The Lazy RPG Prep Toolkit

The Lazy RPG Prep Toolkit

Dice, pencils, and dry-erase markers
GM's notebook
Campaign worksheet
Curated random name list
3×5 index cards
Numbered initiative cards
GM screen or cheat sheet
Dry-erase flip mat
Published books and adventures
Miniatures, maps, and terrain as needed

Building a Lazy Campaign

Develop a spiral campaign with the characters at the center
Build a campaign hook focusing on a single major goal
State the six truths of your campaign
Define three fronts incorporating goals and grim portents
Run a session zero to help build the characters and tie them together

Running Your Game

Relax
Focus on your strong start
Listen to the players, and build off of the ideas they bring you
Trust your preparation to help you run a creative, flexible game
Ask the players to summarize the events of the previous game session
Draw players into the story by asking them to describe killing blows, define monster characteristics, and describe interesting events during travel
Imagine the world as a living place when building scenes and situations
Let the world and the NPCs react to the characters' actions
Use a mixture of combat styles, including theater of the mind, gridded maps, and abstract maps
Maintain a good pace by staying close to the action
Cycle between action and relaxation, and alternate upward and downward emotional beats
Use specific hopeful or fearful beats to send the action in a specific direction

Thinking About Your Game

Prime your GM's brain with great books, movies, and TV shows
Remind yourself of the player characters' names and backgrounds
Ask what the villains and NPCs are doing right now

Embrace the GM's Truths

Players don't care as much as you think
Players want to see their characters do awesome things
The GM is not the enemy of the characters
Be a fan of the characters

Lazy RPG Tricks

Award levels at key points in the story
Improvise ability and skill checks
Delegate certain tasks to the players
Use static monster damage