Session Zero Questionnaire

[MNblockhead]

Do you know what your name is? If so, write it here:
Do you remember your security clearance? If so, write it here:
If you do not remember your security clearance, report to the nearest clone-recycling center immediately--not knowing your security clearance is treason
How many times have you been exposed to radiation in the last month?
The computer is: (A) My friend (B) Not A
Do you trust yourself? How do you know you're not just saying that?
Happiness is: (A) Mandatory, (B) Fun, (C) Chemically induced
Why is this called a "session zero": (A) Because it never happened, (B) It describes the value of the player clones in the DM Computer's estimation, (C) It don't know, it makes ZERO sense, it must be a commie plot.
Based on this session zero, if this campaign is to fail, who is most to blame? (A) The GM (who plays the computer), (B) You are, or (C) Another player (please name)


Paranoia session zeros work a bit differently.

 

[Lanefan]

Cell phones are the bane of D&D They have no place anywhere near a table but in 2018 it is impossible to get people to leave their phones alone. I am just old I guess, because I have no idea why people are desperate to read what their friends had for dinner or what they think of politics when there are actual breathing human beings sitting right beside them wanting to play D&D if only they would put the freaking phone down.

I went the other way - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em - and simply put much of my game info online so they can find it there.

Now if I could only find a way to limit my wifi to accessing only our own website during the sessions...

 

[GMMichael]

Do you know what your name is? If so, write it here:
Do you remember your security clearance? If so, write it here:
If you do not remember your security clearance, report to the nearest clone-recycling center immediately--not knowing your security clearance is treason
How many times have you been exposed to radiation in the last month?
The computer is: (A) My friend (B) Not A
Do you trust yourself? How do you know you're not just saying that?
Happiness is: (A) Mandatory, (B) Fun, (C) Chemically induced
Why is this called a "session zero": (A) Because it never happened, (B) It describes the value of the player clones in the DM Computer's estimation, (C) It don't know, it makes ZERO sense, it must be a commie plot.
Based on this session zero, if this campaign is to fail, who is most to blame? (A) The GM (who plays the computer), (B) You are, or (C) Another player (please name)

Thanks for the reminder, Blockhead! I added Joke Tolerance to out-of-character expectations. Few things ruin the mood for me faster than a bunch of amateur comedians trying to joke their way through the whole session. For reference, see most of the live-play videos on YouTube

 

[MNblockhead]

Thanks for the reminder, Blockhead! I added Joke Tolerance to out-of-character expectations. Few things ruin the mood for me faster than a bunch of amateur comedians trying to joke their way through the whole session. For reference, see most of the live-play videos on YouTube

Ouch! To be fair, Paranoia is not a game to play seriously.

I agree with you. I'm running Curse of Strahd now and while some joking is welcome, I would not enjoy it being a slap-stick comedy. Most streams of D&D are attempting to entertain. Few can pull off dramatic sessions that hold an audience's attention, so they try to run it as improv comedy.

The expected tone of the game is something one should discuss with the players at session zero.

 

[jasper]

* Crash and burn Offensives. What will get you BOOTed from the group. I am talking about things at most you would allow 3 times. Generally it means one strike and you are out.

 

[GMMichael]

* Crash and burn Offensives. What will get you BOOTed from the group. I am talking about things at most you would allow 3 times. Generally it means one strike and you are out.

Interesting idea. What do these look like, if they're not common enough that new players shouldn't already know what they are?

 

[Kobold Boots]

Cell phones are the bane of D&D They have no place anywhere near a table but in 2018 it is impossible to get people to leave their phones alone. I am just old I guess, because I have no idea why people are desperate to read what their friends had for dinner or what they think of politics when there are actual breathing human beings sitting right beside them wanting to play D&D if only they would put the freaking phone down.

I feel you re: phones. Just so long as you're also considering the person who may have life events going on that needs to be checking their texts and such.

As someone who has had the phone conversation and large groups, I never run into a situation where I don't have at least one person working on call in an IT department at the table and have more than once run in to folks who were expecting children or in relationships where their sig other isn't at the table.

Eliminating devices at the table would have killed those games. Better to have some ground rules about expectations for use than to ban altogether.

 

[Kobold Boots]

Interesting idea. What do these look like, if they're not common enough that new players shouldn't already know what they are?

- No matter how curious you are, don't go snooping around in people's bathroom or bedroom cabinets.
- No matter how comfortable you are, don't go damaging people's dining room furniture.
- No matter how friendly you are, don't go hitting on someone else's wife.
- No matter how trivial you think it is, if you're bringing a minor to the table to game as a guest, make sure his parents know where he is.

Essentially it's bad behavior that folks expect will be glossed over by being "a good person otherwise" and at a "game". Etiquette violations are rough when you're hosting a game in your home and the behaviors would be looked upon poorly by the constabulary if someone complained.

Yes, I've had all of these happen (except the last) with various groups and games I've run. The last one was snuffed out before it happened, but almost killed the group as I was being "too paranoid".

KB

(edit - I do not suggest calling out example offenses in a session 0 flyer. However, I do suggest making it clear that if you're running in someone's home that basic etiquette rules are in play. If you're not sure if something is kosher, ask first. If it's not something you'd do if your mom was in attendance, don't do it.)

 

[jasper]

Interesting idea. What do these look like, if they're not common enough that new players shouldn't already know what they are?

arguing with DMmike for 5 minutes over rule call, politics, fandom AND then bring the subject up in the following week.
_ showing to show off your hot new bunk bunny and necking the whole session instead of playing.
_ arriving DRUNK and you drove yourself
_ threating to draw a gun
_ illegal drug useage regardless of your personal issues
_ I think Kobold cover some the others.
See did you ever have to boot a player discussion.

 

[MNblockhead]

Jasper and Kobold, you *have* to spill the details on some of these.

Threatening to draw a gun seems like a good place to start.

Was it over a rule dispute?