RPG Evolution: Treating Session Zero Like a Movie Trailer

A new adventure, new players, and a new opportunity to get everyone up to speed. I decided to do what I do best: share a PowerPoint presentation.

I've been in the business world over two decades, so PowerPoint is something I'm very familiar with. That, combined with the fact that we're on the third adventure in my series (which I'm writing, playtesting, and publishing as I go), was an opportunity to pull out all the stops to bring my new and returning players up to date. Here's how I did it.

Players Old and New​

After taking nearly a year each to finish each of the first two adventures I wrote, the magic number for players seems to be six. The rule is we play if we have at least four. Our existing group consists of a tiefling sorcerer (played by my wife, so if I'm DMing she's playing), a tiefling warlock, and a wood elf ranger. One of my players decided to change characters from a dwarf cleric to a gnome artificer. There are some concerns about what this meant from a healing perspective for the group, but artificers can cast cure wounds so that may help. We also have a player who skipped the last adventure but is returning. He originally played a human paladin and is back this time as a human rogue. Finally, there's our newest player to the group, the game, and this edition of Dungeons & Dragons. She's playing a wood elf druid.

Of this group, two players didn't participate in the last adventure and probably could use a refresher on what went before. We also had three new characters with different backgrounds that I intertwined with the other NPCs, so their backgrounds would be important. There's a lot to cover and I wanted to make our new player comfortable with the world.

The Adventure​

The adventure is a tournament arc in which the PCs are tasked with defeating a villain in a tower. Seems simple, right? Complicating matters is that the entire effort has attracted mercenaries from around the globe. To manage these mercenaries and keep them from pillaging and looting the local community, the residential gnomes have created a clockpunk-powered game show. Multiple mercenary groups, each with colorful competitors of their own, are competing against our PCs for fabulous cash prizes. It's inspired by Squid Game, 80s video game cabinet art, daytime game shows, and tournament arcs from anime like Wakfu and Fairy Tail.

The competitors come from all over my game world, so their backgrounds are relevant. Some PCs know them well, others only know of the region, and some competitors come from places they've never heard of. I wanted to succinctly sum up what the PCs would know: where they came from, what happened in the last two adventures, and what our heroes would face next.

Unlike my last adventure, which featured mature themes, this is more of a hack-and-slash style game with a commercial gloss so there wasn't as much content warnings from me to share with the players. But it was a good way to get a sense of what was to come: clockwork technology interspersed with cheerful hosts commenting on the contestants slaughtering each other.

The PowerPoint​

There are many, many PowerPoint templates to choose from, but few are comprehensive themes. Often, they're a picture/color combination. Slidesgo however really invests time and energy in their themes.

There were a few to choose from. I almost picked the Dungeons & Creatures Minitheme, but in the end decided to go with the Middle Earth Fantasy Day Presentation.

But what to put in it? The first thing I realized was that while everything was laid out geographically in my head, my players didn't know that. So I created a map to demonstrate where the PCs have been so far and where they are now.

I wanted to make it easy for each player to visualize their character, so I created slides for each describing class, race, and home region. Then I added a slide explaining their home region with interesting facts that shape their characters. This also helped explain the contests, as one of the PC's is a gnome and it's his people putting on the "show." Now I just needed some thematic music to tie it all together.

I didn't have to look far. Pixabay's music section has some amazing choices and the Cinematic Music category has some gems. I needed something that sounded epic but also was long enough that it didn't repeat too many times. I ended up picking Honor and Sword by Zakhar Valaha. Zakhar's music can be found here, on Spotify , and Apple Music.

How It Went​

Session Zero was a great way to get everyone relaxed for the game. With a new player, I didn't want to overwhelm them with both introductions and new game rules. There was plenty of housekeeping to discuss: leveling up characters, creating new tokens for familiars and summoned creatures, and getting reacquainted with the Roll20 interface. We're also all friends, so it was an opportunity to catch up. Our last game was at the end of November and we went on hiatus while I finished up writing the next adventure and the players got ready.

The players loved it. I'm not sure my voice was quite movie trailer quality, but I did my best with the music and slideshow to immerse them in my campaign world. It took some work, but it also helped me distill down to the basics what is unique about the game and what each player character brings to it.

Your Turn: I kind of went overboard with my Session Zero. How much effort do you put into yours?

 

[DND_Reborn]

Your Turn: I kind of went overboard with my Session Zero. How much effort do you put into yours?

That is certainly a lot of work and I hope your friends/players truly appreciate it!

For mine, I don't do a session zero in the modern sense. I often email or tell players the basics about character creation, unless it is a new player and then I meet with them individually first. Then we just jump into the first session.

IME, 5E has a lot more people using many house-rules than older editions did. In AD&D, I had less than a page of house rules and pretty much I could just tell everyone to make a character and they knew what to do.

YMMV of course.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Session zero opening lines:

"The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live, will remember it.

It began with ..."

 

[Oofta]

I had something similar in my current campaign as an intro. For me it was describing a scene where a local bard was telling the story of what had happened previously. But no powerpoint or anything like that, just a scene for the PCs to read before the game started to give them an idea of the setting. We discuss more specifics about motivations and goals in the session 0 or after an intro session or two.

Spoiler: Intro story

The old storyteller looks at you, and gives you a knowing smile. An elderly half-elf, Kerenna SpellSinger walks with a limp and uses a gnarled staff for support but her eyes glitter in the light when telling a story and her voice is still strong and vibrant. You are part of a group that has gathered around the fire to hear a story as the evening sun gives up it’s last rays to darkness, a story that may be new to some of you.

“Long ago” Kerenna starts in what sounds like a whisper but somehow carries to all those gathered around “when I was but a young lass with my future spread before me like the open ocean, we lived on the edge of Quag’s Keep, said to be the greatest city of the western realms.”

Kerenna waves her hand over the fire, and the sparks dance and twirl forming an image of a bustling port city covering several square miles. It was an unimaginably large metropolis, with a population measured in tens if not hundreds of thousands.

“While it was not always a safe place to be” the image zooms in to one of many dark alleyways where two men with knives threaten a young street urchin. While the only sound in the room is an occasional gasp from the crowd and the crackling pop of the fire, you could swear that the sounds of the shifting logs are instead the gravelly voices of the thugs laughing at the urchin’s plight.

“There was still hope, and goodness to be found.” The perspective of the image changed slightly showing a hooded figure coming to the rescue of the urchin, chasing off the thugs.

“That is how my story began.” Kerenna intones “A street urchin, hungry, cold not expecting aid or comfort from anyone.” Her voice cracks slightly at the pain of the memory “But I was given a second chance, a chance to earn my way”

The images shift and blur once more, showing a young girl working at a local shop making shoes, laughing at something the cobbler said.

“My mysterious benefactor paid my apprentice fee so that I could have a new life, but he could not stop the destruction that came raining down when Loki broke free from his chains.”

The image shifted once more spiralling up into the sky, giving a hawk’s eye view and then going even higher. Impossibly far to the east a volcano erupted on the other side of far away mountains, a plume of fire and ash rising into the sky forming the face and upper body of the screaming god released from prison.

The figure hurled molten red rocks to the far reaches of the globe, spawning even more volcanoes and quaking earth. One rock hit the sea south of Quag’s Keep spawning another volcano that erupted causing massive tidal waves that washed over much of the city. The parts of the city that were not drowned were pummelled by fiery rock.

Zooming impossibly high, the silent audience was shown that the destruction was not limited to just one area, that the cataclysm was spread wide and far to lands unknown.

“Much was lost that day in a blink of an eye. Somehow I survived when others perished.” The storyteller was silent for a moment as a single tear creased her wrinkled cheek.

In a wan voice she continued “The following years were difficult.” The image now showed the ruined remains of the cobbler’s shop and a you girl gaunt with hunger looking out at a sky heavy with clouds as wisps of snow blew by. “Those were hungry years, years of failed crops, years of little or no sun. Years when we thought the end of times had come.”

The sun fully set as the image dissolved once more into the flames as even the light of the fire seemed to dim, as if giving up the fight against the darkness.

“But even in our blackest hour, we never gave up hope.” The flames pop and crackle once more somehow shedding light similar to the first light of dawn.

“On the edges of a dead city people settled, even flourished.” Images reformed, now showing a young woman hanging a sign for a shoe store with the help of a young man. The two walk into the shop holding hands.

“The gods were at war, but what are a few decades to the immortal? We were safe enough for the moment, some even thought the threat of Ragnarok had passed. But there was always a threat looming on the horizon. Entire villages would just disappear overnight.” A village scene formed, with people scrambling to hide in their houses as a dense fog rolled in. When the fog leaves, there is no sign of life and the houses have been destroyed.

“There was trade between the main holdings, OldCastle on the west side traded with the Iron Hill dwarves and in turn traded with NorthGate for grain and food supplies. Both traded with Riverside which maintained a shipping and fishing industry despite the constant threat of pirates.” A stylized map of the three cities formed, showing small caravans going from city to city in a constant three way flow.

“We prospered and in many ways were safer than most. But it was never safe.” One of the caravans is shown being attacked by creatures from the ruins of the old city, with people being dragged off screaming into the darkness.

“But leaders arose, guided us safely through the troubled times.” images form of the dwarven monk Duran Rockfist commanding troops as they defend the walls from attack along with the elven archer Edewen and Jorgen Carlson, human paladin of Heimdal leading the defense of the city.

“Then one day the war of the gods came to a conclusion. Riverside was attacked by Loki himself who summoned great and terrible creatures.” Images form of a dark cloud over the borough of Riverside as dracolichs and fiendish creatures from the dark reaches of Jotunheim.

“Loki had destroyed a seal on a gate to Jotunheim. The Asgardians descended from the heavens and recaptured Loki once more.” A scene forms of gods fighting in the skies high above Riverside in a tumultuous scene of power, lightning and fire.

“Fortunately the town leaders Bridget and Buggle, arose to evacuate the people.” A tall blonde woman, a bald half orc and others are shown shouting orders and giving directions as people flood onto boats “The gods were able to close the gate once more, and Loki was returned to his prison.”

The clouds clear slowly showing a smoking ruin of a town. “The destruction of the city was nearly complete and the seal was imperfect.” The gaping fissure that was there before is gone, covered in melted rubble but with tiny fissures glowing red.

“We have not been able to reclaim Riverside. Evil still claims that part of the old city, but for the rest of us life goes on.”

“We grow strong once more, but always under the threat of incursion from creatures drawn by the evil power of the rift.” Images now form in the fire of goblins, orcs and shambling undead.

“Fortunately we have strong leadership, in Duran and his advisors Edewen and Jorgen’s daughter Kristina to keep us safe.” As the names are spoken, images of the three leaders are shown.

“So we gather tonight to celebrate …” the speech goes on but you are too distracted to pay attention, perhaps by a vendor selling your favorite snack or a cute girl/guy walking by that gives you a quick smile.

 

[Blue Orange]

Known ages, least to most recent (Nemed. Chronicl.)
-Atlantis and gleaming cities beneath the oceans
-Age undreamed of
-Rise of Sons of Aryas

Known kingdoms
-Nemedia
-Ophir
-Brythunia
-Hyperborea
-Zamora
--dark-haired women
--towers of spider-haunted mystery
-Zingara (chivalry)
-Koth (borders on pastoral lands of Shem)
-Hyrkania (steel, silk, and gold on riders)
-Aquilonia (proudest of the world)
--reigns supreme in dreaming west
--Conan here

Conan
-Cimmerian
-black hair, sullen eyes, sandals
-gigantic melancholies AND mirth
-thief
-reaver
-slayer
-treads jeweled thrones of earth underfoot

 

[payn]

I love what you have done here. I think session zero should have thoughtful preparation. Doesn't necessarily have to be a PowerPoint, but I agree you should give the players a teaser of what your campaign idea is. I have become a big fan of the "player's guide" that Paizo puts out for their APs. I use one now no matter what system or campaign I'm running. I really want to make sure the players understand my vision and what type of game I want to run.

As a player, I am very disappointed when the GM is not prepared to answer questions or give any detail about their campaign. It has almost gotten tot he point where I know exactly what to expect from the experience, and if there is little to no prep, i'll be hoping for the campaign to end sooner than later. YMMV.

 

[Ulfgeir]

A good presentation can really help with a session zero. Or with recaps of what happened last session (or previous in the campaign).

Looks gorgeous.

 

[Shiroiken]

For mine, I don't do a session zero in the modern sense. I often email or tell players the basics about character creation, unless it is a new player and then I meet with them individually first. Then we just jump into the first session.

We use Discord to communicate (and especially coordinate) between sessions. We've found Session 0 unnecessary, since everything it would accomplish is done over the weeks leading up to the campaign start.

 

[payn]

We use Discord to communicate (and especially coordinate) between sessions. We've found Session 0 unnecessary, since everything it would accomplish is done over the weeks leading up to the campaign start.

It is nice being able to communicate and trade documents via discord. You can certainly do all session zero type activities over time and not have to have the traditional date setting. I still think having a little preparation goes a long way for the GM and players.

 

[Laurefindel]

Session 0... like a movie trailer...

Heck no! All the best scenes will be spoiled! Then my friends will all close their eyes and plug their ears saying "lalalalalalala!" until I finish talking. Sounds counterproductive

But on a more serious note, making a spectacle (of some sort) out of session 0 is not a bad idea. It happens in most of our Star Wars games with the opening Star Wars theme (complete with the 20th Century Fox fanfare), intro text scroll, and a narration of whatever our players are thrown in in media res, but I never really applied the same concept with fantasy games.

But much of our session 0 - if they can be called as such - happens over internet these days.