It’s hard to wait for the next D&D session! As a Dungeon Master, I’m happy to have some time to prep the next part of the adventure. But, as a player, it’s much more difficult to be patient. I want to do more with my character, see what happens next, but the constant rate that time progresses keeps me from fast-forwarding to next month.
So, what is there to do?
Here are some things I do (as a player) in between sessions. None of these are mandatory, of course, these are just ways I can still do something D&D-related when I’m not playing.
Look over your character sheet
As your character levels up, they become more powerful, collecting new abilities and augmenting their existing features. It’s easy to forget everything that your character can do, so it’s worth re-familiarizing yourself with their capabilities between sessions. Don’t forget to look over your inventory, too—that magic item you picked up three months ago might be the perfect fit for today’s problem.
This is also a good time to ask your DM any questions you have about how your character works. Outside of sessions, your Dungeon Master doesn’t have to worry about pausing the game to hunt down that one paragraph in the Player’s Handbook. This gives you both the time to discuss before the next session.
Create a character sheet back-up
If you work off of a physical sheet, it’s worth making a digital copy you can easily access, and vice-versa. Having multiple copies of your current character sheet makes things easier if/when you lose your main character sheet. Even if you strongly prefer working off of a digital/physical sheet, now you have a backup you can use to re-create your character in your medium of choice.
Now that our DM has a D&D Beyond subscription, I’ve moved from having a physical copy of Finnith to using D&D Beyond’s digital character sheet. In the highly unlikely event that we meet up to play (with our group separated by half the United States) without an internet connection, I have a physical copy of his sheet. Regardless, it’s fun to have a neat, filled-out-by-hand character sheet—a copy of 10th-level Finnith. (I need to update it soon, we’ve gained some levels!) You can get creative and make up a completely hand-drawn character sheet, there’s plenty of inspiration online!
If you default to a physical character sheet, having a digital back-up can be really helpful. A digital copy can be easily sent over to the DM (if you want them to check over your sheet), or easily sent between devices, such as from your laptop to your phone.
It’s also easier for others to read if, for example, you’re absent but want the DM/another player to commandeer your character for the time being. Even if you don’t keep it constantly updated, it’s much easier to recover a 10th level character from an 8th level backup sheet than from nothing. And, this can help you remember what all your character can do!
Plan your next level
Get ready for your next level-up! What spells will you take? Will you take a feat (if your DM uses that variant) or will you increase your ability scores? Which ability scores will you boost up? What feat are you taking next?
How will your character change when they level? Some levels are more eventful than others, depending on your class. Spellcasters will usually gain new spells (or the ability to prepare more spells) as they grow in levels. Magic characters who permanently learn spells also get the opportunity to switch out a spell for another on their class list each level.
Picking spells is tough! Figuring this out ahead of time lets you ruminate on your decisions before it becomes permanent. (Again, your Dungeon Master will also be able to answer your questions and talk this over with you, should you wish to consult them.)
And, knowing ahead of time where your character is going can help you roleplay them. Taking the Magic Initiate feat next level? Your character can start looking into the spells they’ll learn in the future. Learning a new fighting style? You can roleplay how your character trains for this. It’s fun to think about what in-game factors influence how your characters augment their abilities.
Review what happened last session
If you take session notes, you can look those over and remind yourself of the events of previous sessions. Generally, we remember the things that happened immediately before the end of the session (especially when the DM ends on a devious cliffhanger), but everything that happens could be important! Also remember that while you have days/weeks to think about what’s happened, your character is experiencing everything much more quickly. This is one of the neat challenges of tabletop roleplaying—keeping in mind that your character’s surroundings are not your own.
Looking back at what happened previously can help you jump into the next session, warmed-up and ready to go.
Visually represent your character
If you like to draw (or paint or otherwise make visual art), you can try your hand at designing your character! Many artists on Tumblr and Twitter also take D&D character commissions, so you can support artists and receive art of your beloved character. Make sure to look over the artist’s commission rates and other notes so that you’re well-informed before jumping in—some may require a visual reference.
If you like the look of miniatures, HeroForge has a character builder with tons of different options. They’re always adding new stuff, too, like color! And, when you’re done, you can order your custom miniature in a variety of different materials, or just save the design for another day.
Chat with your fellow players
Of course, you might already do this if you see your D&D group on a daily basis. But, even if you don’t talk to your group outside of sessions, this can be a great way to get to know your fellow players through an interest you already share. You can also bounce ideas and strategies off of each other in the between-sessions time.
Or you can just send each other D&D memes, as tradition goes.
Make a character playlist
Character playlists are collections of songs that fit the character they’re about. These playlists are often built on sites like Spotify and shared among the fan community. Some playlists seek to encapsulate a character’s personality or a facet of their characterization, others might capture one character’s relationship with another. They can pretty much be as long or as short as you’d like, though the best ones are like an album.
This is pretty fun to do! You might already have some songs that remind you of your character. You can use the playlist you make to hype you up for the next session, and you can even share them with your group and encourage them to do the same for their own characters!
Freewrite about your character
If writing is your jam (or even if it’s not), give freewriting a try! Freewriting means you… just, well, write. You don’t worry about grammar or whether it sounds good. You write what comes to mind. This is a neat exercise you can use to flesh out your character’s personality or what they might think about a certain topic. Getting things down on paper might help you discover more about them, as words spin out in a stream-of-consciousness style.
Freewriting is about getting words down without overthinking them. You might never use or show anything you write down. Regardless, it can jumpstart previously-undeveloped parts of your character.
D&D is a creative exercise, so it pairs well with other creative work!
Fill in your backstory
If you’ve left holes in your backstory , you might want to fill a few in once you’ve played several sessions. This might be necessary if, for example, your DM has asked you a few questions about your hometown or your family. You might have discovered new things about your character that you want to explore or explain.
This is something you can work on with your DM. They may not be able to read over pages of backstory at once, but you can run details by them to make sure it makes sense in the world you all are playing in. This can give the DM more material to use in session prep.
Alternatively, the DM might let you take over developing details on the region your character is from, for example. This depends on the DM—some will already have a world built up from the start of the campaign. Others might like their players to input some (or many) details. It depends!
Help out your Dungeon Master
Ask if there’s something you can do to help out your DM! Whether it’s bringing snacks to the next session, helping them do the scheduling magic, or just reminding them to check rule so-and-so before the next meeting.
Your DM might not think of something right away, but you’ll at least let them know you’re willing and able to give them a hand!
What do you do in-between sessions? Is there anything I missed? Let me know in the comments!
This is a really neat post ~ Thanks for sharing these helpful (and doable) tips!