s best to be a facilitator and to have inklings and strong drives for NPCs vs. “a plan”.

  27. With only 15 min!?

    Hmm, id focus on the PLAYERS and who they are and what they like to see in a game.

    Who are their characters? What environment are they interested in exploring today? What kind of creatures would they encounter in that environment?

    With those questions asked, id scribble down one or two word phases to jog my memory during play and think up details on the spot.

  28. With only 15 min!?

    Hmm, id focus on the PLAYERS and who they are and what they like to see in a game.

    Who are their characters? What environment are they interested in exploring today? What kind of creatures would they encounter in that environment?

    With those questions asked, id scribble down one or two word phases to jog my memory during play and think up details on the spot.

  31. So assuming you’ve been rolling the previous session in your head since last time and have a few directions you want to take it and you’ve been pinteresting all week too for juicy imagery. I jot down the threats I’ve been thinking would make sense, npc agendas and some other bits a bobs based on your thoughts and images to formalise it before I start the session. I always have a trap, puzzle and monster in my back pocket too.

  32. So assuming you’ve been rolling the previous session in your head since last time and have a few directions you want to take it and you’ve been pinteresting all week too for juicy imagery. I jot down the threats I’ve been thinking would make sense, npc agendas and some other bits a bobs based on your thoughts and images to formalise it before I start the session. I always have a trap, puzzle and monster in my back pocket too.

  41. 15 Minutes? I talk to my players and find out why they’re here, what they want, and I think quickly on how to deliver that to them. If this is without players, I look at the npcs and what’s going on and see where I can push. I take about six – nine lines of notes, one per point I want to explore/push or something from last game I need to remember.

  42. 15 Minutes? I talk to my players and find out why they’re here, what they want, and I think quickly on how to deliver that to them. If this is without players, I look at the npcs and what’s going on and see where I can push. I take about six – nine lines of notes, one per point I want to explore/push or something from last game I need to remember.

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