CREATING SESSION ZERO
The Guide helps the Players navigate the Adventurer creation steps and provides suggestions on System and Setting choices which might help the Player fit the Adventurer to their concept.
The Guide should pay close attention and mine these discussions and choices for possible Rewards for both the Players and the Adventurers which can be used in future Adventure and Mission design.
To host a session zero, put the following on a poster board to make sure it is all sorted before the end of the evening:
- Introduce the setting world
- Introduce the sandbox region, if used
- Introduce the books / materials needed
- Introduce core mechanics
- Discuss and agree house rules and social contract (what is/is not fair game)
- Introduce the X-card system by John Stavropoulos
- Introduce the Lines and Veils system by Ron Edwards
- Introduce the Script Change system by Brie Sheldon
- Introduce the Safe Hearts system by Avery Macdaldno
- “Roll up” Adventurers
- “Roll up” 3 Enemy or Rival, 3 Neutral, and 3 Ally (3x3x3) NPCs for the Guide
- Create connections between individual Adventurers
- Merge Adventurers into party or team
- Connect Adventurers and their NPCs to their home base, if used
- Decide who makes maps?
- Decide who writes journals?
- Decide who keeps notes?
- Decide who speaks for party (if anyone)?
- Agree what happens if someone cannot show?
- Agree how to handle distractions like mobile devices
- Discuss how to handle individual Adventurer deaths
- Discuss how the overall game story ends, before it begins (retirement? mythic status?)
- Set date, time, and location for session one
- Decide who is bringing what such as food, snacks, and drinks
Additional Resources
Roleplaying Tips #0157 - 6 Tips On How To Bring Disparate Characters Together
Roleplaying Tips #0227 - Story Sparks Part I: New Ways To Begin An Adventure & Bring The PCs Together
Roleplaying Tips #0229 - Story Sparks Part II: More Ways To Begin An Adventure & Bring The PCs Together
Roleplaying Tips #0295 - Five Tips For Crafting Party Names
Roleplaying Tips #0392 - Assembling The Party - Reconciling Diverse Backgrounds
Roleplaying Tips #0502 - 6 Ways To Assemble The Party And Kick Off Your Campaign
Roleplaying Tips #0503 - Design The Party, Not The Characters
Roleplaying Tips #0952 - How To Bring A Diverse Party of PCs Together
Roleplaying Tips #1136 - The Unification Event -- How To Get The Party Together