Session Beginning Checklist

An adventuring session almost always begins after some time has elapsed since the characters were last involved in a session. This is due to the concept of 1-to-1 Time. Furthermore, adventuring sessions should also conclude with the players reviewing and declaring certain downtime actions according to the Session Ending Checklist. As such, a number of important updates need to take place at the outset of the new session. This checklist is here to help players review such things and make sure they happen. Some items on the checklist are optional and others are mandatory.

• Resolve previously-declared downtime actions. Examples include:
  • Resolve any geographical movement the character may have done across the map.
  • Resolve the outcome of any large-scale battles the character may have organized or taken part in.
  • Determine any information the character may have gathered during downtime.
  • Determine any items or wealth accrued from the downtime actions (e.g., crafting items, working odd jobs, etc.).
• Update character sheets with any items or wealth consumed since the last adventuring session. Some examples include:
  • Food and water
  • Adventuring supplies (torches, lantern oil, etc.)
  • Money spent on lodging, consumed food, or consumed supplies, i.e., living expenses
  • Payment due to any henchmen or hirelings
• Account for unusual or extraordinary situations. Some examples include:
  • Determine the final or ongoing effects of any magic, disease, etc. upon the character and/or his henchmen and hirelings.
  • Track the progression or completion of any training the character is undertaking for a level up, secondary skill, language, or the like.
• Purchase any new or replacement equipment. Examples include:
  • Ammunition for ranged weapons or replacement hurled weapons (darts, thrown axes, etc.)
  • Torches or oil for lanterns
  • New weapons, armor, or other adventuring equipment

In the Session Ending Checklist, players are encouraged to set their characters in motion undertaking downtime actions. These can be many and varied, and a record of them should have been taken at the end of the last session. Review that record and resolve the outcome, if any, of those downtime actions. Some examples, though certainly not an exhaustive list, are:

• Resolve any geographical movement the character may have done across the map.
• Resolve the outcome of any large-scale battles the character may have organized or taken part in.
• Determine any information the character may have gathered during downtime.
• Determine any items or wealth accrued from the downtime actions (e.g., crafting items, working odd jobs, etc.)

The player must update their character sheet with any loss of wealth or supplies that has occurred since the last adventuring session. Here is a common list of items to consider, though this is likely not exhaustive.

• Update rations and water, reducing them by any amount consumed.
• Pay living expenses on the frequency required by the game rules.
• Pay for any food or supplies consumed during the downtime unless these are included in living expenses.
• Pay any henchmen or hirelings their due wages.

Characters are occasionally subject to unusual or extraordinary situations which affect them over time. Here is a list of items to consider before the adventuring session begins. This list is not exhaustive.

• Determine the long-term or ongoing effects of any disease, magic, or some other effect upon the character and/or his henchmen and hirelings.
• Track the progression or completion of any training the character is undertaking for a level up, secondary skill, language, or the like.

Before continuing on to new places and situations fraught with danger, the adventurers will want to restock their supply of certain equipment. An example of the sort of things they will want to purchase are:

• Ammunition for ranged weapons or replacement hurled weapons (darts, thrown axes, etc.)
• Torches or oil for lanterns
• New weapons, armor, or other adventuring equipment

Some of the checklist items above have specifically defined rules. Please see the linked rules for reference.

• Adventures Dark & Deep
  • Living Expenses
  • Hireling Wages