Why every D&D campaign needs a Session Zero

The number one cause of campaign death isn't a Total Party Kill. It is misaligned expectations. When one player thinks they are in Game of Thrones and another thinks they are in Monty Python, conflict is inevitable.

A "Session Zero" is a dedicated meeting before the campaign starts to establish the "Social Contract" of the table. It covers the boring stuff like scheduling and the critical stuff like safety tools, ensuring everyone is excited to play the same game.

Key Elements of a Good Agreement

• Logistics: It sounds simple, but agreeing on proper times determines if your campaign lasts three sessions or three years.
• Tone: Is this a meat-grinder dungeon crawl or a political intrigue? Setting the slider between "Combat" and "Roleplay" helps players build appropriate characters.
• Safety Tools (Lines & Veils): TTRPGs can explore dark themes. Defining "Lines" (hard limits) protects your friends and keeps the game fun for everyone.

How to use this tool

As the DM, go through this wizard yourself to establish your baseline preferences. Then, share the PDF (or screen share the tool) during your actual Session Zero meeting.

Once the group agrees, click Export PDF or Copy Markdown to pin the agreement in your Discord channel. This gives you a neutral document to point to if arguments about PvP or metagaming come up later.