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
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Disallowed |
Reference |
Background |
Off-screen |
Explicit | |
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Blood & Gore | |||||
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Bugs | |||||
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Cancer | |||||
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Claustrophobia | |||||
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Demons | |||||
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Disability | |||||
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Extreme Poverty | |||||
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Body Horror | |||||
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Gaslighting | |||||
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Harm to animals | |||||
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Harm to children | |||||
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Homophobia | |||||
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Mind Control by DM | |||||
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Personality Change | |||||
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Paralysis/Petrification | |||||
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Physical restraint | |||||
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PVP by choice | |||||
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PVP by mind control | |||||
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Stealing from PCs | |||||
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Racism | |||||
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Rats | |||||
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Real-World Religion | |||||
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Historical Genocide | |||||
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Torture | |||||
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Romance Subplots | |||||
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Romance Between PCs | |||||
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Romance Between PCs and NPCs | |||||
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Romance : fade to black | |||||
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Self-harm | |||||
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Sex : fade to black | |||||
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Sexism | |||||
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Sexual Assault | |||||
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Slavery | |||||
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Spiders | |||||
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Substance Abuse | |||||
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Terrorism | |||||
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Transphobia |
Player Questions
What questions do the Players have?
