Grim_Holllow_Players_Guide_Digital_Edition_Final (1)

In short, the X-Card is a physical card placed on the personalities mesh once the characters meet for the first
table. Any player may tap the card or otherwise “activate” time. Figuring this out in advance avoids the “party of
it during the game, if the narrative moves in a direction loners” situation, where there’s no in-game reason that
they’re uncomfortable with. The active player or the GM the PCs keep putting up with each other and risk their
immediately stops and moves the narrative forward, lives for each other adventure after adventure.
away from the current deeds taking place at the table.
Use backgrounds and bonds as jumping off points
An advantage of the X-Card is that it does not put a lot for players to decide how their characters might be
of pressure on the uncomfortable player to explain exactly connected. A player might ask the table, “Which of your
what the problem is in the moment. A player may explain characters might my character have met during his time
why they activated the X-Card after the game, if there is as a sailor?”
any confusion, when everyone is more comfortable.
Traits and flaws can serve as seeds for relationships
The Luxton Technique between characters. One player could volunteer, “What
if the way your character stammers under pressure
This is a different approach to handling upsetting events reminds her of her younger brother, and so she feels
in the game. In short, when a player identifies that protective of your character?”
something in the game is upsetting them, play pauses.
The player has an opportunity to explain what the Alternatively, “My character steals small items even
problem is, if they wish. The player then states what they when it’s a bad idea—does anyone else’s character watch
want or need to happen in the narrative—for example, mine especially closely, to make sure she behaves?”
“I need this NPC to survive this encounter,” or, “I need
the townspeople not to believe the villain’s lies about A key part of building relationships this way is that
what just happened.” The players and the GM then both players should be excited about the new connection.
ensure that that the stated result comes about. If the One player should not force a relationship on another
outcome of a die roll (such as an attack roll or a save) player’s character.
would determine the outcome, do not roll—the ultimate
outcome should not be in question. Once these decisions have been made, the GM can
start making concrete plans about what will happen
This technique is meant to address situations where it in the campaign. Part of the joy of running a tabletop
may be more upsetting to skip over the upsetting event game is seeing what characters the other players create,
or pretend it didn’t happen. and finding out what those characters do in different
situations. Now the GM knows who the PCs are, and
The Luxton Technique was described in detail in a blog what kind of adventures make sense for them—and who
post by P.H. Lee, as an alternative to the X-Card. the players are, and what kind of adventures will be the
most fun for them.
A variety of other safety tools are available online in the
TTRPG Safety Toolkit, an online collection maintained by Finally, the Boring Stuff
Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk.
Nobody enjoys scheduling, but working out a schedule
The Script Change RPG Toolkit by Brie Beau Sheldon is a lot better than constantly cancelling sessions or
is another set of tools that builds on the Luxton playing with half a party. Figure out a cancellation
Technique and the movie rating metaphor. It provides policy, including what happens to player characters if
a range of ways to let players take control of the their player doesn’t show up to a session.
narrative in the moment.
A good strategy is to decide on a day—like every
Not every group needs a mechanic this structured in Saturday, or every other Sunday—that works for
order to have these discussions, but when it comes to everyone most of the time. Players then know what to
uncomfortable conversations, it can be helpful to err on expect, and they can try to keep that day open. If players
the side of having more structure than you need. can’t make a session, cancel it until next week, but don’t
change the day. If you move game day around in the
In any case, the important thing to remember is that week, chasing the gaps in players’ schedules, you’ll
each and every person at the table is more important find sessions are unpredictable and far-between, and
than the game. scheduling them is a never-ending headache. Everyone
should also decide how long the campaign should last,
Third, Building the Party so they know how much time they’re committing to
it. (Don’t be afraid to start a short campaign. You can
Once you’ve agreed on the boundaries of the game, it’s always re-up with the same characters if everyone wants
time for the players to decide who their characters will to keep going.)
be. This can be full character creation, or simply deciding
on the characters’ concepts and backstories. Session Zero is also where you should work out
questions like who brings what snacks, and whether you
Players should also decide why their characters share dice or everyone brings their own. You may also
adventure together. Players can either give their want to work out whether people are comfortable with
characters pre-existing relationships, or decide how their alcohol and other substances at the table.

When you’re done with all this, you’ll have a solid
plan in place to start a great campaign for everyone.

Chapter 13: Session Zero 149

150 Grim Hollow Players Guide

Abendland...........................................17 Index Path of the Primal Spirit....................40
Aberrant Horror Transformation....80 Pauper................................................100
Academy of Swords...........................19 Faro.......................................................25 Pit Fighter..........................................102
Achen Elavain.....................................27 Fey-Blessed..........................................99 Plague Doctor.....................................76
Aetheric War.......................................33 Fey Transformation...........................85 Pox-Touched.......................................97
Aether Kindred...................................33 Fiend Transformation........................81 Primordials..........................................36
Alondo.................................................36 Filth Gazer...........................................29 Primordial Transformation...............89
Altenheim............................................17 First Vampire Patron.........................72 Prismatic Wyrm..................................36
Ammunition.....................................130 Galtian.................................................13 Queen Andrea Helsing......................23
Aphaelon.............................................34 God’s End............................................33 Raevo...................................................21
Aratron I..............................................17 Gormadraug.......................................36 Rauland...............................................19
Arcane Magic......................................30 Gorodyn...............................................35 Ravencourt Sanctuary.......................31
Arcanist Inquisition...........................24 Grand Duke Drago Koshevek..........20 Renegade Colleges.............................32
Arch Daemons....................................24 Green Reaper......................................60 Resolve Pool......................................142
Archduchess Maelfa..........................18 Haunted Origin..................................68 Sangromancy......................................77
Archduke Ulrich Eisenherz..............19 High Cavalry School..........................25 Sarmar Academy................................31
Archetypes........................................108 Highway Rider...................................64 Seraph Transformation......................84
Arch Seraphs.......................................34 Holy Order of Hearthkeepers..........17 Session Zero1......................................46
Aurelian...............................................13 Ilhara....................................................37 Silverstream Markets.........................17
Backgrounds.......................................96 Influence Dice...................................142 Sitri.......................................................35
Battle of Bite Bay................................29 Inquisition Domain............................47 Solyma.................................................34
Beast Pool..........................................143 Kandar.................................................23 Soma.....................................................20
Beleth...................................................35 Karstein Market..................................20 Specter Transformation.....................93
Bulwark Warrior................................51 King Thibault de Sauveterre............27 Spells..................................................117
Burach Empire....................................17 Knights of the Severe Templar.........27 Talents................................................106
Caravaner’s Rest.................................23 Lady Morrakesh.................................36 Temple of Mists..................................26
Castalore..............................................21 Laneshi.................................................10 Therpena..............................................25
Castinellan Provinces........................24 Languages of Etharis.........................29 Thrull...................................................22
Charneault Kingdom.........................26 Lapsed Inquisitor...............................98 Toletum................................................24
Chief Nolgr Magnusson....................22 Lich Transformation..........................82 Tol Kerdwyl........................................28
Chiropteran Behemoth......................21 Liesech.................................................28 Tol Leyemil, City of Elves.................27
Circle of Blood....................................48 Living Crucible...................................52 Tormach...............................................35
Circle of Mutation..............................49 Llana’Shi Empire................................10 Transformations.................................79
Citrolach..............................................36 Lord General Vassily Roemer..........19 Trinkets..............................................140
Clan Member....................................103 Lycanthrope Transformation...........82 Tyburn.................................................22
Coldfire Crisis.....................................23 Magic Items.......................................133 Ulmyrite...............................................13
College of Adventurers.....................42 Maliganti.............................................13 Ulmyr’s Gate.......................................15
College of Requiems..........................44 Malikir.................................................35 Underland...........................................19
Countess Analita von Raiza.............28 Miklas..................................................34 Valikan Clans......................................22
Crimson Court....................................20 Mina Taliesin......................................21 Vampire Transformation .................84
Disembodied.......................................15 Misfortune Bringer.............................66 Venin....................................................35
Divine Magic.......................................33 Mistrust of Magic...............................32 Vermiel Guards..................................27
Doge Lorenzo Flabenici....................28 Mists.....................................................26 Vermin Lord.......................................62
Downcast.............................................12 Morael..................................................34 Vosantra Cathedral............................20
Dreamers.............................................14 Morencia..............................................28 Way of the Leaden Crown................54
Ebon Syndicate...................................21 Nordenland.........................................18 Way of Pride.......................................55
Edict of Eternal Blood........................34 Nov Ostoya.........................................20 Weapons, Advanced........................128
Eldritch Domain4.................................5 Oath of Pestilence...............................56 Wechselkin............................................9
Ember Cairn........................................25 Oath of Zeal........................................58 Wretched Bloodline Origin...............70
Empyreus............................................34 Ogresh..................................................11 Zabriel..................................................34
Erlefurt Colleges.................................31 One of the Taken................................96
Etharis..................................................16 Ostoya..................................................20
Parasite Patron....................................73
Path of the Fractured.........................39

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System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the
Coast, Inc.; Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins,
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Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and Steve Townshend, based on
original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

Fashions of The Valikan Clans
Fashions of Ostoya

Fashions of The Charneault Kingdoms
Fashions of The Castinellen Provinces