Dungeon Master’s Session Prep Checklist
Story & NPCs
- Main plot points (Outline the main events for the session)
- Important NPCs (Detail key characters, their motivations, and roles)
- Side quests/subplots (Consider any secondary storylines or quests)
- Backstory/lore (Prepare any relevant history or world-building info)
World & Environment
- Key locations (Describe important towns, dungeons, or wilderness areas)
- Weather conditions (Decide on weather and environmental factors)
- Maps/visuals (Create or gather maps for significant locations)
- Points of interest (Establish landmarks or points of interest)
Encounters & Combat
- Combat encounters (Plan enemy encounters, terrain, and tactics)
- Non-combat encounters (Design puzzles, traps, or social challenges)
- Encounter difficulty (Balance encounters for party size and level)
- Loot/rewards (Determine treasure, magic items, and experience points)
Roleplaying & Player Engagement
- Character-specific hooks (Develop plot hooks for individual characters)
- Player actions/reactions (Anticipate how players might respond to events)
- Improvisation (Prepare for unexpected decisions or actions)
- Character development (Identify opportunities for character growth)
Miscellaneous & Notes
- Rules/mechanics review (Review any relevant game rules or mechanics)
- Materials needed (List required dice, miniatures, or handouts)
- Session timeline (Plan a rough agenda or sequence of events)
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