Is there anything you do as GMing practice, be it related to how you handle the mechanics, gameplay, setting, or any other detail of GMing, that you've come to realize hardly anyone else does (or doesn't do it in your particular way)?

Well, I draw pictures of all the NPCs and then attach them to popsicle sticks and hold them up when they're talking sort of like little puppets...


Here's an example of some I did for a Cthulhu game pre-sticks...

1) I use quilting swatches for battlefields.

Quilting swatches WTF? They are 9 x 9 inch or 12 x 12 inch squares of fabric that you can buy for $1 to $3 in fabric stores. Over the years, I have found several that make awesome and easy to travel battlefields if you just want to put down some minis for an abstract fight (not grids).

2) I wear Halloween masks/costume bits when roleplaying major monsters or NPCs. The $1 dollar store is freaking awesome for this. I just got a super creepy half skeleton mask that will be my go-to for my next lich.

3) For OD&D, I use a big D6 for group initiative and we pass it around like dice at craps table. When we roll initiative, the first player picks up the big D6 and rolls against me. Ties go to the heroes. If they win, that player gets to roll again next round. Otherwise, the big D6 passes to the next player who rolls initiative for the group for the next round.

I take notes. Recording important info on the campaign as it plays out in a spiral notebook to use as reference. I'm sure other GMs do this, but I have never seen it in Actual Play.

Simmilar to Tristam. I used to draw comics of the PCs adventures. I did one for a Beyond the Supernatural adventure and one for a Robotech: Sentinels adventure. Hopefully havent lost those.

Later when I started doing the conventions and meeting circuit artists I would commission illustrations of players characters or my own. Which isnt all that uncommon really. Julie Guthrie noted that people would commission her to sculpt minis of theirs or players characters even.

I have a 3e/4e paper & pencil initiative tracker system which I think is brilliant, but no one else agrees. :confused:

Quote from: jeff37923;800546I take notes. Recording important info on the campaign as it plays out in a spiral notebook to use as reference. I'm sure other GMs do this, but I have never seen it in Actual Play.

If its actual transcriptions of whats said and done then in Japan those are called "replays" and are a business over there as novels. How Record of Lodoss War kicked off as replay novellizations of their BX D&D campaign.

I video-recorded one of my Albedo sessions at a convention as I was hosting for a number of artists for that one. I thought it was a bit odd myself. But I wanted a record of it. Over the years its gotten alot more common.

I also make notes during play. Nothing fancy just shorthand reminders that I use to remember key things that happened during the session.

I also like making handouts to give the players as clues or just for reference such as a general map of the area they are starting in, the menu from the inn, wanted posters and notices that are tacked up in town, as well as things they find on their adventures like diary entries, letters and so forth.

Often these items contain valuable information about something important in the game world, some of which is not realized as significant until much later.

" Hey guys who has the letter we found from the orc chieftain?"

A real physical representation of that letter to pull out and reference is kind of fun.

I always have players roll for initiative before the session starts. This allows for an easier segue into combat, and gives a particular order whenever the table clamors during a social interaction with NPCs.

I write down memorable and weird table quotes on sticky notes and stick them to my GM screen. Things like "thank satan for boobs," "the high priest looks at you with dissaproval," or "no I won't check for traps by licking the wall."

Like a lot of people I take notes. I give out handouts or have the occasional prop. That's been the SOP for decades now.

Recently I've started doing three unusual things for Honor+Intrigue.

(1) Every non-trivial NPC has a picture as part of their NPC stats and such. To date that runs to 600+ NPCs.

(2) I give the players a handout every other session or so. The handout includes the pictures of the NPCs they are likely to encounter, the locations that may be important, items they may encounter, etc. (Since we play via Skype I have to pre-send the handouts. If we were playing face-to-face I'd give them a physical copy to look at when and if they encounter something then email the files to everyone after the session.)

(3) I write up the sessions afterwards in a short story format (typically 1-3 two column pages per session). This gives the players a record of what happened, what their PC did, who they met, how to spell the NPCs names etc.

Quote from: TristramEvans;800534Well, I draw pictures of all the NPCs and then attach them to popsicle sticks and hold them up when they're talking sort of like little puppets...

Those are great! Perfect for Call of Cthulhu.

Now if I had your artistic talent I wouldn't need to spend hours searching the Internet for pictures for NPCs. On the other hand, the searching has made me more knowledgeable about 16th and 17th century art.

• I take notes as well.  
• The "screen of fame" is something I've done in the past too, keeping memorable quotes alive, as well as a character graveyard to remember the fallen.  
• If I can manage a voice or accent I try to do those for memorable NPCs, using pictures as well to help the players see the NPC as I see them.  
• I use music in some cases.  
• No matter what game, I always make my own Excel spreadsheet to keep track of and autogenerate everything to make chargen as quick as possible.  The player makes the choices, I have Excel do the math, and print out the sheet after.
• I provide handouts that are the literal item.  If someone wants to copy it, they keep their own physical copy.  If no one has any physical copies, they go off memory.

Some other random weird table rules that have been added over time (some by players).

• Rolling dice across the table to knock over a miniature is an automatic fumble.  
• Rolling dice off the table is an automatic miss unless the player yells "Take it" before it hits the floor (if the carpet is thick, it's a miss usually anyway).
• Having your own painted miniature is worth a minor bonus at chargen.
• Any PvP rolls occur in the middle of the table, using dice I provide.

I fire players if they can't make it to two consecutive games in a row.

We play once every two weeks on a pre-determined date that everyone agrees upon.

In our group, whoever is hosting (most often me, and most often the DM--also me) makes a big meal.  We typically game from 10am to 7pm or so, so a break right in the middle for dinner.  And by big meal, I mean a huge roast, ham, or turkey with sides, or steaks, or something else of substantial nature.

Quote from: Necrozius;800640I fire players if they can't make it to two consecutive games in a row.

We play once every two weeks on a pre-determined date that everyone agrees upon.

That's not that weird; campaigns can definitely lose momentum if the players arent able to commit to a regular schedule. There are exceptions, but I assume that any adult that makes a scheduling commitment should be able to honour it. I've let many players go just for being flakes about that. Yes, I understand everyone has busy lives, but people make time for whats important to them, and if the rest of the gaming group's time isn't important enough to them, there's no reason to hold things up on their behalf.

That said, I once quit a game after the GM chewed me out in a 3 page email because I had to miss a session to take my GF to the hospital. In that case I don't think I was the one with my priorities out of whack.