Your D&D Prep SUCKS. This is why.

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Published 2023-12-22
The other half of good prep:    • Faking It: Improv Tips for D&D  

Y'all asked for it, so here's my thoughts on how to best prepare TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. This isn't a quick fix for your session that's coming up in a few hours, but more of a mindset as you learn and grow as a Dungeon Master.

Credit Where Credit is Due:

"Anxiety" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"Black Vortex" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"Chase Pulse Faster" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"Fluffing a Duck" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"Hall of the Mountain King" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"Long Note Two" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"Run Amok" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"Unanswered Questions" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"Local Forecast - Elevator" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"Mysterioso March" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"Sneaky Snitch" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
"Winner Winner" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Music: Chicken Picking Country Guitar by Redafs.com, Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Music: Funny Quirky Comedy by Redafs.com, Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

All Comments (21)
  • @tsc6912
    This is the best prep video I have seen, and it’s so simple. “I start the session with the hook already in their mouth”. I, stupidly, have always started with no hook or bait. I am a new DM so don’t be too harsh
  • @Thunderous333
    No acronyms, no list of rules to follow, just straight advice. Love it.
  • Speaking of confidence, I appreciate that you came of out the gate swinging like you have 700k subscribers instead of 7k. You have hit the platform full force, and for that, you’ve earned my subscription on the second video :)
  • @BraveryBeyond
    This channel is easily becoming my go-to stop to brush up on techniques to run my game. I think this distinction between "railroading" and "expecting buy-in" is a good one to lay out. GMs are players too and they want things out of the game. They don't exist solely to please the PCs' fantasies and have creative wants that they wish to be expressed at the table. Your techniques to strike that balance so both GM and PCs get a little bit of what they want is such a refreshing take and amazing advice I plan to use in my games going forwards.
  • @robingomez2628
    It's not just your world, it belongs to your players too. I loved "The Law of Narrative Influence". Its a fresh idea I've never heard before and I've watched A LOT of D&D and DMing videos. I will definitely be implementing this in my sessions! Thanks Deficient for another great video!
  • @Hewhowantstoknow
    Rowling's time on Twitter proves she isn't really a planner, she might've had character notes but she didn't have "Everything planned out" that would be Tolkien
  • @BarlowKeep
    This is how I prepared my first campaign basically by accident ...later I went into a habit of too much prep and had to rediscover these techniques and what made my first sessions great. Good advice and I'm sure "The Law of Narrative Influence" is one for the books. Now I have a somewhat specific way of prepping and I am making a mini-series about it. Your "law" is a good way of describing one of the underlying principles and I might reference it if you are cool with it :)
  • @potatoplunderer
    I say this every video, but the advice I get from the channel is ALWAYS relevant to me as a DM, and your style of editing and teaching is perfect! I am so grateful for this video, and I look forward to the next one!
  • @benmerk4086
    Shout out to you creator. Been a minute since I've found D&D/TTRPG insight and advice this concise. Also, very entertaining in the process, with good cadence and delivery. Keep up the great work.
  • @Enfors
    I've said it before, and I'll say it again: This channel is destined for great things, and great numbers of subscribers. This video is SO well done, and watching it I feel like a hipster discovering the next big thing before it's cool.
  • @Write_0ff
    After all the DM tips videos I've watched, this one definitely stands out, which honestly can be said for most of your content. Such great stuff and such unique style, I'm in love
  • @shiftystylin
    I love this. These are words to my actions that I couldn't do myself. My latest campaign starts mid quest - they got a job, they never got the papers, and bandits flash the papers to say the job was there's. Away we go! Amazing video.
  • @jonahgreene4526
    Once more combining your mastery of props and full utilization of the visual medium with your knowledgeability and experience makes for a unique and extremely insightful video! Man I love deficient master
  • Excellent advice! I've ran my games in the similar manner for a good while now, and I'm happy with the results. Starting in media res is a very powerful technique to get the game started when used in moderation. I prep situations, not plots, and then just react to player actions where the characters are, and keep the wheels moving where they are not.
  • @FredericZolnet
    Best /most fun channel on RPG I've seen. Keep producing please!
  • @thethan302
    Finally Dm advice that doesn’t suck. Seriously, there is a lack of really great DMs in the world. Aot of moderate to bad Dms are right here in youtube land pushing bad advice that they think is great. Which has had the effect of creating more bad Dms. Now, this method is not really new; but it’s very good to put the information out in a concise method. You sir have earned a sub and a like.
  • @justiceiro47
    i LOVE how your advice can be applied to basically any rpg in the UNIVERSE. dnd, pathfinder, gurps, cypher system. its universally helpful. its amazing.
  • @HmmBearGrr
    I’m working on translating the spelljammer LoX adventure into the thing you talked about in another video and it is. So good. You’re amazing