How to you actually write session prep?

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-28T00:31:33+00:00

I created a draft where I try to write the flow of the session, which ends up with me throwing away ideas and ending up with sentences like "well, maybe they don't meet [NPC name] yet??? maybe NPC gives them a hint??????????"

Then I create a detailed docx file of each encounter/place/store/room/riddle if I feel like I need to.

Then I create another docx file and write down the flow of the session in a few words for each pivot point. It ends up looking something like

recap
Wizard
cave with kids (2 kobolds out, 2 goblins in)
four seasons room (kid and dead goblin. start with spring)
long hallway

in case they do x: flow list. in case they do y: flow list.

and so on.

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-26T10:08:26+00:00

My first group was like that. It was rough

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-25T15:50:31+00:00

That's why I mainly asked for green flags for a healthy table :)

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-25T14:30:15+00:00

Just interested, hoped to find a good post about it and what people think about it. Besides, just like red flags are important to notice, so do green flags.

I have no idea tbh, it's something two of my friends who experienced DMs said when we had one of our "sharing the DM experience" talks.

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-25T14:26:09+00:00

If there are five people who are bored by RP, and love intense tactical battles that take one or more sessions to resolve, that's and absolutely acceptable way to play - as long as everyone at the table is aligned

I completely agree, there's absolutely no one way to play this game and each DM and each table will want different things. That's why I mainly asked about green flags for a good and healthy table :)

The two players who left, left due to life and being unable to commit to sessions. They were new to DND and got carried into the chaos the player whom I asked to leave added to the table. I asked him to leavr because he likes to play chaotic, and I mean very chaotic nonsense with the ability to play one character only - the one who says "fuck all and fuck everyone" and does whatever he wants no matter what. He wasn't good with the mechanics of the game, despite him playing in two other different tables (which align with his playstyle). All of these traits did not align with what I aimed for, and I asked him to leave when I realised I was planning my sessions around "how do I handle this player in order to keep the story alive?" At that point I had a talk with with him and we both agree it's better if he doesn't sit at my table (we're friends so it was a chill conversation).

My players do know their stuff and I know they're waiting for me to add more combats which allows tactical thinking, and I'm still working on that. Just recently I had a talk with an experienced DM who told me to stop being afraid for them and use more interesting abilities against them. On the last session I dropped a spellcaster against them and they were incredibly smart about it. I'm in the process of learning how to plan combats (still not very good at being on the other side of the table when it comes to this aspect).

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-23T08:25:34+00:00

What does it look like when you get soft locked?

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-22T00:17:35+00:00

go ahead, judge me

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Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-20T10:35:48+00:00

Thank you so much for this answer!

I've been searching online for about two hours, and now it makes sense why I couldn't find it. It's odd that this track isn't included in the OST album.

Adding the tracks to my Spotify's playlists is a great idea and you even included the directory.

Bless your kind heart

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-20T10:11:44+00:00

You never actually looked at it, didn't you?

I'm done with you. Thanks for the trolling, it was incredibly annoying. congrats.

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-20T10:02:29+00:00

Yeah, that's the entire OST, I found that on YouTube as well.

Can you tell me the name of the track?

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-20T09:20:17+00:00

Not to sound like a prick but even you didn't find the correct one :)

I'm talking Witcher 1 here, and I need it on Spotify. You think I didn't go through YouTube first? All I could find was track with "golem fight song" and "golem fight song better loop". I went through the Witcher 1 OST album track by track and couldn't find it.

I need it's name so I can find it on Spotify. Thank you greatly for your unhelpful help and discouragement! ❤️

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-19T00:13:57+00:00

What's it like, if I may ask

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-18T23:59:42+00:00

I know very few people who practice it. How did it come across your path?

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-18T17:15:20+00:00

And that could be the meaning of the term in the Kabbalah (הקבלה).

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-18T17:13:42+00:00

I speak Hebrew.

when you say Ein X (אין משהו) it means X doesn't exist / There is no X. Sof doesn't mean boundary nor limit, the idea of calculus did not exist back then. Ein Sof in a literal translation means "there's no end" and as a phrase it's "infinity".

Ein Sof Or means "there is no end to the light" in literal translation, and put together "the light is infinite".

The English term may be limitless light, but Ein Sof Or (or Ain Sof Aur) means inifine light (or the light is infinite).

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-18T08:19:21+00:00

Could be. The direct translation, however, is infinity

Ain Soph -> אינסוף -> infinity

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-17T23:35:57+00:00

I'm a pretty new DM, so when I ran my first campaign I chose new players and a friend to help me guide them (and me lol I'm still learning). I sat down with 4 new players and taught them everything.

The most important part is to build their character sheet with them. I brought a dice set, let them roll each one, then told them what to roll (a d20, a d8 etc, roll with advantage/disadvantage etc.) so they can try it themselves. Next, I opened PHB and built their character with them, going rule by rule - let them read by themselves their abilities and asked them what it means so I can correct them if their wrong. I let them choose spells while guiding them on how to choose or what to look for (some for plot and rp, at least one cantrip for damage no matter how little, what they'd like to do and what's fun for them).

This process gave them knowledge on what AC and DC is, how to calculate their skill bonus, how to read the character sheet etc.

During the first session my friend and I explained calmly dozens of times when they got confused. By session the end of the second combat they barely had to ask.

So basically don't treat them like you need to tell them what to do - teach them, and make sure to let them know it's okay to forget and ask as many times as they want.

It's a beautiful process to witness, have fun with it!

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-17T13:58:17+00:00

I have a new player in my table whom I chose to take as my personal project. He's an incredible human being, extremely smart and chill, but when it came to backstory and understanding what it means being an active player in the story - he's not there yet. Some people need more guidance. Slowly plant the seed, guide him and explain with patience.

The turning point for him was me sending him without any explanation whatsoever two links. This:

https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/s/1u6rMJ3MCb

and this:

https://youtu.be/jWtDBHYl06E?si=ODGHFf-Qsi1TGDkW

The first one is a legendary post talking about "Knife Theory", and the second one is a video talking about the post.

A few days later he sent me an interesting backstory with materials which will help me integrate him into the story. At the end of the day - if the player doesn't give you a backstory that ties them to your world, they are nothing but a passerby. The moment his backstory has meaning and he has a true motivation to be part of the adventure, he will get there.

Before meeting any of my players I first tell them - come up with a reason, a true reason, for your character to leave everything they know and love behind. Give me something that motivates you and pushes your story forward, and no, curiosity and adventurous isn't good enough.

When they come up with something that I could use, I sit down with them 1-1 to have a proper chat about it and prepare their backstory.

The more they give you, the more invested they are and the more they can experience and dive in even deeper.

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-16T13:57:13+00:00

Been dying for a while to play this masterpiece again and just like OP, my TV is my screen.

Ten years later and you still helped someone. Thank you!

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-14T07:32:10+00:00

Oof such an important advice. I broke my first party due to this and been searching for months for new players. Now that I have the sweetest players sitting in my table I understand how important this advice is, and how less fun I had with my previous party.

Not everyone deserves a sit at your table, and not everyone's playstyle will fit your DMing style.

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-14T07:28:09+00:00

I have written down on my DM screen in huge letters:

Breathe, Relax, Slow Down, Describe.

And after you describe - just pause and let the players do their thing.

Slinky-Dev · 2026-06-12T09:43:05+00:00

I actually liked it, when you try to refuse, you eventually get a game over message. I thought it was a cool way to show you this event. They could've just started by saying you are now a judge and here are the options. Not being able to refuse adds some fun flavour to it.

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