Session Zero Checklist

Games Mastery

Session Zero Checklist

Character Creation.

• How do you roll your character ability stats? 4 dice, don’t count the lowest? Point buy? 

• Are the Characters only using races and classes in the core rule book or any other books or home-brews acceptable?

• Do you want to set up your characters personality before the game or grow it naturally during the game.

• Do the PC’s already know each other? Were they hired to do a job together? Do their backstories relate to each other?

• Make sure characters have specific goals that can lead to role-play opportunities and adventure hooks.

• Add character backstories to your world. Or create locations together as a group.

Establish tone and genre of the game.

• Fantasy with low or high magic setting, Sci-fi, Horror, western, A spy thriller, post-apocalypse setting?

• Serious tone. Funnier themes?

• What type of story does the group want to play? 

• Epic quest or dungeon crawl, Monster Slaying, Political Intrigue, Heist, Survival, etc.

Choose characters alignment. Good or Evil Campaign?

• Do the characters work well together? Figure out why the paladin is willing to travel with a pack of murder hobos.

What is your play style? Does it match with the players style?

• Linear story or open world sandbox?

• Hack-n-slash? Role-Play heavy? Or both?

•  Exploration? Do players want a lot of puzzles and traps?

•  Lots of voices and acting? Costumes and props at the table?

Establish your house rules. 

• Do you allow players fight each other?

• Do you confirm critical hits?.

• No cheating on dice rolls, stats, keep track of spell slots and ammo. Do you re-roll if the dice doesn’t land flat?

• Teach the players that they should know what they are doing on their turn. 

• What rules do you use to for critical hits and misses? Can you crit an ability check or saving throw?

• Are you using experience points or leveling by session or story arcs?

• Do you use Inspiration points or Bennies in your game?

• Are phones allowed at your table?

• How much do you expect players to work together?

• Do you use flanking rules or rolling advantage?

• Will you be role playing shopping or travel time?

• Will you be counting rations and encumbrance rules?

If you have time during session zero, start the game with a practice battle or encounter. New players might need to take extra time to figure out their characters abilities and combat rules.

Make a Schedule. 

• Decide when and where the next session is.

• Is the game a one shot or an ongoing story?

• Will the story last 4 sessions or 2 years?

• Is the group okay if a player misses a session or two? 

• How does the group handle a missing player?

• Do you want the whole party there every session?

• When is the next game?