The gaming convention season is upon us, and that means it's time for one-shots galore! Whether you're attending conventions, game days, shadow cons, or back-alley dice downs, having a con-ready one-shot for 2-3 different games is essential for me. Ideally, I'll run a scenario for several sessions across different venues, so building in variance to keep each session fresh is key. In this series, I'll show you how I put together a one-shot and why I do what I do. This first part is the BIG idea and overview, with more detailed parts to follow. Use the comments (or email me) —this is a conversation. If a game is giving you the fits, ask away; if I don't know, I bet another reader does!

First things first —start with a game you LOVE. LOVE > skill all day long. Pick games that excite you, especially if you plan to run them multiple times. You'll need that inspiration and dopamine hit to carry you through the work,. Your Love will shine through in your play sessions.

For me, Twilight: 2000 is a no-brainer. I've gotten more than my money's worth out of this game, with over 50 sessions of campaign play online. Now, I'm running it live for the 2024 con season with a one-shot design of my own. My goal? Showcase the T2K sandbox play and demonstrate that this game is a survival sandbox, not just Warzone, The RPG. I love the mechanics of this game and can't wait to share it with others.

Another project I'm excited about is Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG by FFG. I'm starting a new one-shot called "12 Parsecs," which I'll run for the May the 4th Be With You mini-con. My goal is to feature the Kessel run and give players a chance to best Han Solo's record!

While I might not always say it out loud, having design goals is crucial. Writing them down gives me clarity and focus, helping me discard what doesn't serve my initial goals or revise them as needed. If I don't do it this way, there's an unnamed anxiety that happens, and then I'll punt. So, take a couple of minutes to check in with yourself. Do you have some goals or purpose for your one-shot? Write it down.

Next, you need a HOT and EASY situation. Assuming the session will last a maximum of 4 hours, make it easy for players, likely strangers, to get into your session. Pitch using popular culture touchstones like Star Wars, Marvel Movies, or Lord of the Rings; these are good bets your players know something about. Give them a direction to start, knowing they'll likely deviate but have a path to run with if they stall.

Consider the needs of both newbies and experienced players, tailoring your scenario to accommodate both groups. Pay attention to the game's mechanics, ensuring they are intuitive and accessible for all participants *cheat sheets*.

I typically plan to resolve 3-5 encounters, with the first 1 or 2 serving as lessons or refreshers on the game's core mechanics. Keep these initial encounters low stakes, but be prepared for the possibility of escalating stakes, especially in games like Edge of the Empire, where the dice can quickly change the course of events. As the session progresses, gradually remove the training wheels and allow for more complex challenges. I like to keep the latter encounters modular, and really that means I'm working with more agendas of factions than I am set pieces —we'll get into this.

End your session intentionally, considering the option of leaving players on a cliffhanger or providing closure with epilogues to wrap up loose ends. Be mindful of respecting the time constraints of the session. Sometimes, you don't have time to put the perfect bow on it, I’d count on that.

Pre-playtesting your scenario in 1-2 sessions can help refine and streamline the experience before running it live. Additionally, creating support materials for reference and teaching purposes can enhance the players' understanding of the game and scenario.

Consider pairing veteran players with newcomers at the table to foster a supportive gaming environment, allowing experienced players to help out newer ones as they navigate the game together.

In the next part we'll get into game picks, possible one-shot goals, thinking about keeping the separate session runs fresh, and assorted system matters😝 I'll continue with my IRL projects for Twilight: 2000 and Edge of the Empire. You should pick a game you're into, follow along, and make draft notes.