Any DM knows that in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Dungeons & Dragons, it almost feels impossible to prepare a session. When ⛄you play a game that can be as fast as loose as a tabletop RPG, you know that improv is a key part of the game, and the freedom to go anywhere means you can never fully prepare absolutely everything you♔r players are about to do.

But you can come close (or at least trick them into thinking you've got everything under control). Whether you're a new DM who is totally lost or someone experienced just 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:looking to improve any🅰 way that you can, here are some tips when it comes to preparing a session in Dungeons & Drag🔯ons.

8 🐼 Create A൩ Skeleton

Make Sure To Plot For Your Next Session

In order to start preparing a session, you need to know what you're even going to be doing. Are the party venturing on a quest to slay some owl bears, or are they in the middle of the dungeon of a mad mage? Therefore, the easiest way to prepare is to create a skeleton.

A skeleton is just a very basic list of different places the part🍌y can go to. It can be the rooms in a dungeon, the different areas of a new village they stumbled into, and the encounters they๊ will face. A preliminary sketch of ideas will help you figure out what the next session is about and what you need to plan in more detail.

7 𒁃 Have A Strong Beginning

The Start Of A Session Is Important

You'll need a strong beginning. Get into the habit of transitioning from a recap of what happened last session into the situation the party is in now. Even if it's an area you've probably described before, give a sense of what is happening around the party. If they're in a forest, talk about how the sunlight breaks through the trees and birds are chirping above.

A strong beginning will get your party invested in the session and be more aware of what's going on around them, so there's less confusion when you dive right into the game again.

6 🅠 Outline Potential ♑NPCs

When They Ask For Names, You'll Have 'Em

When creating your skeleton, you should also outline what NPCs the party might come across. If it's some that they've met previously, then great. But there's always the chance they will want to go into that shop they've never been to or speak to someone in town who may help them on a quest.

You don't need a full detailed biography of every character, but you should have some idea of general NPCs around, so that you aren't put on the spot if they want to speak to someone new. Things you should include in such an outline is a short summary about the NPC, their appearance, name, voice and any other small details about them, such as quirks and traits.

5 ܫ Write About Importa𝕴nt NPCs

Get Those Notes Down

However, this doesn't mean you slack when it comes to NPC work. If there's 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:an important NPC the party is set to meet, such as a sorce💫rer who is about to give the party their big quest or a noble they are set to meet, then make sure you write down notes about that NPC.

Don't be afraid to go into the details of a character if you know for a fact they'll play an important role in your session. It may help you when the party asks questions about that character.

4 🐓 Come Up With Backups

Plan Ahead... Just Not Too Much

We know that we said you can't plan for everything, but you can plan for some things. Let's say that you have a puzzle outside a dungeon that the party has just got to and must solve in your next session. Instead of having one solution, why not have a couple more solutions? For example, if the Rogue tries to use Thieves Tools to disarm it, then perhaps it opens, but something else could occur.

Some backups are useful to have, especially if you can predict some actions your party could take. Of course, don't try and plan a backup for absolutely everything or you'll spend too long preparing but it's just something to be aware of.

3 ✃ Cut Time With Resources

The Internet Is Your Friend

Make sure you ask for help. No, not from your players (that'll spoil things for them anyway), but from the internet. Nowadays, there are plenty of resources you can use online, from maps that you can print out (or use online if you use services like Roll20), 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:homebrew weapons, monsters and more.

Notꦆ to mention there is , a Reddit board that is for all kinds of Dungeon Masters where you can ask for help or search up threads forꦇ general advice. Online resources are a godsend and will save you a lot of time.

2 Dont Overprepare 🍰

Make Sure To Relax

One of the biggest pitfalls you can do is overprepare. Dungeons & Dragons is supposed to be fun, that includes for you, the Dungeon Master. Yes, you may panic that the players might ask the name of that one NPC you didn't prepare for or if they try to circumvent an event you had ready.

But the beauty of Dungeons & Dragons is that you can do almost anything you want. So make sure to lean into the flow, and don't fret too much about preparing absolutely everything as your players will almost always find a way to avoid what you had planned. While you should prepare, just make sure you understand preparing is only one part of being a good DM.

1 Get Combat Rea🥂dy

Don't Underestimate How Long It Is To Plan

It may sound obvious, but make sure you are combat-ready. Don't try to put it to the end because it seems simple to plan. You'll want to make sure you're aware of what the enemies can do, think of strategies they use and also weigh in other factors (like if there are environmental hazards or such).

As well as this, if you play with maps then be sure to get those maps ready and running. They'll be an important part of your preparation, even if it's just an encounter that the party might somehow avoid. It's also good to be aware of the stats of any NPCs, just in case your party tries to foolishly fight them because they didn't get a discount.