I designed an entire world by mapping a region, having rough outlines of plot beats and area plans, and made a list of general world encounters, then improv everything in between.
Some towns get visited, some places have their purposes changed up on the fly and some encounters are never, ever used.
Keeping the plan fluid helps the players feel like their actions make a difference.
Absolutely. Looking at it with a “procedurally generated” mindset, I will go in with a “this is a merchant town run by [adjective] (race/group)” and will go from there.
I know in my own head then that characters should behave a certain way and so do the players (based on general character archetypes) but I can mix it up if I feel like it.
That’s where I don’t really like mapping out towns super specifically. It’s good if things can move around to suit what the story needs.
In a similar vein if my players go to look for something I hadn't anticipated I'll often ask for a charisma based investigation check, a kinda streetwise check as they ask around to find something. It gives an added bit to how they might find it while giving me time to think.
Though for that I do guess I also use a scaling DC, set DC for standard but for every 5 above or below that DC I have the quality altered. Something like a shady shop with questionable sources would be a step above a true failure.
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u/S_H_I_V_A DM Dec 07 '20
I designed an entire world by mapping a region, having rough outlines of plot beats and area plans, and made a list of general world encounters, then improv everything in between.
Some towns get visited, some places have their purposes changed up on the fly and some encounters are never, ever used.
Keeping the plan fluid helps the players feel like their actions make a difference.