Essential one-page GM checklist for smooth Pathfinder 2e sessions

Running a session that feels tight, reactive, and fun starts before players sit down. This one-page GM checklist puts the right tools in your hand so you can focus on pacing, player choice, and keeping combat moving.

Start with a one-page session plan that lists clear goals and 2–3 scenes with expected XP and treasure ranges. That single sheet keeps the table aligned on stakes and helps you pivot when players detour. Alongside it, keep an NPC quick-reference with names, motivations, and one or two hooks each so social beats land fast without flipping through notes.

Have monster stats and micro-stat blocks ready for immediate use. Condensed stat blocks, combined with a prepared map or flip-mat or a VTT setup with tokens already placed, collapse setup time and keep initiative flowing. Player character quick notes are equally important: jot current HP and the key resources to watch for each PC so you can adjudicate risk and trigger appropriate challenges.

Expect the unpredictable by building a contingency table that lists likely player moves and your on-the-fly responses. Prepare loot and treasure in tiered bundles so rewards match the encounter fast and fairly. Round out the session prep with social and downtime hooks that seed the next session and keep momentum between sessions.

The checklist also includes practical tools for sticky moments. Keep a handful of quick scripts for difficult social scenes to reduce stalling and keep roleplaying crisp. Use recommended encounter budgets by party level to design balanced fights without overprepping. To keep combat brisk, adopt reduce-bookkeeping tactics: pre-roll damage for simple swarms, track conditions centrally on a single sheet, and streamline tracking of reactions and limited resources.

This checklist is portable and adaptable for both in-person tables and online play. Print the one-page plan to tuck into a GM screen pocket, or import your micro-stat blocks and preplaced tokens into your VTT session so everything is ready the moment the table clicks into initiative. The aim is simple: less note-fumbling, more spotlight time for players.

The takeaway? Use the checklist as a rehearsal for the actual show. Our two cents? Preplace tokens, pre-roll where it saves bookkeeping, and treat the one-page session goals as your north star; you’ll spend less time refereeing paper and more time building memorable beats around the table.