Module Types and Templates

Different story types require different structures. This chapter provides tested templates for the most common module types, helping you match form to function.

Module Templates by Type

The Mystery Module

Structure: Investigation leading to revelation Sessions: 3-4 typically Key Elements:

Initial crime/disappearance/phenomenon
3-4 suspects/theories with evidence
Red herring that’s still interesting
Twist that recontextualizes evidence
Confrontation with truth

Pacing:

Session 1: Discovery and initial investigation
Session 2: Deepening mystery, conflicting evidence
Session 3: Breakthrough and pursuit
Session 4: Confrontation and resolution

Critical Design Elements:

Three-Clue Rule: Every conclusion needs 3+ ways to reach it
Proactive NPCs: Suspects act on their own agendas
Timeline: Events progress without PC intervention
Fair Play: All clues available before reveal

Common Pitfalls:

Single solution path
Passive waiting for PCs to find clues
Twist that invalidates player work
Red herrings more interesting than truth

Five-Room Structure Example:

Entrance: Crime scene discovery (body/theft/disappearance)
Puzzle: Interviewing suspects, gathering contradictory stories
Setback: Red herring leads to danger or key witness dies
Climax: Confronting real culprit with evidence
Revelation: Motive exposed, larger conspiracy hinted

The Heist Module

Structure: Planning and execution of complex theft/infiltration Sessions: 3-5 typically Key Elements:

Clear target with multiple defenses
Preparation phase for gathering intel
Execution with complications
Escape with consequences

Pacing:

Session 1: Job presentation and initial recon
Session 2: Deep reconnaissance and planning
Session 3-4: Execution with complications
Session 5: Escape and aftermath

Critical Design Elements:

Multiple Entry Points: Social, stealth, force, deception
Layered Defenses: Physical, magical, social, temporal
Meaningful Prep: Reconnaissance directly aids execution
Complication Clock: Things get worse over time

Common Pitfalls:

Over-planning paralysis
Single point of failure
No time pressure
Consequence-free success

Five-Room Structure Example:

Entrance: Job offer meeting, target revealed
Puzzle: Reconnaissance - learning defenses and routines
Setback: Security changes or unexpected complication
Climax: The heist itself - executing the plan
Revelation: Double-cross or true nature of stolen item

The Dungeon Crawl Module

Structure: Location-based exploration with escalating danger Sessions: 2-4 typically Key Elements:

Compelling reason to enter
Environmental challenges
Guardian encounters
Treasure/objective
Escape complications

Pacing:

Session 1: Approach and initial levels
Session 2: Deeper challenges and resources
Session 3: Core objective/boss
Session 4: Escape with complications

Critical Design Elements:

Resource Management: Spell slots, HP, equipment matter
Environmental Storytelling: The dungeon tells a story
Multiple Objectives: Main goal plus optional rewards
Dynamic Response: Dungeon reacts to intrusion

Common Pitfalls:

Empty rooms and meaningless combat
No unifying theme
Static environment
Anticlimactic treasure

Five-Room Structure Example:

Entrance: Guardian or sealed door requiring solution
Puzzle: Ancient mechanism or riddle blocking progress
Setback: Trap triggered or dungeon inhabitants alerted
Climax: Boss monster or final chamber challenge
Revelation: True purpose of dungeon or awakened threat

The Political Intrigue Module

Structure: Navigating competing factions toward resolution Sessions: 4-6 typically Key Elements:

3+ factions with conflicting goals
Public event forcing interaction
Hidden agendas and secrets
Cascading consequences
Power shift resolution

Pacing:

Session 1: Introduction to factions and tensions
Session 2-3: Deepening involvement, choosing sides
Session 4: Crisis point forcing action
Session 5-6: Resolution and new order

Critical Design Elements:

Faction Clocks: Each group advances their agenda
No Perfect Solution: Every choice has downsides
Information Economy: Secrets are currency
Public vs Private: Different faces for different spaces

Common Pitfalls:

Clear good/evil factions
Passive factions waiting for PCs
No personal stakes
Consequence-free diplomacy

Five-Room Structure Example:

Entrance: Invitation to court/summit/negotiation
Puzzle: Navigating social etiquette and hidden agendas
Setback: Assassination attempt or scandal erupts
Climax: Critical vote or confrontation between factions
Revelation: True puppet master or secret alliance exposed

The Exploration Module

Structure: Journey through unknown territory Sessions: 3-5 typically Key Elements:

Compelling destination
Environmental challenges
Discovery moments
Resource management
Changed return

Pacing:

Session 1: Departure and early challenges
Session 2-3: Deep wilderness/unknown
Session 4: Destination/discovery
Session 5: Return journey (changed)

Critical Design Elements:

Meaningful Navigation: Choices affect outcomes
Environmental Variety: Different terrains, different challenges
Discovery Rewards: Exploration yields benefits
Living World: Environment has its own agenda

Common Pitfalls:

Random encounter slog
Featureless wilderness
No meaningful choices
Identical return journey

Five-Room Structure Example:

Entrance: Crossing threshold into unknown territory
Puzzle: Navigating natural hazard or finding the path
Setback: Lost, weather turns, or supplies compromised
Climax: Reaching destination or major discovery
Revelation: True nature of place or what it guards

The Siege Module

Structure: Defending against overwhelming force Sessions: 3-4 typically Key Elements:

Clear threat approaching
Limited time to prepare
Resources to manage
Multiple defensive challenges
Climactic assault

Pacing:

Session 1: Threat revealed, initial preparations
Session 2: Preparations and first probes
Session 3: Main assault
Session 4 (if used): Aftermath and counterattack

Critical Design Elements:

Preparation Matters: Player choices affect defense
Resource Scarcity: Every decision has trade-offs
Escalating Pressure: Each wave harder than last
Multiple Fronts: Can’t defend everywhere

Common Pitfalls:

Static defense grind
No meaningful preparation
Single solution strategy
Anticlimactic resolution

Five-Room Structure Example:

Entrance: Enemy army spotted, time to prepare revealed
Puzzle: Fortifying defenses with limited resources
Setback: Spy discovered or defenses breached early
Climax: Main assault on multiple fronts
Revelation: True reason for siege or cost of victory

The Survival/Horror Module

Structure: Resource depletion against environmental or supernatural threats Sessions: 2-4 typically Key Elements:

Isolation from help/resources
Environmental attrition
Psychological pressure building
Dwindling supplies
Escape as primary victory

Pacing:

Session 1: Stranded/trapped, initial threat
Session 2: Resource depletion, escalating danger
Session 3: Desperation phase, hard choices
Session 4: Final push to escape/survive

Critical Design Elements:

Resource Tracking: Every item counts
Atmosphere Building: Fear through description
Death Spiral: Things get progressively worse
Hope Management: Glimmers keep players trying

Common Pitfalls:

Too bleak/hopeless
Resource tracking tedium
Predictable scares
No player agency

Five-Room Structure Example:

Entrance: Disaster strikes, normal exit cut off
Puzzle: Finding shelter/resources while avoiding threat
Setback: Safe haven compromised or ally lost
Climax: Desperate escape attempt or final stand
Revelation: What caused this and if it can happen again

The War/Military Campaign Module

Structure: Large-scale conflict with strategic elements Sessions: 4-6 typically Key Elements:

Mass combat situations
Strategic planning
Supply line management
Morale as resource
Victory conditions beyond combat

Pacing:

Session 1: War council and initial deployment
Session 2-3: Early battles and adjustments
Session 4: Turning point battle
Session 5-6: Final push and aftermath

Critical Design Elements:

Scale Management: Personal stories within war
Strategic Choices: Battles affect campaign
War Exhaustion: Prolonged conflict costs
Multiple Fronts: Can’t be everywhere

Common Pitfalls:

Lost in logistics
PC agency diminished
Combat grind
Unclear objectives

Five-Room Structure Example:

Entrance: War council assigns critical mission
Puzzle: Gathering intelligence on enemy movements
Setback: Ambush or betrayal within ranks
Climax: Key battle that turns the tide
Revelation: War’s true cost or hidden enemy revealed

The Rescue/Escort Module

Structure: Protecting or retrieving vulnerable NPCs Sessions: 2-4 typically Key Elements:

Vulnerable charge(s)
Mobile challenges
Time pressure
Moral dilemmas
Safe delivery objective

Pacing:

Session 1: Acquire charge, initial dangers
Session 2: Journey complications
Session 3: Major obstacle/betrayal
Session 4: Final push to safety

Critical Design Elements:

NPC Personality: Make them worth saving
Mobile Defense: Different from static protection
Resource Drain: Protecting others costs
Emotional Stakes: Beyond mechanical success

Common Pitfalls:

Annoying NPCs
Escort as burden only
No emotional investment
Static challenges

Five-Room Structure Example:

Entrance: Urgent plea or kidnapping witnessed
Puzzle: Tracking captors or navigating to prison
Setback: Hostage moved or escort ambushed
Climax: Rescue attempt or final leg of journey
Revelation: Why they were taken or who they really are

The Base Building/Domain Module

Structure: Establishing and developing a stronghold or settlement Sessions: 5+ (often campaign-spanning) Key Elements:

Location selection/acquisition
Resource gathering
Defense planning
Political relationships
Growth milestones

Pacing:

Sessions 1-2: Site acquisition and clearing
Sessions 3-4: Initial construction and challenges
Sessions 5-6: First major threat
Ongoing: Expansion and development

Critical Design Elements:

Investment Mechanics: Progress feels earned
Threat Scaling: Challenges grow with base
NPC Integration: Settlement comes alive
Multiple Paths: Military, economic, diplomatic

Common Pitfalls:

Bookkeeping overload
Disconnected from adventure
No meaningful threats
Progress too slow/fast

Five-Room Structure Example:

Entrance: Discovering or claiming the site
Puzzle: Securing resources and skilled workers
Setback: Sabotage, raids, or natural disaster
Climax: Major threat to nascent settlement
Revelation: Ancient claim or strategic importance revealed

Choosing Your Module Type

Match Type to Campaign Needs

Use Mystery When:

Players enjoy investigation
You need to reveal campaign information
Changing pace from combat-heavy arc
Building paranoia/suspense

Use Heist When:

Players need specific item/information
Emphasizing planning and teamwork
Introducing new faction/location
Rewarding clever thinking

Use Dungeon Crawl When:

Players want classic adventure
Testing resource management
Hiding important campaign elements
Providing clear win conditions

Use Political Intrigue When:

Campaign reaches faction conflicts
Players enjoy social challenges
Setting up long-term consequences
Exploring moral complexity

Use Exploration When:

Expanding campaign geography
Emphasizing wonder/discovery
Building survival tension
Transitioning between regions

Use Siege When:

Players have something to protect
Testing resource management
Building desperation/heroism
Creating time pressure

Use Survival/Horror When:

Emphasizing vulnerability
Building tension and fear
Testing resource conservation
Changing tone to darker

Use War/Military When:

Campaign reaches large conflicts
Players command forces
Strategic gameplay desired
Epic scale needed

Use Rescue/Escort When:

Creating emotional investment
Adding protection challenge
Building NPC relationships
Time pressure without combat focus

Use Base Building/Domain When:

Players want permanent impact
Transitioning to leadership
Long-term campaign investment
Combining multiple play styles

Hybrid Modules

Most modules benefit from mixing types:

Common Combinations:

Mystery + Heist: Investigate to find target, then steal evidence
Dungeon + Politics: Ancient ruins hold political leverage
Exploration + Mystery: Journey reveals larger conspiracy
Heist + Dungeon: Infiltrate to reach dungeon entrance
Politics + Exploration: Navigate hostile territory diplomatically

New Type Combinations:

Survival + Exploration: Lost in hostile wilderness
Rescue + Heist: Extract prisoner from fortress
War + Politics: Navigate alliances during conflict
Base Building + Siege: Establish then defend position
Horror + Mystery: Investigate supernatural threat
Escort + War: Civilians through battlefield
Domain + Politics: Rule requires diplomacy

Module Type by Campaign Phase

Early Campaign (Levels 1-5):

Dungeon Crawls (clear objectives)
Simple Mysteries (local scope)
Exploration (establishing geography)
Rescue Missions (build empathy)
Survival Scenarios (teach resource management)

Mid Campaign (Levels 6-10):

Complex Mysteries (campaign connections)
Heists (specific objectives)
Political Intrigue (faction introduction)
War Campaigns (command small forces)
Base Building (establish presence)
Horror Modules (raise stakes)

Late Campaign (Levels 11+):

Grand Heists (impossible targets)
Political Intrigue (world-shaking)
War Campaigns (massive conflicts)
Domain Management (rule territories)
Epic Sieges (defend kingdoms)
Hybrid Modules (all skills needed)

Quick-Start Templates

The Three-Session Mystery

Session 1: The Crime
- Opening: Discovery of crime/problem
- Investigation: 3 initial suspects/leads
- Cliffhanger: First suspect murdered

Session 2: The Web
- Opening: Deal with murder fallout
- Investigation: Deeper connections revealed
- Cliffhanger: PCs framed/threatened

Session 3: The Truth  
- Opening: Escape/clear names
- Confrontation: Real villain revealed
- Resolution: Justice served/escaped

The Four-Session Heist

Session 1: The Job
- Opening: Employer presentation
- Planning: Target overview
- Preparation: Initial reconnaissance

Session 2: The Plan
- Intel: Deep reconnaissance
- Resources: Acquiring tools/allies
- Finalization: Choosing approach

Session 3: The Heist
- Infiltration: Entering target
- Complications: Plans go wrong
- Adaptation: New solutions

Session 4: The Escape
- Acquisition: Securing objective
- Pursuit: Escaping consequences
- Resolution: Payment/betrayal

The Two-Session Dungeon

Session 1: The Delve
- Hook: Reason to enter
- Exploration: Upper levels
- Discovery: Hints at deeper threat
- Resource Drain: Test management

Session 2: The Heart
- Descent: Reaching core
- Confrontation: Boss/objective
- Revelation: Larger implications
- Escape: Complications arising

The Three-Session Survival

Session 1: The Catastrophe
- Opening: Disaster strikes
- Inventory: What resources remain
- First Night: Initial threats
- Realization: No easy escape

Session 2: The Struggle
- Rationing: Hard choices
- Exploration: Seeking escape
- Setback: Route blocked/failed
- Desperation: New dangers

Session 3: The Escape
- Final Push: Last resources
- Sacrifice: What's left behind
- Resolution: Freedom or doom
- Aftermath: Changed forever

The Two-Session Rescue

Session 1: The Taking
- Discovery: Someone missing
- Investigation: Trail and obstacles
- Pursuit: Following leads
- Confrontation: Finding captors

Session 2: The Escape
- Infiltration: Reaching prisoner
- Complications: Unexpected problems
- Flight: Getting out alive
- Resolution: Safe or lost

Customizing Templates

Every template should be adjusted for:

Your Players

Combat lovers: Add more encounters
Roleplayers: Expand NPC interactions
Puzzle solvers: Include more mysteries
Explorers: Add discoverable secrets

Your Campaign

Tie to ongoing plots
Use established NPCs
Reference past events
Foreshadow future arcs

Your Constraints

Session length varies: Adjust pacing
Player absence: Critical path flexibility
Prep time limited: Focus on essentials
Virtual/In-person: Emphasize strengths

Module Interface Patterns

Connection Points Between Modules

Each module should define clear interface patterns for seamless campaign flow:

Entry Conditions:

Party State: Level range, resource expectations
Knowledge Requirements: What they should know
Relationship Status: NPC/faction standings
Geographic Position: Where they should be
Emotional Temperature: Expected tone/mood

Exit Conditions:

Achievement State: What they accomplished
Resource Changes: Gains and losses
Knowledge Gained: New information acquired
Relationship Changes: Altered standings
Geographic Changes: New locations accessible
Narrative Hooks: 2-3 threads for next module

Handoff Mechanisms

Direct Handoff (Same Session):

Cliffhanger ending leads immediately to next module
No downtime between modules
Maintains momentum and urgency
Entry: High tension | Exit: Higher tension

Bridged Handoff (Between Sessions):

Downtime activities connect modules
Players make preparations
Background events develop
Entry: Resolution | Exit: New beginning

Delayed Handoff (Multiple Sessions):

Other modules intervene
Long-term consequences develop
Callback to previous events
Entry: Completed arc | Exit: Ripple effects

Module Transition Templates

From Mystery → Heist:

Exit Mystery: Villain identified but protected
Bridge: Planning to steal evidence
Enter Heist: Target fortified, time pressure

From Dungeon → Survival:

Exit Dungeon: Collapse during escape
Bridge: Trapped with dwindling resources
Enter Survival: Find new way out

From Politics → War:

Exit Politics: Negotiations failed
Bridge: Factions mobilize forces
Enter War: First battles begin

From Rescue → Base Building:

Exit Rescue: Refugees need home
Bridge: Search for safe location
Enter Base: Establish settlement

Framework Elements

Pacing Variants

One-Shot Conversions: Each module type can compress to single session:

Focus on single decisive scene
Pre-generate situation in media res
Skip preparation phases
Accelerate to climax
Provide epilogue narration

Extended Campaign Versions: Each module type can expand indefinitely:

Add subplots and complications
Deepen NPC relationships
Layer multiple challenges
Include downtime scenes
Build toward epic conclusions

Emergency Compression: When time runs short:

Jump to decision points
Summarize transitions
Combine encounters
Accelerate timeline
Resolve through narration

Failure States

Failure Forward Design:

Mystery: Wrong accusation creates new enemies
Heist: Capture leads to prison break module
Dungeon: Retreat leaves threat growing
Politics: Bad deals haunt future modules
Exploration: Lost leads to survival module
Siege: Defeat forces desperate escape
Survival: Death isn’t end (rescue possible)
War: Lost battles change campaign map
Rescue: Failure creates revenge motivation
Base: Destruction scatters resources

Partial Success Framework:

Primary objective failed, secondary gained
Victory with severe costs
Success but wrong target
Win battle, lose war
Saved some, lost others

Player Agency Patterns

Railroad Prevention:

Multiple paths to every objective
“No” leads to complications, not walls
Player ideas become canonical
Quantum elements adjust to choices
Failure creates new opportunities

Decision Point Architecture:

Minimum 3 meaningful choices per session
Choices affect immediate and future scenes
Telegraph decision importance
Show consequences quickly
Build on previous choices

Player-Driven Module Selection:

End modules with 3+ hooks
Let players choose next type
Respond to stated interests
Follow character goals
React to player theories

Resource Economy Design

Module Resource Patterns:

Mystery: Information rich, combat light
Heist: Preparation heavy, execution focused
Dungeon: Attrition-based depletion
Politics: Reputation as currency
Exploration: Supply management critical
Siege: Everything scarce
Survival: Constant drain
War: Mass resource logistics
Rescue: Time as primary resource
Base: Investment and return

Cross-Module Planning:

Track resources between modules
Some modules drain, others restore
Create resource storylines
Balance scarcity and abundance
Reward conservation

Enhancement Patterns

Module Combination Matrix

Highly Compatible (Flow naturally together):

Mystery → Heist (investigate then steal)
Exploration → Survival (get lost)
Politics → War (diplomacy fails)
Rescue → Escort (extract then protect)
Base Building → Siege (create then defend)
Dungeon → Horror (delve too deep)

Interesting Tensions (Create dramatic shifts):

War → Politics (violence to diplomacy)
Survival → Base Building (scarcity to growth)
Heist → Rescue (theft becomes liberation)
Horror → Mystery (fear to understanding)
Siege → Exploration (defense to expansion)

Challenging Combinations (Require careful bridging):

Base Building → Heist (stability to crime)
War → Mystery (macro to micro focus)
Survival → Politics (desperation to negotiation)
Dungeon → War (personal to epic scale)

Tone Variants

Each module type can support different emotional registers:

Heroic Fantasy:

Mysteries have clear justice
Heists target tyrants
Dungeons hold ancient evils
Wars defend the innocent
Survival proves heroism

Grimdark:

Mysteries reveal corruption
Heists involve moral compromise
Dungeons corrupt explorers
Wars have no winners
Survival demands sacrifice

Comedy/Lighthearted:

Mysteries involve silly misunderstandings
Heists become capers
Dungeons have pun traps
Politics involve absurd bureaucracy
Escorts protect comic relief

Horror-Tinged:

Every type emphasizes dread
Unknown threats lurk
Victories feel temporary
Costs mount psychologically
Hope remains fragile

Scaling Guidelines

Party Size Adjustments:

3 Players: Reduce encounter difficulty 25%, add NPC ally
4 Players: Run as written
5 Players: Add 25% more enemies or HP
6+ Players: Add legendary actions, split objectives

Power Level Modifications:

Low Magic: Reduce supernatural elements
High Magic: Add magical complications
Gritty Realism: Emphasize resource tracking
Superheroic: Increase scope and stakes

Complexity Dials:

Simple: Single objective, clear path
Standard: Multiple approaches, some complexity
Complex: Layered objectives, many variables
Labyrinthine: Wheels within wheels

Virtual Table Adaptations

Best for Online Play:

Mystery: Easy to share clues digitally
Political Intrigue: Private messaging enhances
Base Building: Shared documents work well
Heist: Digital planning tools help

Challenging Online:

Dungeon Crawl: Mapping can be difficult
War Campaigns: Large battles need tools
Survival Horror: Atmosphere harder to build

Online Enhancements:

Use breakout rooms for split parties
Digital handouts for clues/maps
Mood music/soundscapes more accessible
Shared planning documents
Asynchronous downtime activities

Module Quality Checklist

Before running any module, verify:

Structure:

Clear beginning, middle, end
Multiple paths to success
Meaningful decision points
Appropriate scope for sessions

Content:

Varied encounter types
Interesting NPCs with motives
Environmental storytelling
Rewards match effort

Flexibility:

Handles player creativity
Adjusts for party composition
Scales to time available
Connects to campaign

Engagement:

Every player has spotlight
Pacing varies appropriately
Stakes feel meaningful
Fun trumps everything

These module types and templates provide frameworks, not prescriptions. The best modules often blend elements from multiple types, adjusted for your specific players and campaign. Use these patterns as starting points, then customize ruthlessly based on what you learn about your group.

Remember: The perfect module is one that engages your specific players in your unique campaign. These templates help you build that faster, not replace your creativity.

Next Steps

With templates chosen and customized, the next chapter covers running modules effectively—managing pacing, handling derailments, and transitioning between modules smoothly.

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