How I Balance Prep and Improv in D&D! (As A Pro Gamemaster...)

Schedule a call with me! https://calendly.com/joshuasigafus/on... Join the GM Philosophy Discord:   / discord   __________ In this episode of GM Philosophy, we’re talking about one of the biggest debates in D&D and TTRPG game mastering: prep vs improv. Is pure improvisation enough to run a great game? Or does a strong session need preparation first? As a full-time professional D&D Game Master running multiple games every week, I’ve learned that improv is incredibly powerful, but it works best when it’s built on top of smart prep. In this video, I break down how I currently prepare for my games, especially when running on VTTs, and how I use maps, tokens, NPCs, encounters, and AI tools to create better sessions without overprepping myself into oblivion. I also share real examples from my games where my prep gave me the structure I needed, but my improv helped me discover something much better in the moment. We’ll cover: • Why no-prep GMing can weaken your sessions • Why VTT games make prep more important • How I prep maps, tokens, enemies, and NPCs • How to improvise on top of prep without losing control • Why prep first can actually make your improv better Drop a comment and let me know: Are you more of a prep GM, an improv GM, or somewhere in the middle? Roll some d100s for me at your next game, friends.