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)