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Here’s an idea you can try using to make sure you’re completely prepared for your next D&D session:

When you create an encounter, generate treasure for each creature in that encounter. Consider the actual make-up of the treasure to be part of the stats for the creature in the encounter. Also, when you already know all the creatures you’re putting into the encounter, calculate the actual XP for the encounter. If you wish, you can calculate XP for each creature instead.

Here’s how I envision how this should be sorted out on a piece of paper:

• Encounter title
• Quick list of creatures
• Total XP reward for each PC
• Detailed stats for each individual creature

And the stats for each creature should be just stuff that would need to be rolled ahead of time. For example:

• Creature HP
• List of prepared spells
• Loot that is on the creature’s person

Of course, you can modify this from what I’ve outlined. Instead of giving each creature a set of treasure that it carries around, you can roll all treasure for all creatures involved in an encounter, and shove it into a chest that’s conveniently nearby.

One of the advantages of doing this is to quickly distribute XP to all PCs involved. There’s no need to calculate it after it has happened, and no chance to forget about it if you do it outside of a D&D gathering such as email. Another advantage is that it makes it easier for you, as the DM, to determine what PCs get for loot if they try to get it in ways other than killing a creature in the encounter. This will make the rogues in the party very pleased too.

I’m sure there’s other things you can cram onto an encounter sheet. If you have any ideas, please share them in a comment!