# Running a one-shot
## Matt Colville [^twitter]
- 2-3 fights
- 1 puzzle
- 1 NPC to talk to
## 1-2-1 [^greatgm]
The 1-2-1 method involves 1 intro, 2 obstacles, and 1 showdown.
It also provides an easy way to determine how long to spend on each section: divide the total time available by 4, and then use the 1-2-1 like weights. For example, if you have two hours (120 minutes), you can spend:
- 30 minutes on Intro
- 60 minutes on 2 obstacles
- 30 minutes on final showdown
Then, add or subtract encounters as necessary.
## References
[^greatgm]: _How to be a great GM_. (2017). Accessed in May 2021 from [YouTube](https://youtu.be/Ou-CGHCx71I).
[^twitter]: Colville, M. (2019). Tweet accessed in May 2021 from [Twitter](https://twitter.com/mattcolville/status/1130542570805661696).