This is the format for Zero Sessions we use, and includes the process of Character Creations.

As a general policy, we prefer for Characters to be made together, as a group, so that we can play off each others differences and choices and strive to create a well rounded group that still does what we want as individuals.

That doesn’t mean “everyone picks a different class” — we’ve had parties of nothing but Rogues, and parties where everyone is named Bob, but no one had even remotely the same personality. It is more about the camaraderie of the process, the adventure of it.

From that, we go into the process of figure out how everyone meets — which is a purely role playing element, where the DM provides the circumstances that will start the Campaign, and the players provide how everyone knows each other. For Wyrlde, this is also important because of the element of a Party within an Adventurer’s Guild.

This is out general outline for what we cover.

Game System

The game System in Use.

Books required by the Players.

House Rules

Optional Rules used.

Standard Rules dropped.

Modified Standard Rules.

Original Rules.

Character Growth & Advancement.

Player Narratives.

Player Agency.

Where are the rules written down and collected?

How can they be accessed?

Rulings

How much time, if any, should be spent to check a rule during play?

How are challenged rulings handled?

When can a situation be taken back, redone, or retconned?

How much can player knowledge overlap with character knowledge?

Metagaming limits and freedoms.

Game World

Genre(s) of the Setting.

Theme(s) of the Setting.

Tone of the Setting:

Lighthearted

Grim

Dark

Evil

Heroic

Silly

Absurdist

Political

Intrigue

Serious

Realist

Game Rating:

All Ages

Up to 12

13 to 15

16 to 18

19 to 30

31 to 59

60+

Sandbox or Plotted?

Linear or Non-Linear Campaign?

Synopsis

Brief synopsis of Setting.

Key Details about the World (Kingdoms, Cultures, Religions, Peoples).

Importance of Magic?

General Level of Technology?

Notable variances from Earth Normal Science?

General adventuring environment?

Significant known threats?

Lore Availability.

Boundary Challenges

Elements of the Game World that may challenge Boundaries.

Character Creation

Disallowed Character Concepts.

Special Character Concepts.

Expectations of Characters (no evil, smartassery, gimmick).

Grounding in Setting.

Collaboration and Teamwork.

Player vs Player.

Consequences

Death.

PC actions.

Environmental.

Chance & Fate.

Plot Armor.

Raising, Resurrection, & Reincarnation

Raise Dead.

Resurrection.

Reincarnation.

New Characters.

New Players

Bringing them in.

Creating Characters.

Character Generation

Starting Character Level.

Ability Score Generation.

Races.

Cultures.

Classes.

Outfitting.

Character Creation

Appearance.

Personality Development.

Alignment.

Values.

Backgrounds.

Create an open space for communication.

Meeting of the Minds

Players answer two of five questions:

What is a strength your PC brings to the team?

How does your PC benefit from the team?

How important are the members of the Party to your PC?

Dragon or Unicorn?

What is a strength of one of the other PCs that your PC admires?

DM Provides:

Where they are.

What they are doing.

Why they are there.

Their condition.

Players describe how they all meet and arrive at the designated point in a pure roleplay session.

Campaign Etiquette

Location of Sessions.

Session Times.

Day of the Week.

Time of day.

Length of Sessions.

Length of Campaign.

Lateness.

Absence.

Cancellations.

Session Etiquette

Establish ground rules and expectations.

Boundaries around sensitive topics.

PVP rules.

Out of Character disagreements.

In-character disagreements.

Table Language.

In-Character Terminology versus Table Terminology.

Boundaries

 

Disallowed

Reference

Background

Off-screen

Explicit

Blood & Gore

     

Bugs

     

Cancer

     

Claustrophobia

     

Demons

     

Disability

     

Extreme Poverty

     

Body Horror

     

Gaslighting

     

Harm to animals

     

Harm to children

     

Homophobia

     

Mind Control by DM

     

Personality Change

     

Paralysis/Petrification

     

Physical restraint

     

PVP by choice

     

PVP by mind control

     

Stealing from PCs

     

Racism

     

Rats

     

Real-World Religion

     

Historical Genocide

     

Torture

     

Romance Subplots

     

Romance Between PCs

     

Romance Between PCs and NPCs

     

Romance : fade to black

     

Self-harm

     

Sex : fade to black

     

Sexism

     

Sexual Assault

     

Slavery

     

Spiders

     

Substance Abuse

     

Terrorism

     

Transphobia

     

Player Questions

What questions do the Players have?

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