Your D&D Prep SUCKS. This is why.

Summary

This video script discusses the art of Dungeon Mastering in D&D, advocating a balance between meticulous world-building akin to J.K. Rowling's approach and the flexible, character-driven storytelling of Stephen King. The speaker shares their method for game preparation over a decade, emphasizing the importance of player agency and offering tips on scaling preparation to the players' interests. The 'Deficient Law of Narrative Influence' is introduced as a guideline for starting sessions with engaging hooks that respect player autonomy, ultimately aiming to create immersive and dynamic gameplay experiences.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of preparation for Dungeon Masters in D&D games, sharing their personal method that has been effective over a decade.
• 🔍 They used to stress over finding the right balance between sufficient preparation and avoiding over-preparation, which can lead to wasted effort.
• 🎯 The key to good preparation is not the quantity but the quality of what is prepared and how it is presented to the players, to avoid railroading and maintain player agency.
• 🚂 The term 'railroading' is clarified as forcing a predetermined outcome on players, which takes away their agency – something the speaker strongly avoids in their games.
• 🎮 The speaker values player agency highly, noting that tabletop RPGs offer a unique level of player control not found in other forms of entertainment.
• 📝 The preparation approach involves being detailed in world-building like J.K. Rowling, but playing the game with the flexibility of Stephen King, adapting to where the characters lead.
• 🏘️ Start with small-scale preparation, focusing on immediate surroundings and characters, and build outward from there, adjusting based on player interest and questions.
• 📉 Follow the 'Deficient Law of Narrative Influence,' which suggests that a DM has the most influence at the beginning of the game, which diminishes as the session progresses.
• 🎲 Use the beginning of the game to set hooks that are already in the players' mouths, making the opening scenario personal and engaging to draw them into the prepared material.
• 📈 Adapt to player actions during the game, allowing their decisions to guide the narrative within the world created, rather than forcing outcomes.
• 🔄 At the end of a session, identify the players' next goal to use as a hook for the next session, ensuring that preparation remains focused and relevant to their interests.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker addresses in their Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) game preparation?

The speaker addresses the struggle of finding the right balance between sufficient preparation and overpreparation in D&D game sessions, which can lead to wasted effort if the prepared material is not used.

What is the speaker's view on the term 'railroading' in the context of D&D?

The speaker views 'railroading' as when a game master enforces a predetermined outcome in the game world, disregarding the player characters' involvement and agency, which takes away the players' freedom to influence the game's direction.

Why does the speaker prioritize player agency in their games?

The speaker prioritizes player agency because they believe that tabletop roleplaying games offer a unique level of agency that cannot be matched by other forms of entertainment such as books, movies, or even other video games.

What are the two writing styles mentioned by the speaker, and how do they relate to game preparation?

The two writing styles mentioned are 'plotters' and 'pantsers'. Plotters outline their stories before writing, while pantsers write based on their feelings in the moment. The speaker relates these styles to game preparation by suggesting that a Dungeon Master should detail their game world like a plotter but play out the game like a pantser, allowing the story to unfold naturally with player input.

What advice does the speaker give for starting small-scale game preparation?

The speaker advises starting with a small, manageable area such as a single town and a few nearby locations. They suggest using resources like tables from 'Tales of Adventure Design' or official modules for inspiration and to ensure that the preparation is focused and not overwhelming.

How does the speaker recommend a Dungeon Master should adjust their preparation based on player interest?

The speaker recommends that a Dungeon Master should take mental notes of what the players are interested in during the game session and prepare further details on those topics for the next session, making the players feel important and engaged.

What is the 'Deficient Law of Narrative Influence' as mentioned by the speaker?

The 'Deficient Law of Narrative Influence' is a concept the speaker introduces, stating that a game master has the most narrative influence over their players at the beginning of a game session, and this influence diminishes as the session progresses and the players are given more agency.

How does the speaker suggest starting a game session to maximize player engagement?

The speaker suggests starting a game session with the 'hook' already in the players' mouths, meaning the situation should be set up in a way that is personally engaging and interesting to the players, making them want to follow the prepared storyline.

What is the importance of ending a game session with clarity on the players' next goal?

Ending a game session with clarity on the players' next goal is important because it provides a clear direction for the next session's preparation, ensuring that the game master focuses on what is most relevant and interesting to the players.

What potential issue does the speaker warn about when using the 'Deficient Law of Narrative Influence'?

The speaker warns that starting a game session in a precarious situation using the 'Deficient Law of Narrative Influence' requires trust between the players and the game master, as it could lead to players feeling forced into scenarios they did not want to be in, which could damage the game experience.