Week 1: Worldbuilding Fundamentals

  • Geography, history, cultures, and myth

  • Establishing tone and genre

Week 2: Adventure Writing & Scenario Design

  • Crafting plots, obstacles, and objectives

  • Designing one-shots vs. campaign arcs

Week 3: Encounter Design

  • Balancing challenge, pacing, and player agency

  • Building dynamic scenes and events

Week 4: Session Zero & Safety Tools

  • Setting expectations, group agreements

  • Lines, veils, X-Card, and other consent tools

Week 5: Advanced NPC, Monster, & Villain Building

  • Memorable antagonists and supporting cast

  • Motivations, flaws, and evolving roles

Week 6: Tactical Play—Maps, Minis, & Props I

  • Basics of tactical combat and exploration

  • Sourcing and creating physical miniatures

Week 7: Tactical Play—Maps, Minis, & Props II

  • Designing and using terrain, handouts, and visual props

  • Integrating physical/digital tools for online play

Week 8: Campaign Planning I

  • Structuring long-form play

  • Scheduling, milestones, and narrative threads

Week 9: Campaign Planning II

  • Adapting to player choices, recursion, and branching

  • Keeping players invested over time

Week 10: Session Prep Techniques

  • Outlining, note-taking, and scenario flow

  • Tools for improvisation and on-the-fly changes

Week 11: Online Game Mastery—Foundry VTT Basics

  • Setting up games, importing assets

  • Running sessions via virtual tabletop

Week 12: Online Game Mastery—Discord, Voice & Video

  • Building communities, moderating channels

  • Voice/video etiquette and technical tips

Week 13: Accessibility & Inclusion in Games

  • Accommodating diverse needs and play styles

  • Content warnings, accessible documents, and universal design

Week 14: Conflict Resolution & Difficult Conversations

  • Navigating disputes, feedback, and boundaries

  • Encouraging empathy and growth in groups

Week 15: Collaborative Worldbuilding & Co-creation

  • Techniques for group input and shared ownership

  • Integrating player backstories into campaigns

Week 16: Synthesis & Preparation for Clinicals

  • Review applied GM toolkit

  • Creating an “adventure packet” for upcoming practice

  • Goal setting for clinical semester
Last modified: Sunday, 23 November 2025, 5:33 PM