Zero-Prep and Low Prep Playing

Yesterday, I saw a fantastic question on the Necrotic Gnome Discord.

@Sethmokami asked "What would y’all say is the bare minimum amount of prep needed to run an OSE campaign? I’m itching to run something and I’m trying to figure out all my options for lower-prep but still fun games that actually have fans willing to play them."

Not only do I think this is a good question. I think the is THEE question that folks looking to play NOW, not six weeks from now after compiling a mountain of prep they'll never fully finish. Will eventually ask themselves (Yes it haunts me that im still preping for the Tsardoms. I really need to hurry up and get it into a playtestable state and not just theory).

Modules vs. Zero Prep

If you’re running a module, low prep can be as simple as this: read it once, then flip to the section you need at the table, as you need it. That’s it. I strongly recommend (especially with larger tables), that as the referee you is elect one of the players to be a caller. freeing you up to run encounter checks, morale rolls, or timekeeping procedures.

If you’re running your own setting or your own adventures, though; that’s where morale rolls and encounter tables become a godsend.

Dice as Co-DM

For reference, I run Yoon-Suin and my own material. As close to zero-prep as I can manage. But I dont always go Zero-prep. I prep upfornt. before I start the cam pagin, and then I fall back onto low-prepthrough solo-play as I need it.

Personally, I don’t plan plots. I don’t script outcomes. Instead, I rely on hooks, encounter rolls, and procedures.

My philosophy is simple: I am also a player when I DM. I want to be surprised. I want to discover things at the table. I want the dice pulling most of the weight, not my notes. That said, this style of play does not come naturally to everyone.

Solo Play as Prep

Zero-prep play asks for a lot of confidence from you, as the Referee. When that confidence isn’t there yet, solo play becomes a really useful low-prep tool.

When I’m not feeling comfortable running something completely cold, I’ll run the adventure through solo play first. I put myself in the players’ heads, roll the dice honestly, and let the procedures do their work. Sometimes that’s before a campaign starts, sometimes it’s between sessions when I feel like I need a firmer footing.

If you’re new to zero-prep or low-prep play, I really recommend trying solo play once or twice before doing it live at the table. It lets you practice using hex rules, encounter tables, morale, and random dungeons without the pressure of an audience.

The goal of this style of prep is to do what you think the players might do. This works best with established groups of close friends. As you solo-play, putting yourself in the mind of your players, you will be rolling up hexes, refering to Appendix A (if you are cool with randomly rolled dungeons, not all are) and getting used to using Morale Rolls and Appendix N for NPC/Monster motivations and behavior.

You’re essentially prepping; but you’re prepping through play. This does two really important things:

1. You get to prep and experience the game as a player, which is genuinely fun.

2. You don’t over-prep, because the game naturally resists it.

And when your players inevitably surprise you (they will), you’ve already practiced switching gears. You’ve already used hex rules, morale, and encounter tables on the fly. So it should be no sweat to now do so infront of the players. Thing of Preping through solo-play as praticing for Zero-prep play.

For beginners interested in zero-prep or low-prep play, I genuinely think solo play as prep is the best on-ramp. Because frankly, full zero-prep is really just solo prep with that element removed.

So What Do You Actually Need?

If I had to boil it down to the essentials:

1. Rules Mastery: Read the book. Know where the rules you struggle with live. Rulings over rules only really works when you understand what you’re bending; and why. Tweaking and changing the rules is GREAT, hell even I do it, and I really enjoy playing RAW. BUT if you don't understand what you're changing. You wont reconzie when you could be fundamentaling breaking something.

2. Encounter Tables: OSE already has plenty. If you’re running custom material, make your own. They do more work than you think, and are essencial to the emergent story telling this style of play promotes.

3. Appendix N (or Your Own Version of It); Read. Watch fantasy. Play fantasy video games. The goal here is to build a mental library. Think of it this way: your brain is a shelf of genre tools. The more you stock it, the faster you can grab something while playing at the table with your group. Heres an example:

“Oh crap, they’re doing a heist?” Cool. James Bond. Ocean’s Eleven. Maybe a bit of Goodfellas. Thats the adventure frame work right there. from there random encounters, morale rolls, and the players actions determine what happens.

By effectively using your Appendix N, you now know how to play it out. You know what kind of NPCs show up. You know the rhythm. Below you'll see the Appendix N i am using to complie and write the Tsardoms. The only simularites it shares with DnDs orginal inspiration is Conan. But it's been incredibly useful to me.

4. Confidence and Trust: Low-prep play is seat-of-your-pants play. Set expectations. Your players should want you to have fun too. If you’re confident and clearly enjoying yourself, they probably will be as well.

5. A Willingness to Fail: You will fail. It will happen. Laugh it off and keep going. That’s part of the game, players fail all the time. But for some reason as Referees and GMs we get this Performance anxeity that bubbles up inside of us. I see it most often in the 5e circles! DnD is supposed to be fun for everyone, INCLUDING THE REFEREE. It's ok to chill out, enjoy a beer and the time you spend with your friends. This isn't a Job.

So, that’s all the advice I’ve got for this style of play; but honestly, it’s been enough for me. And if you’re itching to run something? You probably already have everything you need.And if you don't thats OK, Lord Knows I dont think the Tsardoms are ready for it. But remeber as you aspire for greatness, learn to appricate the mundane :)

Thanks again for Reading. -RH