Genre Mixmaster: Play on Target 43
BUT AS TO IMPROV?
In an interesting collision of topics, I also covered something
similar in an episode of This Imaginary Life recently. Our discussion of GM prep went in another
direction. More importantly the vastly improv nature of a couple of the GMs bowled
me over. In our PLOT discussion, the four of us, for better or worse,
have similar approaches. You can see that concretely in another PLOT episode What We Actually Do to Prep.
LINKY-LINK
I want to link to a couple of things I mention
in the episode. Here’s my post on the GM Prep surveys I did. From there you can get to the
actual data, in case you want to see the numbers. I think I mention it in the
episode, but I’ll say it again: consider looking at Impro for some high-level
thinking on the topic. If you want something more concrete and focused on
gaming, you should pick up Unframed. As I said in the podcast, it’s one of the best
Gnome Stew books and full of interesting ideas you can execute easily.
THE GM’ING PORTFOLIO REVIEW PROCESS
I say it at the end, but I want to stress a technique worth doing. Analyze what you do to get ready for a game. We use the term “comparing
dice bags” in the podcast to describe the process of aggrandizement GMs do it
talking about prep (either towards more or less prep). Clear your mind of that.
If you don’t do that, then I’m being cynical and jerky and you don’t need to
clear your mind. But think about what you have done for say the last 3-5
sessions to prepare. Let’s leave out the twiddling and contemplating we GMs constant do when driving, riding on trains, waiting in the elevator,
etc. What did you do that involved interfacing with something else? Grabbing
images online, stating monsters, painting figures, marking up modules, outlining
incidents, writing up the previous session, finding random tables.
Ask yourself what really comes into play? How much of what
you write down is used or referred to?
And I suggest this not to say: cut everything else. Instead
look at the work you do that generates meaningful results. Why does it? How can
you make that better, stronger, more useful?
As well, sometimes in talking about improv and process and we lose sight
of a key fact: for some GM prep is fun. I have a set of prep I love, love doing
(NPCs lists, Triad sheets, problem sheets). I’ll refer you to The
Rhetorical Gamer’s post on this.
INDEX CARDS
You already know this, but index cards (or post its, flash
cards, or rewritable do-dads) are your best friend as an improv GM. When things
appear, write them in big letters and drop them on the table. If it’s something
for a particular player, hand it to them. Aspects, things "Held," NPCs,
hard bargains. Maybe spend time at the beginning or end of sessions getting the
players to sum up the plot or threads, perhaps with a little direction on your
part. Write them down.
Collect everything you haven’t handed to the players at the
end of the session. Not only have you been showy and grabbed attention at the
table, you now have notes. And you haven’t had to stop while running to write
down names or ideas on a sheet of paper off to the side. You’ve done that, but in a way that
engages the table.
Anyway, that’s what I’ve been doing and have had some
success with.
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