Session Preparation: How to Get Ready for a Game | TTRPG | 5e D&D | Web DM
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- If you're a DM, that means you have to prepare for game day. Jim Davis is here to show you his session prep process for running D&D and any other TTRPG - complete with his notes and tools from his preparation for real games!
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I got a comment reply here that I was a random winner and to text back to web DM telegram. This seems fake.
This was helpful prep advice. Thanks Jim!
This is the kind of video I think all GMs want to see but for some reason its simultaneously the video no TTRPG content creators want to make. Thank you for dispensing with the boring "everyone preps diffrently!" And actually showing us what you do. Just seeing AN example of ongoing prep is so helpful to me.
Thank you! It's a huge and nebulous topic, and that can be a real challenge in terms of making videos about it. There are many aspects of prep that we plan on covering in the coming months
@@WebDM Thats awesome. I'm really looking forward to seeing more about how you conceptualize prep!
I know this is almost a year old, but you can see why this kind of video isn’t done. 35k views after a year on a channel with almost 200k subs.
Thanks very much for the plug! I highly recommend my book Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master above the original. I love the original Lazy Dungeon Master but Return has a much more straight forward system that covers more ground. Thanks again!!
Mike you should send Jin & Pruit a hard copy. It’s a great piece for any DM veteran or newbie. Great advice also from you Jim. Keep going this direction.
One Note is an amazing tool for D&D prep, notes, world building anything. It's just the best.
I tried it and moved away from it.
@@Wineblood to what?
Obsidian is better
Absolutely. It has helped me to no end.
Notion is the way 😁
Nice shout-out at Sly Flourish Lazy DM. I like videos like this from experienced GMs cause, while it's unrealistic that most people would directly copy your process as everyone's minds work in different ways, it's helpful to see what they've found has worked overtime, and gives some ideas to try, or a shortcut that inspires us to try something new.
Often times I have trouble prioritizing what piece of faction activity to focus on, so the campaign tracker in particular I found interesting.
Man, for me this is the most relevant and important video Web DM has done. I always have to stumble through my world notes to make sure I'm including plot threads and conflicts that aren't immediately connected to a character's backstory. Such an awesome video, thank you!
You'd be surprised how much session prep / how to organize an Adventure is relevant to me.
I own a lot of modules, but mostly for their items, npcs, and monsters.
I could really use a "Adventure Structure" video!
That's a good idea, thank you!
@@WebDM no no, thank you guys!
Holy crap, brilliant idea!!
You are holding this channel very much above water Jim. Thank you for your burning flame for this specific hobbey
I love seeing how other DMs prep, I love seeing what tools you use.
I was just trying to find you guys for the last twenty minutes. I'm very happy to be here again. Thank you my good guys
Welcome back!
I all of a sudden fell a lot more comfortable about running my first campaign! Thanks Jim!
I love Jim's sick-of-everything tone before he gets talking about D&D. I can relate.
As a long time watcher and barely a DM, this is the content I need. I want to play more and I'm gonna have to DM. I need this to make it seem less daunting.
Happy to help!
I too am still wishing people a happy new year in February.
What a year, huh?
@@WebDM Happy Chinese New Year! the year of the Tiger! (thanks Google)
@@WebDM yeah. I feel like I lost a few character levels or something. oof!
As a GM that struggles with prep this was very informative. I hope its useful, I think it will be but only time will tell.
Catching up on some video's, This campaign tracker is dam usefull for getting a fast prep going and getting idea's to connect to workout.
This video was a blessing, life is starting to get really busy and for the first time in years I've found I need to organize the plots and questlines for my tables so I don't forget stuff. Thanks Jim! Web DM just keeps on delivering no matter the subject or the format you guys use.
The Tracker is brilliant, thank you!
I really like the spreadsheet. Particularly how you can rank hanging plots by how soon they should come up.
I use a thoroughly organized series of word docs for my session by session journal, which work very well within a single arc, but I l have a hard time keeping track of hanging plots and consequences after 30 to 40 sessions have built up.
Thank you so much from a new DM. I've hot barely any idea what I'm doing, really, and neither do my players it seems, so having all this info in the back of my head is vital. Many thanks again!
I just want to say that this is the best DM prep video I've seen so far after months of CZcams binging. I liked, subscribed, and hit the bell.
Great video. Always nice to see other DMs creative process. You guys were always my favorite ttrpg channel and that hasn't changed. You've been killing it with the solo videos and I can't wait for the next one!
Necro-ing this comment thread obviously, but I find the note taking app Obsidian to be extremely useful. Allows for organized notes and interconnected pages, perfect for quick referencing etc.!
Heck yes Jim. This is a great video. Thanks to the webdm team for being awesome. Hope the rest of the year goes more smoothly for all of you than it has so far.
Thank you Thanos (what a weird thing to say) we hope so too!
6:40 is when the actual tips start.
Looking forward to what you have in store!
I have always liked WebDM, but I LOVE these recent videos and streams that focus on techniques and procedures instead of just content. Really really helpful stuff, thanks you guys!
This is one of the most helpful videos so far! Thanks Webdm!
I appreciate this video. Lately I’ve been writing session summaries and it really helps the players stay engaged and forces me to evaluate what happened and if it’s on theme etc.
This was great. I'm looking forward to how to prep before a first session too, that's where I'm stuck at the moment.
THANK YOU for this. This is exactly what I've been wanting to build, but haven't yet.
I'm so excited I'm going to play numenera for the first time and I'm so excited. First campaign playing with strangers and my mutant Arkus who constantly evolves is ready to provide support and horrible ramblings from the wierd. Web dm always coming in with the clutch advice, can't wait for wild wastelands guys!
Right on! Enjoy the new campaign!
@@WebDM absolutely! Had my books for years and I can't wait to finally crack them open for a game
I'm so glad I backed Planebreaker!! I've so desperately wanted planar content and lore to read and run!!
A small tip from me: I have a separate sheet/list of noteworthy dates, a bit similar to yours, but with time/datestamps added. They are split into 2 categories: what happened, and what is about to happen. When I am running several campaigns in the same world and timeline, I also mark what campaign it is linked to. Example: PAST: 1.4.1077SE - North - Arrived to Alfdine. 2.4.1077SE - North - Destroyed the Terror Tree. 15.4.1077SE - Arcane - Helped Hreffin with trolls. UPCOMING: 17.4.1077SE - North. - Hreffin returns home.
This helps me massively with being consistent (NPCs promise to arrive with their army in exactly 2 weeks = if you as a DM don't want to mess that up, keeping actual track of time becomes mandatory), and also helps when one campaign is to influence another one in any way. Also helps with tracking travel distances, NPC salaries, festival schedule, moon cycles, whatever you want to feature in your campaign what is bound to time and calendar.
Our dming method are so very similar, but I never used the background tracking system you do, but I'm going to give it a try. My world grow with every session as the players inform me on what works through play. Having that tracker will help. I also love the time trackers that you showed in another video, and it's become a staple in how I run games. Thank you, and tell Pruitt hello.
Awesome video, Jim. Great insights into your personal process.
Happy New Year!
I'm a new dm and I've been stressing about this aspect. This video is so helpful.
Really insightful seeing your actual pages alongside your usual words of wisdom. Thank you so much!
Just commenting to help the algorithm. Thanks for the help!
This is a brilliant video - thank you, Jim! 🙂
I can relate to my thought process beings described as runny egg yolk for thinking of campaign things. It is a real challenge to direct the flow of that yolk for productive thoughts lol.
Love the campaign tracker! I typically use a running google document with headings for campagn prep. Even with headings, it can be tedious to look up important info mid game. This campaign tracker in sheets would make it a heck of a lot easier! I'm going to give this a try.
This is fantastic !!! A very good topic ! Thanks WebDM ! Always looking to see how others prep and some universal advice.
All these years later and still making prep videos. I love it
[Edit] any updates on Weird Wastelands?
We're just about done writing it, and it should be out late march/april!
@@WebDM just finished the video. That's great to hear, I am D&D Beyond excited. Ik that this book will enhance all aspects of my D&D games, because that's exactly what this channel does for me now. I can't appreciate all the people at Web DM enough for what you guys do. Great work on the video as always, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of Weird Wastelands.
Thank you for this video!
I've been preparing to DM for the very first time in a one-shot and I am nervous AF!!
Web dm isnt the same without Pruitt. I think you need a co host for these web dms doing it solo seems rough and its nice to talk to someone else in room with you
You're awesome, and I hope life has been treating you well! 😊
My sticky notes have gotten me this far
Honestly, the most helpful thing for prepping for a game is to just think through some of the possible outcomes. If you spend a little time considering what may happen before it actually does, you will be a little quicker on your feet to narrate or adapt to a scenario.
Perfect video to pop up in my feed today
Wow. I need this right now. How convenient.
Happy Groundhog Day! Watch this episode every day until you get it right, y'all!
They're back!!! Yay!!!
Hey there! Nice to see you Jim
Omg this is what I've been looking for!! Thankyouu
This was super helpful! Thanks for the content.
Loved this video. I think this will work very well for me.
Love you Jim!
I like the tracker for organizing events by “dormancy”. I’m also interested in your thoughts on preparing one-shots.
Welcome back, Jim and co.!
We're back!
Just what I needed! Im prepping for the single most ridiculous plan ive ever had a party think up. They are Gaslighting the staff and military paladin personel of a grand hotel into thinking there is a blood drive/vampire hunter convention with Garlic free pizza.
Wow
Miss your vids! Hope you and Pruitt are doing well!
Got a session tonight, so this was well timed!
Have a good one!
Happy new year Jim!
I've followed you for a year and absolutely love your advice. With you alone, however, this seems very.. Teacher monologing. Not saying we should replace those near and dear to us, but you need a second party to really bounce ideas with and have a conversation with.
Writing a script and using a teleprompter will help with your "ums" and also remembering things like where you are in your countdown, so you don't end up randomly saying "Three!" in the middle of your video. Otherwise, great information :-)
Thank you for this
As I am playing in 10 minutes I feel it might be a bad idea to watch this instead of actually doing session prep… oh well
Have a great game!
@@WebDM Amazingly everyone seemed to enjoy it!
Couldn't have better timing on this episode. I have to prepare for a mega-session, and could use some pointers.
Happy to help!
Thank you.
good video idea
Prepping a session after a big absence of playing seems daunting like a session zero 2.0 or something
Yeah there's definitely time you need to take to spin the campaign back up again. Making sure everyone remembers what they need to and reestablishing a new starting point, etc
i just started a campaign i planned with a map a rough outline of the path the players will travel and a page of session notes mostly combat stats
Messy DMs for the win!
The gray in your beard is looking great!
Technically starts at 6:40, but in terms of between session prep 11:50
Having DMed 50ish 2-3 hour sessions prepping is still a that bugs me. If I start early and know I have plenty of time, I go on long and deep tangents and waste lots of time. Not very useful. If I prep very close to the session I get frantic and nervous.
I feel most TTRPG books, and the DMG sadly also, are more filled with inspiration starters and very few specific examples.
Compared to a cook book. The DMG is more: So you have carrots, here are D12 ideas for dishes with carrots.
What I need is the DMG to be more: So you have carrots. Here are specific ways the prepare carrots, specific ways to cook them, complimentary ingredients, how to plate/presents your carrots dish.
Fx. the DMG has 10ish pages on creating NPCs. How much of those 10 are more than just tables for inspiration? Pages in the DMG about role-playing, well the index says less than 1 page.
I personally would love a book that goes through specific examples. How NOT to it it is the d20 table in DoIP of where the players might meet Cryovain. A better way would be fewer specific examples sof when, where the player could meet the main villain and how it could happen, and a few examples of what reactions the villain might have to a few things the PCs might do.
How much does the DMG really help one prep for this? If you ask me not very much.
Sorry for ranting. :s I liked this video, would love more specific examples on how to DM. :)
Hi! This is a good episode, but could we get time stamps on the video please?
I love improving my skills as a DM and there was some excellent ideas here that I want to incorporate in this video. My question is, how do you plan a published campaign using the blank page journal method? I love the idea of having just one notebook to work with, but curious if it is still compatible for published adventures.
The point of a published campaign is to serve you everything on a silver platter. With that said, the journal comes in to track two major things. The first is where you diverge from the published content. Player actions and your imagination will always present opportunity to flavor the published material and unless you are good at tiny margin writing, those changes need to be tracked somewhere. The second, and maybe more important, use of a journal is to remind you what you want to highlight from the published material and where to find it. For some people this could be box text, others stat blocks, whatever fits your cogitation style.
One thing I like to do is take published adventures from Dragon magazine, or Drivethru RPG and adapt them to my world. Most often, I end up using the maps, NPCs and descriptions with all backstory changed, warped, or molded to fit the campaign world. This vastly reduces prep as I can spin fiction like a maglev top, but things like drawing are slow.
Hope this helps even though you asked JD and not some 'net rando.
What is the GM's workbook you mentioned?
Sorry if this is covered elsewhere but were be the Pruitt?
PTR!!!!!
I've just ordered a bunch of non-DnD RPGs, which I hope to run as a brand new GM. Does anybody know the best way to distribute large rulesets around the group using these big core books that come with the game? I'm fine learning everything myself, but unsure if players are expected to ingest the whole book as well, or is there a standard that I should be using to induct everybody into how the game works?
Can you change the camera angle to more of a head and shoulders shot?
My campaign notes are in google docs, several google docs. Too many google docs. I have a lot of google docs.
🌈👍
Pruitt?
Appreciate the insight, but you really need a co-host.
Nah