Interesting that people use modules as the less time intensive model.  

I don't spend a lot of time on prep work, sure. Okay, any really. What time I do spend is entirely within my head, so I can do it anywhere. At work, while driving, whatever. Maybe... if I think about it... I'll take a note or two somewhere along the line.

On the other hand, running a module generally requires reading the damn thing first, maybe a few times. I can't imagine that running a game from a module that you haven't gotten fairly familiar with is any easier or 'smoother' than just making shit up as you go along.  Thus Modules still require a time outlay so you don't have to spend ten minutes flipping through the damn thing to figure out if that hallway the players just walked blithely down is trapped or not.

Yeah, I'm sure ten minutes is an exaggeration, but consider just about every action the players take is going to come to a dead stop as you have to read up on the new area and you will very easily blow past that ten minute mark in aggregate over the course of a single evening.

And this is a time saver?

Quote from: SpikeInteresting that people use modules as the less time intensive model.  

I don't spend a lot of time on prep work, sure. Okay, any really. What time I do spend is entirely within my head, so I can do it anywhere. At work, while driving, whatever. Maybe... if I think about it... I'll take a note or two somewhere along the line.

On the other hand, running a module generally requires reading the damn thing first, maybe a few times. I can't imagine that running a game from a module that you haven't gotten fairly familiar with is any easier or 'smoother' than just making shit up as you go along.  Thus Modules still require a time outlay so you don't have to spend ten minutes flipping through the damn thing to figure out if that hallway the players just walked blithely down is trapped or not.

Yeah, I'm sure ten minutes is an exaggeration, but consider just about every action the players take is going to come to a dead stop as you have to read up on the new area and you will very easily blow past that ten minute mark in aggregate over the course of a single evening.

And this is a time saver?

Well, obviously I'm completely mistaken that modules take less time for me to prepare than making my own material.

Your example from your life has convinced me.

-O

Quote from: SpikeInteresting that people use modules as the less time intensive model.  

I don't spend a lot of time on prep work, sure. Okay, any really. What time I do spend is entirely within my head, so I can do it anywhere. At work, while driving, whatever. Maybe... if I think about it... I'll take a note or two somewhere along the line.

Spike, you play 3.5, right? Can you do those stat blocks in your head, too? Because, if I did, that would be the major attraction of published modules for me--not to have to deal with that crap after 10pm.

Oh, yes, Obryn... I was talking solely to you. Follow me to enlightenment my child, I, and only I, am the path and the way.


Pierce: Not so much unless that is the only thing I can get players for (I play D&D more than I run it...) and when I do I cheat horribly. NPC's get HP, AC and BAB and that's about it...  Maybe a save bonus if the PC's are particularly tricksome....

In that case, you're prepping exactly the way I do.

Quote from: SpikeOh, yes, Obryn... I was talking solely to you. Follow me to enlightenment my child, I, and only I, am the path and the way.

Sounds good to me!

-O