Quick Start: Playing in The Western Horizon
A 2-Page Player Guide
What Makes This Different
You Drive the Story
Traditional D&D: GM creates hooks → You choose → GM runs prepared content Western Horizon: You declare goals → GM creates obstacles → Story emerges
What this means: Come to the table knowing what your character wants. Content generation waits for YOUR direction.
Open Table Scheduling
- Player posts: “I want to [goal]. Who’s in? Need DM for [date/time]”
- Others sign up (or don’t—no guilt!)
- A DM claims it
- That group plays
No fixed party. No required attendance. No “main story” you’ll miss.
Living World
Discoveries become permanent canon. What one group establishes, all groups respect. The world continues whether you’re playing or not.
Your Primary Job: Maintain Three Goals
| Goal Type | Time Horizon | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term | 1-3 sessions | ”Find moss in Thornwood for alchemist” |
| Medium-term | 3-10 sessions | ”Discover who’s behind the disappearances” |
| Long-term | Campaign arc | ”Restore my family’s honor” |
Goal Quality Checklist
- Player-authored — YOU invented it
- Specific endpoint — “Win tournament” not “get stronger”
- Clear consequences — You know what failure costs
- Non-repeatable — Can’t just try again
- Fun to pursue — You can imagine obstacles
- Connected to character — Relates to who they are
Bad goal: “Become more powerful to protect people” (vague, repeatable, generic)
Good goal: “Win Grand Tournament so Su-Li will marry me, but if I lose, her family betroths her to Lord Ravencroft” (specific, consequential, non-repeatable, connected)
Character Creation: Goals First, Stats Second
- Generate Your Goals — What do you want to accomplish?
- Design Character Backward — What class/background fits someone pursuing these goals?
- Fill Character Form — Capture personality, approaches, NPCs, etc.
- Connect to World — Which factions care? What locations matter?
The Magic Question: For each goal, ask: “What would it look like when I reach this goal?”
The Rhythm of Play
Between Sessions
- Post intent or join someone else’s expedition
- GM preps content responsive to your declared goal (1-5 days)
- Skim wiki for relevant pages (5-10 min before session)
During Sessions
- You start already committed — session opens in medias res
- Your actions drive the scene — don’t wait for options
- Failures create opportunities — something interesting happens
- NPCs have goals too — ask them what they want
Common Pitfalls
“I don’t know what my character wants” → Review goals, check bulletin board, attach to another player’s goal
“I’m waiting for the right moment” → Just do it. Your actions ARE the sequence.
“I don’t want to step on the DM’s toes” → DM has obstacles, not plans. Being proactive helps them.
Quick Reference Checklists
Before Play
- Character with three goals
- Goals connected to world
- Character Creation Form filled out
- Relevant wiki pages skimmed
Between Sessions
- Three active goals maintained
- Expedition intents posted/joined
- Wiki updates from other sessions read
During Sessions
- Driving action through goals
- Declaring actions confidently
- Engaging NPCs as goal-pursuing entities
- Embracing failures as opportunities
After Sessions
- Discoveries logged
- Goals updated if completed
- New hooks/rumors noted
Five Adjustments for Open Table Play
- Missing sessions is normal — No guilt, no excuses.
- Party composition varies — You won’t always play with the same people.
- You control engagement level — Weekly or monthly, both work.
- World persists without you — It’s a feature.
- Canon is sacred — What one group establishes is permanent.
Welcome to The Western Horizon. Your goals become the story.