Gamemastering on a temporal budget


Pathfinder First Edition General Discussion


I love to run games, but as a grad student I barely have the time. And of course, it takes more prep time to run a game than play it. Obviously, published adventures help a lot. Most of the work is done for you... hopefully.

What I keep finding is that when I run into a problem, often the simple solution is to adjust the game. Players have too much treasure? Adjust downwards. Players too powerful? Make the encounters harder. Players not powerful enough? Do the opposite. But at some point, when you are reworking every encounter, adjusting every treasure, and coming up with alternative plots because the players did something the module didn't expect... well, you have lost most of your time savings. Add in doing research on rules questions because you have creative players that actually run into corner cases fairly often, and you lose the rest. (No wonder my grades suffered this semester!)

I'm sure others have this problem, as well, be it from a job, school, or a family. So I figured I'd start a discussion on how to balance being a GM with your other responsibilities.

One thing that helps, I have found, is learning to say no. If there's something a player wants to do, that just takes too much of your time to accommodate (either through plot development or looking up special rules cases) tell them no, and explain why. Hopefully, they'll accept that.

Anybody else have ideas?

Sovereign Court

Maybe you can farm out some of the chores to players? If you can trust your players, handing one of them some of the rules research can be a great help.

Sovereign Court

Let the fella in best position to GM do so. Sometimes you gotta just step back and take care of what needs to be done. 3E/PF is an awesome system but it requires a lot of time to tune it just right.

Ever considered running E6?


You can also make things up on the fly. Have a couple character type templates made out, and just use them when creating / using generic characters, and on the adjusting its stats to fit what it does, like if it's a blacksmith or a bartender that they decided to fight and loot.

If they loot something you had to create on a fly, besides clothing, just roll a dice to see how much gold/silver/copper it would have.

If they go somewhere that you havent planned, like a mansion, just be a bit on the generic side and make it only have a couple notable rooms. They go to a goblin cave? just make it one main room and a side room where they sleep. Etc.

Also its good to note to players when you're a new GM, to learn the rules of what they want to do so you don't have to go looking up each and every thing.

Have a list of names you can pick form on the fly helps too. They want to randomly find a library and learn things about the head librarian? Make it up and make note of it for later.


There is an idea posted somewhere on these boards regarding meta roles. Essentially, these are traits with out of character responsibilities. As long as the players are fulfilling their responsibilities, they receive a minor bonus akin to any other trait, and special bonus that affects the whole party.

I'll leave you to look up the thread and decide on bonuses, but here's my list of roles and responsibilities.

Role: Artist
Responsibility: The artist provides some form of art for the GM. This can be in the form of sketches, painted miniatures, props, etc., that is based on the session. This artwork serves to inspire the GM and remind him that the players are indeed invested in the game much as he is. I recommend finding some way to keep the art present during game so the players can look back to their early days adventuring…

Role: Cook
Responsibility: The cook ensures that the players, including the GM, have something to eat during the session. Whether the cook actually prepares the food, or just makes sure that the pizza place gets called and everyone puts in their $5, will obviously depend on the group.

Role: Cartographer
Responsibility: The cartographer handles the mapping elements of game. This might mean the cartographer is in charge of literally mapping out where the party goes. Another suggestion would be to handle the maps the GM has printed off. You can label the backs of them and have them laying face down so nothing is spoiled. Additionally, the Cartographer would be in charge of whatever tactical mapping solution your group uses - making room for it, placing it, cleaning it, keeping track of the pens and terrain.

Role: Chronicler
Responsibility: The chronicler's job is to take notes during the session. While the GM is setting up at the beginning of each session, the cartographer recaps the last session. The GM may have the cartographer keep track of special circumstances - the day of the week, the weather, Harrow readings, etc.

Role: Leader
Responsibility: The leader keeps the players on task, and finds ways for them to work together as a group.

Role: Mediator
Responsibility: The mediator keeps the books on hand to look up the rules as written. If the GM would prefer, the mediator would instead keep notes on unclear rules calls and looks them up after the session is over.

Role: Tactician
Responsibility: The tactician handles the minis - setting the PCs in the agreed marching order, and organizing the monster minis so the GM can just call out the ones he needs.

Role: Smith
Responsibility: The smith makes sure the gaming area is prepped beforehand and repaired afterwards.

Role: Harrower
Responsibility: The harrower helps set the mood for game - dimming the lighting, changing the music, and perhaps providing props. If Harrow cards (or equivalent) are available, the harrower makes sure they are read at the beginning of the session.

Role: Treasurer
Responsibility: The treasurer keeps track of each party member's wealth, allowing the GM to easily keep track of the wealth by level numbers.

Role: Medic
Responsibility: The medic makes sure everyone's numbers are up to date, performing regular audits. Obviously, of all the roles this one can be the most controversial, so only hand this role off if everyone in the group is okay with it.


Love it!

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