The Session Template: The Basic Concept

This is the second post on how I use my template to generate my adventure one shots. To read the first, click here.

In some ways, deciding to run a one-shot is the easy part. It will be fun, right? You get to introduce people to a new system. You'll exercise your creative muscles to unleash horror on an unsuspecting party!

Insert evil laugh here.

But here's the first and biggest hurdle: coming up with an idea.

The Session Template: How I've started

Recently, I've been researching using templates to prepare for one-shots. This Gnome Stew article served as inspiration. I also read Never Unprepared by Phil Vecchione and The Lazy Dungeon Master by Mike Shea. I aimed to develop a personal template that gave me a lot to improvise from, but didn't lay out an entire linear story.

Shea's 3X5 adventure design method actually has been very ideal for me. Since January of this year, I've been running a Mini Six campaign for my home group using this method. It's worked very well. I've delivered some of my best sessions from a GM's perspective. And my players are getting into the story, too. Win-win!


But it did limit me somewhat when it came time to start writing adventures for conventions. More involvement in that arena has been a goal of mine this year. And I felt a need to approach those games with more forethought.