What Is Session 0 (And Why It Changes Everything)
Before the dice hit the table, before anyone rolls for initiative, there's Session 0 — the most underrated session in all of Dungeons & Dragons. It's not a game session. It's a conversation. And it might be the single most important thing you do as a Dungeon Master.
Session 0 is where your table comes together to align on expectations, establish safety, and build characters that actually fit the world you're creating together. Skip it, and you risk mismatched tones, uncomfortable moments, and characters who feel like strangers to each other. Run it well, and you set the stage for a campaign your players will talk about for years.
This guide walks you through exactly what to cover — and we've got a free downloadable checklist to make it easy.
The Session 0 Checklist: What to Cover
1. Set the Tone and Genre
Not all D&D campaigns are the same. Are you running a gritty, low-magic survival story? A swashbuckling adventure full of humor? A political intrigue campaign where combat is rare? Let your players know upfront so they can build characters that fit the vibe.
Ask your players: What kind of story do you want to tell? Their answers might surprise you — and shape your campaign in the best way.
2. Establish Safety Tools
D&D explores big themes — loss, conflict, moral ambiguity, sometimes horror. Safety tools make sure everyone at the table feels comfortable and in control of their experience.
Common tools include:
- Lines and Veils — Lines are content that won't appear in the game at all. Veils are content that can happen, but off-screen.
- The X-Card — Any player can tap or hold up the X-Card at any time to skip past content, no questions asked.
- Open Door Policy — Anyone can step away from the table (physically or emotionally) without judgment.
Our Session 0 Consent Checklist is a printable PDF that walks your whole table through these conversations in a structured, low-pressure way. It's one of the most-used tools in our community.
3. Discuss Character Creation Guidelines
Give your players clear parameters before they start building:
- What sourcebooks are allowed? (Player's Handbook only, or all official books?)
- What's the starting level and ability score method? (Point buy, standard array, or rolled stats?)
- Are there any races, classes, or backgrounds that don't fit your world?
- Do characters know each other at the start, or are they strangers?
If you want a character sheet that's built for the Gnomies community, check out our Dungeons & Gnomies 5e Character Sheet — a custom digital download designed to make character creation feel like part of the adventure.
4. Talk About Scheduling and Table Rules
The most epic campaign dies if no one can show up. Use Session 0 to nail down the logistics:
- How often will you play, and for how long?
- What happens when someone can't make it? (Does the session happen anyway? Does their character disappear?)
- What's the policy on phones, side conversations, and distractions?
- How do you handle rules disputes at the table?
These conversations feel boring, but they prevent 90% of the drama that breaks up campaigns.
5. Build Connections Between Characters
One of the best things you can do in Session 0 is have players introduce their characters to each other and establish a shared history. Even one sentence — "My character owes yours a favor" or "We grew up in the same village" — creates instant investment.
Try the "Bonds" exercise: go around the table and have each player establish one connection with the character to their left. It takes five minutes and makes the party feel like a real group from session one.
A Quick Session 0 Agenda Template
Here's a simple structure you can follow for a 2-hour Session 0:
- 0:00–0:20 — Welcome, introductions, and campaign pitch
- 0:20–0:40 — Safety tools and consent checklist
- 0:40–1:10 — Character creation guidelines and Q&A
- 1:10–1:40 — Character introductions and inter-party bonds
- 1:40–2:00 — Scheduling, table rules, and open questions
Download Your Free Session 0 Checklist
We put together a printable Session 0 Consent Checklist that covers all of the above in a clean, easy-to-use format. Print one for each player, fill it out together, and you're ready to roll.
It's the kind of tool we wish we'd had when we first started playing — and it's become a staple at Gnomies game tables everywhere. To get it Free use code Sesh0 at checkout exclusive for making it this far!
Ready to Play?
Session 0 is just the beginning. Once your table is aligned and your characters are built, the real adventure starts. Whether you're a first-time DM or a seasoned storyteller, taking the time to run a proper Session 0 is one of the best gifts you can give your players.
Grab your Session 0 Consent Checklist, pull out your Dungeons & Gnomies Character Sheet, and let's get this campaign started.
Happy adventuring — from all of us at Gnomies. 🎲
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