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Session Zero and Leadership: Setting the Tone for Success

When you start a new Dungeons & Dragons campaign, there’s a piece of advice that experienced Dungeon Masters repeat over and over: “Run a Session Zero.” This is the meeting before the adventure begins—the chance to talk through what kind of game you’re playing, what the players can expect, and what’s expected of them.
Done well, it prevents mismatched expectations, unnecessary conflict, and disappointment down the road.

And here’s the thing: if you’ve ever stepped into a leadership role in the workplace, you’ve already run something like a Session Zero—or you really should have. Taking on a new leadership role requires the setting of expectations as early as possible.

So, Whether you’re gathering your adventuring party or leading a new team, the principle is the same: Set expectations early, clearly, and collaboratively.

What’s a Session Zero in D&D?

Session Zero happens before the first dice are rolled and before any characters are created. It’s where you cover things like:

  • Game tone – Is this a gritty, survival-focused story or a lighthearted romp through the realms?
  • Table etiquette – How do we handle disagreements? Phones at the table—okay or no?
  • Content boundaries – What topics are off-limits to keep the game safe and fun?
  • Player goals – Do they want deep character arcs, tactical combat, or puzzle solving?
  • Your role as DM – How you’ll run the game, your style of storytelling, and how flexible you are.

The point isn’t to lecture—it’s to make sure everyone knows how the game will work, what they can bring to it, and what they’ll get out of it. Players also play a role here, and a good DM will aim to incorporate their expectations into the session as well.

Why Leaders Need a “Session Zero” Too

When you step into leadership, your new team is looking for the same types of clarity. They want to know:

  • The mission – What are we working towards?
  • The culture – How do we operate together day-to-day?
  • Boundaries – What’s non-negotiable, and where is there flexibility?
  • Your style – How do you make decisions? How do you give feedback?
  • What you expect of them – Effort, communication, collaboration, deadlines.

And just like a DM, you’re also telling them: Here’s what you can expect from me.

That might include:

  • Transparency about decisions.
  • Support when things get tough.
  • Respect for work–life balance.
  • An open door for concerns or ideas.

This conversation has to go both ways and a good leader will aim to understand their new team members expectations also. Without this up-front conversation, teams can quickly run into “mismatched game” problems—where some think it’s all about speed, others think it’s about perfection, and no one’s sure which one will get rewarded.

The Mutual Expectations Loop

As alluded to above, in both D&D and leadership, expectation-setting isn’t one-way.
It’s not just “Here’s the list of rules.” People at the game table or the boardroom table will turn off at that.

Instead, it’s a two-way agreement, for example:

  1. You share your expectations of them.
    • Players: Be on time, respect each other’s spotlight, communicate your goals for the character.
    • Team members: Collaborate, meet deadlines, raise risks early.
  2. They share their expectations of you.
    • Players: “I’d like more roleplay than combat” or “I’d rather keep sessions under three hours.”
    • Team members: “I value regular feedback” or “I work best with clear priorities.”

This loop ensures no one’s surprised later. In a D&D game, it means fewer awkward “That’s not the kind of game I signed up for” moments. In a workplace, it means fewer frustrations, missed deadlines, or most importantly disengaged employees.

The Session Zero Payoff

When everyone is on the same page from the start:

  • The game flows better.
  • The team works more smoothly.
  • Challenges feel like shared puzzles to solve, not personal obstacles.
  • Trust builds faster.

A Session Zero in D&D might only take an hour, but it can save a whole campaign from crumbling. Similarly, a “leadership Session Zero” might take a single team meeting, but it can set the foundation for years of collaboration.

Final Thought:

When using Session Zero’s in both D&D and leadership, you’re not just setting rules—you’re setting the culture. Your Session Zero, whether at the table or in the office, tells everyone:
“Here’s how we’re going to succeed together.” Effectively setting your game or team up for success right at the very beginning.

Below is a quick reference sheet to help guide your Session Zero, whether at the game table or at work.

DnD at Work Session Zero ChecklistDownload

You can download this and other resources here.

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Team Building Through Shared Storytelling — Why D&D Might Be the Ultimate Trust Exercise

When people think about team building, they often picture ropes courses, awkward icebreakers, or nerve-wracking trust falls. But what if the most powerful tool for creating real team cohesion wasn’t physical activity or corporate exercises—but storytelling? Enter Dungeons & Dragons, a tabletop roleplaying game that thrives on shared storytelling. It’s a game where players build imaginary worlds together, solve problems as a group, and embody characters who grow, struggle, and triumph as a team. And while it might look like fantasy fun (and of course it is), D&D also offers a surprisingly deep model for how to build strong, psychologically safe, high-performing teams.

Let’s look at how D&D’s narrative structure creates team bonds—and how you can use these lessons in your workplace, classroom, or community group.

Shared Storytelling = Shared Ownership

In D&D, the story doesn’t belong to one person. Sure, the Dungeon Master (DM) might guide the world, but the plot evolves through the choices of everyone at the table. Players decide how to approach challenges, who to trust, and what kind of characters (or leaders) they want to become.

That shared narrative builds shared ownership. When a mission succeeds, the whole group feels it. When things go wrong (and they almost always do), the group adapts together. This sense of co-authorship is powerful: it creates a team culture where every voice matters.

In the workplace, this mirrors the difference between top-down directives and collaborative strategy. When the story is presented from the top, buy in can meet significant resistance. However, when team members help shape the story—of a product, a project, or a goal—they’re more invested, more creative, and much more committed.

Psychological Safety: Failure Is Part of the Game

One of the greatest strengths of D&D is how it normalizes failure. Characters miss attacks, fall into traps, or make poor decisions—and the story doesn’t end. It gets significantly more interesting. The consequences of failure become narrative fuel, not a source of shame.

This culture of playful risk-taking builds what Google’s research famously identified as the #1 trait of high-performing teams: psychological safety. In a psychologically safe team, people feel comfortable speaking up, taking risks, and being vulnerable without fear of ridicule or retribution. By playing D&D together, teams rehearse this kind of safety in a low-stakes setting. They learn that mistakes aren’t fatal—they’re part of the fun. And that mindset carries over into real work.

Building Empathy Through Character

In D&D, players take on personas that often differ wildly from their real-world identities. A quiet analyst might play a boisterous half-orc bard. An outspoken manager might become a timid elven healer. As they explore these characters, players inhabit new perspectives—and watch their teammates do the same.

This roleplaying builds empathy. It invites players to step into someone else’s shoes (or boots, or hooves), wrestle with emotional dilemmas, and support each other’s fictional struggles. And in doing so, it strengthens their emotional intelligence in real life.

Empathy isn’t a soft skill—it’s a critical leadership trait. D&D gives teams a safe way to build it naturally, through play.

Tips for Encouraging Shared Storytelling

You don’t need to be a master Dungeon Master to encourage better storytelling in your game. If you are running a game at work or using roleplaying to help impart experiential learning, consider using these tools to deepen the shared storytelling experience:

1. Paint the Scene Questions

Instead of describing everything yourself, invite players to contribute. Ask things like:

  • “What does the ruined temple smell like?”
  • “What’s the one thing about this town that makes it feel like home?”
  • “What do you see on the battlefield that makes you hesitate?”

These questions invite creativity, distribute narrative control, and reinforce the idea that this world belongs to everyone.

2. Ask for Flashbacks

Let players add history to the world:

  • “What memory does this cave bring back?”
  • “Tell us about the last time you faced something like this.”

Flashbacks connect characters more deeply to the story and build emotional investment.

3. Spotlight Sharing

Make space for each player to shine. Don’t let loud voices dominate the session. Encourage quieter players by giving them openings:

  • “Hey, Mira, what does your character think of this?”
  • “You’ve been watching from the shadows—what do you notice?”

4. Celebrate Narrative Wins, Not Just Combat

Don’t let the game revolve around dice rolls alone. Praise creative problem-solving, emotional roleplay, and team synergy as much as battle strategy.

5. De-brief After the Game

After each session, take a few minutes to reflect:

  • “What was your favourite moment tonight?”
  • “What surprised you?”
  • “What do you think your character learned?”

This builds reflection and reinforces shared memory—essential for team bonding.

Every Team Has a Story

Your team already has a story. The question is: are you telling it together, or is it being written without them? Dungeons & Dragons shows us that the act of co-creating a story builds connection, empathy, and trust. Whether you’re sitting around a game table or a boardroom, the principle holds: when people feel seen, heard, and included in the narrative, they give their best.

So maybe next time you’re planning a team-building session, skip the ropes course. Grab some dice. Sit around a table. And start telling a story—together.

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How to Use Clocks to Add Tension to Your D&D Game

Using clocks in Dungeons and Dragons

If you’ve ever played Blades in the Dark, you’ll know that one of the most effective tension-building tools in the game are clocks. Not the ticking kind on your wall, but a visual countdown that tracks threats, progress, or time-sensitive goals. It’s simple, elegant, and incredibly powerful.

What if I told you that you can lift this mechanic straight out of Blades in the Dark and drop it into your Dungeons & Dragons campaign to make things way more dramatic?

Let’s dive into how clocks work and how to use them in D&D to raise the stakes, keep players engaged, and build unforgettable moments of tension.

What Is a Clock?

In Blades in the Dark, a clock is a segmented circle that fills in as a consequence of actions or the passage of time. For example:

  • A 4-segment clock might track how long until the guards arrive.
  • A 6-segment clock might measure the party’s progress disabling a magical barrier.
  • A 12-segment clock might represent an ancient dragon slowly awakening.

Each time something happens that aligns with the consequence, the GM fills in one or more segments. When the clock is full, the event it represents happens.

Simple. Visual. And nerve-wracking.

An example of a clock template you could use in your games

Why Clocks Work So Well

Clocks shine because they:

  • Make abstract danger feel concrete.
  • Give players a sense of urgency.
  • Create dynamic situations where failure and success aren’t binary.
  • Offer a visual reminder that choices have consequences.

This makes them an excellent fit for D&D, where pacing can sometimes sag or players feel unsure whether they’re making progress. Clocks are a quiet motivator—and a loud one when they fill up. The visual element of this tool keeps players aware of the likely consequences of the situation they are in and the closeness they are to getting into trouble.

How to Use Clocks in Your D&D Game

Here’s how to adapt clocks into your D&D session. No need to change any rules.

Draw Them Out
Grab a notepad, whiteboard, or even a coaster. Draw a circle, divide it into 4, 6, or 8 segments. See the template above. Make sure to label it:

  • “Reinforcements Arrive”
  • “The Ritual Completes”
  • “Guards Become Suspicious”
  • “Ship Sinks”

Then, fill in segments as events unfold—on failed checks, at key intervals, or whenever the party dithers too long.

Tie Them to Player Actions
Players will quickly learn that failing stealth rolls might tick the “Guards Notice” clock. Or that every round spent arguing about tactics fills in the “Cult Finishes Ritual” clock.

You don’t need to explain the consequences in detail. Just let the clock sit on the table, ominously gaining ticks. Players will feel it.

Use Them for Progress, Too
Clocks aren’t just for bad things. Use them to track the party’s progress disabling a trap, researching a cure, or converting a noble to their cause. It turns a string of skill checks into something far more satisfying to complete.

Stack Them for Chaos
Multiple clocks running at once? That’s where the drama kicks in. Imagine:

  • “Enemies Reinforce in 3 Segments”
  • “Party Finds Hostages in 4 Segments”
  • “Explosion in 5 Segments”

Now the players are really juggling priorities and feeling the pressure.

Example in Play

Scenario: Infiltrating a Cult’s Ceremony
You’re running a tense infiltration mission to stop a cult from manifesting a Demon. Here’s how clocks could work:

  • 6-Segment Clock: “Cultists Grow Suspicious” — Ticks up with noise or strange behavior.
  • 8-Segment Clock: “Ritual Completes” — Starts ticking when the party arrives. Once it’s full, the demon enters the world and all chaos breaks loose. Too late.

The party now has layered objectives, a visible countdown, and the need to make hard calls.

Looks like the “Ritual Completes” clock filled up…

Do I Need to Change Rules?

Not at all. Clocks are purely narrative tools. They don’t replace D&D mechanics—they enhance them. You still roll perception checks, stealth rolls, persuasion attempts. But now, failures and delays have a tangible cost.

Want to go deeper? Tie clocks to initiative rounds, make players roll d4s to fill segments faster, or let them spend inspiration to remove ticks. But honestly, just drawing and filling a circle is already incredibly effective.

Final Thoughts
D&D thrives on drama. But often, that drama is hidden behind numbers, dice rolls, and DM narration. Blades in the Dark clocks offer something more visual, more urgent, more human. By borrowing this mechanic, you give your players a countdown they can see—and feel. You turn waiting into worry, failure into friction, and decisions into dilemmas.

So next session, pull out a pen, draw a circle, and start ticking. You’ll be amazed at the tension that builds.

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Fast, Fun, and Focused: Using Character Playbooks to Enhance Your Game

Character Playbooks

Character creation is often one of the most exciting, and sometimes most daunting, parts of starting a new roleplaying game. For many, it’s a chance to dream up a bold new identity. For others, it’s a speed bump they need to get through before the fun begins. That’s where character playbooks come in.

Popularized by games like Blades in the Dark and Dungeon World, playbooks are pre-structured character archetypes that bundle together key decisions: attributes, gear, special moves, and even personality prompts. Making each character feel distinctive and unique. They let players jump into the action fast, without sacrificing the creativity and individuality that make roleplaying so engaging.

But playbooks aren’t just great for steampunk heists or fantastical dungeon crawls—they’re also an incredible tool for leadership-focused RPGs and team training games like my own Play2Lead.

What Makes Playbooks Powerful?

At their core, playbooks do three key things:

  1. Simplify Decision-Making: Instead of choosing from dozens of classes, feats, skills, and powers, players select a playbook and make a few meaningful choices within it. This lowers the cognitive load and keeps the game moving, while still making character creation meaningful.
  2. Set Expectations: A Cutter in Blades in the Dark is likely to be physical, intimidating, and direct. The playbook leads the player in that direction through the choices that it offers. clarity like this really helps players quickly understand their role in the team and how they might contribute.
  3. Encourage Roleplay: Many playbooks include bonds, questions, or prompts that nudge players into thinking about how their character sees the world—and how they’ll interact with the rest of the group.

These features combine to create a quicker, smoother onboarding process—perfect for groups who want to dive into the action or get through a session during a lunch break.

An example of one of the Blades in the Dark Character Playbooks

How Character Playbooks Can Elevate Play2Lead

In my own game Play2Lead, the focus is on leadership, communication, and teamwork in a roleplaying context. It’s a game designed to help people learn by doing—to explore different leadership styles, solve complex problems together, and reflect on how they interact in a group. Currently character creation sits with a broad occupation, leadership style and one stat (exhaustion). Using playbooks might be a quick way for participants to engage with the game and understand what’s expected of them during play.

Here’s how playbooks can serve that mission:

  • Align with Leadership Styles: Playbooks in Play2Lead could represent leadership archetypes: The Visionary, The Facilitator, The Challenger, The Harmoniser, etc. Each one comes with strengths, blind spots, and a unique way of contributing to the team.
  • Jumpstart the Game: With predefined goals, triggers, and interpersonal dynamics, players can hit the ground running. This is especially helpful in one-shot sessions or corporate workshops where time is limited. You could also include a differing objective for each player, letting them work through conflict and compromise.
  • Create Teachable Moments: By embedding questions like “What do you do when your suggestion is ignored?” or “How do you handle team conflict?”, playbooks can gently guide players into valuable moments of reflection and growth.

Overall including a playbook system in Play2Lead is a great way to create more depth into the scenarios. Now instead of just trying to escape the Lost Temple, we can include interparty conflict and different objectives that better reflect teams in the real world.

Using Playbooks with Traditional D&D-Style Games

Playbooks aren’t exclusive to narrative indie RPGs—they can be layered onto more rules-heavy systems like Dungeons & Dragons to help get new or time-strapped players into the story faster. Imagine starting a D&D one-shot where the group is a squad of mercenaries. Each player picks a playbook with questions like:

  • The Veteran (Fighter/Leader) – “Who saved your life once, and what do you owe them?”
  • The Scout (Rogue/Observer) – “What truth have you discovered that no one else believes?”
  • The Mystic (Cleric/Wild Card) – “What vision haunts your dreams, and how does it shape your choices?”

These pre-framed characters help players understand not only what their characters can do, but also who they are, and why they’re involved in the mission. You don’t need to rewrite the D&D rulebook—just wrap character choices in storytelling scaffolding that speeds things up and adds emotional depth.

For inspiration, Simon Carryer has developed some great playbooks for older versions of D&D, check them out here.

Making Your Own Playbooks

Creating your own playbooks is easier than it sounds. Think of it like designing a template that sparks imagination while setting clear boundaries. Here’s a quick method:

  1. Define the Role: What job does this character do in the team? What are they responsible for?
  2. List Core Abilities: Pick 2-3 key strengths. Keep the wording accessible: “You keep the group calm in crisis” is better than “+2 to Persuasion.”
  3. Add Unique Moves or Perks: Give each playbook one or two special abilities or tools that make them distinct.
  4. Prompt Player Reflection: Include a few questions about values, goals, or backstory. These help the player bring the character to life in their own way.
  5. Include Interpersonal Hooks: Write 2-3 “bonds” or connections to other team members. These generate immediate relationships and drama.

Final Thoughts on Character Playbooks

Playbooks are more than shortcuts—they’re powerful frameworks for story and chartacter depth. Whether you’re sneaking through a haunted city in Blades in the Dark, solving a leadership challenge in Play2Lead, or running a team-building D&D session, playbooks help players connect quickly, act decisively, and reflect meaningfully.

So next time you’re planning a game—whether for fun, training, or both—consider developing some playbooks. You’ll be amazed at how fast your players step into the story and start leading.

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Leading Without Authority: Lessons from Being a D&D Player

leading without authority

When people talk about leadership, they often picture someone at the top of the hierarchy—giving instructions, making decisions, setting the direction. But some of the most effective leaders aren’t the ones with the title or the power. Rather, they’re the ones who support, encourage, and influence the team from within. They’re leading without authority. And one of the best places to learn this kind of leadership? Around a Dungeons & Dragons table.

In D&D, most people expect the Dungeon Master (DM) to lead the game. And it’s true—they guide the story, control the world, and keep the rules ticking. But a great game needs players who lead too, especially in ways that don’t rely on the perceived authority of the DM. Here’s how being a D&D player can teach you how to lead from the middle—and how these lessons apply directly to the workplace.

Include Everyone in the Plan

It’s easy in D&D to default to the loudest voice or the most experienced player. But real leadership shows when someone asks, “What does your character want to do?” or “Any ideas before we rush in?” Whether it’s deciding how to break into the necromancer’s tower or figuring out how to talk down an angry dragon, bringing everyone into the plan builds trust, encourages engagement, and gets better results.

Workplace parallel:
In meetings or projects, you don’t need to be the manager to bring others into the conversation. Ask quieter team members what they think. Invite diverse opinions before a decision is made. When people feel included, they’re more invested—and the team performs better.

Create Space for Others to Shine

Sometimes in D&D, you could take the spotlight—your character might be the strongest, the cleverest, or the loudest. But leading without authority means stepping back and letting someone else have a moment. Maybe the bard’s player is nervous about their first in-character speech—encouraging them with an “I follow your lead” can be huge.

Workplace parallel:
Good team players know when to step up and when to step aside. Let others present to the client. Support your colleague’s idea instead of pushing your own. The mark of a strong leader is often how well they make space for others to succeed.

Support the DM (Don’t Work Against Them)

It can be tempting to derail the plot or poke holes in the story—especially when you’re feeling clever. But the best D&D players understand they’re collaborating with the DM, not competing. They help keep the story moving, make creative suggestions that respect the world, and smooth over friction at the table.

Workplace parallel:
You might not agree with every direction your manager takes, but undermining them rarely helps. Supporting leadership—offering constructive feedback privately, aligning publicly, and helping others buy in—shows maturity and earns trust from above and below.

Demonstrate Initiative and Care

The best player-leaders are the ones who check in with new players, take notes so others don’t have to, or gently remind the group of shared goals. They lead not because they have to, but because they care about the game and everyone’s participation.

Workplace parallel:
You can do the same at work—by mentoring new colleagues, tracking team goals, or being the one who remembers the little things. Initiative, empathy, and consistency build influence far more effectively than a title does.

Final Thoughts on Leading Without Authority

Whether you’re sneaking past a goblin camp or managing a tight deadline, leadership is rarely a solo act. Dungeons & Dragons reminds us that great leaders don’t always wear a crown—they’re the ones who lift others up, keep the group together, and quietly steer toward success.

So next time you sit down to roll some dice, think about the kind of player you want to be. Because every campaign—and every workplace—needs leaders who lead without needing to be in charge.