Adventure prep for role-playing games is the main topic of this episode of The Lair of Secrets podcast. We discuss the dangers of too much prep vs. too little prep, and seek the Goldilocks prep time in between. After tackling individual adventures, we discuss prepping for a new campaign and tools to help with that. Finally, we apply what we've been discussing to our upcoming Scum and Villainy campaign.

But it's not all adventure prep! Also in this episode, Ken turns 50 (thus catching up with David) and David's feeling remarkably relaxed thanks to an enoyable holiday break. Geeky topics we discuss include swinging back into the Spider-verse, playing Red-Dead Redemption and Icarus, watching Matrix: Resurrections, catching up on Star Trek, and debating the merits of hand-drawn maps vs. computer generated ones.

"Deck the Caves with Boughs of Chaos"Ken and his family had plans ... and then came Omicron.Spider-verse Portal 2.0With his daughter home from college, Ken's family watched a ton of Spider-man movies in anticipation of Spider-man: No Way HomeThis included Spider-man, Spider-man 2, Amazing Spider-Man, and Amazing Spider-Man 2.Meanwhile, Ken watched Venom: Let There Be Carnage on his own ... which is really dumbBut is it as dumb as Airplane vs. Volcano?The Chamber of Red Dead DoomKen got Red Dead Redemption 2 ... which is basically a western simulator.The Caverns of KazealKen continues to struggle with drawing the Caverns of Kazeal for his Scales of Truth campaign.Do it by hand? Lay out Dungeon Tiles in the real world, then recreate in Roll20? Give up and find a pre-made map (nah, that’s just crazy talk)The Chamber of Holiday CalmDavid had a quiet and peaceful holiday with only one COVID scare.Hostile Environment SimulatorDavid is playing Icarus, a "session-based PvE survival game for up to eight co-op players or solo."The Puzzle LibraryDave's re-sparking his creative and fun side with puzzles and reading.Holochamber ReduxCatching up on Star Trek Discovery, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: ProdigyWait, didn't we turn off the holochamber???David geeks out about The Matrix: Resurrections.Orbital Astro-EnvisionatorJames Webb Space Telescope launched!

Main Topic: Role-Playing Game Prep

Game preparationStart at the campaign level, or the session level?Thinking about characters and NPCsPreparing for a game sessionLimited preparationOver preparationGoldilocks prep?Ken’s "Three-Page Manifesto for Game Prep"Preparing for a new campaignCampaign background helps make for shorter session prepToolsCampaign BinderPinterestPrepping for Scum and Villainy

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Featured Image

Poster art for Spider-man: No Way Home.