New to GMing

[zackesch]

Good morning Fellow GM's.

I am very new to GMing. As of now, this Friday will be game number three for me and I am still trying to get a hold of prepping. I understand that the two first games that I have way over prepped "10+hrs", even though I was running Blackfangs Dungeon for the first game, and started ROTL on the second. After running the two first games, I am finding that my style is to have a framework and fill it in as it goes. Also, I am interested in using "The Lazy DM" method of game prep via index cards. What I am wondering is how do I take a pre-fabricated story and merge it with "The Lazy DM" method. Would I make Shop Keepers Daughter, The Boar Hunt, Trouble at the Rusty Dragon, etc into potential paths for the PC's to explore? How do you prep pre-fab games or do you keep the story as a shell and use the text as key points? lol, so many options.

Thanks in advance.

[Java Man]

If you do a quick search on this site you will find many threads of advice for new GMs. It has been so many years since I have run anything but my own homebrew world and scenarios I have trouble coming up with solid advice for integrating prep from published stories.

[dharkus]

most of the prep I do is recreating the monsters/enemies in PCGen for in person or roll20 for online (also prepping maps for roll20) and reading the book to get a good handle on what orders things can happen - also I have a campaign notes doc for important things i might have to refer to (loot lists and their values, CL check DCs for items, where the PCs where at the end of last session etc.)

[SheepishEidolon]

zackesch wrote:

started ROTL on the second. After running the two first games, I am finding that my style is to have a framework and fill it in as it goes. Also, I am interested in using "The Lazy DM" method of game prep via index cards. What I am wondering is how do I take a pre-fabricated story and merge it with "The Lazy DM" method. Would I make Shop Keepers Daughter, The Boar Hunt, Trouble at the Rusty Dragon, etc into potential paths for the PC's to explore? How do you prep pre-fab games or do you keep the story as a shell and use the text as key points?

You can totally condense sections like 'Shop Keepers Daughter' to a few lines:

Spoiler:

* young attractive woman lures one PC into basement
* pretends horrible mice infestion
* wants just him / her down there
* tries to seduce him / her
* both get caught by her father
* he attacks the PC with bare fists

Writing such a summary also makes sure you understand the plot - it's way more effective than just reading.

I was GM for another adventure path and such short summaries helped me a lot. The only mistake was not to print them / write them down - so I had to juggle with both my notes and roll20 on the same screen.

[zackesch]

Thanks for the tip Sheepish. The summary will become the note card contents. Easy enough for me.

At lunch I will be creating a new board on a free software that I have been using for work called Trello. In short, its a note card based system that will allow you to create groups and cards in that group that can be moved around. Also you can color code your cards. It's intended purpose is a project management system, but has many personal uses too. Most of my content is in PDF form sot it makes sense to use my laptop as my primary GM tool.

Going off of Sly's seed concept, I have came up with a seed as follows: "During the Swallowtail Festival, the seaside town of Sandpoint has fallen under attack of Goblins and the body of the late priest has gone missing." Although the PC's have not discovered the body has gone missing yet, they will friday from a panicked Father Zantus. Also, as a twist, the late priest "Ezakien Tobyn" wanted his name to remain unspoken upon death.