The Ash Communion - PDF
$5.00USD
The Ash Communion is a drop-in session procedure and philosophy for any TTRPG when your characters need more depth than their character sheets provide.
It's not therapy. It's not forced backstory. It's a ritual where players answer open-ended questions about their characters while the table listens, while everything said becomes usable material for future sessions.
Use it when:
- Characters feel like stat blocks instead of people
- Backstories are thin or undefined
- The table is invested mechanically but not emotionally
- You want players to generate their own plot hooks
- You need a break from combat-heavy sessions
What you get:
- Names, places, and NPCs you didn't have before
- Emotional stakes the players volunteered
- Connections between characters that feel earned
- Campaign material that writes itself
The procedure is system-agnostic, works with any genre, and takes one session to run. No prep required. No special materials needed. Just questions, answers, and a GM who knows how to listen.
Not for every table. This is for groups who want character-driven play and are willing to get uncomfortable to make it happen. This is a toolkit that is an attempt to manifest multiple experiences I have had around the table, as both a GM and a player, into a guidebook. This technique can totally change the flow of a campaign from "murder hobos" to "murder hobos with feels".
I have personally seen alliances between characters form organically out of thin air, an honest moment from a PC turn their character into the driving force of a story, and downright asinine details become hard coded lore for years to come.
If you ever use these tools then I want to hear how it went, what did you get out of it, and did anyone at the table surprise you? You might be playing in a world you didn’t design, but the players are telling their story every time they sit down to play. Their flaws, their motivations, their opinions, and the dice are part of what makes a great character
