GM-Preparation

[Tombot]

I would like to know how much of an effort you do before you start gaming with your players ? (Or DID, if your not GM´ing anymore)
And in what way you depict you action-scenes?

Do you use counters/maps from a specific board-game (like "Last Battle" or others) ?
Do you prepare "Random" Encounters BEFORE the game or on the spot ?

In T2k a lot of things can happen on the way from A to B.
I personally like to have lots of detail even for little encounters, cause not one group of (f.e. refugees) travellers on the way, will be the same.
To have an idea what kind of equipment people have (or "loot", if the PC´s shot them), where or why they are going places - i just have to prepare before the game.
So i often roll for encounters before we play, having several handy, if theres need be.
But i know GM ´s which minimize the preps to the main-plot NPC´s / locations, and do real well, too.

For battles i try to vary; i draw specific maps for the main-plot, and developed some "generic" map-parts i can use for random-encounters (a bit like generic floor-tiles for "D&D"-style-games).

I would appreciate, if you tell me your thoughts and experiences.