Thank you for the incredible feedback... with bonus adventure included!!!

I did previously search AW one shots (apologies for not mentioning that earlier). I recognize a few of the links you provided. However I think due to self-doubt, I didn’t feel they were as applicable or up-to-date as I had wanted. Asking the question here—where apocalyptica barfs forth!—would surely bring me the fresh answers I seek! But I see that I was being stubborn. With your recommendation I will revisit these links and pay them a little more attention.

My original plan was to sit with the players, create the characters and the world they wanted in the 1st session. And then take what they have given me, write a few love letters and pare all that down to an action scene or two. How hard could that be, right?

But then I read other people’s experiences with one shots and AW sessions in general. I began to realize that my plan might not be ideal. I grew concerned and even said so to my friends. But they just responded with: “Relax. It will be fine. We’ll figure things out.”

My new plan is to really hit home to the players that this ain’t <insert traditional tabletop RPG>. If they really want to be involved with creating their characters and their world, we are going to need more than one session. Otherwise, we will be doing a premade one shot.

If that still doesn’t work for them, then I will suggest a PbtA title that is better suited for one shots (Dungeon World, perhaps).

All that being said, thank you again, Paul, for the pointers! This is giving me more confidence in my approach to all this. I will look into “Hatchet World” again. But I also really dig your Fury Road-inspired adventure! We have all seen that movie. And that might really help embolden the less experienced players.

-Erik

PS - I would really be interested in hearing Meguey's take on a one-shot as well.