>>43276588Any and all preparation will get completely fucked up by your players. On that note here's some tips on what I do:
1) Remember that your building a world for your players to explore. Even though you do all the rolling against the party it is not your job to play against the party. High mortality is fine if players screw up but remember that you are creating a world for them to explore, not for them to get killed by.
This is by far the most important rule to remember. You can fuckup every rule calling, have the most edgy players, edgy world and cringe worthy game but if you and your players are having fun they will like keep coming back. Fuck what TG thinks.
2) Build your starting party together as a group. This allows a balanced party where other players can fill in any gaps.
3) Introduce 1 important NPC each session (good or evil). First session 2 can be appropriate but only develop one at a time.
4) Prepare 3 encounters. An encounter can be a pre-built combat, an interaction with a npc that leads to a quest or something that will otherwise force your players to interact. Prepare these encounters loosely. So the players are supposed to meet the King but instead decide to take a ship out to sea? Alright King Simon is now the pirate captain Simon but his quest is the same.
5) Remember that your say is final. You fucked up the rules? As long as a PC didn't die they can deal with it.
6) Relating to number 5, don't let players hijack the game and ruin other players fun or more importantly your fun. Some guy is being a dick and stealing from his own party, nothing is stopping the party member from noticing and dishing out the pain. Don't cater to the lowest denominator.
If I can find the resources for dming I'll post em later.
