Vecna: Eve of Ruin

D&D Beyond

Discord

Physical Battlemap

Dungeons & Dragons 5e

Mystery

Fantasy

After the game ends, check-in with the group and talk about how you all feel. Have an open way for the group to decompress and encourage each other to practice self-care.

Aftercare

Intense games can cause feelings to bleed over into life outside of the game. Being open and honest of where the game ends, what feelings are the players versus bleed, and having discussions can lessen the stress of bleed.

Bleed

For long games or stressful content, having built-in breaks allows the group to stay focused and process content. This time can be used for bio breaks, conversation, or any other necessities.

Breaks

Debriefing is a way to reflect on the game. Identify possible issues, highlight the good parts, and work through potential emotional bleed.

Debriefing

This checklist is used to set expectations and content boundaries before the game starts, and allows players to select from multiple existing triggers, or add their own.

Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist

Open-Door is an assurance that anyone in the group can take a break from the game for their own safety and well-being without judgement. This should be made clear to the group.

Open Door

Session 0s are used to start the game, opening up with communication, setting expectations, and discussing any safety tools that will be used at the table.

Session 0

Stars and Wishes are used to reflect and discuss feedback in a positive way. Stars are used for things that participants enjoyed in the game. Wishes are things that participants would like to see in the future. Both players and the GM can express their stars and wishes to make the game better.

Stars and Wishes

X, N, and O Cards are check-in tools. X-Cards are used to indicate that a participant is uncomfortable with the current content, often resulting in a change, rewind, or skip of the aforementioned content. N-Cards can be used by participants if they feel content is heading towards an X card, often resulting in a change or a “fade to back”. O-Cards are used to check-in on the group and ensure that everyone is comfortable continuing with the content.

X, N, and O Cards

Matt here! I fell in love with tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) playing Dungeons & Dragons in 1989. I was eight years old, over at my friend's house, and their older brother ran the game. Though the game only lasted three weeks, I was hooked on the story, world-building, and absolute joy of the game. However, I couldn't find anyone to run e-games or be a Game Master. So, I accepted that role and turned as many friends I could into players, then began turning any players I could find into friends.

My first love is the story and characters, and combat keeps it interesting. For a long time, a company called White Wolf made my favorite games. I ran those for years and gave up on D&D because most people I found at the time liked the rules more than the story, and I could never find people who enjoyed both. Then, Critical Role brought everyone out of the woodwork! After watching their streams along with Relics and Rarities, I started to explore D&D games again. And I couldn't be happier about this! About a year ago, I started making steps to turn my 30 years of experience and passion for D&D into a full-time, sustainable career. In one year, I found terrific players and, by the grace of God, have been able to become a full-time storyteller in the TTRPG space. See you at the table! I hope you will join the games and make amazing friends as we battle and work through fantasy life together.


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