What to Do When Nobody Prepares But You
By Mike the Tavernkeeper, who once showed up with a map, a plot, and six players who forgot their dice
Welcome to the “I Guess I’ll Do Everything” Club
Let me paint ya a picture, lad:
You spend two nights buildin’ a dungeon that would make Grabgar weep — riddles, lore, secret passages, the works. You show up early to set the mood, light the candles, stack the snacks.
And what do yer players bring?
Excuses.
“Sorry, I forgot my sheet.”
“Oh, we were supposed to level up?”
“What’s my character’s name again?”
BY BRUNLIN’S MISSING EYEBROW, I SWEAR—ARE YE EVEN TRYIN’?!
If you’re the only one preppin’ and the party shows up like it’s storytime at a goat farm, then congrats, lad — yer in the GM’s Loneliness Arc.
But don’t chuck yer scrolls into the hearth just yet. There’s ways to fix this, and I’ve lived through worse. Like the time I ran a one-shot for a bard troupe that thought “initiative” was a group chant.
“Yer Party’s Not Lazy. They’re Just Too Comfortable.”
👉 Come learn how to shake ‘em up — without breakin’ the table. Mike’s got methods, mayhem, and a side of sass:
https://www.mikes-tavern.com/gm-wisdom
https://www.mikes-tavern.com/about-mikes-tavern
When You Prep and Nobody Else Does: What Now?
1. Don’t Lecture. Change the Game
Players don’t respond to nagging. But ya can design sessions that reward prep.
No background? That NPC doesn’t trust ya. Didn’t level up? Then yer too slow to dodge that trap. Actions have consequences — so should laziness.
This is etiquette 101, lad:
👉 https://www.mikes-tavern.com/tavern-etiquette
2. Make Prep Part of Play
Turn “homework” into in-game fun. Leveling up at the table? Do it mid-scene. Have an NPC guide the new ability. Missed the prep? Now yer fighter’s got a sprained wrist until he trains.
Players hate paperwork — but they love scenes. Wrap yer prep in a good story and they'll eat it like free rations.
Need a simple plug-in tool to grease the gears? Try this:
👉 The Tiefling Who Was Never Really There
3. Set the Tone, Then Set Boundaries
If the game matters to ya, say so. Tell ‘em: “I’ll match the effort you give.” That ain’t a threat — it’s honesty. Let the table feel the gap. If you always save the session with a smile, they’ll stop carryin’ their end of the load.
Some days, ya have to let ‘em flounder to remind ‘em why the GM's prep matters.
(Just don’t punish ‘em. We’re runnin’ games, not vendettas.)
“If They Can’t Respect the Work, Let the Dice Teach ‘Em”
👉 Tired of carryin’ the campaign like a mule full of plot hooks? Mike’s Tavern’ll help ya unload that weight with grace (and a little growlin’):
https://www.mikes-tavern.com/contact
https://www.mikes-tavern.com/faq
https://www.mikes-tavern.com/tavern-etiquette
What Not to Do When Players Don't Prep
Don’t make fun of them. Roastin’s my job. Yer job’s to guide. Mockery burns bridges faster than an alchemist with poor impulse control.
Don’t keep patchin’ their mistakes forever. Yer not their squire. Yer the world itself. Make ‘em feel that.
Don’t quit over it. Adjust. Adapt. And occasionally unleash a gelatinous cube in the shape of a passive-aggressive metaphor.
Still feelin’ stuck? Maybe ya need a dungeon that doesn’t require heavy prep.
This one’s a beaut:
👉 A Dungeon Built to Punish the Greedy, Not the Weak
FAQ
Q: What if my players just forget to level up?
A: Then they play under-leveled. Natural consequences, lad. They’ll remember next time, I promise.
Q: Should I stop prepping so much?
A: Prep for yourself, not for them. Make it easier, sure — but never stop caring. Yer world deserves that love.
Q: How do I encourage players to care more?
A: Tie prep into their choices. Give spotlight moments to the ones who engage. Reward curiosity, not just dice rolls.
