tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210223820598148815.post54437169488374467..comments2023-09-29T02:16:00.091-07:00Comments on Back Screen Pass - A DM's Secrets: How to DM - Play to your strengthsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210223820598148815.post-12945805408173381582016-07-24T12:22:50.749-07:002016-07-24T12:22:50.749-07:00I know I am years from the finish line of you gett...I know I am years from the finish line of you getting this response but I have to say thank you for your sage words, I have found truth in them and it fills me with new confidence. Funny enough I share your same story and I find myself trying to emulate other DM's when I know dang well were my strengths are. I will take this information you have given and once again thank you for the inspiration.<br /><br />Wish me luck in my first Greyhawk world, its my first foray into OSR I have always been too afraid to embrace. You and many others give me strength to bring my visions to light.<br /><br />-Portocopen on Google+Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13988387617548916059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210223820598148815.post-72774119456578253562010-03-07T23:49:05.565-08:002010-03-07T23:49:05.565-08:00That doesn't surprise me that much, Alexis - a...That doesn't surprise me that much, Alexis - as you say, I don't think you could run a sandbox without improvising at the table. I think I was talking more about the prep work before the game in terms of setting and NPCs - I get the feeling that you have a very detailed world worked out, probably before you even start a campaign! My world gets detailed in play, and after a campaign has been going for a while it may be very detailed as a result of everything that has arisen during sessions. <br /><br />I used to try to take the detailed world building approach, and now I don't. Its not that I am lazy, I just realized that the end product isn't any better FOR ME if I try to detail out the world before I begin play or if I just have a few sketchy notes before the first session.<br /><br />Your comment does make me think I would enjoy playing in one of your games much more than some previous comments you have made - to me, a lot of the joy in RPGs come from those improvised connections that could never be foreseen.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648499022366444265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210223820598148815.post-30172813554883235232010-03-07T23:01:15.018-08:002010-03-07T23:01:15.018-08:00Carl, this may come as a surprise to you; but virt...Carl, this may come as a surprise to you; but virtually everything I do <i>during a running</i> is improvised. I have data to draw on for answers to questions, but characters, events, responses, actions, ironic connections and everything else - all improvised, usually within six to sixty seconds.<br /><br />I operate this way because in a sandbox campaign, you CAN'T prepare these things in advance. That is why I don't bother with lists of NPCs or dungeon maps. I draw all of that as I go, I invent it one step ahead of the players - my honesty and integrity works because once I come up with an intention to do something, even ten seconds before it affects the party, <i>I never change my mind</i>. My unique method is to make a quick decision about what is behind a particular door, or what a person will say, or what a creature will do, and then stick to that decision, no matter what. Because I am so quick, and so steadfast in my intentions, my party never feels as though they are being taken for a ride.<br /><br />This is in addition to all the steadfast, careful detail I invest in the campaign. You make the mistake of believing it must be one or the other. It need not be. It can be both. A fully conceived world AND an intensive, improvisational style.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210223820598148815.post-28034644029441862010-03-07T13:19:43.182-08:002010-03-07T13:19:43.182-08:00Will do, Questing GM. Didn't even know about ...Will do, Questing GM. Didn't even know about the blog carnival before. Good luck with that!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648499022366444265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210223820598148815.post-69935103174059999652010-03-07T07:42:14.083-08:002010-03-07T07:42:14.083-08:00This is a very nice post and I think it runs very ...This is a very nice post and I think it runs very well with this month's blog carnival. Ever thought of linking it there?<br /><br />http://questinggm.blogspot.com/2010/03/march-2010-rpg-blog-carnival-how-to-be.htmlQuesting GMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498040036123327415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210223820598148815.post-71600452503505990492010-03-06T15:18:32.838-08:002010-03-06T15:18:32.838-08:00What I have discovered is that worlds build themse...What I have discovered is that worlds build themselves. Every session adds another coat of paint to the world, adds more details and interconnections, and pretty soon I end up with something MORE intricate and detailed than any sane person could create without spending an insane amount of time on it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648499022366444265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7210223820598148815.post-85199011456327228912010-03-06T13:41:57.892-08:002010-03-06T13:41:57.892-08:00Bingo--this is exactly how I GM. I have to beat d...Bingo--this is exactly how I GM. I have to beat down my urge to worldbuild and just get the game on. For this reason, I'm using the Lemuria setting that comes with the Barbarians of Lemuria RPG instead of spending hours developing player origins for a world of my own making.Rob Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17791752557408134270noreply@blogger.com