Title: u05
Course: Creative Writing Through D & D

Q: Which of the following BEST describes a "sandbox" campaign?
- A campaign where the DM reads from a pre-written script
- A campaign where players choose their own direction and the DM responds to their decisions
- A campaign set in a desert environment
- A campaign designed for beginning players only
A: A campaign where players choose their own direction and the DM responds to their decisions

Q: In the Quick NPC Method, which element is often considered the most important for creating story potential?
- Name
- Appearance
- Personality
- Secret
A: Secret

Q: According to the Meaningful Choice Test, a choice is meaningful ONLY if:
- One option is clearly better than the other
- The player has no information to guide their decision
- All options are viable and consequences are real and lasting
- The DM has prepared for every possible outcome
A: All options are viable and consequences are real and lasting

Q: What is the primary purpose of session zero?
- To play the first combat encounter
- To establish expectations, boundaries, and character connections before gameplay begins
- To assign character classes to each player
- To read through the campaign's rule book
A: To establish expectations, boundaries, and character connections before gameplay begins

Q: Which of the following is an example of "railroading"?
- A DM who prepares contingency plans for unexpected player choices
- A DM who uses the 80/20 rule to balance preparation and improvisation
- A DM who forces players down a single path regardless of their decisions
- A DM who designs NPCs with their own motivations
A: A DM who forces players down a single path regardless of their decisions

What is the difference between a "campaign" and an "adventure" in D&D terms?

Expected response: 2-3 sentences

What is a "branching narrative" in campaign design?

Expected response: 2-3 sentences

A player in your campaign decides to befriend the villain's lieutenant instead of fighting them. The lieutenant, according to your notes, secretly disagrees with the villain's plan. As DM, describe TWO different ways you could respond to this unexpected player choice that honor player agency while keeping the campaign's story moving forward. Explain why each response respects agency.

Expected response: 4–6 sentences

You're designing a quest where players must choose between protecting a sacred grove from developers or allowing the development that would bring jobs to a struggling town. Apply the Meaningful Choice Test to this scenario. Does it meet all four criteria? If any criterion is weak, explain how you would strengthen it.

Expected response: 4–6 sentences

Explain the difference between a Tier 2 and Tier 3 NPC. Why is it important for a DM to classify NPCs by tier?

Expected response: 3–4 sentences

The 80/20 rule says DMs should prepare 80% and improvise 20%. Explain why a DM who prepares 100% of a session might actually run a WORSE session than one who leaves room for improvisation.

Expected response: 3–4 sentences

In the AI DM Evaluation activity, you compared a human-written quest hook to an AI-generated one. Name TWO specific qualities that human-crafted DM content tends to have that AI-generated content lacks. Explain why these qualities matter for player experience.

Expected response: 3–4 sentences