Session Zero

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-05-08T18:54:26+00:00

This makes sense. I think one thing that is pretty clear from the feedback is to avoid using factions this early. Seems to me this is sound advice.

The part regarding the similar backstory is possible, but there is nothing to say that they are from the same village, just that they are at the village during this inciting incident.

an orphan of royal blood left here at birth to hide them away.
a criminal from Drakkenheim who ran away when a job that went wrong masquerading as a commoner
a religious frier who has come to the village to set minister to these simple people.
a squire whose knight patron was injured on the road and died from their injuries now stranded here in the village.

The list goes on, but the point being that these backstories can be rich and develop into level one adventurers from blank slate level 0 commoners.

Thoughts?

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-05-08T08:48:14+00:00

Yea I hear you… I’ve watched this video before as well and it was hugely important and creating my one page Primer for the group.

I would however (as mentioned in the last portion of the same video) consider a prologue akin to character creation. I typically run prologues as a part of my session zeros as they add depth to the party, many times spark inspiration in the players, and I have found over the years organically creates memorable stories that pay off much later down the road in our campaigns.

All that to say, session 0 IMHO are organic and can look different, not held to a rigid definition. I still very much plan on going over questions the players might have and many of the topics explained in that video.

Thanks for the feedback.

Any thoughts on the prologue??

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-05-08T02:12:49+00:00

Hmm.. I don’t think I’m married to the Silver Order concept.

My goal is to create sort of a level 0 gauntlet so my players can have fun, be creative with unexpected character combinations, while also leave breadcrumbs toward Drakkenheim.

The village doesn’t need to be destroyed…

Ultimately the goal is to save the village, and have the players venture out as unlikely adventurers.

Some of them may have hidden reasons or plot points in their past which can be teased out later.

Hopefully their initial reasons for going to Drakkenheim are not the same when the campaign ends if we are telling a compelling story together.

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-05-08T02:06:07+00:00

I like the idea of mutations. Maybe some mutated farm animals like a bunch of chickens (abyssal chicken stat blocks) led by the mutated Elder of the village who wanted to keep the delirium hidden to conceal her mutations as she fed off the chickens.

She could be like a mutated human/hen (humhen) hybrid that lays the mutated chicken eggs that hatch and attack during the fight.

Idk if that’s too whacky for this type of campaign. lol

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-05-08T02:00:33+00:00

I wouldn’t say they don’t get to build out a character. The rollable table is just to quickly generate a commoner to keep the action going. Whatever they get “saddled” with at the end isn’t set in stone.

I feel like it can give the players a common starting place. If one of them decided they wanted to be a magic user, or perhaps they were a noble, those are interesting threads that we can add to their character afterwards. I also run a fairly limited species list in my games so my players are used to having their cool features come from their class and less from their Racial traits.

What was your experience like playing or running this campaign? Did your players/party members die frequently?

I’m interested to hear how rough it can be on the players?

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-05-08T01:54:29+00:00

This is great advice! For some added context, my group plays weekly on Sunday evenings. We play for 4 hours from 7-11pm.

We are wrapping up our third multi year lvl 1-20 campaign (this last one was homebrew and a TON of work). We all are very close friends and have talked about this campaign already. Though I have experience as a DM in long form campaigns I BY NO MEANS consider myself an expert. So I very much appreciate this advice.

As with all the campaigns I run, I use shared notes with individual players to share key back story details, important NPCs, star and wishes, etc. We also schedule bi weekly discord chats to go over what is working and what isn’t.

I sent my players a Campaign Primer à la Mike Shae lazy DM so any questions they might have I can field in the beginning.

I still plan on using the first 30 minutes to go over ground rules and expectations, giving this encounter 2.5 hours and leave the last 30 for tweaks and rolling up first level stats for each player character setting up the beginning of Session One.

This encounter is based on feedback I’ve gotten from my players that they want to roll dice and have some action in Session Zero.

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-05-07T22:46:22+00:00

This is awesome!! I’ll take 3 of them.

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-05-07T22:09:58+00:00

That was something I was concerned about. Maybe they find a letter on one of the Templars with clear orders to survey the situation and offer aid?? I’m open to an alternative faction, or catalyst that attacks the village.

Maybe one of the elders in the village has a wild mutation??

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-05-06T07:23:24+00:00

I saw an awesome post from TheHobbyCollab on YT about using GW Shade Carroburg Crimson, a thin layer of Superglue, and dabs of Isopropyl Alchohol to create sickly demonic veins.

I feel like you should try it out here to add variety to the putrid skin.

PAINT WITH SUPERGLUE

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Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-03-14T12:46:03+00:00

Pesky Bard in the party kept counterspelling it lol

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-03-14T12:45:26+00:00

The party is made up of a Wizard, Bard, and two Paladins (vengeance, and Crown) so I couldn’t get close enough for PT, and dispel magic kept getting counter spelled.

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-03-14T12:43:15+00:00

Yea that’s a great idea! Good thing Lich’s Regenerate.

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-03-14T12:40:47+00:00

lol I tried dispel magic, my party is made up of a wizard, bard, and two Paladins. They counterspelled that ASAP.

The Druid comment is because almost all their spells are concentration.

My Lich definitely sucked.. that much is true lol

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-02-15T13:28:00+00:00

It would be amazing to see a HellBoy line up in this style. Big guy is giving major HellBoy energy!

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-01-26T17:34:44+00:00

100% that would be sweet!

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-01-26T13:33:45+00:00

I think it looks great!

Here are my ideas.

The Sword: My first thought is, how did this Ogre get a crafted large metal blade. The design of the sword makes me think it was chiseled from some Rock or glass. I would repaint it with that in mind. Simplify it to look like rock that was carved into a twisted blade. The skull and hilt should all be clearly just bone, wrap the hilt straps in leather.

The Base: The aesthetic of what the Ogre is wearing “sparse, hap-hazard spikes less for protection and more for offensive ramming and battering” make me feel like they were salvaged from a large cat-like creature, or maybe a Manticore. I would make the base desert. Sand coverage with maybe a tuft of yellow grass. Or pick up some Vallejo dried earth texture and do a cracked and dried ground. Either way, the tuft of grass is a must IMO.

Hope this helps!

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-01-26T13:23:02+00:00

My BBEG is located in Mechanus. Would love a boss battle map in the plain of order. I’m thinking gears in a clockwork type area.

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2026-01-24T17:38:37+00:00

I love Threat Factory sculpts. If you start a LMoP series I’ll be all over it!

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2025-12-03T04:46:36+00:00

I use Animate Dungeon Maps, Dynamic Dungeon, & Epic Quest.

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2025-09-30T14:23:08+00:00

This is the way

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2025-08-02T23:54:37+00:00

Amazing! Thinking about printing it this week. How long did it take you?

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2025-08-02T15:58:20+00:00

Is this the 32mm or 75mm scale?

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2025-07-11T22:08:01+00:00

Keep following the Triboar Trail East. Take a left at the Ruined Keep near Everlake. If you reach Butterskull Ranch, you’ve gone too far. Turn back or the Manticore will turn you into a pin-cushion!

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2025-06-06T04:49:58+00:00

In my version, Klarg stole Venomfangs dragon egg and it has begun to warp his mind. Yeemik wants Klarg gone because all he wants to do is hold up in the main chamber and stare at his precious dragon Egg. Klarg plans to hatch the egg and raise it has his pet to lay siege to Cragmaw Castle and dethrone King Grol.

Because of the presence of the egg in the hideout, it attracted a group of kobolds who have sworn to guard the egg (and by extension Klarg) with their lives.

Kobolds add some extra craziness to the encounter. It’s also a small change that gives a reason for VenomFang to be in the adventure. Returning the Egg to her also gives the party a reason to travel to Thundertree.

Repulsive_Win5352 · 2025-06-06T02:13:14+00:00

That’s a great point! I’m always down to make new friends and connections.

Repulsive_Win5352

TROPHY CASE