Great information on session prep. I really liked the bit about having setup words to stay engaged in prep as a GM. I've found myself getting bored of just working with a setting and it's themes very often.
Love this thank you soo much for the GM prep tips i love the just grab insperation from whatever do what you think is fun i love it I found too not safe your best idees just use them youl get new best idees i promise❤
Yep, those "skeletal" monster information blocks also allow us to use our imagination, description, mystery.... The real distraction is what things were packaged in on the way.
Greatly enjoy your content Tori Really smart showing off your take on the Lazy model - gotta say we have a very similar approach...gotta nurture the interest and enthusiasm or burnout is a REAL risk!! Thanks for the banger :D
...yep. Honestly, I don't have alot more then that... ya'dun good, Tori! Ah... warms this old grognards heart to see a new generation of gamers discovering The Old Ways! hehe
Nice video. As someone who uses the 8 steps a lot (yet still seems to take forever in prep), its good to have other ideas and how other GM's prepare. On the small monster stat blocks, welcome to the 80's. All the early adventures (Basic D&D & first ed), had very simple monster stats, and they would have the stats in the adventure locations so you could instantly use them without needing to look it up. I seem to recall Bob World Builder did a video or two on this (try "Bob World Builder stat blocks") where he looked at the old school stats.
I didn't get to see all of the stat blocks videos, but caught bits of them. I deff love Bob World Builder though, even if sometimes I disagree. Mostly he has good stuff =)
Great video! I must admit that in the beginning of the campaign I tend to write down a lot of scenes, and as it progesses these become more and more bullit points. What helped me with monster stat block is that I gave my monsters like the basic attack maneuvers + basic actions (inc. ADV) and then only give them 1 or 2 specific actions/conditions. My stat blocks are now only 3 lines XD. Cool to see you use the same technique!
See what I mean? Stealing things just makes DMing easier and most the time the players either don't know or LOVE the reference. Truth is in the world of creativity like this even when you steal stuff it gets warped or changed when you as a DM use it so it's never *quite the same as the original. Every time a creative touches something it becomes slightly their own thing no matter the origin
30 years ago I DM'd a session that had them exploring a crayon coloring map of Crunch Island that was from the bottom of a box of Cap'n Crunch. They never had a clue.
This is the first time I've seen you, or one of your videos, and this is great info. I'm following for more, and will be looking into your previous videos to find out what else you've done.
Fair warning - it gets more cringy and more low quality the further back you go XD I appreciate the follow and the comment! I hope you find useful/helpful information!
@@tntori5079 Meh. I'm Canadian, and have been gaming for decades. I can handle early forms of nerd cringe, but thanks for the warning anyway. Odds are good that 5 years from now, you'll look back at this video as "low-quality" or "cringe-worthy", but we all still like it.
Excellent video! I get sooooo geeked out when I get a sneak peek into other GM’s processes. Taking the Lazy Dungeon Master approach and modifying it to fit your needs (as well as the systems) is a wonderful idea. Also, the SUPER simplified monster stat??? YES PLEASE. Also, thank you for the shout out! 🥹
This is probably the most streamlined minimalist prep method I've seen! I got Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master and really wanted to like it, but it just...didn't work for me? I got really confused about a lot even after three readthroughs and still overwhelmed. Though I know it has a lot of great stuff, your presentation feels very approachable and more easily actionable in comparison. Also, I LOVE the inspiration section as a reminder to draw inspiration from things rather than trying to wrack an empty brain.
Hmmm yeah... I've been way overcomplicating my prep 😛. Thanks for the reminder of how simple it can be. I really like the simple DC20 stat blocks. I think big monster stats blocks always stress me out at the table.
Hey, great video! But I noticed you gave yourself a lot of head room. Less head room would make your video look a lot better. I’m not sure if this was accidental or maybe you don’t have a tripod to angle the camera perfectly. But if it was accidental look up the rule of thirds and then adjust your frame so your eyes fall on the line of the top third. That should help :)
True I noticed that too - in fact with every video I'm slowly changing equipment and setup to try and get better =) I'm hoping the next one witll be vastly improved
Becuase I work on my prep at work a lot (during slow times) or on tablet or phone; I kinda have to have a digital/synced system. However at time of running at table I just mark up eeverything XD write over top, cross out bullets or lines etc. =)
Tori: Describes location Player 1: [Interrupts before call to action] Is anybody here with us? Is this place made out of anything flammable? Tori: Why do you ask that? Player 1: To see if anybody is looking at us funny, and because it is important. Tori: Nobody is looking at you funny and it is made of stone, so not flamable now my I please continue with my... Player 2: That SOB is looking at us funny Tori: NO HE ISN'T I JUST SAID! Player 2: I didn't say I was being honest. Player 3: Lets knock him out and get him hooked on crack! Player 4: Hell yeah! Tori: What in the hell are you doing. Player 3: Well player 1 is going to lie to the bartender that we are bounty hunters, player 2 is going to tackle him and I am going to pinch his nose closed and shove my crackpipe in his mouth. Player 4 meanwhile is going to take the door off its hinges and we are going to use it as portable cover.... Now, tell me, how much crack does he need to smoke before we get him hooked? [1 hour later] Player 1: So hypothetically, how many crackheads does a dragon need to eat before it gets hooked on crack? Player 2: What would I need to roll to inject that dragon with Heroine? Player 3: Could we administer him to the dragon as a suppository? Player 4: Would the dragon be willing to attack the city for us and kill the guards in exchange for a fix? Tori: *has seizure* See! all you need is a setting, the plot basically creates itself with quality players!
Funny as that is; I think I just do a more thorough job of vetting my players for those who might enjoy my style of DMing. So I don't have that kind of situation really at my tables =)
Protip: Throw caution to the wind and encourage you players to do that at some point. The end result can be unpredictable but you get really good at making things up on the fly.
Oooh new source of inspiration every session. That’s so coooool. I really like that they’re just whatever’s in your mind.
Great information on session prep. I really liked the bit about having setup words to stay engaged in prep as a GM. I've found myself getting bored of just working with a setting and it's themes very often.
Love this thank you soo much for the GM prep tips i love the just grab insperation from whatever do what you think is fun i love it
I found too not safe your best idees just use them youl get new best idees i promise❤
Have fun gaming evryone players and GMs
Always good to learn new dm tips
Yep, those "skeletal" monster information blocks also allow us to use our imagination, description, mystery.... The real distraction is what things were packaged in on the way.
HI TnTori! Love your game prep & DC20 videos.
I just wrapped up a campaign, so now I'm down to running 7.😅
So happy for another DC20 video. Great advice!
Great tools and great shout outs!
Greatly enjoy your content Tori
Really smart showing off your take on the Lazy model - gotta say we have a very similar approach...gotta nurture the interest and enthusiasm or burnout is a REAL risk!!
Thanks for the banger :D
Thank you for the shout out, love the video!
...yep.
Honestly, I don't have alot more then that... ya'dun good, Tori!
Ah... warms this old grognards heart to see a new generation of gamers discovering The Old Ways! hehe
Ha Ha! =)
Nice video. As someone who uses the 8 steps a lot (yet still seems to take forever in prep), its good to have other ideas and how other GM's prepare.
On the small monster stat blocks, welcome to the 80's. All the early adventures (Basic D&D & first ed), had very simple monster stats, and they would have the stats in the adventure locations so you could instantly use them without needing to look it up.
I seem to recall Bob World Builder did a video or two on this (try "Bob World Builder stat blocks") where he looked at the old school stats.
I didn't get to see all of the stat blocks videos, but caught bits of them. I deff love Bob World Builder though, even if sometimes I disagree. Mostly he has good stuff =)
2:03 A purple magic penguin McGuffin… I see what you did there 😂.
Great video 😊
That was the real description too! The 'sacred jewel' of the tribe was a purple penguin shaped crystal XD
Great video! I must admit that in the beginning of the campaign I tend to write down a lot of scenes, and as it progesses these become more and more bullit points. What helped me with monster stat block is that I gave my monsters like the basic attack maneuvers + basic actions (inc. ADV) and then only give them 1 or 2 specific actions/conditions. My stat blocks are now only 3 lines XD. Cool to see you use the same technique!
The monster video will the video after next, so I'll deff be showing more specifics of how mine look here soon!
Just in time for my first GM session tomorrow
You'll have to tell us how it goes!
@@tntori5079 For sure. I'm almost done printing out all my cards (I keep thinking of new ones I missed)
It's funny looking at your sources of inspiration informed sessions and comparing them to what I was drawing from when playing those sessions.
See what I mean? Stealing things just makes DMing easier and most the time the players either don't know or LOVE the reference. Truth is in the world of creativity like this even when you steal stuff it gets warped or changed when you as a DM use it so it's never *quite the same as the original. Every time a creative touches something it becomes slightly their own thing no matter the origin
Great video, definitely will be using some of your tips in my home game
Great to hear! I hope it helps!
30 years ago I DM'd a session that had them exploring a crayon coloring map of Crunch Island that was from the bottom of a box of Cap'n Crunch. They never had a clue.
Those moments are the best! I ran a session where they just played Mario Party =) It was a lot of fun
This is the first time I've seen you, or one of your videos, and this is great info. I'm following for more, and will be looking into your previous videos to find out what else you've done.
Fair warning - it gets more cringy and more low quality the further back you go XD I appreciate the follow and the comment! I hope you find useful/helpful information!
@@tntori5079 Meh. I'm Canadian, and have been gaming for decades. I can handle early forms of nerd cringe, but thanks for the warning anyway. Odds are good that 5 years from now, you'll look back at this video as "low-quality" or "cringe-worthy", but we all still like it.
@@Enn- your kind to say so. And you're right. Past creative works are usually viewed as lesser when one is improving their craft =)
Excellent video! I get sooooo geeked out when I get a sneak peek into other GM’s processes. Taking the Lazy Dungeon Master approach and modifying it to fit your needs (as well as the systems) is a wonderful idea. Also, the SUPER simplified monster stat??? YES PLEASE.
Also, thank you for the shout out! 🥹
I've got one more in the works that's semi related to this one; then maybe a look at monsters and how I run combat after. Not fully sure yet =)
This is probably the most streamlined minimalist prep method I've seen!
I got Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master and really wanted to like it, but it just...didn't work for me? I got really confused about a lot even after three readthroughs and still overwhelmed. Though I know it has a lot of great stuff, your presentation feels very approachable and more easily actionable in comparison.
Also, I LOVE the inspiration section as a reminder to draw inspiration from things rather than trying to wrack an empty brain.
Oh yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed and I really hope it has a beneficial impact on your games =)
Hmmm yeah... I've been way overcomplicating my prep 😛. Thanks for the reminder of how simple it can be. I really like the simple DC20 stat blocks. I think big monster stats blocks always stress me out at the table.
In fact after the next video, I may come back to the stat blocks just to show them. Plus shorter videos are easier on the sanity meter =)
Hey, great video! But I noticed you gave yourself a lot of head room. Less head room would make your video look a lot better. I’m not sure if this was accidental or maybe you don’t have a tripod to angle the camera perfectly. But if it was accidental look up the rule of thirds and then adjust your frame so your eyes fall on the line of the top third. That should help :)
True I noticed that too - in fact with every video I'm slowly changing equipment and setup to try and get better =) I'm hoping the next one witll be vastly improved
Great info.
I always do much better with handwritten notes as well. If I type it out, it just all looks like a blur to me.
Becuase I work on my prep at work a lot (during slow times) or on tablet or phone; I kinda have to have a digital/synced system. However at time of running at table I just mark up eeverything XD write over top, cross out bullets or lines etc. =)
Spoiler alert: Tori, your players have a BLAST!
Tori: Describes location
Player 1: [Interrupts before call to action] Is anybody here with us? Is this place made out of anything flammable?
Tori: Why do you ask that?
Player 1: To see if anybody is looking at us funny, and because it is important.
Tori: Nobody is looking at you funny and it is made of stone, so not flamable now my I please continue with my...
Player 2: That SOB is looking at us funny
Tori: NO HE ISN'T I JUST SAID!
Player 2: I didn't say I was being honest.
Player 3: Lets knock him out and get him hooked on crack!
Player 4: Hell yeah!
Tori: What in the hell are you doing.
Player 3: Well player 1 is going to lie to the bartender that we are bounty hunters, player 2 is going to tackle him and I am going to pinch his nose closed and shove my crackpipe in his mouth. Player 4 meanwhile is going to take the door off its hinges and we are going to use it as portable cover.... Now, tell me, how much crack does he need to smoke before we get him hooked?
[1 hour later]
Player 1: So hypothetically, how many crackheads does a dragon need to eat before it gets hooked on crack?
Player 2: What would I need to roll to inject that dragon with Heroine?
Player 3: Could we administer him to the dragon as a suppository?
Player 4: Would the dragon be willing to attack the city for us and kill the guards in exchange for a fix?
Tori: *has seizure*
See! all you need is a setting, the plot basically creates itself with quality players!
Funny as that is; I think I just do a more thorough job of vetting my players for those who might enjoy my style of DMing. So I don't have that kind of situation really at my tables =)
Protip: Throw caution to the wind and encourage you players to do that at some point. The end result can be unpredictable but you get really good at making things up on the fly.
Reward idee magical purple puinguin
DC20 Puinguin army ASMBLE 💜🐧
I mean.. I gotta be honest.. I don't see anything lazy about this at all..
Ahhh too kind =) truthfully it's incredible how easy it can be. Compared to how I used to prep this is VERY lazy XD