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One Shot Template

This document provides guidance for game masters to prepare one-shot tabletop roleplaying games. It includes tables to randomly generate story elements like plot hooks, pacing events if the players do nothing, villains and their minions/monsters, NPCs, and locations. The tables provide options for motivations, strengths/weaknesses, personalities, and descriptions to flesh out these elements. Blank tables are also included to allow GMs to add their own ideas. The goal is to help GMs quickly create an engaging plot and characters for a one-shot session.

Uploaded by

Marina Cabrera
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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1K views15 pages

One Shot Template

This document provides guidance for game masters to prepare one-shot tabletop roleplaying games. It includes tables to randomly generate story elements like plot hooks, pacing events if the players do nothing, villains and their minions/monsters, NPCs, and locations. The tables provide options for motivations, strengths/weaknesses, personalities, and descriptions to flesh out these elements. Blank tables are also included to allow GMs to add their own ideas. The goal is to help GMs quickly create an engaging plot and characters for a one-shot session.

Uploaded by

Marina Cabrera
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Friendly Introduction: The introduction provides an overview of the document's purpose to aid game masters in preparing one-shot tabletop adventures.
  • Plot: Outlines the elements of a one-shot plot including the concept, plot hook, and possible challenges or plot twists.
  • Pacing: Guides the reader on how to pace the storyline effectively, detailing when events should occur to maintain interest and tension.
  • Baddies: Describes the characteristics of villains including their motivations, strengths, weaknesses, and personalities.
  • Monsters: Provides a framework for detailing monsters in the game including their motivation, strengths, and behaviors.
  • NPCs: Details the need for well-rounded non-player characters (NPCs) by documenting their traits and role in the story.
  • Locations: Looks at how to utilize locations within the game to enhance storytelling, including atmosphere and novelty elements.
  • Blank Tables: Provides blank templates for each section, allowing for personal customization and planning.
  • Plot Template: A fillable template for the plot section to help organize ideas for a one-shot.
  • Pacing Template: A structured template for pacing the game, assisting in timing and events.
  • Baddies Template: A fillable template for outlining the baddies, focusing on their role within the story and how they affect player experiences.
  • Monsters Template: A blank template to help detail monstrosities in-game, including their behavioral and physical traits.
  • NPCs Template: A template that serves as a guide to create rich NPCs, detailing their characteristics and roles.
  • Locations Template: Helps structure and plan settings and environments, focusing on elements that enhance story immersion.

Friendly Introduction

Hi!

I made this document to help game masters prepare for one-shot (single session) tabletop
roleplaying games (TTRPGs). I had d&d in mind, but you could use this for whatever kind of game
you like! The concept is based on the guide in Monster of the Week, a Powered by the
Apocalypse TTRPG by Evil Hat, incorporating various elements I use in my d&d prep.

This document has two parts: the first includes all the tables with accompanying explanations
and many fields containing 6 pre-written options. This is to allow you to roll a d6 and randomly
create story elements. Quick vocab note: a MacGuffin is an object, typically unique or very
rare, that is required to advance the plot. It’s listed as a potential weakness for various foes:
think Kryptonite!

The second half is blank to leave room for all your great ideas!

You’re welcome to share this document, though I appreciate credit and if you want to leave a
tip, you can do so at ko-fi.com/gnome_anne.

Feel free to contact me on social media (annethegnome on Twitter & TikTok, gnome_anne on
Twitch) or by email ([email protected]).

Happy games!

Anne
Plot
Concept
Brief summary of the overarching idea behind the one-shot

Plot Hook
What leads the players to the quest? Does each player have their own motivation?

Plot Wrangle
If the players ignore the hook, what pushes them towards the quest? Typically, I recommend
either having the quest come to them (literally attack them, take something of theirs, capture
them etc, pushing them directly into the action) OR tie it into something personal to the
character (affecting their hometown or a person from their backstory).
Pacing
Prep your story beats – how will things unfold if our heroes do not intervene? These should be
complications that increase the threat or are negative outcomes in their own right.

Recent: this event has already happened, and informs the plot. This is what is leading to the
plot hook.
Present: what is happening when the game starts? It may be “off screen”, or it might be the plot
hook.
Soon: if the players ignore the plot hook, what will happen *very soon* to emphasize the
importance of this quest? (see Plot Wrangle above)
Future: if the players do nothing, what will happen as the Baddie’s plan unfolds? When will this
happen? Hint: it should be soon!
Futurer: if the players do nothing, how will the Baddie “win”? When will this happen?

When? What?

Recent

Present

Soon

Future

Futurer
Baddies
BBEG
Motivation Money/Glory/Power/Revenge/Love/Fear

Plan

Strengths Intelligence/Connections/Arcane Power/Wealth/Might/Charisma

Weaknesses Arrogance/Paranoia/Greed/Lust/Notoriety/MacGuffin

Personality Pompous/Maniacal/Unbothered/Volatile/Calculated/Saccharine

Appearance Elegant/Unassuming/Imposing/Haunting/Grotesque/Seductive

Additional notes

Minions
Motivation Zealotry/Loyalty/Fear/Money/Black mail/None(not in control)

Strengths Might/Infectious/Stealth/Ritual/Numbers/Tactics

Weaknesses Gullibility/Obedience/Cowardice/Greed/Dependance/MacGuffin

Personality Determined/Feral/Upright/Skeezy/Unhinged/Selfish

Appearance Monstrous/Unassuming/Decrepit/Stately/Otherworldly/Disheveled

Additional notes
Monster
Motivation Hunger/Territory/Fear/Protection/Confusion/None (not in control)

Strengths Speed/Numbers/Stealth/Heightened Senses/Illusion/Size

Weaknesses Distractibility/Underbelly/Water/Clumsiness/Fear/Intelligence (or lack of)

Behaviour Feral/Protective/Territorial/Ravenous/Predatory/Strategic

Appearance Incorporeal/Beastly/Infernal/Mangy/Slimy/Reptilian

What they
teach you
about the
story/world

Additional notes
NPCs
Name

Purpose in the Assist/Inform/Misdirect/Compete/Draw Danger/Impede


story

Observable Gregarious/Buff/Just a lil’ guy/Stoic/Confident/Anxious


trait

Unexpected Obscure hobby/Unsettling collection/Dark backstory/Ancient lineage/Secret


trait identity/Strong morals

Ridiculous Chews with mouth open/Kleptomania/Gossips/Outlandish attire/Catch


traits phrase/Falls in love too easily

Aspiration Professional/Romantic/Financial/Petty/Fame/Freedom

Appearance Friendly/Alluring/Diminutive/Imposing/Unassuming/Unnerving

Additional notes
Locations
Atmosphere: what do you want the space to evoke in the players? What’s the vibe?
Climate: what is the broader climate of the location? Even if it’s an interior location, the climate
will inform the architecture and other people in the space.
Novelty: what makes this location unique? If it were in geoguessr, how would I be able to
identify it? Is this novelty surprising to the players?
Familiary: what is exactly how we expect it to be? What point of reference would this link to in
the players’ past experiences?
Purpose: why is this location in the story? This purpose can (and likely will) change and it’s
normal to have multiple purposes, but it’s a good idea to ensure you have at least one.
Hidden elements: what might the players discover if they spend enough time exploring this
space?

Dimensions: how big is this space? What shape is it?


First thing you notice: when the players enter the space, what is the first thing that grabs their
attention?
Sounds/Smells/Touch: using senses in description can increase the players’ immersion in the
scene. Try to imagine what their characters are sensing within the scene.

Name

Atmosphere Whimsical/Bleak/Unsettling/Creepy/Comforting/Hectic

Climate Desert/Forest/Swamp/Arctic/Coastal/Grassland

Novelty

Familiarity

Purpose Battlefield/Respite/Hidden information/World-building/Transition/Prize

Hidden
elements

Description
Dimensions

First thing you


notice

Sounds

Smells

Touch
(temperature,
weather,
textures)

Additional notes
Plot
Concept
Brief summary of the overarching idea behind the one-shot

Plot Hook
What leads the players to the quest? Does each player have their own motivation?

Plot Wrangle
If the players ignore the hook, what pushes them towards the quest?
Pacing
When? What?

Recent

Present

Soon

Future

Futurer
Baddies
BBEG
Motivation

Plan

Strengths

Weaknesses

Personality

Appearance

Additional notes

Minions
Motivation

Strengths

Weaknesses

Personality

Appearance

Additional notes
Monster
Motivation

Strengths

Weaknesses

Behaviour

Appearance

What they
teach you
about the
story/world

Additional notes
NPCs
Name

Purpose in the
story

Observable
trait

Unexpected
trait

Ridiculous
traits

Aspiration

Appearance

Additional notes
Locations
Name

Atmosphere

Climate

Novelty

Familiarity

Purpose

Hidden
elements

Description

Dimensions

First thing you


notice

Sounds

Smells

Touch
(temperature,
weather,
textures)

Additional notes

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