TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Part 1: What It Means to Run RP
• Part 2: The Scene Runner’s Toolbox
• Part 3: Hooks, Stakes, and Player Buy-In
• Part 4: Improvisation Without Meltdown
• Part 5: Creating Memorable NPCs on the Fly
• Part 6: Dealing with Derailment, Drama, and Inertia
• Part 7: Inclusive Scenes: Making Space for Everyone
• Part 8: Long-Term Plots: From Sparks to Campaigns
• Part 9: Wrap-Up: Letting Go, Paying Off, and Leaving Room for More

What You Need, What You Don’t, and What Secretly Matters Most

Welcome back, storyteller! Last time, we talked about what it means to run RP scenes. Now let’s get into the practical stuff: what you actually need to run a great RP, and what’s just clutter in the bag of holding.

Spoiler: You don’t need to be perfect, all-knowing, or even fully prepared. You just need the right tools and the right mindset.

🧰 The Toolbox

🧠 A Scene Concept (But Not a Script)

Have a setup, not a plot. You’re lighting the fuse, not dictating where the sparks land.

Example setups:

• “A distress signal is coming from an abandoned freighter.”
• “A mysterious diplomat arrives for secretive negotiations.”
• “A street festival is interrupted by a heist.”

That’s it! Leave space for the players to surprise you.

🧊 A Starting Hook

Get players engaged fast. A good hook:

• Introduces tension or mystery quickly
• Invites characters to do something
• Raises a question the scene will try to answer

Example:
“The freighter’s power is flickering – and the life support system is offline. You’ve got minutes.”

🧍 At Least One NPC Tool

Have a name and personality ready for a supporting character:

• A guard, witness, suspect, victim, vendor, alien dignitary – someone the players can interact with
• Don’t worry about deep backstory. Just pick a voice, an attitude, and a role.

Write down:

• Name
• One adjective (e.g., “nervous,” “abrasive,” “too chill”)
• One goal (e.g., “keep quiet,” “get help,” “get paid”)

⏱️ A Sense of Pacing

Scenes should breathe, but also move.

You’ll need:

• One or two key beats to hit (e.g., a twist, a complication)
• A sense of how long you want the scene to run
• The courage to wrap it up before it overstays its welcome

🎲 A System (Optional, but Useful)

Whether it’s dice rolls, skill checks, or pure narrative judgment – have a way to resolve conflict and uncertainty. This avoids arguments and adds excitement.

You don’t need to be strict, but you do need to be consistent.

🧘 The Right Mindset

This is your most important tool. Bring:

• Flexibility over rigidity
• A desire to spotlight others
• Comfort with improvisation
• Willingness to fail forward (let things go wrong in fun ways!)

🪫 You Don’t Need:

• A novel-length plot
• Perfect accents
• A cast of 15 detailed NPCs
• Lore mastery
• Fancy coded systems

If you do have those? Cool. But don’t wait until you’re “ready.” Just show up with a spark and a few ideas.

Next up: Part 3 – Hooks, Stakes, and Player Buy-In
We’ll break down how to create tension, motivate characters, and make players care right from the first post.