Cheat sheet
GM checklist (Draw Steel)
Before-session and during-session reminders.
Quick blocks
Draw Steel GMing rewards tactical setup: position enemies to threaten heroic resources, use the three-tier power roll to pace stakes, and let bold play hit tier-3 outcomes.
Session checklist
- Pre-plan difficulty thresholds and tier targets — not raw HP grinds.
- Cycle heroic resources: combat drains them, breathers refill them.
- Use Director moves (edges, banes, conditions) as pacing levers.
- Make terrain mechanically meaningful every encounter.
Common pitfalls
- D&D-style HP attrition mindset
- Ignoring forced movement
- Treating tier-1 results as misses instead of small wins