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Preparation is critical to any goodDungeons & Dragonssession.
Being well-prepped as a DM lets you focus on the good stuffcharacters, flavor, and detail.
A darkness washes over the land as sickness spreads.
It’s time for plague Dungeons & Dragons.
D&D is fun because each game is a unique experience.
However, creating a formula for preparation as a DM can help you consistently deliver results.
Xanathar, Guild Kingpin MtG Art from Adventures in the Forgotten Realms by Kieran Yanner
No one gets it right every time.
Veteran DMs have some tricks up their sleeves to reduce prep time.
Players notice the little details and ways the game world reacts to their presence.
Pre-Session Note Review
Post-Session Note-Taking
Most DMs take notes during gameplay.
However, taking notes alone after a session can really speed up preparation for the next time.
But this doesn’t need to be a source of despair.
Xanathar, Guild Kingpin MtG Art from Adventures in the Forgotten Realms by Kieran Yanner
Of course, there are some thematic limitations.
When you rename them and put them in a fantasy universe, they’ll feel like something new.
Note how your players respond to different encounter types.
Keys From the Golden Vault cover art by Anna Podedworna
Prep Some Curveballs
Sometimes, a DM must hold players in their tracks for pacing reasons.
Whatever the reason, curveball encounters can help.
Wandering monsters, traps, and complex environmental hazards are all examples.
Be careful not to overuse this non-essential kind of encounter.
Some incidental encounters peppered into a campaign add realism.
Too many start to feel like a series of barely connected instances.
Grunnald and Edgin Darvis by Eduardo Ferigato
There are also countless resources online to help you create an interesting encounter.
Storytelling involves protagonists pursuing a goal and overcoming challenges and obstacles.
