Amantia Campaign — Session Zero Questionnaire
D&D 2024 Rules + Homebrew | Level 1 Start | In-Person | Player-Driven Campaign
1. Player Information
Player name: Daryl Character name: (TBD)
2. Campaign Buy-In
- I am excited to help drive the story through character goals.
- I prefer the DM to present clear hooks and choices.
- I like open-world exploration with room to wander.
- I like a strong central plot with branching paths.
- I am comfortable with homebrew rules, creatures, items, and lore.
- I want homebrew explained clearly before it strongly affects my character.
- I enjoy discovering world lore through play.
- I prefer a short lore primer before character creation.
- I like when my backstory becomes part of the plot.
- I prefer my backstory to stay light and flexible at first.
What kind of personal goal would make your character actively choose adventure rather than wait for the plot? Finding a place to be where they are not hunted.
What is one type of campaign hook your character would almost never ignore? Losing the lesser title or becoming a naga god.
3. Tone and Genre
Pick exactly TWO:
- Heroic fantasy
- Mythic epic
- Dark fantasy — beauty, danger, moral cost, and shadowed choices
- Gothic horror — curses, haunted places, dread, secrets, and tragic monsters
- Fairy-tale / folklore
- Political intrigue
- Mystery / investigation
- Exploration sandbox
- Survival travel
- High magic wonder
- Low grit
- Swashbuckling adventure
- Faction drama
- Moral ambiguity
- Character drama
- Lighthearted adventure
Tone notes: Dark Fantasy, Mystery, and Lighthearted
4. Character Generation
Species: Medusa Lesser
Lineage: N/A
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Appearance: (left blank — to be filled in)
Languages: Siortharan, Liarnskarn, Draconic, Abyssal
Species Traits:
- Darkvision
- Petrifying Gaze
- Poison Spray
- Snake Hair
Ability Scores (Rolls: 13, 13, 12, 16, 14, 8):
| Score | Final | Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 12 | +1 |
| Dexterity | 16 | +3 |
| Constitution | 13 | +1 |
| Intelligence | 13 | +1 |
| Wisdom | 14 | +2 |
| Charisma | 11 | +0 |
Hit Points (level 1): 11
Background: Artist
- Ability score adjustment: Dexterity, Intelligence, Charisma (+1 each — written as ability score names, not skills; background skill proficiencies TBD)
- Tool proficiency: Painter’s Supplies
- Origin Feat: Skilled — Persuasion, Stealth, Painter’s Supplies
- Starting Equipment: 2 pouches, painter’s tools, 42 gp
Class: Ranger
- Skill proficiencies: Stealth, Athletics, Nature
- (Saving throws, armor/weapon proficiencies, class features — not filled in on questionnaire)
5. Character Concept and Identity
Pitch: Outcast monster race living on their own outside of standard townsfolk. Choosing to live by their own rules and paints intruders’ petrified statues.
Species / class / background / homebrew: Medusa Lesser, Ranger, Artist. No homebrew on this character.
Where is your character from? The Untamed Marches.
Family: Mother dead, father unknown. Unknown siblings. No relationship — separated at a young age.
Married / children? No.
Childhood best friend: A forest druid who grew up with this character (possible love interest). Currently in another forest pursuing their own goals.
Pet: Snakes in the forest.
One belief, flaw, fear, or wound that could cause trouble: Antisocial tendencies leading to violence in crowds, or unintentional petrifications.
Favorite foods, drinks, colors, attire: Essentially a hippie raised with a druid — druid-like clothing, loose fits, greens and browns. Hunted meat and campfire meals.
Ticks or quirks: Left open and flexible — to develop through play.
Fears / phobias: Left open and flexible — to develop through play.
6. Character Backstory Hooks
- Missing family member or friend
- Mentor, teacher, or former commander
- Rival, enemy, or old companion
- Debt, oath, promise, or obligation
- Secret shame or past mistake
- Lost relic, heirloom, or strange inheritance
- Noble, criminal, religious, military, or academic tie
- Faction membership or faction trouble
- Prophecy, omen, curse, dream, or strange mark
- Forbidden knowledge or dangerous discovery
- Home in danger
- Exile, disgrace, or false accusation
- A loved one who needs help
- A patron, deity, spirit, or other powerful connection
- A mystery about ancestry, magic, or identity
- A betrayal that still matters
- A duty to a village, order, temple, court, or guild
- A monster, villain, or disaster from the past
Chosen hook — expanded: Forbidden knowledge is possible from living outside townsfolk and city limits. Possibly leading to power in the goals section.
NPC the character cares about: The forest druid this character grew up with. Possible love interest.
NPC the character has tension with: Hunted as a monster — this is anyone.
Secret or unresolved question to reveal later: Left open — player wants to develop this as the storyline progresses (similar to how it worked with Orvar).
7. Party Connection and Group Play
(Questions in this section left blank on questionnaire.)
- I would like to establish a connection with another PC before session 1.
- I am open to another PC being family, old friend, rival, student, mentor, or former ally.
- I prefer meeting the party in play rather than pre-linking characters.
- I enjoy inter-party banter and disagreement as long as everyone is respected.
- I want strong party loyalty and minimal internal conflict.
- I am open to secrets between characters if the players are on board.
8. Character Arc Preferences
Pick up to FIVE:
- Redemption
- Vengeance
- Found family
- Faith and doubt
- Ambition and power
- Duty vs. desire
- Freedom from control
- Legacy and inheritance
- Coming of age
- Honor and reputation
- Grief and healing
- Corruption and temptation
- Discovery of hidden identity
- Love, loyalty, and sacrifice
- Justice and mercy
- Survival after trauma
- Proving oneself
- Protecting home
- Breaking a curse
- Becoming a legend
What kind of ending would feel satisfying? Up for anything. Poetic death, found a place to be, became a god.
9. Goals
Personal Goals:
Long term: Become a force to recreate the world due to backstory abandonment. Achieving high status or ultimately Godhood.
Medium term: Becoming a lord over a town.
Short term (two):
- Finding a place to enjoy oneself and do what they want openly.
- Find the druid love interest who separated for their own journey.
Party Goals (develop at the table): Long term: [Fill in at Session Zero with party] Medium term: [Fill in at Session Zero with party] Short term: [Fill in at Session Zero with party]
10. Comfort, Boundaries, and Safety
| Topic | Okay | Fade to Black / Veil | Hard No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic gore or body horror | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Torture or interrogation scenes | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Horror involving children | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Romance involving PCs or NPCs | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Sexual content | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Mind control / loss of agency | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Betrayal by trusted NPCs | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| PvP, theft, or deception between PCs | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Character death | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Curses, possession, or permanent transformation | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Spiders, insects, snakes, or specific phobias | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
| Religious horror, cults, or blasphemy themes | [x] | [ ] | [ ] |
Other topics: N/A
How should the table redirect if something becomes uncomfortable? Just say something.
11. Table Expectations
- Start and end close to the agreed time
- Give advance notice when absent or late
- Keep phones limited during play
- Share spotlight and make room for quieter players
- Respect player boundaries and safety tools
- Avoid rules arguments during dramatic moments
- Pause rules debates and let the DM make a temporary ruling
- Explain important board-state or character abilities clearly
- Keep character conflict separate from player conflict
- No PvP without clear player consent
- Work as a party, even with different character motives
- Let serious scenes breathe without constant jokes
- Allow humor and table chatter in lighter scenes
- Take notes or help track names, clues, and quests
- Make proactive choices rather than waiting for the DM to push
- Ask before giving another player tactical advice
- Roll dice openly unless the DM says otherwise
- Respect in-person space, food, volume, and clean-up
- Communicate between sessions about plans or concerns
- Be patient with homebrew rulings and later adjustments
What table behavior helps you have the most fun? Relaxed environment — like conversation with any other tabletop game.
What table behavior drains the fun? Too much focus on roleplay-only conversations. Roleplay is a struggle beyond “I do this / that” — doesn’t want to feel like an actor.
How do you prefer rules questions to be handled during play? Anyone can just ask. Reminders and questions are all fine.
12. Gameplay Preferences
1 = not very interested, 5 = very excited
| Preference | Rating |
|---|---|
| Tactical combat | 5 |
| Boss fights and set-piece battles | 5 |
| Dungeon crawling | 5 |
| Wilderness exploration | 5 |
| Travel challenges | 3 |
| Mystery and investigation | 5 |
| Political intrigue and negotiation | 4 |
| Faction reputation and alliances | 5 |
| Moral dilemmas | 4 |
| Puzzles, riddles, and codes | 5 |
| Social roleplay with NPCs | 3 |
| Roleplay between party members | 3 |
| Personal character arcs | 4 |
| Downtime, crafting, training | 4 |
| Magic items, loot, and treasure hunts | 5 |
| Horror, suspense, and eerie scenes | 5 |
| Plan-based missions, heists, or infiltrations | 5 |
| Large-scale battles or war stories | 4 |
| Divine, planar, or mythic storylines | 5 |
| Player-created goals shaping the campaign | 3 |
Top FIVE gameplay ingredients:
- Horror, suspense, and eerie scenes
- Puzzles, riddles, and codes
- Dungeon crawling
- Mystery and investigation
- Magic items, loot, and treasure hunts
Up to THREE to use only occasionally or not at all:
- Social roleplay with NPCs
- Travel challenges
- Player-created goals shaping the campaign
13. Rules, Homebrew, and Character Advancement
Rules or homebrew to clarify before play: N/A — not aware of any homebrew ideas.
What kind of rewards excite you besides gold and magic items? Just an interesting story. Will see what happens in the game.
14. Final DM Notes
Three things I would love to see in this campaign: (left blank)
Three things I would rather keep rare:
- Party PvP
One question about Amantia or the campaign: Not sure — some of these I think I need to revisit once the story gets going to fit the character in.
Anything for the DM privately? (left blank)
Daryl - Medusa Ranger | Medusa (Lesser) | Ranger | Level 1 Player: Daryl | Campaign: Amantia
Filled questionnaire (docx): Daryle-Amantia_Session_Zero_Questionnaire.docx