So, I'm thinking of giving my players a questionnaire during session zero to set some expectations, such as what type of content they are or aren't ok with seeing* and l was hoping for some help with questions to ask, and ways to improve the questions i've already come up with.
(*Examples listed below in bold. Can't actually name the examples cause censorship, but l can give examples of media that contains them.)
Here's what I've thought of so far, any advice is welcome. (Thanks Sedge for the rewording to avoid censorship issues. Note that the actual sheet I'll provide my players has a actual list of content. Sedge's rewrites are noted by the "-")
Do you agree to follow the rules listed in the “Da Rulez” Doc? (If you choose No, you’re not welcome at my table) (A Google Doc l write all my Table Rules)
Do you want to play with EXP, or Milestone?
Do you want the Campaign to be more serious, or lighthearted, or some mix of the 2?
Are you ok with Starting at level 1?
Are you ok with your Character Dying?
Are you ok with "Dark, extreme, and/or adult topics"
Are you ok with said Dark Topics happening to Your Character and/or the party?
Are you ok with "Explicit depictions of sexual content/activity"
Are you ok with changes happening to your character without prior knowledge or consent, such as, for example, Limb amputation (Such as a arm being cut off during combat), and or Sex or Race/Species change (Such as by the effect of the Reincarnate spell or other forms of magic) (Note: I will not force any Class Related Changes (outside of Warlock/Clerics having "Patron Problems"), and there will always be a way to reverse any changes, though the difficulty will vary.)
*If you want examples of the topics l had to remove, some good examples could be found in Goblin Slayer Episode 1, 50 shades of grey, and [word Redacted] Harem in the Labyrinth.
Do you want the game to be more realistic (Coins and arrows take up carry weight, and you have to keep track of arrows and spell components used) Or fantastical (No keeping track of arrows, and gold can be used to replace spell components with gold cost.) (Variant Encumbrance would also likely be used with "Realistic".)
What Play Schedule works best for you. (For example: Once a week on Wednesdays at 10am-4pm Est)
If someone is unable to attend the session, what should be done? (Half the party being missing is a Auto Cancel, to be clear)
Do you care where the campaign starts? (For Example, are you opposed to starting in a Tavern?) (Please write any suggestions you might have for starting scenarios. I already have a few, but more is welcome)
Are you ok with PVP (Player versus player)?
Also, please note, the Questions Doc begins with this Disclaimer (I didn't start this thread with it because it didn't fit before):
Please fill this out to let me know what kind of content you would or would not like to see in this campaign. If l haven’t listed something you think l should have, feel free to add it. And please note, that even if it’s on this list, it does not mean it will be added. This list is to gage what you, my players, are ok with seeing, not a checklist of what l will or will not add. In short, if you say you’re ok with seeing it, then Great, if it can fit into the story, i’ll add it, but if not, or you don’t want to see it, it won’t. PS, I’ve added things i’m not personally comfortable with to the list because l want a broader sense of what you’re willing to see. However, lf I don’t feel comfortable with it, it might not be added. And by comfortable, l mean both “Am personally ok with” and “Am familiar with this topic”. (For example, someone might know alot about Nazis, but hate them and everything they stand for, or might like the aesthetic while knowing nothing of the Horrors they inflicted. Point is, there is a difference between knowing about a topic and liking the subject of that topic.)
For the dark, extreme and/or adult topics, you can find existing RP questionnaires on the web site which break this single question into several different questions (without going overboard into too many questions).
What's the schedule for the RL players? 3 hours every Thursday at 7PM? etc.
What do we do if 1 person can't make it? Cancel? The character has Purple Brain Fever and can't participate much except maybe that necessarily healing after a combat? Do they get XP? What if it's 2 people? 3?
(I'd skip the progression question. I think the DM should do what works for the campaign. But, it's your game.)
If somebody makes a new character for some reason, will the new toon be the same level? Party minimum? Party minimum minus 1?
What about in-party fighting? (I disallow that and just handwave them forward an hour to making up at an inn over drinks.)
Solo quests? Can the rogue go off and sneak through town alone? How is that handled? Do you handwave it and just say what happens, or do you play it out and let the others watch and eat chips?
Why is the party together (presumably at a tavern where all proper adventuring parties meet)? Why don't they all just go home and ignore the others?
Do we worry about arrows, cheap spell components, coin weight, etc.?
How is loot split?
If they can't decide something, is there a party leader (Gygax style or looser) who leads the decision and tells the DM where the party goes next?
The term “dark topics” is too vague and subjective. One person’s Super Dark is another person’s Tuesday night. Give specific examples.
Add an open question about if there is anything, specifically, a player might want to avoid — things that would “trigger” them. And keep it open ended, there’s no way you can possibly list everything that might. You kind of get at this in the last question, but you should ask for it clearly.
Yes, as l tried to make clear in other places, the actual Form will have a small list of examples of "Dark Topics". However l was asked by a mod to remove those examples, and had to use media to represent them instead.
And thanks for the idea of the open ended "Any triggers?". I'll add that now.
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So, I'm thinking of giving my players a questionnaire during session zero to set some expectations, such as what type of content they are or aren't ok with seeing* and l was hoping for some help with questions to ask, and ways to improve the questions i've already come up with.
(*Examples listed below in bold. Can't actually name the examples cause censorship, but l can give examples of media that contains them.)
Here's what I've thought of so far, any advice is welcome. (Thanks Sedge for the rewording to avoid censorship issues. Note that the actual sheet I'll provide my players has a actual list of content. Sedge's rewrites are noted by the "-")
Do you agree to follow the rules listed in the “Da Rulez” Doc? (If you choose No, you’re not welcome at my table) (A Google Doc l write all my Table Rules)
Do you want to play with EXP, or Milestone?
Do you want the Campaign to be more serious, or lighthearted, or some mix of the 2?
Are you ok with Starting at level 1?
Are you ok with your Character Dying?
Are you ok with "Dark, extreme, and/or adult topics"
Are you ok with said Dark Topics happening to Your Character and/or the party?
Are you ok with "Explicit depictions of sexual content/activity"
Are you ok with changes happening to your character without prior knowledge or consent, such as, for example, Limb amputation (Such as a arm being cut off during combat), and or Sex or Race/Species change (Such as by the effect of the Reincarnate spell or other forms of magic) (Note: I will not force any Class Related Changes (outside of Warlock/Clerics having "Patron Problems"), and there will always be a way to reverse any changes, though the difficulty will vary.)
*If you want examples of the topics l had to remove, some good examples could be found in Goblin Slayer Episode 1, 50 shades of grey, and [word Redacted] Harem in the Labyrinth.
Edit: Thanks to ThatKert for:
Do you want the game to be more realistic (Coins and arrows take up carry weight, and you have to keep track of arrows and spell components used) Or fantastical (No keeping track of arrows, and gold can be used to replace spell components with gold cost.) (Variant Encumbrance would also likely be used with "Realistic".)
What Play Schedule works best for you. (For example: Once a week on Wednesdays at 10am-4pm Est)
If someone is unable to attend the session, what should be done? (Half the party being missing is a Auto Cancel, to be clear)
Do you care where the campaign starts? (For Example, are you opposed to starting in a Tavern?) (Please write any suggestions you might have for starting scenarios. I already have a few, but more is welcome)
Are you ok with PVP (Player versus player)?
Also, please note, the Questions Doc begins with this Disclaimer (I didn't start this thread with it because it didn't fit before):
Please fill this out to let me know what kind of content you would or would not like to see in this campaign. If l haven’t listed something you think l should have, feel free to add it. And please note, that even if it’s on this list, it does not mean it will be added. This list is to gage what you, my players, are ok with seeing, not a checklist of what l will or will not add. In short, if you say you’re ok with seeing it, then Great, if it can fit into the story, i’ll add it, but if not, or you don’t want to see it, it won’t. PS, I’ve added things i’m not personally comfortable with to the list because l want a broader sense of what you’re willing to see. However, lf I don’t feel comfortable with it, it might not be added. And by comfortable, l mean both “Am personally ok with” and “Am familiar with this topic”. (For example, someone might know alot about Nazis, but hate them and everything they stand for, or might like the aesthetic while knowing nothing of the Horrors they inflicted. Point is, there is a difference between knowing about a topic and liking the subject of that topic.)
For the dark, extreme and/or adult topics, you can find existing RP questionnaires on the web site which break this single question into several different questions (without going overboard into too many questions).
What's the schedule for the RL players? 3 hours every Thursday at 7PM? etc.
What do we do if 1 person can't make it? Cancel? The character has Purple Brain Fever and can't participate much except maybe that necessarily healing after a combat? Do they get XP? What if it's 2 people? 3?
(I'd skip the progression question. I think the DM should do what works for the campaign. But, it's your game.)
If somebody makes a new character for some reason, will the new toon be the same level? Party minimum? Party minimum minus 1?
What about in-party fighting? (I disallow that and just handwave them forward an hour to making up at an inn over drinks.)
Solo quests? Can the rogue go off and sneak through town alone? How is that handled? Do you handwave it and just say what happens, or do you play it out and let the others watch and eat chips?
Why is the party together (presumably at a tavern where all proper adventuring parties meet)? Why don't they all just go home and ignore the others?
Do we worry about arrows, cheap spell components, coin weight, etc.?
How is loot split?
If they can't decide something, is there a party leader (Gygax style or looser) who leads the decision and tells the DM where the party goes next?
Thanks, those are great!
The term “dark topics” is too vague and subjective. One person’s Super Dark is another person’s Tuesday night. Give specific examples.
Add an open question about if there is anything, specifically, a player might want to avoid — things that would “trigger” them. And keep it open ended, there’s no way you can possibly list everything that might. You kind of get at this in the last question, but you should ask for it clearly.
Yes, as l tried to make clear in other places, the actual Form will have a small list of examples of "Dark Topics". However l was asked by a mod to remove those examples, and had to use media to represent them instead.
And thanks for the idea of the open ended "Any triggers?". I'll add that now.