Whether you craft your sessions or improvise every moment …

… there are a lot of ways to do it. I think over time everyone refines the way they prepare to run an encounter, session or adventure. Just as we can run various game systems and with differing adventures in a variety of GM styles we also prepare for our games. If the way you get ready for games night is fun and effective, then don’t let me tell you to change anything! I start with this as it’s the most important point I can make.

We are likely to see other GMs run games; when we are a player or watching or by listening to actual play broadcasts. But our preparation is typically done alone. Some of it inevitably is done in our heads! Our chance to learn from the experiences of others is comparatively limited.

But of course we can learn how to prep effectively and enjoyably – personally, I love prepping for games. For me, it’s part of the game, a solo aspect of the hobby that I enjoy almost as much as running games. A game session is a social activity and comes with that energy. I also enjoy hobby time alone, when I can focus on the elements I choose at my own pace. It’s a creative and analytical pursuit for me and as much as something to make the actual session run smoothly, your prep time should be rewarding and fun in and of itself – it’s your leisure and hobby time after all.

Like so much that involves personal style and creativity, we each have our own touch but just like an painter learning how to control their medium to create their art, we can learn a variety of techniques for our craft. We can pick and choose the tools that suit us, adapting them to fit our needs. By sharing how we go about it, we can all level up.