Welcome to The Hero Society. If you’re a first-time GM (Game Master), take a deep breath—you’ve got this. This guide walks you through everything you need to run your Session 0, the crucial pre-game where you and your players build the foundation of your campaign.
🧭 What is Session 0?
Session 0 is your setup session—it happens before gameplay begins. Think of it like drafting the first pages of a shared comic book. You’ll create characters, align expectations, establish tone and safety tools, and preview the world your heroes will shape.
🔑 Step 1: Know What Kind of Story You Want to Tell
Before you gather players, ask yourself:
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What themes excite me? (Hope vs corruption, hero legacy, rebellion against power)
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What tone do I want? (Dark and gritty? Light and whimsical? Somewhere in-between?)
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Do I want this to be a campaign about powers, politics, identity, survival, or discovery?
📝 GM Tip: Write a 2–3 sentence "Series Pitch" like it's a Netflix show. Example:
"Nova City is on the edge of collapse. A Second Awakening has begun. You are not chosen—you are mutated, haunted, and hunted. Will you save the world, or survive it?"
🧠 Step 2: Prepare the Basics Before Session 0
Have these ready:
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A world primer (short lore summary or “What You Need to Know” sheet)
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A character creation sheet or digital form (we recommend Caspio or Google Forms)
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Safety tools like:
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The X card
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Lines & Veils
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Open Door Policy
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🧰 GM Trick: Bring visual aids—images of the Cradle, factions, relics, or sample NPCs. It grounds new players and sparks imagination instantly.
🗣️ Step 3: Group Expectations and Tone
During the session, ask your players:
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What kind of game do you want to play? (Combat-heavy? Roleplay-focused? Political intrigue?)
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What content do you want to avoid? (Horror, body trauma, certain themes?)
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Are you comfortable with improvisation or do you prefer structured guidance?
🎤 GM Tip: Let every player talk. Some may be shy. Ask questions like:
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“What kind of hero would you never play?”
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“Do you want to be known or anonymous in the world?”
👤 Step 4: Character Creation as Collaboration
Encourage players to:
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Build backstories that connect to the world.
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Tie into a faction, myth, relic, or major event.
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Share a memory between their characters (optional but powerful).
💡 GM Trick: Offer quick inspiration tables:
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“Roll a d6 to find a Cradle-touched rumor about your past.”
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“Choose one character you know from a dream you had last night.”
🏙️ Step 5: Build a Shared World
Let players co-create:
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A district of Nova City they’re from.
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A Cradle ruin or relic they’ve heard about.
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A local NPC they admire, fear, or owe.
🌱 GM Trick: Say “Yes, and...” to player ideas. Let them plant seeds—you’ll water them into future plots.
🔐 Step 6: Set Table Rules and Play Style
Clarify:
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How do you handle rules questions? (Pause to look it up? Improv it?)
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How do you resolve disagreements?
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How often will you play, and what happens if someone misses a session?
📅 GM Tip: Use a free session tracker like Notion or Obsidian.md with a calendar and character gallery.
🎭 Step 7: Run a Practice Scene or Prologue
Wrap up Session 0 with:
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A solo scene or dream sequence
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A shared vision or memory of the Surge
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A simple social encounter in Nova City (e.g., a street prophet warning of the Aether Vein)
🎲 GM Trick: Use this time to teach mechanics gently. Focus on narrative, not crunch. Let players test a skill, roll for a mutation twitch, or try a Power Flashback.
🌟 Final Reminders for New GMs
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You don’t need to know every rule. You just need to care about the story.
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Use open-ended questions to engage players.
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Mistakes will happen—and they’ll turn into your best memories.
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Let your players surprise you. Your job is to react, adapt, and help them shine.
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