How to Use the Boards - Plain Instructions

The Two-Board System

Campaign management uses two boards:

Campaign Board - Tracks the big picture (whole campaign lifecycle)
Module Board - Tracks adventure content (runnable modules)

Sessions are when you actually play—they’re not a planning layer. A module might take 1 session or 6 sessions to complete; that’s determined by your players, not your planning.

Starting a Campaign

You start with the CAMPAIGN BOARD in Concept stage.

During Concept stage, you create:

Campaign spark ideas (on index cards)
Campaign Pitch (1 page)
Big Three Document (1 page)
First Module Outline (1-2 pages)

You’re ready to move to Session Zero stage when:

Players read Campaign Pitch and show interest

In CAMPAIGN BOARD Session Zero stage, you create:

Starting Scenario (1-2 pages)
World Primer (2-3 pages)
Character Guidelines (1 page)
Table Expectations (1 page)
Character Integration Forms
Session Zero Packet (compiled from above)

You’re ready to move to Integration stage when:

Session Zero is complete

In CAMPAIGN BOARD Integration stage, you create:

Campaign Bible (themes, world, rules)
Character Integration Notes (from Session Zero forms)
Major NPCs Document
World Events Timeline

NOW you start using the MODULE BOARD for the first time.

You’re ready to move Campaign Board to Active stage when:

First module launches (first session runs)

Managing Modules

In MODULE BOARD Backlog stage (starts after Session Zero), you create:

Module concept cards (based on PC interests)

You’re ready to move a module to Planning stage when:

Current module is nearly complete (or immediately after Session Zero for first module)

In MODULE BOARD Planning stage, you create:

Module Overview with front matter (monsters, NPCs, items references)

You’re ready to move to Development stage when:

Module Overview is complete with all catalog references

In MODULE BOARD Development stage, you create:

Adventure Content (read-aloud text, encounter details)
Locations (maps, descriptions)
Clues & Information (what players can discover)
DM Notes (pacing, scaling, troubleshooting)

You’re ready to move to Ready stage when:

Module is complete and runnable

In MODULE BOARD Ready stage, you:

Final review of module content
Ensure all materials are ready (handouts, maps, stat blocks)
System syncs front matter to separate monsters.md, npcs.md, items.md files

You’re ready to move Module to Active stage when:

You begin running the module

In MODULE BOARD Active stage, you:

Run the module over however many sessions it takes
Capture Play Notes after each session
Track what happened for continuity

You’re ready to move Module to Complete stage when:

The module’s story is resolved (however that happens)

In MODULE BOARD Complete stage, you create:

Post-Module Notes (what happened, consequences, threads for next module)
Update Campaign Bible with new established facts
Archive the module

Running Sessions

Sessions aren’t planned—they happen. Here’s the workflow:

Before Each Session (1-2 hours prep)

Review where you are in the active module
Note which scenes/encounters are likely next
Prep NPCs who might appear
Gather materials (maps, handouts, stat blocks)

During the Session

Run the module content, adapting to player choices.

After Each Session (10-15 minutes)

Create Play Notes capturing:

What happened
Player reactions
Dangling threads
DM notes for next time

For detailed guidance on running sessions, see Running the Game.

The Two Binders Pattern

Campaign Binder - Created during Integration stage
Module Binder - Created during Development stage

Each binder contains the documents created at that board level.

Key Rules

You don’t touch Module Board until after Session Zero
Campaign Board tracks big picture (whole campaign)
Module Board tracks adventure content (runnable modules)
Sessions are play time, not planning units
A module takes as many sessions as it takes