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How to Play · Chapter 10

Starting a Session

A session is one sitting of play. It keeps its own copy of positions, HP, items and turn order, saved as you go.

  • For the GM
The GM's session screen in Black Hollow Village during Free Play: Active Locations on the left, the map in the middle, action buttons below and GM controls on the right.
GM Session: Core Controls
  1. 1Active Locations Each location in play, its mode, turn order and Start encounter.
  2. 2Free Play or Combat The location shown and its current mode.
  3. 3The map Tokens, objects and exits in the location shown.
  4. 4Action buttons Act for the character you are controlling, or Request Roll.
  5. 5GM controls Send Message, and who controls each character and NPC.
  6. 6Searchable objects What can be searched here and what was found.

How to use it

  • Tap Start Session at the top of the campaign or in Sessions. A paused session is continued from Sessions.
  • The Start Session screen has three steps: Characters, Starting location (and Map), and How you are playing.

Step by step

  1. Tick the characters who are playing, or Use suggested party.
  2. Choose the starting location and its map.
  3. Choose Digital / App-Controlled (everyone plays on a device) or Tabletop / In-Person (real dice and paper; you drive the app).
  4. Tap Begin. Characters are placed on player start markers or the nearest open space.
  5. Each player first reads the Player Introduction and taps Continue.

Starting a Session For the GM

  • The view menu in the top bar (GM View, or Player: a name) shows exactly what one player sees: their location, map and turn order. It never moves anyone.
  • Show Introduction Again (session menu) replays the introduction for everyone or one player.
  • Closing the app keeps everything: positions, HP, turn order and who has read the introduction.
  • The session never changes your campaign content.

Digital and Tabletop Play

  • You can switch between Digital and Tabletop at any time from the session toolbar or menu. Everything carries over.
  • Playing over the network? The session is shared on your local network as soon as it opens; see LAN Multiplayer.

Important rules

  • Starting a session never changes the campaign; play uses a copy.
  • The session saves as you play.

Common questions

Can I run two sessions of one campaign?

Yes. Sessions offers Start another session; each keeps its own state.