DnD Session Zero Checklist: 5 Things to Log in Your Campaign Journal
Updated October 2026 · 3 min read
A thoughtful session zero sets the foundation for an unforgettable campaign where everyone feels invested and respected from the very start. Taking the time to document your group's mutual boundaries, shared connections, and table rules prevents friction down the road. Here is everything you need to align on and log in your notes before rolling the first d20.
Setting ground rules and campaign expectations
Clarify table logistics, attendance expectations, and core game rules.
Before rolling dice, agree on practical details like how often you plan to play, how absences are handled, and which optional rules are in effect. Decide how lethal combat will be and whether PvP actions or character secrets are welcome at the table. Putting these parameters in writing keeps everyone on the exact same page before the story unfolds.
- ✦Agree on an attendance policy and minimum player quorum to run a session.
- ✦Clarify character death mechanics, resurrection rarity, and PvP boundaries.
- ✦Decide how optional rules like encumbrance, injuries, or flanking will work.
Establishing table tone and core safety tools
Define your game's atmosphere and introduce clear boundaries for comfort.
A great campaign balances engaging drama with genuine player comfort. Talk openly about the desired genre, whether gritty survival, lighthearted dungeon crawling, or political intrigue, and outline topics that should be handled off-screen. Introducing simple tools like Lines and Veils or an X-Card gives everyone a discreet, supportive way to adjust content in the moment.
- ✦Establish hard lines (topics excluded entirely) and veils (scenes faded to black).
- ✦Choose an in-the-moment safety tool so players can flag discomfort without pressure.
- ✦Confirm the intended tone, from heroic epic to humorous sandbox.
Essential questions to ask every player
Uncover personal goals, combat preferences, and character motivations.
Knowing what each person wants out of the game helps you tailor sessions to their interests. Ask players what balance of combat, roleplay, and exploration they prefer, and what their character cares about enough to risk their life for. These answers give the Dungeon Master reliable story hooks and help players discover their character's true voice.
- ✦Ask what ratio of combat to roleplay each player enjoys most.
- ✦Identify the primary ambition or fear that drives each character forward.
- ✦Discuss how characters tend to react to weird creatures or high-stakes dilemmas.
Building shared party bonds and backstories
Weave characters together so they start as a team rather than strangers.
The classic tavern meet-up can feel forced if the party has no inherent reason to stick together. Spend time during session zero letting players pitch shared history, mutual debts, or past favors between their characters. When party members enter the first scene with existing rapport, teamwork and banter flow much more naturally.
- ✦Pair characters off to establish at least one prior connection or shared rumor.
- ✦Create a mutual faction, patron, or hometown that anchors the party.
- ✦Decide how characters feel about each other's unique talents or past reputations.
What every table should record in journals
Essential notes to log before packing up your session zero notebook.
Keep your session zero notes front and center so you can easily reference them throughout the campaign. Dedicate the front pages of your campaign journal to safety boundaries, party bonds, passive perception scores, and open backstory threads. Having these reference points organized right away saves endless flipping back and forth once session one begins.
- ✦Write down player boundaries and safety limits directly in the front cover.
- ✦Record passive scores, character languages, and shared party inventory.
- ✦Index key NPC allies, starting quest rumors, and hometown notes.
