Session Prep
Prepare session: $ARGUMENTS
Overview
Creates DM-ready materials for running a game session by:
- Compiling relevant world information into quick-reference format
- Generating NPC cheat sheets with personality and stat summaries
- Creating location briefs with key details
- Suggesting encounters appropriate to the area
- Preparing plot hooks and contingencies
Instructions
Step 1: Gather Context
Parse arguments for:
- World name - Required
- Session focus - Location, adventure, or narrative arc
- Party level - For encounter scaling
Ask clarifying questions:
"To prepare your session, I need to know: 1. What world are we working with? 2. Where will the session take place? (location/region) 3. What's the party's average level? 4. Any specific plot threads to advance?"
Step 2: Read Relevant Entities
Based on session focus, read:
- Location entities - Settlement, dungeon, region
- NPC entities - Characters likely to appear
- Organization entities - Active factions
- Current plot entities - Adventures, prophecies, conflicts
Step 3: Generate Session Notes Document
Create a comprehensive but scannable prep document:
# Session Prep: [Session Title/Location]
**World:** [[World Name]]
**Date:** [Prep date]
**Party Level:** [X]
**Estimated Duration:** [X hours]
---
## Quick Reference
### Key NPCs This Session
| NPC | Role | Personality | Want | Secret |
|-----|------|-------------|------|--------|
| [[NPC 1]] | [role] | [2-3 words] | [goal] | [hidden] |
| [[NPC 2]] | [role] | [2-3 words] | [goal] | [hidden] |
### Active Factions
| Faction | Goal | Disposition | Agent |
|---------|------|-------------|-------|
| [[Faction 1]] | [objective] | [friendly/hostile/neutral] | [[Agent NPC]] |
### Locations
| Location | Key Feature | Danger | Opportunity |
|----------|-------------|--------|-------------|
| [[Location 1]] | [notable thing] | [threat] | [hook] |
---
## Session Outline
### Opening Scene
**Location:** [[Start Location]]
**Setup:** [2-3 sentences describing how session begins]
**Read-Aloud Text:**
> "[Atmospheric description for players]"
### Possible Scenes
#### Scene A: [Name]
**Trigger:** [What leads here]
**Location:** [[Location]]
**NPCs:** [[NPC 1]], [[NPC 2]]
**Purpose:** [What this scene accomplishes]
**Key Information:** [What players can learn]
**Complications:** [What could go wrong]
#### Scene B: [Name]
[Same structure]
#### Scene C: [Name]
[Same structure]
### Climax Options
[2-3 possible climactic moments based on player choices]
### Ending Hooks
[How to end on a cliffhanger or setup next session]
---
## NPC Cheat Sheets
### [[NPC Name]]
**Quick Stats:** AC [X], HP [X], Attack +[X] ([damage])
**Voice/Mannerism:** [How to portray them]
**Key Phrases:**
- "[Something they'd say]"
- "[Another characteristic line]"
**Knows:** [Information they have]
**Wants:** [Their immediate goal]
**Fears:** [What threatens them]
**Will Trade:** [What they offer for help]
[Repeat for each major NPC]
---
## Location Briefs
### [[Location Name]]
**At a Glance:** [1 sentence summary]
**Sensory Details:**
- **See:** [Visual description]
- **Hear:** [Sounds]
- **Smell:** [Scents]
**Key Features:**
1. [Notable feature with mechanical relevance]
2. [Another feature]
3. [Interactive element]
**Hidden Elements:**
- **DC [X] Perception:** [What they notice]
- **DC [X] Investigation:** [What they find]
**Inhabitants:** [[Creature/NPC]]
**Exits:** [Where paths lead]
---
## Encounter Summaries
### Combat: [Encounter Name]
**Difficulty:** [Easy/Medium/Hard/Deadly]
**Enemies:** [X] [[Creature]] (CR [Y])
**Tactics:** [How they fight]
**Trigger:** [What starts combat]
**Terrain:** [Battle map notes]
**Treasure:** [Loot]
### Social: [Encounter Name]
**NPC:** [[NPC Name]]
**Stakes:** [What's at risk]
**Success:** [What they gain]
**Failure:** [Consequences]
**Key DCs:** Persuasion [X], Insight [X]
---
## Treasure & Rewards
### Planned Treasure
| Item | Location/Source | Value |
|------|-----------------|-------|
| [[Item 1]] | [where found] | [gp/rarity] |
| [Gold amount] | [where found] | [X gp] |
### Information Rewards
| Clue | Source | Reveals |
|------|--------|---------|
| [Clue description] | [[NPC/Location]] | [Plot advancement] |
---
## Contingencies
### If Players...
- **Go left instead of right:** [How to adapt]
- **Attack the friendly NPC:** [Consequences]
- **Skip the dungeon entirely:** [Alternative path]
- **Ask about [topic]:** [Prepared answer]
### Random Encounters
[3-4 encounters ready if needed, scaled to party]
### Emergency NPCs
[2-3 generic NPCs ready to drop in]
---
## Session Checklist
### Before Session
- [ ] Review NPC voices
- [ ] Prepare battle maps for: [locations]
- [ ] Queue music for: [scenes]
- [ ] Print/prepare: [handouts]
### During Session Track
- [ ] XP earned: ___
- [ ] Gold found: ___
- [ ] Items acquired: ___
- [ ] NPCs met: ___
- [ ] Plot points revealed: ___
### Notes for Next Session
[Space for during-session notes]Step 4: Generate Supporting Materials
Based on session needs, also create:
NPC Voice Cards
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ NPC NAME │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Voice: [accent/pattern] │
│ Gesture: [physical habit] │
│ Catchphrase: "[phrase]" │
│ Motivation: [single word] │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Stats: AC [X] HP [X] +[X] to hit │
│ Spell DC [X] if caster │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘Location Maps Key
If location has rooms/areas:
LOCATION MAP KEY
A. [Area name] - [1 line description]
B. [Area name] - [1 line description]
C. [Area name] - [1 line description]
Trap: Room [X]
Treasure: Room [X]
Boss: Room [X]Step 5: Plot Thread Tracking
If world has ongoing plots:
## Active Plot Threads
### Thread: [Plot Name]
**Status:** [current state]
**Last Session:** [what happened]
**This Session:** [how to advance]
**Foreshadowing:** [hints to drop]
### Thread: [Plot Name]
[Repeat]Step 6: Save and Organize
Offer to save prep document:
"Would you like me to save this session prep?"
If yes:
- Save to
Worlds/[World Name]/Sessions/Session [Date] - [Title].md - Create Sessions folder if needed
Step 7: Offer Additional Prep
"Session prep complete! Would you also like me to: 1. Generate detailed battle maps descriptions 2. Create handout text for players 3. Write read-aloud descriptions for key moments 4. Generate backup random encounters 5. Create a player-facing session summary from last time"
Examples
# Basic session prep
/session-prep Eldoria "Ironhold City"
# With specific focus
/session-prep Eldoria "The Sunken Temple" level 8
# Adventure-focused
/session-prep Eldoria "Confronting the Cult" climax session