Running a game is a lesson in balance. There are so many dials and mechanics that you need to play with while also focusing on what Gary Gygax referred to as being “the Shaper of the Cosmos.” Anyone who has started running games or has been running for decades has found hacks to make running the game that much easier and streamlined. In this episode, Tony, Chris, and Dave discuss their favorite DM hacks that we’ve employed in our games.
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1:30 Hack# 1: Where are we going next? Focusing your prep.
2:30 Hack# 2: Session Prep Notes
5:20 Hack# 3: Create a Session Prep Template
7:00 Hack# 4: Outline your session – create scenes
8:15 Hack# 5: Write down your recap – Previously On…
10:00 Hack# 6: Players recapping the adventure – taking the campaign’s temperature
12:00 Hack# 7: Recording your recap – cranking up the drama
15:40 Hack# 8: Google Docs
17:00 Hack# 9: Secrets, Clues, Scenes & Encounters – The Quantum Ogre Campaign
19:00 Hack# 10: Streamline your Stat Blocks
20:50 Hack# 11: Static Damage… who wants to add up 40d6 damage?!?
23:10 Hack# 12: Delegate the DM duties – Return of the Monster Wrangler!
25:00 Hack# 13: Static Initiative?
27:20 Hack# 14: There’s an app for that – using technology to your advantage
28:30 Hack# 15: Spell crib notes when running your spellcasters
31:30 Hack# 16: Scripting Monster Tactics – Monster Shorthand
38:10 Hack# 17: Adjusting the hit point dial… start with maximum hit points
42:20 Hack# 18: Get a sense of your party’s Damage per Round
50:00 Final Thoughts
I will pre roll monster damage for standard attacks in a list instead of taking the standard damage.