May 27, 2024
Jim's Top Five Tips For Preparing Your Session (Curmudgeons and Dragons Replay)


This episode features a replay from their previous show 'Curmudgeons and Dragons,' specifically episode 103 titled 'Jim's Top Five Tips for Preparing Your Session.' Jason and Jim Crocker discuss essential steps for DMs to effectively prep for their...
This episode features a replay from their previous show 'Curmudgeons and Dragons,' specifically episode 103 titled 'Jim's Top Five Tips for Preparing Your Session.' Jason and Jim Crocker discuss essential steps for DMs to effectively prep for their game sessions, covering reviewing notes from previous sessions, setting up play spaces, and understanding monster tactics. They emphasize the importance of being well-prepared to create engaging and seamless gameplay.
WEBVTT
1
00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:25.480
Hello Adventurers, the podcast for role
players and game masters to help level up
2
00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:29.600
your game. I'm your dungeon master, Jason Portiso, and today we are
3
00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:33.719
changing things up a little bit in
a few ways. So first let's get
4
00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:37.280
some housekeeping. For reasons too many
to name, we're going to be changing
5
00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:40.880
up the release schedule a bit,
and starting today, we'll be releasing just
6
00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:44.079
one episode per week on Mondays.
And this is going to give us some
7
00:00:44.119 --> 00:00:48.840
time to prepare a little more well
thought out content and allow me a little
8
00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:52.200
more a weekly time to get some
editing done. I am definitely behind.
9
00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:57.399
But speaking of preparing content and getting
editing done, let's get to what's going
10
00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:00.880
on to today's episode. Our recording
schedule got little funny for this session and
11
00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:04.480
we missed the date that I needed
to get the episode out on time.
12
00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:08.400
So instead of rushing out something that
I'm not proud of, or we're skipping
13
00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:11.879
a week, I thought I thought
it'd be fun if we did a little
14
00:01:11.879 --> 00:01:17.599
replay crossover type thing, and we
replayed a past episode from our previous show,
15
00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:21.560
Curmudgeons and Dragons. So this is
a later episode when the host roster
16
00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:23.760
was just me and Jim I'm our
co host Josie as well, but this
17
00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:27.959
was recorded at a time when Josie
wasn't available to record, so this episode
18
00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:30.439
is just going to feature of myself
and Jim. Joe wasn't part of this
19
00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:34.560
podcast just yet, he was just
a fan of the listener. But this
20
00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:37.879
is one of my favorite episodes from
that show, and not because Josie wasn't
21
00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:42.719
there, but because it was so
packed with actual helpful content and value.
22
00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:47.680
Like we say in the podcast world, but this felt like the direction of
23
00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:52.319
the show wanted to go in,
but I didn't have the podcasting experience to
24
00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:56.560
steer us towards that, And it
was episodes like this one that inspired the
25
00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:00.599
rebrand into the show that we now
call Hello Adventurers. And fun fact,
26
00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:04.200
you'll see in the first few seconds
where the name for this show came from.
27
00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:07.680
So all one hundred and thirteen episodes
of Courmergences and Dragons are still available
28
00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:12.319
on all podcast platforms, as well
as Curmudgeons and Dragons dot com. So
29
00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:15.960
if you're looking for more just content
from me and Jim and Josie and Jack
30
00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:20.680
and Justin and Greg and everyone else
who would helped host that show, those
31
00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:23.879
are available out there. You can
go check those out right now. But
32
00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:28.039
for now, I like to introduce
you to our replay of episode one hundred
33
00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:32.319
and three, Jim's top five tips
for preparing your session. Goodbye, Adventurers.
34
00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:40.120
Sometimes talking with friends feels like role
playing, Sometimes it feels like combat.
35
00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:46.280
Join us at the roundtable and roll
an initiative. This is Curmudgeons and
36
00:02:46.400 --> 00:03:00.759
Dragons. Hello adventurers, Welcome to
the Curmudgins and Dragons. My name is
37
00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:06.919
Jason Portiso. Today I'm joined by
mister Jim Crocker. Hey, how are
38
00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:09.000
we doing, Jim? How you
doing, Bud? I'm doing pretty good,
39
00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:12.560
Pretty good. I start a brand
new job next week. I got
40
00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:15.719
a library job, so coming out
of retirement. Huh yes, yeah,
41
00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:20.719
keep you away using my bookstore skills
in the service of the greater good.
42
00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:23.360
That's what we're that's what we're looking
to do, all right. Is it
43
00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:25.560
a library job. It is a
library job. Yes, yeah, it's
44
00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:29.919
a library Okay, cool. Yeah, it's at the Montclair Public Library here
45
00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:32.479
in northern New Jersey. I'll be
working like eighteen twenty hours a week something
46
00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:36.240
like that. Nice part time job
to kind of fill in get me out
47
00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:38.719
of the house and on my feet, which is something that I am have
48
00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:43.840
been It is both something I need
to do and something that has been requested
49
00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:46.319
of me. So yes, I
was just gonna say that sounds like Shannon's
50
00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:50.520
idea, good man, So it's
nice to have, I would I wonder
51
00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:55.080
it's what it's like to have a
job. I have like seven. Still,
52
00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:58.800
I literally don't know. I don't
know how to count my jobs.
53
00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:01.479
Let's put it that way, because
technically a few of them all fall under
54
00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:04.919
one umbrella, but they all feel
like very separate things. So would you
55
00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:09.639
feel better if I said I got
another job? That would be that works?
56
00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:11.919
Yeah? Okay, there, now
you're up to well, you know
57
00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:15.279
one, well, one outside the
house job. I do all of our
58
00:04:15.279 --> 00:04:21.920
inside the house stuff, so that
that counts as we value. Also you,
59
00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:25.319
I keep you very busy writing our
show notes, so there's that,
60
00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:27.279
so you know, thank you for
your opinion though, But you know,
61
00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:29.519
well, I was gonna say this, this is a job I'm actually gonna
62
00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.480
get paid for. So yeah,
oh is that how we count jobs?
63
00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:39.360
Okay? Then I have like one, I guess there's job gigs so yes,
64
00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:42.839
oh gigs at a problem agat But
so today. So just does D
65
00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:45.920
M Boys here, Josie's in.
You can tell when it's like the middle
66
00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:47.839
of a school season when Josie has
to take a few episodes off. Yes,
67
00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:53.839
yes, I am recording with her
tomorrow, so she's not gone.
68
00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:57.240
She won't be gone for long,
but she will be gone today and that's
69
00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:01.879
what matters. She's decent student,
so she like actually studies and stuff.
70
00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:06.600
That's you know, I know it's
weird. I wouldn't have skipped a podcast
71
00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:10.120
just to you know, study for
a test or anything. No, God,
72
00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:14.040
no, that never. Yeah,
she is the opposite as a student.
73
00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:19.000
She's a total opposite as she is
as a player. So all the
74
00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:23.560
shenanigans of her in a D and
D game, just like, she gets
75
00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:27.759
it all out there and then for
the stuff then matter. Yeah, that's
76
00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:30.639
good. That firewall is important to
being a functional human being. So which
77
00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:35.160
is the opposite of how I did
school, and that's why I don't have
78
00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:40.600
a degree. But luckily I got
good at things that don't need degrees.
79
00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:45.519
So lucky me. Anyway, just
as DM Boys today. So I had
80
00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:47.560
an idea to kind of take the
show a little back to like before we
81
00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:50.319
took that little break over the winter
when we were doing like, you know,
82
00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:55.040
actual substantial content and not just reading
stories over and over again. Listen,
83
00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:58.000
I love doing the stories. I
think they are as far as our
84
00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:00.839
listener engagement and stuff, they're there
the most entertaining. I listened to them
85
00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:04.040
a couple of times just too well, I have to listen to them to
86
00:06:04.040 --> 00:06:06.959
make sure they sound good. But
like I enjoy listening to them a couple
87
00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:10.399
of times to make sure they sound
good. But you know, these are
88
00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:13.240
things we used to do a lot
more of where we're trying to get into,
89
00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:16.439
you know, kind of teaching people
something about the game. So I
90
00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:20.879
had us right up a few little
BuzzFeed style like listical, you know,
91
00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:25.120
two thousand and seven Internet, just
a little little things, a little little
92
00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:28.000
lists about the game. And so
I got mine. We'll do that on
93
00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:30.000
the next episode. And Jim's got
a couple here, So we're going to
94
00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:33.240
dive in. Jim, what is
the listical we're going to do today?
95
00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:36.279
Well, the first one we're going
to do is one that you actually asked
96
00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:41.160
me about because you thought I might
have an insider too that maybe might be
97
00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:47.279
helpful to you. And this is
Top five Session prep steps excellent, yes,
98
00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:49.839
and if someone's going to learn something
on the show, it might as
99
00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:56.759
well be me. Ideally hopefully you
and maybe whoever else that that would be
100
00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:00.920
good. But I have ordered these
in in terms of, in completely my
101
00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:05.160
opinion, worth exactly what you paid
for it, order of if you only
102
00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:09.439
have time to do one, do
this first one, if you only have
103
00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:12.319
time to do to do these first
two, so kind of in order of
104
00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:15.560
what you've got time to do,
in my opinion, and we can discuss
105
00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:18.399
about why I think they should be
in this order, and you know,
106
00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:23.079
and that sort of thing. Once
we get them out right, Well,
107
00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:25.680
that out of the way, let's
get into uh, let's get into the
108
00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:30.040
lists. All right, here we
go. So the first one that I
109
00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:34.000
have on the list, number one, Top five session prep steps. Go
110
00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:39.199
over your notes from last session.
If you can only do one thing,
111
00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:43.279
this is the thing that I advise
you to do. However, you're keeping
112
00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:47.079
track, whether it's a handwritten bullet
list or a more thorough campaign diary that
113
00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:53.480
you keep or a player volunteer that
is your scribe that you know or like,
114
00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:57.319
if you have a shared Google doc
where everybody puts notes in and that's
115
00:07:57.319 --> 00:08:01.000
how you build your session notes.
However, you do that a video or
116
00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:05.720
audio recording if you're keeping track of
the transcript on zoom, and that's what
117
00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:09.439
you use to build your notes.
If you've got an online session, if
118
00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:13.000
you only have time for one thing, do that. I would say that
119
00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:18.519
you don't need more than like ten
or fifteen minutes maximum. But going over
120
00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:22.240
notes from your last session is your
first and best way to get ready for
121
00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:26.160
today's session. Even if you're running
a one shot, which I know you
122
00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:28.240
do a lot in the store jay
you run one shots, what you can
123
00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:33.080
do with that, you should still
be taking notes for when you're doing your
124
00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:35.600
one shots, maybe not so much. Here's what the characters did, but
125
00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:39.559
here's what you did as a DM
networked. Here's what you did as a
126
00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:43.639
DM that didn't and then you can
go back over those. You can find
127
00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:48.240
pain points in your one shot where
players had trouble or where they just bulldozed
128
00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:50.960
it, and maybe you need to
toughen it up a little, especially if
129
00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:54.080
it's a repeat for a new audience. Going back over those notes most important
130
00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:56.120
thing you can do, I think
before you do anything else, including any
131
00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:58.799
other kind of prep for the actual
session, you're going to run. Yes,
132
00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:03.679
this seems like a bar for entry
type of stuff and where you should
133
00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:05.519
at least be refreshing yourself on what
happened last time. So but it is
134
00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:07.840
good to have it like like you
like, yeah, of course I need
135
00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:11.600
to do that. I've used almost
all of these methods for the for the
136
00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:16.399
couple of games that we've been playing. And of course our playing method has
137
00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:20.440
changed a lot in the past like
year year and a half, not only
138
00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:24.120
going from like full lockdown mode into
now we're playing in person at my house.
139
00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:28.559
Yeah, but we went from playing
over like we just kept trying things
140
00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:33.000
that just kept either working or not
working, or things that might just work
141
00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:35.759
for our particular group better because we
do know each other irl. So like
142
00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:39.720
we were using roll twenty for the
for the map, and then we're using
143
00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:43.000
Albert Rodeo, and then we're using
just going over Zoom and then just you
144
00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:46.600
know, Discord for a little while
and using some bots in there. Then
145
00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.360
we landed on Zoom, back on
Zoom for a while because I got one
146
00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:54.200
particular app for Zooms I'll talk about
in a second. And then once our
147
00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:56.679
schedule started lining up a little bit, now we were back to playing in
148
00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:00.679
person, which means I gotta change
how we do my notes again. But
149
00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:07.919
my handwriting is god awful, god
awful. Josie's unbelievable, So she takes
150
00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:11.279
notes when we play. But I'm
much more a Google doc type of guy.
151
00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:18.200
Sure, just to just know a
unfiltered, just mash up of notes
152
00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:22.799
that hopefully I know where important things
are. Yeah, making good use of
153
00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:26.480
the highlight feature and trying to go
over it when I'm done, because a
154
00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:30.360
lot of those notes didn't mean anything. Yes, yeah, I mean that's
155
00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:33.840
actual, Like when you're playing type
stuff, how do you take notes and
156
00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:37.600
stuff like that? However you do
that. I'm just kind of setting that
157
00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:41.840
aside. I'm ecumenical on that at
the moment, other than to say you
158
00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:46.559
should have some kind of notes over
what happens in every session. First thing
159
00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:50.159
you do to prep for the next
session, go over what you did in
160
00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:52.519
the previous session. So that is
the most important thing as far as I'm
161
00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:56.879
concerned. If you've only got ten
minutes to prep for your session, devote
162
00:10:56.919 --> 00:11:01.759
it to going back over your notes
from the last session. Number two is
163
00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:07.639
the obvious one, but it is
a thing that folks don't necessarily do take
164
00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.960
a look at today's adventure, whether
it's a published module or your homebrew adventure
165
00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:16.159
that you've written up yourself. The
next best thing to do after going over
166
00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:20.320
last week is to read a few
pages ahead to cover the areas the party
167
00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:22.919
might visit and the monsters they might
encounter. You don't need to do a
168
00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:26.679
deep read. You don't have to, you know, sit down and very
169
00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:31.600
carefully go over it with a fine
tooth comb. But knowing what roots they
170
00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:35.240
can take and what encounters they might
run into will help keep you from being
171
00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:39.679
taken by surprise, and that's the
important thing. Sometimes people will like read
172
00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:43.039
the module once at the beginning and
then sit down and run it thinking that
173
00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:46.320
they know it. And this is
where you can run into problems where you're
174
00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:48.320
like, oh my god, I
completely forgot that there's that encounter with the
175
00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:52.480
bandits on the road, and I
did not plan for that tonight at all.
176
00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:56.480
So just making sure you go back
over that and just to make sure,
177
00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:58.720
Oh what if they, like they
said last time, they were going
178
00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:01.960
to go right, but what if
in the intervening week they've decided no,
179
00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:05.240
maybe we should go left instead.
You should kind of have an idea of
180
00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:09.840
the scope of what could happen in
that evening and look ahead to make sure
181
00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:13.399
you know what's going on with it. The other side of that is like,
182
00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:15.440
well, I guess the bandits are
campl on the left side today.
183
00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:18.399
I mean you can certainly do that. I mean tips about how to tweak
184
00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:24.639
your adventures on the fly is that's
also useful DM advice that we certainly can
185
00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:28.519
get into. But just making sure
but you can't do that unless you know
186
00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:31.720
what's going on if they go left
instead of right. But you know,
187
00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:35.360
oh, those bandits are on the
right, I can just switch that over.
188
00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:37.960
That helps you deal with Not only
does it help you deal when they
189
00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:41.600
do what you expect them to do, it's even more useful when they do
190
00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:46.360
what you don't. Did that make
sense when they do what you don't?
191
00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:48.000
Yeah, I guess it did.
Yeah, Yeah, I got it.
192
00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:50.279
I got it. Okay, we
got there. It reminds me of somewhere
193
00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:54.320
posted it was you look off to
the right, there's a castle in a
194
00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:56.320
distance. The players go, Okay, I guess we're gonna go left then,
195
00:12:56.600 --> 00:13:00.679
and then it's a cover of the
Miyazaki film A House Moving Castle.
196
00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:07.039
Yeah, like, castle's over there. Now all right, yeah, but
197
00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.679
no choice thing we talk about,
Yeah, yeah, exactly exactly, which
198
00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:13.480
depending on how short your game is
going to be, you know, maybe
199
00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.679
maybe this is all we have today, but in a longer game it was
200
00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:20.080
a little more open story. Yeah, that's that's super important. And this
201
00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:24.919
is the part where I have gotten
myself used to running one shots and now
202
00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:31.120
I'm being asked to run you know, quote unquote real games. And this
203
00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:35.039
is the part where I am where
I need to start stepping up and like,
204
00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:39.799
no, take myself out of the
other the five page print out and
205
00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:43.720
getting ready for day to day stuff
where like, you know, it's I'm
206
00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:48.600
gonna be running games where I don't
know everything that's gonna happen. And that's
207
00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:50.080
that's where I'm struggling now. And
by struggling, I mean I haven't really
208
00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:54.279
tried yet. Yeah, but hopefully
hopefully sooner than later. And there's some
209
00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:58.679
kind of indie games, more lucy
goosey story games where you can sort of
210
00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.879
see to your pants it you can't
really do that in five E. You
211
00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:03.840
got to have encounters ready to go. You got to have some rough idea
212
00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:07.960
of where people are going to go
and looking ahead to make sure that you're
213
00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:11.639
familiar with, especially if you're using
a published module, what's going on.
214
00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:13.559
That's an important part of prep to
make sure you're going to run a good
215
00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:18.799
game. So shall we move on
to number three? What do you got?
216
00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:22.679
All? Right? Set up your
play space in advance. And this
217
00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:28.279
is not this doesn't have to do
with actual story stuff or reading the module.
218
00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:31.080
This is about the physical space that
you're going to be having the game
219
00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:35.519
in. And I include your digital
space with that. So if you're playing
220
00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.799
online definitely counts. Yeah, if
you're playing online, you make sure that
221
00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:41.360
you have the graphics for maps that
you're going to use. You make sure
222
00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:46.159
you have the tokens set aside in
whatever tabletop you're going to use, that
223
00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:48.159
those are ready to go that you're
not. I have been in games where
224
00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:52.080
in the middle of the game someone
goes, oh shit, I need lizard
225
00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:56.600
men and they're you know, rooting
around on their drive and making them into
226
00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:00.200
a token and stuff like that.
Have all that stuff ready to go will
227
00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:03.360
be really helpful so that you're not
spending time rooting around for them during the
228
00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:07.639
session. If you're playing in person, set up your battle matt, set
229
00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:09.639
up your dungeon tiles, set up
your terrain, or at least have it
230
00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:13.639
off to the side so that when
that encounter happens, you can boom,
231
00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:16.320
just drop it right on to the
table and you're ready to go, rather
232
00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:20.679
than fishing through your big tackle box
full of minis right to find some orcs.
233
00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:24.320
Have those guys set aside and ready
to go. They can be right
234
00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:26.320
there on the table as a preview, you know, to give the players
235
00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:28.879
a look at what's coming. Or
you can have them behind the screen with
236
00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:33.480
you, or just you know,
have a separate slot in your big mini's
237
00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:37.360
case that is stuff I'm using this
week, and at some point during the
238
00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:41.080
week's sort of that all in there
so you can just pluck them out and
239
00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:43.559
be ready to go. But basically, the less handling you need to do
240
00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:48.360
during the session, the quicker you
can get right to a combat when it
241
00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:50.840
is time to do that, because
all of that handling of that physical stuff
242
00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:54.200
is something that can actually take up
a lot of time if you're not ready
243
00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:58.440
to go. I was looking at
a couple of videos and the past like
244
00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:03.039
a week or so, looking looking
for ways to have a more engaging tabletop
245
00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:07.000
experience because these these store games are
going pretty well for me. And there's
246
00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:10.080
another DM there that's running stuff on
like alternate weeks. Yeah, and I
247
00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:14.759
have to win. I have I
know it's sounds super competitive game, but
248
00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:18.639
like I gotta wins. It's not
a game as much as it's like a
249
00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.080
pageant, right you want to you
know, like like you want to be
250
00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:25.639
the bell of the ball there.
I get that, yes exactly. It's
251
00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:27.200
also a good ways on like how
to spice up my game a little bit,
252
00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:30.679
and I found a couple of cool
things. But prepping the minis was
253
00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:33.960
a big part of what these guys
were doing. Most of them are playing
254
00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:37.480
at their home and they have a
whole room dedicated for and as those kind
255
00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:40.240
of players that you know, you
you really want to be part of their
256
00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:44.080
session, but maybe not married to
these guys because that's a whole wing,
257
00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:45.600
that's the whole wing of their house
gone. But you know what though,
258
00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:48.519
like a lot of these like like
a lot of folks I visit that are
259
00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:52.559
like that, Like you know,
one spouse has their room that has all
260
00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:56.840
their D and D stuff and shelves
full of books and bins full of minis.
261
00:16:57.120 --> 00:17:00.399
But then you kind of go around
the corner down into the basement and
262
00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:04.119
you like look in the door and
there's like, you know, fifteen hundred
263
00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:10.440
skeins of yarn and you know or
like you know, dress patterns or something
264
00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:15.599
like that. The plants room exactly. Yeah, if everybody's got their dedicated
265
00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:18.160
hobby space, then I think that
works out best for everybody. So yes,
266
00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:23.480
you can call that compromise, you
can call that bargaining. Everybody's on
267
00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:27.839
the same page because I will I
will happily build Cara her own library slash
268
00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:32.880
corgy sanctuary if I can get my
game room. But prepping their minis and
269
00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:34.319
having them at the ready, all
of them were kind of saying the same
270
00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:37.359
thing where it's like, okay,
you get your stuff ready for today,
271
00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:40.039
and a couple of the decoys in
there as well, so that they don't
272
00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:41.559
really know exactly what they're going up
against. Because if they see you with
273
00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:45.759
a table full of little goblins and
bandits, then like, all right,
274
00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:48.359
because there are goblins of bandits today. But if they see like, you
275
00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:52.960
know, three or four goblins,
two or three bandits, a medium silver
276
00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:56.720
dragon and a beholder, then they
don't know what they're up against. Yeah,
277
00:17:57.079 --> 00:18:02.119
and four and five. Be some
argument about which order you do these,
278
00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:04.759
but I think four is more important
than five, and four is reread
279
00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:10.319
the player character sheets. It can
be easy to take the PC's abilities and
280
00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:15.000
backgrounds for granted and start to rely
fully on the players to keep track of
281
00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:19.519
all that stuff. But ideally before
every session if you can, but if
282
00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:23.920
not, at least whenever they level
up, take some time to go back
283
00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:30.599
and actually look over their full character
sheets to remind yourself what class ability is,
284
00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:33.200
they've got, what spells they've got, and what they can do that
285
00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:40.240
might either shortcut your encounters if you
forget that somebody can fly or has access
286
00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:45.160
to pass wall or something like that
that can just bypass a whole section of
287
00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:48.000
an encounter that you've set up.
Know that that's a possibility, and understand
288
00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:52.440
that that's that they can do that. That's what going back over those sheets
289
00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:56.759
will help you do, and think
about ways as you do that to work
290
00:18:56.799 --> 00:19:00.960
their background and history into the session, whether you're wedging that into a published
291
00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.319
module somehow, or they're kind of
trying to shoehorn it in, or you're
292
00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:10.039
using them to build out your Homebrew
world. If you've got Homebrew and you're
293
00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:14.200
looking at that sheet as you're developing
what you're gonna do. That can really
294
00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:18.000
help in creating content that is tied
to the characters and that engages them.
295
00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:22.680
But it can get very easy to
get kind of laser focused on doing your
296
00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:26.359
thing and forget that it's important to
keep track of where they're at what they're
297
00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:30.519
doing. I know some dms actually
like to hold on to character sheets for
298
00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:36.160
players. Not every player loves that
as a thing, but however you do
299
00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:38.680
it, you should always have access
to their sheets and be able to look
300
00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:42.119
at them as they're updating them.
And also just to make sure that nobody
301
00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:49.720
is misinterpreting the rules or you know, accidentally giving themselves bonuses that they're not
302
00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:53.240
untitled to, or you know,
you know, it completely slipped their mind
303
00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:56.039
that they can only attune to three
magic items. That kind of thing.
304
00:19:56.400 --> 00:20:00.599
That also keeping track of that in
between and getting on that before it comes
305
00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:06.759
up in a session also really helpful
to running the game. That's another aspect
306
00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:10.319
of good prep I think. Yeah, and a lot of that assumes that
307
00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:14.680
it's a fully pen and paper character
sheets too, which I think is important
308
00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:17.920
for someone to do at some point
is to do all the math that goes
309
00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:21.160
into your character, or if you're
playing online, if you're playing on Roll
310
00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.799
twenty, if you're using D and
D beyond, just make sure that you've
311
00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:27.079
got access to those sheets and that
you're looking at them on the regular and
312
00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:30.519
communicating with the players about anything you
see that you don't understand or that you're
313
00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:33.799
unclear about. I don't know if
I have a witty retort for this one.
314
00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:41.160
Okay, that sounds great, Jim. Number five last, but not
315
00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:45.039
least, And like I said,
this may depending on maybe even the nature
316
00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:48.559
of the particular session you're going to
run that day, kind of be sort
317
00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:53.279
of interchangeable with number four. But
that is read up on monster tactics.
318
00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:59.359
Take a look at what the creatures
you might be using in those encounters can
319
00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:03.799
do. Pull out your copies of
the monsters know what they're doing, and
320
00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:07.519
the monsters still know what they're doing, and maybe something like you know your
321
00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:11.920
Cobalt Press book of Layers that has
suggestions for running different versions of those monsters
322
00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:17.440
beyond the kind of bog standard monster
manual approach to building them, to building
323
00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:22.640
encounters out jump onto DM Academy or
a dming discord that you're part of to
324
00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:26.480
look for tips. Ask for tips
on how to effectively run those monsters so
325
00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:30.799
that they're challenging and fun. If
you have tactics in mind in advance,
326
00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:33.680
or better yet, you write them
up, write a little battle plan,
327
00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:36.000
just put it on an index card
so that you can, you know,
328
00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:38.319
or post it and just tack it
to the inside of your your DM screen
329
00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:41.880
that says you know, they're going
to go after this guy first and then
330
00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:45.000
do this, and here's their typical
strategy, or think in advance about the
331
00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:49.359
point at which they might decide the
fight's not worth it anymore. That's the
332
00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:53.000
kind of stuff that if you are
thinking about it in advance, it will
333
00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:57.240
not only will it speed up play, but you won't get caught by surprise,
334
00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:02.319
because a lot of the things that
we see in DM Academy and even
335
00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:06.599
some horror stories are I got neck
deep in this encounter and realized I was
336
00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:10.240
over my head and I didn't like
I encountered this situation. I had no
337
00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:14.680
idea what the monsters should do next, and I feel like I made the
338
00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:17.720
wrong decision. But if you have
that in mind and are thinking about it
339
00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:21.759
in advance, you can adjust on
the fly. If those encounters turn out
340
00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:26.000
to be too easy and go too
quickly or too challenging and you get bogged
341
00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:29.400
down, or they're just starting to
frustrate the players. So having some ideas
342
00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:33.119
about how to handle those situations in
advance super useful and you know, great
343
00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:37.799
prep. Yeah, I mean we
we show this book a bunch of episodes.
344
00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.920
Now the monsters know what they're doing, more of the monsters know what
345
00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:41.839
they're doing. He has one about
layers now too. Yeah. Yeah,
346
00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:48.039
it's are Defending your Layer, which
is about layer actions and like bringing bringing
347
00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:51.680
monster or rain to life. Yeah. Volos Guide's great for that too.
348
00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:55.759
Volos is good for a number of
coldbal press books are good for that.
349
00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:59.640
Disappointing that those are all third party
books now that I'm thinking about it,
350
00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:02.319
Well, at this point, things
get better, get better. Wizards,
351
00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:08.119
Okay, yeah, Bolos is Bolos
is their their first stab. They did
352
00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:12.240
it doing something that was beyond just
here's a block of stats and two paragraphs
353
00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:15.839
about you know, what their personality
is. But I try something about how
354
00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:18.680
they fit into the world. Even
though I said it out loud, I
355
00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:23.160
forgot I said it so Okay,
so most of them are a third party.
356
00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:26.880
Yeah, get a little better wizards, how about that? All right?
357
00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:30.519
Certainly the best of them are third
party? Yeah yeah, but yeah,
358
00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:34.079
this is this is huge, and
this is I don't know if I
359
00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:38.160
would I might switch four and five, but I agree that it's debatable.
360
00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:41.839
I would say to four, maybe
on every level up or maybe every couple
361
00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:48.480
of sessions. Sure, rereading the
character sheets and repping your monster tactics while
362
00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:52.720
you're setting up your plays base,
or or while you're preparing for today's adventure.
363
00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:55.960
That's okay, we're going up against
the Cobols today. Cool, let
364
00:23:56.000 --> 00:24:00.640
me read up on their like pack
tactics and gang war fair that kind of
365
00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:03.160
stuff. And that's also a thing
where like, if you know today is
366
00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:07.599
going to be a cryptal of zombies
followed by a cryptical of skeletons followed by
367
00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:11.519
some ghouls, you don't necessarily need
to read a lot of monster tactics on
368
00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:17.079
that. But if you're using you
know, some kind of like weird demon
369
00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:21.160
type that you've never put down on
the table before, that's the time where
370
00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:22.720
it might be more important to read
up on that. Like I said,
371
00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:26.359
so you're not caught by surprise,
so that you're not in the middle of
372
00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:29.000
the fight looking down the sheet and
go, oh wait, they can teleport.
373
00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:32.640
Holy crap. I should have paid
more attention to that, especially a
374
00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:36.599
monster that is more intelligent too,
like a beholder, something that's that's going
375
00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:41.599
to act a little bit more intentionally. Yeah, any any dragon, anything
376
00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:45.880
vaguely human should be should have some
sort of plan going into it, where
377
00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:48.119
like you know, your skeletons,
zombies and goules, they'll be like,
378
00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:52.680
okay, well, how many attacks
do I get? Yeah, but yeah,
379
00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:55.440
this is this is huge. I
think I don't mind it being lower
380
00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:57.400
on the list because you can kind
of just do it once and just kind
381
00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:00.480
of keep that, you know,
to throw the post it notes in with
382
00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:03.799
the monster manual, so that you
just kind of remind yourself and say,
383
00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:07.160
hey, they like they gang up
on one enemy, or they like to
384
00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:10.200
split up, or you know anything
else that that Keith and Man tells you
385
00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:14.440
to do in his books. Yeah, but I will continue to show that
386
00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:15.640
book. It is it is that
good, is that important. I think
387
00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:18.799
he has a new one coming out
too. I thought I saw something on
388
00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:22.160
the shelf and I recognized. But
I think I have all this stuff now,
389
00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:26.119
all very good stuff. Jim,
and it's and it's a lot of
390
00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:32.480
like like, yeah, this is
mostly just things DMS just all kind of
391
00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:36.599
do, but just having it as
it almost as a checklist. Yeah,
392
00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:37.920
when you you know you you got
a game coming up in two days,
393
00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:44.039
let's let's just start working the list
and being able to you know, use
394
00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:48.279
your time properly. Yeah, because
it can get easy or know how much
395
00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:49.960
time you need. Yeah, because
it can get easy to get into a
396
00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:52.519
rut, especially if you're like running
a game out every week at the same
397
00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:56.119
time, and you start to think, well, I don't need to prep
398
00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:57.960
I'm running this every week, and
that that prep time can kind of get
399
00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:02.599
squeezed as you you're doing other stuff
or your dinner runs a little later or
400
00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:04.880
something like that. And so I
think having a you know a little bit
401
00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:08.319
of an order of operations of oh
crap, i've only got five minutes before
402
00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:12.480
people start arriving. What's the most
important thing to do? In my opinion,
403
00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:15.440
it's roughly in that order. And
but you know, but we have
404
00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:19.039
listeners that can quibble with that or
or suggest things we haven't put there at
405
00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:22.119
all that they think might be more
important. Yeah, like la, like
406
00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:26.000
number zero get your snacks ready.
Well, that's that's social stuff if you
407
00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:32.359
if you social, if you only
have two minutes to prepare, maybe throw
408
00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:34.319
tho pizza rolls in the air fire
and have them ready to go. Yeah,
409
00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:37.720
I suppose that's. Yeah. If
you're a good DM, your players
410
00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:41.160
are bringing you snacks. So if
you're a good if they're coming to your
411
00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:44.680
house, you can be a good
host too, I guess. So listen,
412
00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:47.559
we all we all bring snacks and
sometimes we eat them on top of
413
00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:51.519
our books. I was gonna say, like you said, you sent me
414
00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:53.200
a picture of your game, and
somebody had a like half a cake on
415
00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:56.480
top of their player's handbook. I
mean, sorry, it was on a
416
00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:59.880
plate. Everybody like it was not
literally a plaque on the player's handbook.
417
00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:03.079
It was on a plate. But
I just, yeah, knows, that
418
00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:06.119
was so so First, for some
context, show one of my players took
419
00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.920
one of my players took a picture
of the of our game. And I've
420
00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:11.720
got not a huge table and there's
only a DM with three players, and
421
00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:15.559
you know, with everyone's DM screens
and books and laptops and everything like that,
422
00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:18.559
play it. You know, space
got pretty scares pretty quick, and
423
00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:22.440
you know we're we're all adults with
it. We're all with adults with adult
424
00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:26.920
money, and we like to go
in on the snacks. This table was
425
00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:30.160
more snacks than game. Like these
guys went all out. The the one
426
00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:33.200
guy especially, you know he's got
half the guys at the table have kids
427
00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:37.559
and the Joe like but Nick in
particular, like he just when he can
428
00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:41.480
get out, gets out and goes
all in. So he shows up with
429
00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:44.359
like a bag full of like gummy
snacks and like he had a whole ass
430
00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:49.079
cake with them, which was amazing
by the way, and uh, he
431
00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:51.920
takes a picture of our game just
to be like, hey, look how
432
00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:53.440
much fun. When happened, throws
and throws it online. I realized,
433
00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:56.279
like there's a lot of snacks on
the table, like a lot a lot
434
00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:59.920
of snacks on this table. So
I throw a picture, throw the pictures
435
00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:03.200
you our little discord. And Jim's
like, why is there a cake on
436
00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:07.079
on the on the book? Because
we ran out of table? Was there
437
00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:14.440
a cake on the book? Just
why is there a cake on the bull?
438
00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:18.759
Because he had to put it down
the book he wasn't putting on his
439
00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:22.440
laptop got wipe off the book at
least he was eating it with a knife
440
00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:26.240
and fork. There we go.
Yeah, yeah, like a pizza,
441
00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:30.079
right, Jim, Yeah yeah,
and forget about that one. That's all
442
00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:32.359
we got for today, guys,
thank you so much for listening. We're
443
00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:34.440
gonna put something. We might turn
this into a little bit more of a
444
00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:37.680
of a blog article. We'll see
if we feel like taking all the extra
445
00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:41.720
work that that takes. So keep
an eye on Curmudgeons Dragons dot com and
446
00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:45.279
we might put some of these up
on there. But either way, we'll
447
00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:48.240
put the list in the show notes
with some helpful links. Other than that,
448
00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:51.440
stay tuned for the next episode.
It's a lot, but I don't
449
00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.880
really I don't really have anything,
like, I don't have anything fun here,
450
00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:56.400
go give us a followut on stuff. But if you're listening to us
451
00:28:56.440 --> 00:29:00.799
right now, you already did so, thanks Jim. You're very welcome.
452
00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:03.599
Interested to hear from anybody that has
opinions on our list here. Yeah,
453
00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:06.960
yeah, let's let's do that one. That's that's our call to action today.
454
00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.880
So if you disagree with the lists
or if you have things that you
455
00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:12.920
want to add, Curmudgeons and Dragons
pod at gmail dot com is our email,
456
00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:18.599
and that is Jim is Jim Crocker. If you want to send all
457
00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:21.640
your your angry letters over or your
happy letters, I'll take you either one.
458
00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:23.880
That's cool. I can take it
cool now. Now that's all I
459
00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:26.400
got. Thanks much for listening,
Jim, thanks for hanging out, you
460
00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:34.079
Bet and the Thank you Adventurers.
Thank you for listening to con Mudgeons and
461
00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:38.759
Jackens. Please chat this with your
favorite adventuress, leave a review on Apple,
462
00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:44.039
and follow us on social media.
All links can be found at Conmudgeons
463
00:29:44.119 --> 00:29:47.759
and draggons dot com. Practice Safe
Adventuring my Friends
1
00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:25.480
Hello Adventurers, the podcast for role
players and game masters to help level up
2
00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:29.600
your game. I'm your dungeon master, Jason Portiso, and today we are
3
00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:33.719
changing things up a little bit in
a few ways. So first let's get
4
00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:37.280
some housekeeping. For reasons too many
to name, we're going to be changing
5
00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:40.880
up the release schedule a bit,
and starting today, we'll be releasing just
6
00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:44.079
one episode per week on Mondays.
And this is going to give us some
7
00:00:44.119 --> 00:00:48.840
time to prepare a little more well
thought out content and allow me a little
8
00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:52.200
more a weekly time to get some
editing done. I am definitely behind.
9
00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:57.399
But speaking of preparing content and getting
editing done, let's get to what's going
10
00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:00.880
on to today's episode. Our recording
schedule got little funny for this session and
11
00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:04.480
we missed the date that I needed
to get the episode out on time.
12
00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:08.400
So instead of rushing out something that
I'm not proud of, or we're skipping
13
00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:11.879
a week, I thought I thought
it'd be fun if we did a little
14
00:01:11.879 --> 00:01:17.599
replay crossover type thing, and we
replayed a past episode from our previous show,
15
00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:21.560
Curmudgeons and Dragons. So this is
a later episode when the host roster
16
00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:23.760
was just me and Jim I'm our
co host Josie as well, but this
17
00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:27.959
was recorded at a time when Josie
wasn't available to record, so this episode
18
00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:30.439
is just going to feature of myself
and Jim. Joe wasn't part of this
19
00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:34.560
podcast just yet, he was just
a fan of the listener. But this
20
00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:37.879
is one of my favorite episodes from
that show, and not because Josie wasn't
21
00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:42.719
there, but because it was so
packed with actual helpful content and value.
22
00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:47.680
Like we say in the podcast world, but this felt like the direction of
23
00:01:47.719 --> 00:01:52.319
the show wanted to go in,
but I didn't have the podcasting experience to
24
00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:56.560
steer us towards that, And it
was episodes like this one that inspired the
25
00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:00.599
rebrand into the show that we now
call Hello Adventurers. And fun fact,
26
00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:04.200
you'll see in the first few seconds
where the name for this show came from.
27
00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:07.680
So all one hundred and thirteen episodes
of Courmergences and Dragons are still available
28
00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:12.319
on all podcast platforms, as well
as Curmudgeons and Dragons dot com. So
29
00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:15.960
if you're looking for more just content
from me and Jim and Josie and Jack
30
00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:20.680
and Justin and Greg and everyone else
who would helped host that show, those
31
00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:23.879
are available out there. You can
go check those out right now. But
32
00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:28.039
for now, I like to introduce
you to our replay of episode one hundred
33
00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:32.319
and three, Jim's top five tips
for preparing your session. Goodbye, Adventurers.
34
00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:40.120
Sometimes talking with friends feels like role
playing, Sometimes it feels like combat.
35
00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:46.280
Join us at the roundtable and roll
an initiative. This is Curmudgeons and
36
00:02:46.400 --> 00:03:00.759
Dragons. Hello adventurers, Welcome to
the Curmudgins and Dragons. My name is
37
00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:06.919
Jason Portiso. Today I'm joined by
mister Jim Crocker. Hey, how are
38
00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:09.000
we doing, Jim? How you
doing, Bud? I'm doing pretty good,
39
00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:12.560
Pretty good. I start a brand
new job next week. I got
40
00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:15.719
a library job, so coming out
of retirement. Huh yes, yeah,
41
00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:20.719
keep you away using my bookstore skills
in the service of the greater good.
42
00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:23.360
That's what we're that's what we're looking
to do, all right. Is it
43
00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:25.560
a library job. It is a
library job. Yes, yeah, it's
44
00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:29.919
a library Okay, cool. Yeah, it's at the Montclair Public Library here
45
00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:32.479
in northern New Jersey. I'll be
working like eighteen twenty hours a week something
46
00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:36.240
like that. Nice part time job
to kind of fill in get me out
47
00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:38.719
of the house and on my feet, which is something that I am have
48
00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:43.840
been It is both something I need
to do and something that has been requested
49
00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:46.319
of me. So yes, I
was just gonna say that sounds like Shannon's
50
00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:50.520
idea, good man, So it's
nice to have, I would I wonder
51
00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:55.080
it's what it's like to have a
job. I have like seven. Still,
52
00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:58.800
I literally don't know. I don't
know how to count my jobs.
53
00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:01.479
Let's put it that way, because
technically a few of them all fall under
54
00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:04.919
one umbrella, but they all feel
like very separate things. So would you
55
00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:09.639
feel better if I said I got
another job? That would be that works?
56
00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:11.919
Yeah? Okay, there, now
you're up to well, you know
57
00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:15.279
one, well, one outside the
house job. I do all of our
58
00:04:15.279 --> 00:04:21.920
inside the house stuff, so that
that counts as we value. Also you,
59
00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:25.319
I keep you very busy writing our
show notes, so there's that,
60
00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:27.279
so you know, thank you for
your opinion though, But you know,
61
00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:29.519
well, I was gonna say this, this is a job I'm actually gonna
62
00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.480
get paid for. So yeah,
oh is that how we count jobs?
63
00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:39.360
Okay? Then I have like one, I guess there's job gigs so yes,
64
00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:42.839
oh gigs at a problem agat But
so today. So just does D
65
00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:45.920
M Boys here, Josie's in.
You can tell when it's like the middle
66
00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:47.839
of a school season when Josie has
to take a few episodes off. Yes,
67
00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:53.839
yes, I am recording with her
tomorrow, so she's not gone.
68
00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:57.240
She won't be gone for long,
but she will be gone today and that's
69
00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:01.879
what matters. She's decent student,
so she like actually studies and stuff.
70
00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:06.600
That's you know, I know it's
weird. I wouldn't have skipped a podcast
71
00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:10.120
just to you know, study for
a test or anything. No, God,
72
00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:14.040
no, that never. Yeah,
she is the opposite as a student.
73
00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:19.000
She's a total opposite as she is
as a player. So all the
74
00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:23.560
shenanigans of her in a D and
D game, just like, she gets
75
00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:27.759
it all out there and then for
the stuff then matter. Yeah, that's
76
00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:30.639
good. That firewall is important to
being a functional human being. So which
77
00:05:30.680 --> 00:05:35.160
is the opposite of how I did
school, and that's why I don't have
78
00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:40.600
a degree. But luckily I got
good at things that don't need degrees.
79
00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:45.519
So lucky me. Anyway, just
as DM Boys today. So I had
80
00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:47.560
an idea to kind of take the
show a little back to like before we
81
00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:50.319
took that little break over the winter
when we were doing like, you know,
82
00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:55.040
actual substantial content and not just reading
stories over and over again. Listen,
83
00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:58.000
I love doing the stories. I
think they are as far as our
84
00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:00.839
listener engagement and stuff, they're there
the most entertaining. I listened to them
85
00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:04.040
a couple of times just too well, I have to listen to them to
86
00:06:04.040 --> 00:06:06.959
make sure they sound good. But
like I enjoy listening to them a couple
87
00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:10.399
of times to make sure they sound
good. But you know, these are
88
00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:13.240
things we used to do a lot
more of where we're trying to get into,
89
00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:16.439
you know, kind of teaching people
something about the game. So I
90
00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:20.879
had us right up a few little
BuzzFeed style like listical, you know,
91
00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:25.120
two thousand and seven Internet, just
a little little things, a little little
92
00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:28.000
lists about the game. And so
I got mine. We'll do that on
93
00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:30.000
the next episode. And Jim's got
a couple here, So we're going to
94
00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:33.240
dive in. Jim, what is
the listical we're going to do today?
95
00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:36.279
Well, the first one we're going
to do is one that you actually asked
96
00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:41.160
me about because you thought I might
have an insider too that maybe might be
97
00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:47.279
helpful to you. And this is
Top five Session prep steps excellent, yes,
98
00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:49.839
and if someone's going to learn something
on the show, it might as
99
00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:56.759
well be me. Ideally hopefully you
and maybe whoever else that that would be
100
00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:00.920
good. But I have ordered these
in in terms of, in completely my
101
00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:05.160
opinion, worth exactly what you paid
for it, order of if you only
102
00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:09.439
have time to do one, do
this first one, if you only have
103
00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:12.319
time to do to do these first
two, so kind of in order of
104
00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:15.560
what you've got time to do,
in my opinion, and we can discuss
105
00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:18.399
about why I think they should be
in this order, and you know,
106
00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:23.079
and that sort of thing. Once
we get them out right, Well,
107
00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:25.680
that out of the way, let's
get into uh, let's get into the
108
00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:30.040
lists. All right, here we
go. So the first one that I
109
00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:34.000
have on the list, number one, Top five session prep steps. Go
110
00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:39.199
over your notes from last session.
If you can only do one thing,
111
00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:43.279
this is the thing that I advise
you to do. However, you're keeping
112
00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:47.079
track, whether it's a handwritten bullet
list or a more thorough campaign diary that
113
00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:53.480
you keep or a player volunteer that
is your scribe that you know or like,
114
00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:57.319
if you have a shared Google doc
where everybody puts notes in and that's
115
00:07:57.319 --> 00:08:01.000
how you build your session notes.
However, you do that a video or
116
00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:05.720
audio recording if you're keeping track of
the transcript on zoom, and that's what
117
00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:09.439
you use to build your notes.
If you've got an online session, if
118
00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:13.000
you only have time for one thing, do that. I would say that
119
00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:18.519
you don't need more than like ten
or fifteen minutes maximum. But going over
120
00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:22.240
notes from your last session is your
first and best way to get ready for
121
00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:26.160
today's session. Even if you're running
a one shot, which I know you
122
00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:28.240
do a lot in the store jay
you run one shots, what you can
123
00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:33.080
do with that, you should still
be taking notes for when you're doing your
124
00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:35.600
one shots, maybe not so much. Here's what the characters did, but
125
00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:39.559
here's what you did as a DM
networked. Here's what you did as a
126
00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:43.639
DM that didn't and then you can
go back over those. You can find
127
00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:48.240
pain points in your one shot where
players had trouble or where they just bulldozed
128
00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:50.960
it, and maybe you need to
toughen it up a little, especially if
129
00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:54.080
it's a repeat for a new audience. Going back over those notes most important
130
00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:56.120
thing you can do, I think
before you do anything else, including any
131
00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:58.799
other kind of prep for the actual
session, you're going to run. Yes,
132
00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:03.679
this seems like a bar for entry
type of stuff and where you should
133
00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:05.519
at least be refreshing yourself on what
happened last time. So but it is
134
00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:07.840
good to have it like like you
like, yeah, of course I need
135
00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:11.600
to do that. I've used almost
all of these methods for the for the
136
00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:16.399
couple of games that we've been playing. And of course our playing method has
137
00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:20.440
changed a lot in the past like
year year and a half, not only
138
00:09:20.440 --> 00:09:24.120
going from like full lockdown mode into
now we're playing in person at my house.
139
00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:28.559
Yeah, but we went from playing
over like we just kept trying things
140
00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:33.000
that just kept either working or not
working, or things that might just work
141
00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:35.759
for our particular group better because we
do know each other irl. So like
142
00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:39.720
we were using roll twenty for the
for the map, and then we're using
143
00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:43.000
Albert Rodeo, and then we're using
just going over Zoom and then just you
144
00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:46.600
know, Discord for a little while
and using some bots in there. Then
145
00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.360
we landed on Zoom, back on
Zoom for a while because I got one
146
00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:54.200
particular app for Zooms I'll talk about
in a second. And then once our
147
00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:56.679
schedule started lining up a little bit, now we were back to playing in
148
00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:00.679
person, which means I gotta change
how we do my notes again. But
149
00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:07.919
my handwriting is god awful, god
awful. Josie's unbelievable, So she takes
150
00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:11.279
notes when we play. But I'm
much more a Google doc type of guy.
151
00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:18.200
Sure, just to just know a
unfiltered, just mash up of notes
152
00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:22.799
that hopefully I know where important things
are. Yeah, making good use of
153
00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:26.480
the highlight feature and trying to go
over it when I'm done, because a
154
00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:30.360
lot of those notes didn't mean anything. Yes, yeah, I mean that's
155
00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:33.840
actual, Like when you're playing type
stuff, how do you take notes and
156
00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:37.600
stuff like that? However you do
that. I'm just kind of setting that
157
00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:41.840
aside. I'm ecumenical on that at
the moment, other than to say you
158
00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:46.559
should have some kind of notes over
what happens in every session. First thing
159
00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:50.159
you do to prep for the next
session, go over what you did in
160
00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:52.519
the previous session. So that is
the most important thing as far as I'm
161
00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:56.879
concerned. If you've only got ten
minutes to prep for your session, devote
162
00:10:56.919 --> 00:11:01.759
it to going back over your notes
from the last session. Number two is
163
00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:07.639
the obvious one, but it is
a thing that folks don't necessarily do take
164
00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.960
a look at today's adventure, whether
it's a published module or your homebrew adventure
165
00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:16.159
that you've written up yourself. The
next best thing to do after going over
166
00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:20.320
last week is to read a few
pages ahead to cover the areas the party
167
00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:22.919
might visit and the monsters they might
encounter. You don't need to do a
168
00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:26.679
deep read. You don't have to, you know, sit down and very
169
00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:31.600
carefully go over it with a fine
tooth comb. But knowing what roots they
170
00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:35.240
can take and what encounters they might
run into will help keep you from being
171
00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:39.679
taken by surprise, and that's the
important thing. Sometimes people will like read
172
00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:43.039
the module once at the beginning and
then sit down and run it thinking that
173
00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:46.320
they know it. And this is
where you can run into problems where you're
174
00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:48.320
like, oh my god, I
completely forgot that there's that encounter with the
175
00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:52.480
bandits on the road, and I
did not plan for that tonight at all.
176
00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:56.480
So just making sure you go back
over that and just to make sure,
177
00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:58.720
Oh what if they, like they
said last time, they were going
178
00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:01.960
to go right, but what if
in the intervening week they've decided no,
179
00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:05.240
maybe we should go left instead.
You should kind of have an idea of
180
00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:09.840
the scope of what could happen in
that evening and look ahead to make sure
181
00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:13.399
you know what's going on with it. The other side of that is like,
182
00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:15.440
well, I guess the bandits are
campl on the left side today.
183
00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:18.399
I mean you can certainly do that. I mean tips about how to tweak
184
00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:24.639
your adventures on the fly is that's
also useful DM advice that we certainly can
185
00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:28.519
get into. But just making sure
but you can't do that unless you know
186
00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:31.720
what's going on if they go left
instead of right. But you know,
187
00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:35.360
oh, those bandits are on the
right, I can just switch that over.
188
00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:37.960
That helps you deal with Not only
does it help you deal when they
189
00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:41.600
do what you expect them to do, it's even more useful when they do
190
00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:46.360
what you don't. Did that make
sense when they do what you don't?
191
00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:48.000
Yeah, I guess it did.
Yeah, Yeah, I got it.
192
00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:50.279
I got it. Okay, we
got there. It reminds me of somewhere
193
00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:54.320
posted it was you look off to
the right, there's a castle in a
194
00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:56.320
distance. The players go, Okay, I guess we're gonna go left then,
195
00:12:56.600 --> 00:13:00.679
and then it's a cover of the
Miyazaki film A House Moving Castle.
196
00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:07.039
Yeah, like, castle's over there. Now all right, yeah, but
197
00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.679
no choice thing we talk about,
Yeah, yeah, exactly exactly, which
198
00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:13.480
depending on how short your game is
going to be, you know, maybe
199
00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.679
maybe this is all we have today, but in a longer game it was
200
00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:20.080
a little more open story. Yeah, that's that's super important. And this
201
00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:24.919
is the part where I have gotten
myself used to running one shots and now
202
00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:31.120
I'm being asked to run you know, quote unquote real games. And this
203
00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:35.039
is the part where I am where
I need to start stepping up and like,
204
00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:39.799
no, take myself out of the
other the five page print out and
205
00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:43.720
getting ready for day to day stuff
where like, you know, it's I'm
206
00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:48.600
gonna be running games where I don't
know everything that's gonna happen. And that's
207
00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:50.080
that's where I'm struggling now. And
by struggling, I mean I haven't really
208
00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:54.279
tried yet. Yeah, but hopefully
hopefully sooner than later. And there's some
209
00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:58.679
kind of indie games, more lucy
goosey story games where you can sort of
210
00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.879
see to your pants it you can't
really do that in five E. You
211
00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:03.840
got to have encounters ready to go. You got to have some rough idea
212
00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:07.960
of where people are going to go
and looking ahead to make sure that you're
213
00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:11.639
familiar with, especially if you're using
a published module, what's going on.
214
00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:13.559
That's an important part of prep to
make sure you're going to run a good
215
00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:18.799
game. So shall we move on
to number three? What do you got?
216
00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:22.679
All? Right? Set up your
play space in advance. And this
217
00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:28.279
is not this doesn't have to do
with actual story stuff or reading the module.
218
00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:31.080
This is about the physical space that
you're going to be having the game
219
00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:35.519
in. And I include your digital
space with that. So if you're playing
220
00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.799
online definitely counts. Yeah, if
you're playing online, you make sure that
221
00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:41.360
you have the graphics for maps that
you're going to use. You make sure
222
00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:46.159
you have the tokens set aside in
whatever tabletop you're going to use, that
223
00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:48.159
those are ready to go that you're
not. I have been in games where
224
00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:52.080
in the middle of the game someone
goes, oh shit, I need lizard
225
00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:56.600
men and they're you know, rooting
around on their drive and making them into
226
00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:00.200
a token and stuff like that.
Have all that stuff ready to go will
227
00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:03.360
be really helpful so that you're not
spending time rooting around for them during the
228
00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:07.639
session. If you're playing in person, set up your battle matt, set
229
00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:09.639
up your dungeon tiles, set up
your terrain, or at least have it
230
00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:13.639
off to the side so that when
that encounter happens, you can boom,
231
00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:16.320
just drop it right on to the
table and you're ready to go, rather
232
00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:20.679
than fishing through your big tackle box
full of minis right to find some orcs.
233
00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:24.320
Have those guys set aside and ready
to go. They can be right
234
00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:26.320
there on the table as a preview, you know, to give the players
235
00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:28.879
a look at what's coming. Or
you can have them behind the screen with
236
00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:33.480
you, or just you know,
have a separate slot in your big mini's
237
00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:37.360
case that is stuff I'm using this
week, and at some point during the
238
00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:41.080
week's sort of that all in there
so you can just pluck them out and
239
00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:43.559
be ready to go. But basically, the less handling you need to do
240
00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:48.360
during the session, the quicker you
can get right to a combat when it
241
00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:50.840
is time to do that, because
all of that handling of that physical stuff
242
00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:54.200
is something that can actually take up
a lot of time if you're not ready
243
00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:58.440
to go. I was looking at
a couple of videos and the past like
244
00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:03.039
a week or so, looking looking
for ways to have a more engaging tabletop
245
00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:07.000
experience because these these store games are
going pretty well for me. And there's
246
00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:10.080
another DM there that's running stuff on
like alternate weeks. Yeah, and I
247
00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:14.759
have to win. I have I
know it's sounds super competitive game, but
248
00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:18.639
like I gotta wins. It's not
a game as much as it's like a
249
00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.080
pageant, right you want to you
know, like like you want to be
250
00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:25.639
the bell of the ball there.
I get that, yes exactly. It's
251
00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:27.200
also a good ways on like how
to spice up my game a little bit,
252
00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:30.679
and I found a couple of cool
things. But prepping the minis was
253
00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:33.960
a big part of what these guys
were doing. Most of them are playing
254
00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:37.480
at their home and they have a
whole room dedicated for and as those kind
255
00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:40.240
of players that you know, you
you really want to be part of their
256
00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:44.080
session, but maybe not married to
these guys because that's a whole wing,
257
00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:45.600
that's the whole wing of their house
gone. But you know what though,
258
00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:48.519
like a lot of these like like
a lot of folks I visit that are
259
00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:52.559
like that, Like you know,
one spouse has their room that has all
260
00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:56.840
their D and D stuff and shelves
full of books and bins full of minis.
261
00:16:57.120 --> 00:17:00.399
But then you kind of go around
the corner down into the basement and
262
00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:04.119
you like look in the door and
there's like, you know, fifteen hundred
263
00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:10.440
skeins of yarn and you know or
like you know, dress patterns or something
264
00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:15.599
like that. The plants room exactly. Yeah, if everybody's got their dedicated
265
00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:18.160
hobby space, then I think that
works out best for everybody. So yes,
266
00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:23.480
you can call that compromise, you
can call that bargaining. Everybody's on
267
00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:27.839
the same page because I will I
will happily build Cara her own library slash
268
00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:32.880
corgy sanctuary if I can get my
game room. But prepping their minis and
269
00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:34.319
having them at the ready, all
of them were kind of saying the same
270
00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:37.359
thing where it's like, okay,
you get your stuff ready for today,
271
00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:40.039
and a couple of the decoys in
there as well, so that they don't
272
00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:41.559
really know exactly what they're going up
against. Because if they see you with
273
00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:45.759
a table full of little goblins and
bandits, then like, all right,
274
00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:48.359
because there are goblins of bandits today. But if they see like, you
275
00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:52.960
know, three or four goblins,
two or three bandits, a medium silver
276
00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:56.720
dragon and a beholder, then they
don't know what they're up against. Yeah,
277
00:17:57.079 --> 00:18:02.119
and four and five. Be some
argument about which order you do these,
278
00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:04.759
but I think four is more important
than five, and four is reread
279
00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:10.319
the player character sheets. It can
be easy to take the PC's abilities and
280
00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:15.000
backgrounds for granted and start to rely
fully on the players to keep track of
281
00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:19.519
all that stuff. But ideally before
every session if you can, but if
282
00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:23.920
not, at least whenever they level
up, take some time to go back
283
00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:30.599
and actually look over their full character
sheets to remind yourself what class ability is,
284
00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:33.200
they've got, what spells they've got, and what they can do that
285
00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:40.240
might either shortcut your encounters if you
forget that somebody can fly or has access
286
00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:45.160
to pass wall or something like that
that can just bypass a whole section of
287
00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:48.000
an encounter that you've set up.
Know that that's a possibility, and understand
288
00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:52.440
that that's that they can do that. That's what going back over those sheets
289
00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:56.759
will help you do, and think
about ways as you do that to work
290
00:18:56.799 --> 00:19:00.960
their background and history into the session, whether you're wedging that into a published
291
00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.319
module somehow, or they're kind of
trying to shoehorn it in, or you're
292
00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:10.039
using them to build out your Homebrew
world. If you've got Homebrew and you're
293
00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:14.200
looking at that sheet as you're developing
what you're gonna do. That can really
294
00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:18.000
help in creating content that is tied
to the characters and that engages them.
295
00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:22.680
But it can get very easy to
get kind of laser focused on doing your
296
00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:26.359
thing and forget that it's important to
keep track of where they're at what they're
297
00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:30.519
doing. I know some dms actually
like to hold on to character sheets for
298
00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:36.160
players. Not every player loves that
as a thing, but however you do
299
00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:38.680
it, you should always have access
to their sheets and be able to look
300
00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:42.119
at them as they're updating them.
And also just to make sure that nobody
301
00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:49.720
is misinterpreting the rules or you know, accidentally giving themselves bonuses that they're not
302
00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:53.240
untitled to, or you know,
you know, it completely slipped their mind
303
00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:56.039
that they can only attune to three
magic items. That kind of thing.
304
00:19:56.400 --> 00:20:00.599
That also keeping track of that in
between and getting on that before it comes
305
00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:06.759
up in a session also really helpful
to running the game. That's another aspect
306
00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:10.319
of good prep I think. Yeah, and a lot of that assumes that
307
00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:14.680
it's a fully pen and paper character
sheets too, which I think is important
308
00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:17.920
for someone to do at some point
is to do all the math that goes
309
00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:21.160
into your character, or if you're
playing online, if you're playing on Roll
310
00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.799
twenty, if you're using D and
D beyond, just make sure that you've
311
00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:27.079
got access to those sheets and that
you're looking at them on the regular and
312
00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:30.519
communicating with the players about anything you
see that you don't understand or that you're
313
00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:33.799
unclear about. I don't know if
I have a witty retort for this one.
314
00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:41.160
Okay, that sounds great, Jim. Number five last, but not
315
00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:45.039
least, And like I said,
this may depending on maybe even the nature
316
00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:48.559
of the particular session you're going to
run that day, kind of be sort
317
00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:53.279
of interchangeable with number four. But
that is read up on monster tactics.
318
00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:59.359
Take a look at what the creatures
you might be using in those encounters can
319
00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:03.799
do. Pull out your copies of
the monsters know what they're doing, and
320
00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:07.519
the monsters still know what they're doing, and maybe something like you know your
321
00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:11.920
Cobalt Press book of Layers that has
suggestions for running different versions of those monsters
322
00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:17.440
beyond the kind of bog standard monster
manual approach to building them, to building
323
00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:22.640
encounters out jump onto DM Academy or
a dming discord that you're part of to
324
00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:26.480
look for tips. Ask for tips
on how to effectively run those monsters so
325
00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:30.799
that they're challenging and fun. If
you have tactics in mind in advance,
326
00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:33.680
or better yet, you write them
up, write a little battle plan,
327
00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:36.000
just put it on an index card
so that you can, you know,
328
00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:38.319
or post it and just tack it
to the inside of your your DM screen
329
00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:41.880
that says you know, they're going
to go after this guy first and then
330
00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:45.000
do this, and here's their typical
strategy, or think in advance about the
331
00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:49.359
point at which they might decide the
fight's not worth it anymore. That's the
332
00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:53.000
kind of stuff that if you are
thinking about it in advance, it will
333
00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:57.240
not only will it speed up play, but you won't get caught by surprise,
334
00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:02.319
because a lot of the things that
we see in DM Academy and even
335
00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:06.599
some horror stories are I got neck
deep in this encounter and realized I was
336
00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:10.240
over my head and I didn't like
I encountered this situation. I had no
337
00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:14.680
idea what the monsters should do next, and I feel like I made the
338
00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:17.720
wrong decision. But if you have
that in mind and are thinking about it
339
00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:21.759
in advance, you can adjust on
the fly. If those encounters turn out
340
00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:26.000
to be too easy and go too
quickly or too challenging and you get bogged
341
00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:29.400
down, or they're just starting to
frustrate the players. So having some ideas
342
00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:33.119
about how to handle those situations in
advance super useful and you know, great
343
00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:37.799
prep. Yeah, I mean we
we show this book a bunch of episodes.
344
00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.920
Now the monsters know what they're doing, more of the monsters know what
345
00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:41.839
they're doing. He has one about
layers now too. Yeah. Yeah,
346
00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:48.039
it's are Defending your Layer, which
is about layer actions and like bringing bringing
347
00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:51.680
monster or rain to life. Yeah. Volos Guide's great for that too.
348
00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:55.759
Volos is good for a number of
coldbal press books are good for that.
349
00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:59.640
Disappointing that those are all third party
books now that I'm thinking about it,
350
00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:02.319
Well, at this point, things
get better, get better. Wizards,
351
00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:08.119
Okay, yeah, Bolos is Bolos
is their their first stab. They did
352
00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:12.240
it doing something that was beyond just
here's a block of stats and two paragraphs
353
00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:15.839
about you know, what their personality
is. But I try something about how
354
00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:18.680
they fit into the world. Even
though I said it out loud, I
355
00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:23.160
forgot I said it so Okay,
so most of them are a third party.
356
00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:26.880
Yeah, get a little better wizards, how about that? All right?
357
00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:30.519
Certainly the best of them are third
party? Yeah yeah, but yeah,
358
00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:34.079
this is this is huge, and
this is I don't know if I
359
00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:38.160
would I might switch four and five, but I agree that it's debatable.
360
00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:41.839
I would say to four, maybe
on every level up or maybe every couple
361
00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:48.480
of sessions. Sure, rereading the
character sheets and repping your monster tactics while
362
00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:52.720
you're setting up your plays base,
or or while you're preparing for today's adventure.
363
00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:55.960
That's okay, we're going up against
the Cobols today. Cool, let
364
00:23:56.000 --> 00:24:00.640
me read up on their like pack
tactics and gang war fair that kind of
365
00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:03.160
stuff. And that's also a thing
where like, if you know today is
366
00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:07.599
going to be a cryptal of zombies
followed by a cryptical of skeletons followed by
367
00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:11.519
some ghouls, you don't necessarily need
to read a lot of monster tactics on
368
00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:17.079
that. But if you're using you
know, some kind of like weird demon
369
00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:21.160
type that you've never put down on
the table before, that's the time where
370
00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:22.720
it might be more important to read
up on that. Like I said,
371
00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:26.359
so you're not caught by surprise,
so that you're not in the middle of
372
00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:29.000
the fight looking down the sheet and
go, oh wait, they can teleport.
373
00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:32.640
Holy crap. I should have paid
more attention to that, especially a
374
00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:36.599
monster that is more intelligent too,
like a beholder, something that's that's going
375
00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:41.599
to act a little bit more intentionally. Yeah, any any dragon, anything
376
00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:45.880
vaguely human should be should have some
sort of plan going into it, where
377
00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:48.119
like you know, your skeletons,
zombies and goules, they'll be like,
378
00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:52.680
okay, well, how many attacks
do I get? Yeah, but yeah,
379
00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:55.440
this is this is huge. I
think I don't mind it being lower
380
00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:57.400
on the list because you can kind
of just do it once and just kind
381
00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:00.480
of keep that, you know,
to throw the post it notes in with
382
00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:03.799
the monster manual, so that you
just kind of remind yourself and say,
383
00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:07.160
hey, they like they gang up
on one enemy, or they like to
384
00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:10.200
split up, or you know anything
else that that Keith and Man tells you
385
00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:14.440
to do in his books. Yeah, but I will continue to show that
386
00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:15.640
book. It is it is that
good, is that important. I think
387
00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:18.799
he has a new one coming out
too. I thought I saw something on
388
00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:22.160
the shelf and I recognized. But
I think I have all this stuff now,
389
00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:26.119
all very good stuff. Jim,
and it's and it's a lot of
390
00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:32.480
like like, yeah, this is
mostly just things DMS just all kind of
391
00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:36.599
do, but just having it as
it almost as a checklist. Yeah,
392
00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:37.920
when you you know you you got
a game coming up in two days,
393
00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:44.039
let's let's just start working the list
and being able to you know, use
394
00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:48.279
your time properly. Yeah, because
it can get easy or know how much
395
00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:49.960
time you need. Yeah, because
it can get easy to get into a
396
00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:52.519
rut, especially if you're like running
a game out every week at the same
397
00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:56.119
time, and you start to think, well, I don't need to prep
398
00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:57.960
I'm running this every week, and
that that prep time can kind of get
399
00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:02.599
squeezed as you you're doing other stuff
or your dinner runs a little later or
400
00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:04.880
something like that. And so I
think having a you know a little bit
401
00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:08.319
of an order of operations of oh
crap, i've only got five minutes before
402
00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:12.480
people start arriving. What's the most
important thing to do? In my opinion,
403
00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:15.440
it's roughly in that order. And
but you know, but we have
404
00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:19.039
listeners that can quibble with that or
or suggest things we haven't put there at
405
00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:22.119
all that they think might be more
important. Yeah, like la, like
406
00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:26.000
number zero get your snacks ready.
Well, that's that's social stuff if you
407
00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:32.359
if you social, if you only
have two minutes to prepare, maybe throw
408
00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:34.319
tho pizza rolls in the air fire
and have them ready to go. Yeah,
409
00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:37.720
I suppose that's. Yeah. If
you're a good DM, your players
410
00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:41.160
are bringing you snacks. So if
you're a good if they're coming to your
411
00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:44.680
house, you can be a good
host too, I guess. So listen,
412
00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:47.559
we all we all bring snacks and
sometimes we eat them on top of
413
00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:51.519
our books. I was gonna say, like you said, you sent me
414
00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:53.200
a picture of your game, and
somebody had a like half a cake on
415
00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:56.480
top of their player's handbook. I
mean, sorry, it was on a
416
00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:59.880
plate. Everybody like it was not
literally a plaque on the player's handbook.
417
00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:03.079
It was on a plate. But
I just, yeah, knows, that
418
00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:06.119
was so so First, for some
context, show one of my players took
419
00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.920
one of my players took a picture
of the of our game. And I've
420
00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:11.720
got not a huge table and there's
only a DM with three players, and
421
00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:15.559
you know, with everyone's DM screens
and books and laptops and everything like that,
422
00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:18.559
play it. You know, space
got pretty scares pretty quick, and
423
00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:22.440
you know we're we're all adults with
it. We're all with adults with adult
424
00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:26.920
money, and we like to go
in on the snacks. This table was
425
00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:30.160
more snacks than game. Like these
guys went all out. The the one
426
00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:33.200
guy especially, you know he's got
half the guys at the table have kids
427
00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:37.559
and the Joe like but Nick in
particular, like he just when he can
428
00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:41.480
get out, gets out and goes
all in. So he shows up with
429
00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:44.359
like a bag full of like gummy
snacks and like he had a whole ass
430
00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:49.079
cake with them, which was amazing
by the way, and uh, he
431
00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:51.920
takes a picture of our game just
to be like, hey, look how
432
00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:53.440
much fun. When happened, throws
and throws it online. I realized,
433
00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:56.279
like there's a lot of snacks on
the table, like a lot a lot
434
00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:59.920
of snacks on this table. So
I throw a picture, throw the pictures
435
00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:03.200
you our little discord. And Jim's
like, why is there a cake on
436
00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:07.079
on the on the book? Because
we ran out of table? Was there
437
00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:14.440
a cake on the book? Just
why is there a cake on the bull?
438
00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:18.759
Because he had to put it down
the book he wasn't putting on his
439
00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:22.440
laptop got wipe off the book at
least he was eating it with a knife
440
00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:26.240
and fork. There we go.
Yeah, yeah, like a pizza,
441
00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:30.079
right, Jim, Yeah yeah,
and forget about that one. That's all
442
00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:32.359
we got for today, guys,
thank you so much for listening. We're
443
00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:34.440
gonna put something. We might turn
this into a little bit more of a
444
00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:37.680
of a blog article. We'll see
if we feel like taking all the extra
445
00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:41.720
work that that takes. So keep
an eye on Curmudgeons Dragons dot com and
446
00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:45.279
we might put some of these up
on there. But either way, we'll
447
00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:48.240
put the list in the show notes
with some helpful links. Other than that,
448
00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:51.440
stay tuned for the next episode.
It's a lot, but I don't
449
00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.880
really I don't really have anything,
like, I don't have anything fun here,
450
00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:56.400
go give us a followut on stuff. But if you're listening to us
451
00:28:56.440 --> 00:29:00.799
right now, you already did so, thanks Jim. You're very welcome.
452
00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:03.599
Interested to hear from anybody that has
opinions on our list here. Yeah,
453
00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:06.960
yeah, let's let's do that one. That's that's our call to action today.
454
00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.880
So if you disagree with the lists
or if you have things that you
455
00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:12.920
want to add, Curmudgeons and Dragons
pod at gmail dot com is our email,
456
00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:18.599
and that is Jim is Jim Crocker. If you want to send all
457
00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:21.640
your your angry letters over or your
happy letters, I'll take you either one.
458
00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:23.880
That's cool. I can take it
cool now. Now that's all I
459
00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:26.400
got. Thanks much for listening,
Jim, thanks for hanging out, you
460
00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:34.079
Bet and the Thank you Adventurers.
Thank you for listening to con Mudgeons and
461
00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:38.759
Jackens. Please chat this with your
favorite adventuress, leave a review on Apple,
462
00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:44.039
and follow us on social media.
All links can be found at Conmudgeons
463
00:29:44.119 --> 00:29:47.759
and draggons dot com. Practice Safe
Adventuring my Friends

















