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Mashing Up the Eight Steps

by Mike on 10 November 2025

The eight steps of Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master provide a simple framework for prepping tabletop RPG sessions.

The eight steps are already pretty simple, but sometimes we can simplify our prep even further by consolidating a couple steps. Doing so keeps our notes even smaller, making them easier to reference during the game.

Here are some examples:

Secrets in Review the Characters

Building secrets around the characters is a great way to ensure you're focusing on the primary actors of the game. As part of step 1, "Review the Characters", I've started writing character-focused secrets for each of the characters. I usually do this prep in addition to the ten secrets in the "Secrets and Clues" step, but I'm not sure I need to. Four secrets might be enough if you already have six secrets tied to the characters.

Character driven secrets ensure I can tie the characters to the larger story and history of the world directly.

The Strong Start is the First Scene

Instead of separating the strong start (step 2) from scenes (step 3), we can combine them. The first scene we list is our strong start, followed by potential scenes listed after that. Including the strong start in our list of scenes combines two steps into one and avoids the awkward redundancy of listing our strong start both in its own step and in the "scenes" step.

Locations, NPCs, and Monsters in Scenes

Monsters, NPCs, and Locations are split apart in the eight steps to help us build scenes as they occur during the game. They're helping us prepare to improvise.

Sometimes we know a particular scene includes locations, NPCs, or monsters. We can write down locations, monsters, and NPCs in our scene description, bolding monsters and NPCs so we can easily reference them at the table. We can also write page numbers from our monster book next to each monster to make it faster to reference them when we need them.

Here's an example scene from my own prep notes:

Face the guardians of the Junction in Midgard, a star-touched geyser in an old watchtower of Aten the Sun God (Southlands 233). Dragonborn knight (367), three Sharpened Coin mercenary veterans (371), eight conscripted guards (366).

The scene above has the scene, the location, and the monsters all in it.

For locations, we might focus only on an evocative name. If we need more details for a location, it's best to list it in our "Locations" step.

There's a reason we typically list monsters in their own step, however. Separating out monsters from scenes and locations lets us move monsters around depending on how the situation changes. But in the example above, we know those monsters inhabit the old watchtower, so it's cool to list them in the scene and skip both a location and their listing in monsters.

Likewise, we might include NPCs in our scenes or secrets and clues such as:

Meet the Sage, Gelefer Hawktail.

Listing NPCs in our scenes or secrets saves us having to list them separately.

When to Combine and When to Separate

There's a clear value and intention in separating out each of the eight steps in our notes. Secrets are intended to be abstracted from their method of discovery. Locations are intended to be separated from inhabitants so you can build encounters based on the situation and the pacing of your game as you play it.

When writing out your notes, it's up to you to decide when combining steps makes sense or whether it's more useful to split them out. Your prep notes serve you – no one else. If your notes work for you, you're doing it right. When it makes sense, try mashing up some steps together and see if it works for you.

More Sly Flourish Stuff

Each week I record an episode of the Lazy RPG Talk Show (also available as a podcast) in which I talk about all things in tabletop RPGs.

Last Week's Lazy RPG Talk Show Topics

Here are last week's topics with time stamped links to the YouTube video.

Patreon Questions and Answers

Also on the Talk Show, I answer questions from Sly Flourish Patrons. Here are last week's questions and answers.

Talk Show Links

Here's the link I referenced during the talk show.

Morrus's Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk with Mike

Last week I also posted a couple of YouTube videos on Running 200 Ghouls and The Blood Spire – Dragon Empire Prep Session 43.

RPG Tips

Each week I think about what I learned in my last RPG session and write them up as RPG tips. Here are this week's tips:

Sometimes a boss getting killed in a single hit is more memorable than a long dragged out fight.
In a big war, set up multiple areas of conflict and let the players choose which one to engage in.
As you come to the end of a campaign, think how you can tie up the loose ends.
Ask players what they want as you get close to the end of a campaign.
What form does a boss monster take when it becomes bloodied?
How does the story evolve elsewhere when the characters are busy here?
Damage is typically the easiest way to threaten the characters.

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