Then, I aimed to improve a little bit each time I prepped. Nowadays it’s rare that I have a single like in my notes that doesn’t serve a purpose during a session.

(3/3)

But I started paying attention to (1) notes I actually used at the table, (2) notes that I didn’t use because I remembered them after writing them down, and (3) things I wish I had written down but didn’t.

(2/3)

…I’ll let them know how much of my prep they skipped.

“There are 3 encounters I built out in the other room that you guys totally skipped. I’m impressed!”

And I’m only lying about 70% of the time.

“Don’t railroad your players” is the “thin your paints” of tabletop game design advice. More of a slogan than useful advice at this point.

I have a bad habit of tucking everything naturally wild and unexplained into the feywild. My plan this year is to ease up on that and start building out crazier natural locations on the material plane of my games instead.

And every time I let myself run with that thought, I end up loving the “broken” game even more. It’s always more exciting. And then I try to think up ways to tempt my players into making the scary decision.