My Live Play Setup
The way I like to host a live TTRPG session...
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Introduction
Good day, dear reader! I have an exciting and rare instance coming up - The stars align with opportunity and motive to allow for running a live and in-person game for some friends of mine.
I’ve been working on onboarding materials for my custom setting, a little exploration rules subsystem, and the adventure ya’ll helped me get the design kicked off for “The forgotten abbey of the Moth-Goddess” - and we’re gunna put them to work this upcoming weekend.
So since this is at the forefront of my mind, the topic of todays piece will be reviewing my live game setup and my prep and mindset for hosting a game session.
The Thing
Much like a fabled warrior poet, I spend energy in preparation of days when I will get to execute in running live play games like this. Sometimes this manifests itself as spending time adding tracks to emotion-based or situation-based playlists and sometimes it manifests as organizing miniatures and dice, and sometimes it’s building a physical multi-use space to await the opportunity to play... In any case, there is always an undercurrent of “if you build it they will come” that drives me to keep a things ready to host.
The Physical space - table, chairs, light
The table I built mostly from cheaper wooden materials, and splurged on the top, the legs, and the insert. My biggest concern was to build the table with a vault so it could be used for ttrpgs, wargames, and board games. It had to be level, and it had to be big. The table is 6 years old and going strong!
The chairs (not pictured because my kids stole them for a living room fort) my wife found for me second hand they are covered in Latin but it looks like elvish.
The light was also found in a second-hand shop and I did the wiring job myself (wire nuts and electrical tape - don’t look at it too hard) I filled the bulb sections with “candle” bulbs and added a white LED light strip on the bottom of the ring for down lighting over the table. Works great for board games, sometimes I crack my head on the light but nothing can stop me from doing that :P
Gaming Materials - Stuff to play no matter what the players forget
Big bag o dice, pens/pencils, dry erase mats and markers
I buy this kind of stuff in bulk like 12 sets of dice or 10 dry erase mats and the legit big chunky chisel markers and try to make them last as long as possible.
A divider - if I’m at home I have a sweet GM screen my wife made for me
my play style typically does not make much use of a GM screen, but I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Bluetooth speaker - Is it essential for most? probably not. But I love having music as part of the experience.
Snacks and Drinks - This can be anything from a single bag of chips and a pitcher of water to a folding table arrayed in various things to munch on next to a mini-fridge. I got a second-hand mini fridge to keep pop and beer handy.
I want to point out that I’m NOT presenting this to suggest “you need this to run a good game.”
If you are willingly partaking in the loving act of game mastering adventures for a group of your friends - that is all that is necessary.
This is just what I enjoy doing as part of hosting a live game at home.
I am also fortunate enough to host the occasional live game at a convention and there I work to have the same categories of things - but everything is paired down to the bare necessities which still affords a good time with friends which is the prime directive.
The shortlist of live play prep I perform to feel ready to run a live game:
Printed materials - Sheets and materials that get us to the action faster
PC character sheets and character generation references (extras in case somebody dies)
Reference materials:
Maps (regional and adventure site if necessary)
NPC stat blocks - a short list of the stat blocks that may appear, at least one special creature
Adventure site room key - it may not be followed to a T, but it helps me keep the game moving and not forget parts if I don’t have to summon it all from memory
Useful tables:
Encounter tables
NPC randomizers
Treasure shortlist
Trap reference
Physical Copy of game system book
Laptop - Obsidian vault database of my setting (cause it’s searchable), PDF of game book (cause it’s searchable)
Blank paper and pencil - you never know
Conclusion
If I have everything on these two lists - I feel like I am completely ready. Sometimes I go off half cocked with a lot less and everybody still has a good time. And that’s what is most important to me. I like to get a little extra and keep pushing myself to make a more enjoyable experience every time I manage to get people at my table.
What do you think? What do you like to do when you run a live game?
Till next time!
Thank you, dear reader!
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That gaming setup looks great!