Cover of The First Session Playbook

The First Session Playbook

A warm, practical, system-neutral guide for brand-new Game Masters, from the first box of dice to an unforgettable first game night: prep in 60 minutes, running the table, first combat, improv tables, troubleshooting, plus fillable sheets.

Players and time
System-neutral; works with 5E starter sets and any fantasy RPG; reading time: chapters 1-5 about an hour; recommends 3-5 players and 3-4 hour sessions
Pages
25
Format
A4 and US Letter
Language
English, Italian
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What's in the download

  • Ch.1 So You're the Game Master (4 hats, what you are not, 3 promises)
  • Ch.2 Before Game Night (adventure choice, invite template, 15-minute mini Session Zero, table setup, online play)
  • Ch.3 Prep in 60 Minutes (8-step method, secrets instead of plot, worked example)
  • Ch.4 Running the Game; Ch.5 Your First Combat (describing hits and misses)
  • Ch.6 Improv Toolkit (d12 quirks, d20 names, d6 monster wants, d12 taverns, d10 rewards that aren't gold)
  • Ch.7 When Things Go Sideways (8 common problems)
  • 6 fillable sheets

Inside pages

Lines from the book

Somebody unwrapped a box of dice, looked around the room and said, "So… who's going to run it?" And here you are.

A ferry crossing where the ferryman takes payment in secrets, not coins.

The Quiet Owl. A silent teahouse where people talk on slates. Speaking aloud costs a copper.

GM 19 The First Session Playbook

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