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Move Steps Forward

by Mike on 24 August 2026

I recommend writing a new set of prep notes for each game session you run. And, of course, I recommend customizing the eight steps of lazy GM Prep based on your preferences and the game you're going to run.

Originally, I recommended writing ten brand-new secrets and clues for each session, keeping them fresh and relevant for the next session you're going to run. In my own experiences, though, I regularly move old secrets into my new list and I think that works just fine too. The main reason to write ten new steps was to avoid building a huge list of previous secrets you carry around with you from game to game. There's little value in continually expanding your secrets list and lots of potential headaches. But moving secrets forward? That can be useful. It's a good lazy trick that saves time and still keeps your game relevant. Review those secrets to make sure they're still relevant and add new secrets based on what's coming up.

Secrets aren't the only thing we can move forward from one session to another. Let's look at each step and consider what we can move forward and save ourselves time during our prep.

Characters

We should probably review the characters every session, noting what character-driven secrets might connect them to events in the next session. Reviewing the characters keeps them in your mind throughout the rest of your prep so it's a valuable first step to take. There's not much we can shift forward here that isn't worth reviewing and probably rewriting.

Strong Start

We almost certainly executed our strong start in our last game so we're going to have to come up with a new strong start for our next session. This step is another one we likely can't shift forward.

Scenes

Some scenes might take place in our session and others we might not get to. When we're writing up new notes, it can help to look at our old notes and see if there are any scenes we want to move forward. Future quests are a good one to move forward if we haven't yet offered them up to the characters. Many times I list out more scenes than I run in my session notes and it's useful to shift scenes that didn’t occur forward as long as they're still relevant.

Secrets and Clues

As mentioned, reviewing past secrets and moving secrets forward that are both still relevant and still undiscovered can save us time during our prep.

Locations

We can definitely shift locations forward if we haven't used them yet. Many times our sessions span across larger adventures and quests focused on big adventure locations like a multi-room dungeon or some other big settlement. We can leave out any notes no longer relevant and refocus our location notes based on where the characters are now, moving any useful notes and maps forward for our next session. There's often a big opportunity to reuse material in our locations steps in future prep notes.

NPCs

We can likewise transfer any NPCs still relevant to our next session to our new notes. Some NPCs might leave the spotlight and others might step in. NPCs might shift from one session to the next, saving us the time of writing them up again. Move forward any NPCs still relevant in the next session.

Monsters

As with locations and NPCs, we can move monsters forward if they're still relevant to our next session. Our notes might include small lists of potential random encounters or they might detail fights we haven't yet run. Either way, if our lists of potential monsters are still relevant, we can move them forward.

Treasure

If we haven't awarded particular treasure or rewards yet, we can shift those parcels forward. Be careful to note which treasure you've already awarded so you're not handing out the same magic item two sessions in a row. Otherwise, move undiscovered rewards forward if they're still relevant to the game.

Opportunities to Save Time and Energy

Shifting material forward from one set of session notes to the next a great opportunity to save time and energy while still staying focused on what matters for your next game. Let go of any guilt in reusing your previous notes and focus on preparing the best session you can for the next session you're going to run.

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 are links to the sites I referenced during the talk show.

Last week I also posted a couple of YouTube videos on Single Target Number in a Scene and Lashmaraq — Dragon Empire Prep Session 77.

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:

Build hazardous monuments as monsters. Let ability checks inflict damage to them.
Clarify the mechanics of in world things so players know how to interact with them.
Entice characters into dangerous situations with shining loot.
Give characters powerful single use magic items. Let them run around with a big bomb they can only use once.
Let the characters stumble into complicated situations during their travels throughout the land.
Flavor monuments with the lore of gods and factions.
Your campaign world serves you and your game. Change it however you need.

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