SESSION ZERO CHECKLIST

1. GROUP CREATION

• Player Introductions (Name, Basic Info, Tabletop Gaming Experience, Hobbies, etc. )

• Campaign Time, Date, and Location

• Attendance Policy

2. GAME STYLE DISCUSSION 

• Grids, Theater of the Mind, or Other

• Player vs. Player

• Cheating/Metagaming

• Microphone Etiquette

• Breaks/Food/Snacks

• Table Behavior/Conflict Management

• How to Give the Players/GM Feedback

• Rolling Guidelines (Where and how we will roll)

• Descriptive Combat 

• Sharing the Spotlight

• Language and Inappropriate Topics

3. CAMPAIGN GUIDELINES

• Commitment to Consistent Time and Day

• Campaign Length: Open-Ended or with a Conclusion

• Game Master's Expectations for the Campaign

• Players’ Expectations (What would the players like to see?) 

• Theme and Tone of the Campaign

• Combat v. Adventure v. Roleplay (Puzzles: Chases, etc)

• Story and Adventure Guidelines (Linear v. Non-Linear)

• Custom Rules (Inspiration, Called Shots, etc.) 

• Gear/Equipment Management

• Impact of Player Decisions

4. WORLD TOUR

• Specific Type of Setting

• Level of Magic/Technology Level 

• Magic and Gods

• Classes and Races

• Significant History

• Major NPCs/Power of the NPCs

• Laws and Taboos

• Starting Location

• Structure/Guidelines of Alignments

5. CHARACTER CREATION

• Gaming System/Books Allowed

• Classes and Races

• Starting Level and Level Range the

• Guidelines and Pace of Leveling (How do you gain levels?) 

• Alignments Allowed

• Attributes: Roll, Array, or Point Buy

• Starting Wealth and Gear/Custom Equipment 

• Guidelines for Character Backgrounds

• Generate Character Concepts

6. PARTY CREATION

• Build Off Concepts to Create Connections 

• Common Backgrounds

• Integrate Characters Into the World. 

• Party Roles (In and out of combat)

• Player Roles (Leader, Recorder, Loremaster, etc.) 

• Confirm Game Time AGAIN!

• Final Questions on anything?

 

HAPPY GAMING!