SCENARIO FRONT AND BACK MATTER

Here is an overview of some of the sections we have typically included in the front and back matter for the official Liminal Horror products.

Our overall design philosophy is often focused on how we can lower the barrier of entry for Facilitators and players. This is why the core rules are all free online. Customers can buy your published work without any additional investment since they can get the base info for free.

Every published scenario is unique, and the specifics of each (and design restrictions) dictate what should be included. Not every one of our scenarios has each one, but these are some of the things we have found helpful to include.

It is worth pondering in regards to your own scenarios. Even if you don’t end up including them, take the time to ask yourself what function do they serve from an information design standpoint, and what ways you can embed the same function within your work.

Some items we tend to include in the introductions of our first party publications:

Map: A map of the location (either a region map or of the single location)
Table of Contents: As much support in navigating the structure of the text aids in flow of information to the reader.
Touchstones: Media references can help create a tone/expectation for what will be in the module.
Content Warnings: It is important to be up front with people who engage with your work and allow Facilitators to leverage the proper safety tools.
Intro: An introduction blurb that gives context about the place.
Timeline: A timeline of events prior to the module, sort of like a prequel to the Doom Clock.
Overview: A quick overview of what the scenario is about.
Framing: We typically include multiple set up explanations for how you would use the scenario. These often include: Using it to start a new campaign, how to integrate it into a currently ongoing campaign, or how to run it as a one-shot.
Rules: We’ll often include a rules reference or summary (see Rules and Mechanics for more on that).
Character Creation: Each scenario we publish has a custom character creation set-up (see Making an Investigator for more).
Encounter Procedure: At the beginning of the text we will present which type of encounter procedure we will use for the scenario, be it Encounter Die, Voidcrawl, or Tension Die (see Encounter Procedures for more).
Doom Clock: We will include the steps of the Doom Clock for the published scenario (see Doom Clock for more).
Exploration Notes: For more sandbox scenarios, we will have a page on Exploring that emphasizes some travel specific mechanics or contexts (this may be Roads, Using Phones, Phases, Location Description Changes, Stat Blocks, NPC Reactions, Weather, Services, Buildings, etc)
Horrors: We typically include the main monster stat blocks and explanations at the front for easy access for Facilitators (see Creating Horrors or Horrors for more).

Some items we tend to include in the back matter (Appendices) of our first party publications:

Consequences: A list of potential outcomes to different variables within the scenario (formatted in an If X…, short term result, long term result)
Fallout: A list of custom fallout that reinforces the theme and aligns to the main Horror in the text (see Fallout for more).
NPCs: We’ll often include a table of additional quick reference NPCs (see NPCs for more).
Rumors: Things people are talking about. When it comes to rumors and hooks I like to include the page reference to where it is in the book.
Resonant Artifacts: A list of custom resonant artifacts made for the scenario (see Resonant Artifacts for more).
Random Search: Facilitator’s really tend to appreciate a table they can reference when their players search for something. As of late we’ve worked on using four d20 sub tables for this (on bodies, hidden items, in drawers, among the clutter)
Quick Reference: The back page often is a quick reference resource that Facilitators can use. It’ll often include stats, abbreviated doom clock, reaction tables, and any other references for modular mechanics.

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