Streamlined Prep for Smarter, More Flexible GMing
Author: Mike Shea (Sly Flourish)
Published: 2018
Pages: ~96
Format: Paperback, PDF, ePub
Use Case: GM prep system for fantasy TTRPGs (especially D&D)
Introduction
Running a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) is one of the most rewarding creative endeavors a person can undertake—but it can also be exhausting. Between worldbuilding, encounter balancing, character arcs, and keeping track of what your players are doing, prep can easily consume more time than actual gameplay.
Enter Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master, a concise, methodical, and philosophy-driven book aimed at making GM prep both faster and smarter. Building upon his 2012 original (The Lazy Dungeon Master), author Mike Shea (aka Sly Flourish) refines his approach with an eight-step system that empowers GMs to focus on what matters most: the players’ experience at the table.
Rather than reducing your campaign to simplistic bullet points, Shea’s system encourages preparation that is intentional, improvisational, and player-driven—a philosophy well suited to modern gaming sensibilities and emergent storytelling.
Core Premise: Prep What Matters
The book’s fundamental thesis is that you don’t need to prepare everything. Instead, focus your energy on the elements that will most likely impact gameplay and leave the rest to flexible improvisation.
Shea backs this claim with:
- Player surveys on what elements matter most
- Research on cognitive load and decision fatigue
- Years of GMing experience and community feedback
What emerges is a compact, practical framework built around eight steps of “lazy” prep, which Shea argues will make you a more responsive and prepared Dungeon Master, not a negligent one.
The Eight Steps of Lazy DM Prep
- Review the Characters
Begin every prep session by reviewing your players’ characters: their backgrounds, mechanics, goals, and personal arcs. Shea insists that the characters are the center of the story, and understanding them is the key to meaningful improvisation. - Create a Strong Start
Start the session with a compelling, engaging hook. Shea emphasizes momentum: begin with a bang, be it combat, mystery, or drama, to pull players into the world. - Outline Potential Scenes
Rather than plotting a linear path, brainstorm a few likely scenes or locations. Shea treats scenes as narrative beats—they’re modular, and players may skip or alter them entirely, which is part of the design. - Define Secrets and Clues
One of the most powerful tools in the book: a list of 7–10 secrets or clues the players might uncover during the session. These are not tied to any specific scene, just available to be discovered organically. - Develop Fantastic Locations
Prep a few evocative locations with rich detail—names, sensory imagery, weird traits. Shea pushes for inspiration over simulation, urging DMs to focus on locations that spark imagination. - Outline Important NPCs
Keep character prep simple. Name, goal, personality quirk—that’s all you need to run a great NPC. Shea’s approach encourages fast, bold improvisation, rather than pages of backstory. - Choose Relevant Monsters
Instead of preparing stat blocks and exact encounters, choose a few monster types appropriate for the session. Shea encourages reusing monsters in different ways and adjusting stats on the fly to match pacing. - Select Magic Items
Think about a few interesting rewards—magic items that feel tailored to the party or campaign themes. Shea stresses that thoughtful treasure builds investment and narrative coherence.
Style and Structure
The book is tight and clear—roughly 100 pages of focused advice, with no filler. Shea’s writing is friendly, confident, and encouraging. He acknowledges that not every idea will work for every GM or every game, and he actively encourages customization and experimentation.
Each chapter:
- Introduces the core idea
- Gives practical examples
- Offers optional techniques
- Connects theory to player psychology
There are also appendices that provide checklists, templates, and annotated examples, making it an excellent reference for both new and experienced GMs.
Practical Use at the Table
In practice, the Lazy DM method is incredibly adaptable across systems, though it was clearly written with Dungeons & Dragons 5E in mind. However, GMs running Pathfinder, 13th Age, Shadowdark, or even Dungeon World will find the system equally applicable.
Here’s how the method benefits actual gameplay:
- Reduces burnout: You’re not prepping pages of material that might never get used.
- Improves improvisation: With the right scaffolding, you can pivot quickly and confidently.
- Deepens player engagement: By centering prep on the characters, sessions feel more personal.
- Enhances narrative flexibility: You can embrace player agency without fear of derailing a plot.
The “Secrets and Clues” section alone has become a cornerstone of many GMs’ prep routines.
Who Is It For?
Ideal for:
- Time-strapped GMs looking to prep smarter, not harder
- Narrative-focused or improvisational playstyles
- GMs of campaigns with lots of player freedom
- DMs who want to level up from rigid plotting to responsive worldbuilding
Not ideal for:
- GMs who prefer high-detail simulations or pre-written adventure paths
- Beginners who may not yet be comfortable improvising on the fly (though the book can still be valuable in developing that skill)
Comparisons to Other GM Tools
Compared to other prep systems like The Alexandrian’s “Node-Based Design”, or the Dungeon World front structure, Shea’s Lazy DM method is more modular and intuitive, making it easier to slot into existing campaigns.
Unlike tools that front-load prep (e.g., worldbuilding tomes or lore bibles), Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master is built for session-to-session planning, making it ideal for ongoing campaigns.
It pairs beautifully with digital tools like:
- Notion, Obsidian (for secrets and scene planning)
- Owlbear Rodeo or Roll20 (for fast battlemaps)
- Google Sheets (for character summaries and NPC tracking)
Strengths
✅ Concise and practical
✅ Easily adaptable to any system
✅ Encourages sustainable GMing habits
✅ Deep focus on player characters
✅ Useful for both in-person and online play
✅ Templates and tools ready to use
Weaknesses
❌ Assumes a level of improvisational comfort
❌ May feel light for GMs used to detailed prep
❌ More abstract than prescriptive—no plug-and-play adventures
❌ Focused on fantasy RPGs—less useful for sci-fi, horror, etc., without adaptation
Conclusion
Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master is a modern GM classic. It doesn’t just reduce prep time—it reshapes how GMs think about preparation. Rather than giving you rigid formulas, it offers a flexible framework rooted in player-centric storytelling and improv-ready design.
It’s not about doing less prep; it’s about doing the right prep—and that makes all the difference.
Whether you’re a veteran looking to streamline your campaign, or a newer GM tired of burning hours on unused material, this book is a wise investment in your creativity, your table, and your sanity.