Run a session as the GM

A session is the stretch of time the table is lit: play actions, chat and the AI Game Master work while it runs. This part is the GM's side of one evening, start to finish. It uses the table layout (part 3).

Before you start

Open the evening

1. Start the session

   Press Start session: on the placard in the middle of the table, in GM screen → Run, or in Table settings under This session. The session chip in the top bar starts its clock.

2. Set the mood

   In GM screen → Run, choose an Ambience: Silence, Tavern, Rain, Dungeon or Battle. It plays for everyone who has turned their own sound on with the ambience chip.

3. Set the scene

   Switch the stage to Scene and press Set the scene. Fill in Where are we? (The flooded antechamber) and Mood (comma separated), then press Set the scene again to save it. Change scene moves on.

4. Remind them what happened

   Switch the stage to Story: Previously shows the latest entry from the campaign's Log, and the sessions behind you.

Run a fight

1. Bring the NPCs to the table

   In GM screen → Bench, press Seat at table on each NPC in the scene. Send to bench takes them off again.

2. Roll initiative

   Press Initiative in your dock. It rolls a d20 for every linked character and every seated NPC and puts the turn order above the table.

3. Adjust the order

   Press Edit on the turn order to add an extra combatant — a name (Wandering goblin) and an initiative, then Add — and Done when you're finished.

4. Step through turns

   Press Next turn. The player whose turn it is sees ▸ It's your turn in their dock.

5. End the fight

   Press End fight in your dock (or End on the turn order).

Hand something out

Press Handout in your dock to open Lore, and tick Reveal on an entry — a letter, a map, an NPC. It lands on the table for everyone as … revealed, filed in Lore. Part 6 covers writing Lore.

Close the evening

1. End the session

   Press End session where you started it.

2. Write it down

   Add what happened to the Log (Journal tab), or draft a recap with AI — part 6.

If something's off

Initiative is greyed out — “Seat someone first.”

Nobody can be rolled: link characters to the campaign, or seat NPCs from the Bench.

“Only campaign admins can control sessions.”

Ask the GM to make you an admin, or to set Who can start/stop sessions to Any member in settings.

“A session is already running.”

Someone started it already: the session chip shows its clock.

The players can't hear the ambience

Each member turns sound on for themselves with the ambience chip in the top bar.