🎲 Captain Howling Banjo - Session Prep & Mindset
Pre-game character preparation and post-session development tracking
🎯 Pre-Session Preparation
Character Mindset Check
Review before each session to establish current mental state
Corruption Status & Pressure
- Current Corruption Level: [Update based on previous session]
- Recent Oracle Visions: [Any new cosmic knowledge affecting decisions]
- Time Pressure Feeling: [How urgent does reality breakdown feel]
- Physical Condition: [Scars, stress markers, general health]
Emotional State Assessment
- Protective Mode Intensity: [How defensive is he feeling about party safety]
- Isolation vs. Connection: [Current balance between burden-bearing and trust]
- Humor Defense Level: [How much is he relying on mischief as psychological shield]
- Hope vs. Despair: [Current optimism about finding alternatives to dark methods]
Relationship Dynamics
- Party Trust Level: [How much has he revealed to each party member]
- Recent Bonding/Tension: [Key relationship developments from last session]
- Protective Concerns: [Specific worries about individual party members]
- Communication Adjustments: [How is he adapting his approach to each person]
Session Goals & Focus
Character Development Priorities
Choose 1-2 to focus on each session
- Trust Building: Allow deeper vulnerability with specific party member
- Alternative Solutions: Seek party input on moral dilemma instead of deciding alone
- Burden Sharing: Reveal appropriate level of oracle knowledge to trusted ally
- Protective Balance: Find line between shielding others and accepting help
- Humor Integration: Use mischief to build connection rather than just deflection
- Moral Complexity: Navigate situation where priorities conflict
Roleplay Reminders
- Playful Default: Start scenes with bright mischief unless situation demands otherwise
- Oracle Moments: Remember to pause and show vision processing when shadow-stepping
- Protection Instincts: Immediate positioning between party and threats
- Information Filtering: Share warnings without cosmic horror details
- Emotional Switching: Practice instant shifts between playful and serious modes
Story Thread Preparation
Personal Arc Elements
Things that might come up and how to handle them
- Community References: How does he react to news about Wildborne enclave?
- Corruption Encounters: Immediate assessment and protection protocols
- Authority Figures: Balance cooperation with independence and oracle secrecy
- Fellow Survivors: Opportunity for kinship while maintaining protective boundaries
- Oracle Vision Triggers: Prepare for shadow-step consequences and party management
Key Questions for Session
- What would make him trust a party member with deeper truth?
- How does he balance immediate protection with long-term relationship building?
- What oracle knowledge would be helpful vs. harmful to share?
- How does he maintain hope while carrying apocalyptic burden?
- What would make him ask for help instead of handling burden alone?
📊 Post-Session Development Tracking
Character Growth Assessment
Complete after each session to track development
Relationship Evolution
- New Trust Developments: [Who did he open up to and how much]
- Protective Moments: [Times he shielded others from difficult knowledge/choices]
- Vulnerability Instances: [When he allowed others to help or witness struggle]
- Communication Breakthroughs: [Successfully sharing oracle knowledge or burden]
Moral Complexity Navigation
- Priority Conflicts: [Situations where Protection vs. Prevention vs. Understanding conflicted]
- Decision-Making: [Times he made hard choices alone vs. seeking input]
- Alternative Solutions: [Party suggestions that provided options he couldn’t see]
- Burden Distribution: [Sharing difficult choices vs. taking all responsibility]
Oracle Vision Development
- New Cosmic Knowledge: [What additional apocalyptic information was revealed]
- Vision Triggers: [How many shadow-steps and associated stress cost]
- Information Sharing: [What oracle knowledge was shared and with whom]
- Stress Management: [How well he handled cosmic horror burden during session]
Character Arc Progression
The Burden Bearer’s Hope - Current Status
Question: Can he protect others without becoming the monster his exile labeled him?
Progress Markers:
- Trust Foundation: At least one party member knows partial truth about oracle burden
- Collaborative Decisions: Successfully sought input on moral dilemma instead of deciding alone
- Burden Sharing: Allowed someone else to witness/help with difficult choice
- Alternative Discovery: Found non-violent solution to problem through party input
- Sustainable Protection: Developed protective method that doesn’t require isolation
- Identity Integration: Maintained humor and connection while revealing darker aspects
Development Opportunities Identified:
- [Specific moments where trust could deepen]
- [Situations where alternatives to dark methods might emerge]
- [Relationship dynamics that challenge his protective isolation]
- [Oracle knowledge that could be shared constructively]
Roleplay Evolution Tracking
Communication Development
- Information Sharing Comfort: [Growing ability to reveal appropriate truth levels]
- Humor Integration: [Using mischief for connection rather than just deflection]
- Vulnerability Practice: [Comfort with showing struggle and accepting support]
- Oracle Translation: [Skill at converting cosmic visions to practical guidance]
Relationship Skill Building
- Trust Assessment: [Better evaluation of who can handle what knowledge]
- Protection Balance: [Finding line between shielding and enabling growth]
- Collaboration: [Accepting input instead of handling everything alone]
- Hope Maintenance: [Keeping optimism despite cosmic burden]
🎭 Session Notes & Insights
Key Moments from Last Session
Record significant character moments for future reference
Roleplay Highlights
- [Moments where character essence shone through clearly]
- [Successful navigation of complex motivation conflicts]
- [Effective use of oracle knowledge for story development]
- [Strong party interaction or relationship building]
Lessons Learned
- [Better ways to handle oracle vision scenes]
- [More effective protection methods that don’t isolate]
- [Communication approaches that worked well]
- [Trust-building opportunities that emerged naturally]
Future Development Hooks
- [Story elements that could challenge his protective isolation]
- [Opportunities for deeper party member relationships]
- [Oracle knowledge that might become relevant]
- [Moral dilemmas that could test priority hierarchy]
Next Session Intentions
Character Focus Goals
- [Specific aspect of personality or relationships to develop]
- [Oracle burden management approach to try]
- [Trust or vulnerability goal with specific party member]
- [Protection method refinement or balance improvement]
Preparation Reminders
- [Character files to review before next session]
- [Relationship dynamics to keep in mind]
- [Story elements that might trigger oracle visions]
- [Communication strategies to practice]
🎲 Complete before and after each session for optimal character development 🎭 Use with other character files for comprehensive roleplay support