Session Zero
Session Zero is a guided pre-campaign setup flow for groups who want to build backstories together before Session 1. Players create backstory entities, submit them for GM review, and the GM approves, edits, or returns them — all in real time.
Session Zero is not a separate feature. It is a focused mode for the existing backstory and approval queue tools, with a streamlined interface for pre-campaign use.
Starting Session Zero
- From the campaign dashboard, click Start Session Zero.
- Players receive an invitation via their campaign portal or email if they have accounts.
- Players without accounts can receive a Session Zero companion link instead — same process as a session companion link, scoped to the Session Zero flow.
What players do
Each player works through a guided backstory-building flow. They can create:
- NPCs — people from their character's past: mentors, rivals, family, old friends
- Locations — places that shaped the character's history
- Events — things that happened before the campaign started
Players fill in the entity details and submit. Submissions arrive in your approval queue in real time.
What the GM sees
The approval queue is front and center while Session Zero is active. Each submission shows the full entity the player created. You have three options:
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Approve | Entity enters the world immediately, visible to the submitting player |
| Approve with edits | You modify the entity first, then it enters the world |
| Return with notes | Sent back to the player with your feedback; they revise and resubmit |
Use "Return with notes" when a submission creates a continuity problem or contradicts established world lore. Be specific — the player sees your note directly.
You can approve submissions from multiple players in parallel. There is no required order.
Ending Session Zero
When you are satisfied that the backstory content is complete, click Mark Complete. All approved content enters the world simultaneously at that moment.
Any submissions still in the queue (pending or returned) are not entered automatically. Review the queue before marking complete, or explicitly decline any submissions you are not carrying forward.
After Session Zero
Once complete, players' backstory entities appear throughout the world:
- World graph — backstory NPCs and locations appear as nodes with their relationships
- Timeline — backstory events slot into the chronology before Session 1
- Relationship web — connections players defined between their backstory entities are visible
Session 1 starts with the world already shaped by everyone's history, not just the GM's pre-written lore.