Using Scenario Slides for Live Sessions

Complete guide to running Malware & Monsters sessions with RevealJS presentations

Overview

Scenario slides allow you to run live Malware & Monsters sessions with visual support for players while keeping facilitation tools hidden. This guide assumes you have zero experience with RevealJS presentations and will walk you through everything you need to know.

What you’ll learn:

  • How to set up your computer and display for sessions
  • Essential keyboard shortcuts you’ll use during every session
  • How to prevent players from seeing spoilers
  • How to track session progress with interactive tools
  • Solutions to common problems

Time to read: Full guide: 30-45 minutes | Quick Start only: 5 minutes

Quick Start (5-Minute Read)

If you just want to run your first session right now, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Presentation

Navigate to the scenario slides you want to use and open the HTML file in your browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge recommended).

Example: _output/slides/scenarios/tier-1/fakebat-small-business.html

Step 2: Enter Speaker View

Press the S key on your keyboard.

This opens presenter view in a new window showing:

  • Current slide (what players see)
  • Next slide preview
  • Speaker notes with facilitation guidance
  • Timer

###Step 3: Position Your Windows

  • Presenter view window → Your laptop screen (IMs only)
  • Main presentation window → Projector or shared screen (players see this)

Step 4: Navigate Safely

  • Arrow keys → Move through slides
  • P key → Toggle “player-safe mode” (hides IM-only slides from navigation)
  • ESC key → Overview mode (see all slides at once)

Step 5: Run Your Session

Use the facilitation notes in speaker view to guide the session. Players see only the main presentation window.

That’s it! You’re ready to run your first session. Read the rest of this guide when you have time to learn advanced features.

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

These are the shortcuts you’ll use during every session:

Critical Shortcuts (Memorize These)

Key Function When to Use
S Speaker View Start of every session - opens presenter mode
P Player-Safe Mode Toggle before showing slides to players
T Toggle Theme Switch between light/dark mode for room lighting
← → Previous/Next Slide Navigate during session
↑ ↓ Navigate vertically Move through nested slide sections
ESC Overview Mode See all slides at once to jump around
B Blank Screen Black out display (useful for breaks)

Helpful Shortcuts

Key Function When to Use
Home First Slide Jump to beginning
End Last Slide Jump to end
F Fullscreen Maximize presentation window
? Show All Shortcuts Get help reminder during session

Pro Tip: Print the keyboard reference card (see resources) and keep it next to your laptop during sessions.

Understanding Slide Visibility

Scenario slides contain two types of content:

Player-Visible Slides

What players see:

  • Title slide and scenario hook
  • Clues as you reveal them during investigation
  • NPCs players have met
  • Malmon card (once encountered)
  • Response options
  • Victory conditions
  • Debrief discussion prompts

Safe to show on projector: Yes, always

IM-Only Slides

What only IMs see (NEVER show to players):

  • Full investigation timeline with all clues
  • NPC secrets and hidden motivations
  • Round-by-round facilitation guides
  • Session state tracker (checkboxes for discovered clues)
  • IM scratchpad for notes
  • Success probability calculations
  • Timing and pacing guidance

Safe to show on projector: NO - use player-safe mode

How Player-Safe Mode Works

When you press P, the presentation enters “player-safe mode”:

  1. Visual indicator appears showing mode is active
  2. Arrow key navigation automatically skips all IM-only slides
  3. Accidentally pressing arrows won’t reveal spoilers

When to use:

  • ✅ Enable player-safe mode BEFORE projecting to players
  • ✅ Leave it on for the entire session
  • ✅ Disable only when reviewing slides alone

Visual cues:

  • Banner at top shows “PLAYER-SAFE MODE ACTIVE” when enabled
  • IM-only slides have colored borders and “IM ONLY” labels
  • Presenter view always shows all slides regardless of mode

Setup Workflows by Environment

Choose the workflow that matches your setup:

Scenario B: Two Monitors at Desk

Equipment:

  • Computer with two monitors
  • Players seated around one monitor

Setup steps:

  1. Open scenario slides in browser
  2. Press S for speaker view
  3. Position presenter window on your private monitor
  4. Position main presentation on player-facing monitor
  5. Press P for player-safe mode on main presentation
  6. Press F for fullscreen on player-facing monitor

Result: Same as Scenario A, but with desktop monitors instead of projector.

Step-by-Step: Your First Session

This walkthrough assumes you’re using Scenario A (laptop + projector).

Before Players Arrive (15 minutes)

1. Physical Setup

  • Connect laptop to projector
  • Test display connection
  • Position player seating where they can see projection
  • Position IM laptop where you can see both screens

2. Technical Setup

Open browser → Navigate to scenario slides → Press S →
Position windows → Enable player-safe mode (P) →
Test navigation with arrows → Verify players can't see IM slides

3. Pre-Session Checklist

4. Have Ready

  • Keyboard reference card (printed or on phone)
  • Dice if using success mechanics
  • Note-taking materials
  • Water/snacks

During the Session

Opening (5 minutes)

  1. Welcome players, explain game concept briefly
  2. Show title slide on projector
  3. Read scenario hook from speaker notes
  4. Advance to first investigation slide

Investigation Phase

  1. Use speaker notes for facilitation guidance
  2. Reveal clues by navigating to player-visible slides
  3. Track discovered clues using checkboxes (IM-only slide)
  4. Take notes in scratchpad (IM-only slide)
  5. Reference NPC secrets when players interview (speaker notes)

Response Phase

  1. Present response options to players
  2. Guide discussion using speaker notes
  3. Roll for success if using dice mechanics
  4. Advance through malmon evolution rounds

Debrief

  1. Navigate to debrief slides
  2. Use discussion prompts from speaker notes
  3. Connect fiction to real malware families

After the Session

  1. Press ESC to exit fullscreen
  2. Close presenter view window
  3. Optional: Export notes from scratchpad (copy/paste to file)
  4. Optional: Take screenshot of completed session state tracker

Common Scenarios & Solutions

“Player accidentally saw an IM-only slide!”

What happened: You navigated to an IM-only slide while projector was visible.

Solution:

  1. Immediate: Advance to next slide quickly
  2. Acknowledge: “Oops, that was my facilitator notes, ignore that”
  3. Prevention: Always enable player-safe mode (P) before projecting

Impact: Minor - players likely didn’t read fast enough to spoil anything

“I lost the presenter view window!”

What happened: Closed presenter window by accident.

Solution:

  1. Press S again to reopen
  2. Reposition to your laptop screen
  3. Presentation continues from same slide automatically

Impact: None - main presentation is unaffected

“Slides won’t advance with arrow keys!”

What happened: Browser focus is on different window.

Solution:

  1. Click anywhere on the presentation window
  2. Try arrow keys again
  3. If still stuck, press F5 to refresh and restart

Impact: Interrupts session briefly

“Projector is mirroring instead of extending!”

What happened: Display settings aren’t configured for extended desktop.

Solution:

  • Windows: Win + P → Select “Extend” → Press S again
  • Mac: System Preferences → Displays → Arrangement → Uncheck “Mirror Displays” → Press S again

Impact: Can’t use speaker view until fixed

“Players can see my speaker notes on the projector!”

What happened: Presenter window is on wrong display.

Solution:

  1. Drag presenter window to your laptop screen
  2. Drag main presentation to projector display
  3. Verify which window is which by advancing slides

Impact: Players may have seen facilitation notes - acknowledge and move on

“Checkboxes aren’t saving my session state!”

What happened: Browser’s localStorage might be disabled or corrupted.

Solution:

  1. Check if browser allows localStorage (Settings → Privacy)
  2. Try different browser (Chrome vs Firefox)
  3. Fallback: Print scenario planning sheet and check boxes manually

Impact: Lose digital tracking, revert to paper notes

“Display suddenly went blank during session!”

What happened: Accidentally pressed B (blank screen).

Solution:

  • Press B again to unblank
  • If not working, press ESC to exit fullscreen, then F to re-enter

Impact: Brief interruption

Advanced Features

Session State Tracker

What it is: Interactive checkboxes on IM-only slides to track:

  • Clues discovered by players
  • NPCs players have met
  • Investigation milestones reached

How to use:

  1. Navigate to “Session State” slide (IM-only)
  2. Click checkboxes as players discover each element
  3. State persists automatically via browser localStorage
  4. Reset for next session using “Clear” button

Benefits:

  • Never forget which clues you’ve revealed
  • Track session progress visually
  • Helps maintain narrative consistency

IM Scratchpad

What it is: Text area on IM-only slide for session notes.

How to use:

  1. Navigate to “IM Scratchpad” slide
  2. Click text area and type notes
  3. Notes persist automatically
  4. Copy/paste to external document after session

Example notes:

Session 2025-12-01 - FakeBat Small Business
- Players suspicious of Sarah CEO early
- Mike (IT) trusted too quickly
- Team solved in Round 2 (faster than expected)
- Great teamwork on technical analysis

Benefits:

  • Capture player decisions for continuity
  • Note surprising player strategies
  • Document what worked well for next session

Malmon Cards Integration

What it is: Interactive malmon cards rendered directly in slides using the same filter as handbooks.

How they work:

  • Cards auto-generate from malmon data
  • Show type, abilities, stats
  • Display malmon image if available
  • Support legendary and legacy styling

Example usage in slides:

Players see the card when you reveal it (player-visible slide). You reference the same card in speaker notes with additional facilitation guidance.

Type Chart Integration

What it is: Type effectiveness charts showing which response types work against specific malmon types.

How to use:

  • Navigate to response options slide
  • Type chart shows automatically
  • Players use it to plan containment strategies

IM tip: Speaker notes explain WHY certain types are effective (educational moment during debrief).

Timing and Pacing Indicators

What it is: Recommended timing for each round shown in speaker notes.

How to use:

  1. Speaker view shows timer since session started
  2. Compare current time to recommended pacing
  3. Adjust facilitation speed accordingly

Example: “Round 1: 20-25 minutes” - if at 30 minutes, compress Round 2

Troubleshooting

Browser Issues

Problem: Slides won’t load or display incorrectly.

Solution:

  • Try different browser: Chrome → Firefox → Edge
  • Clear browser cache (Ctrl+Shift+Delete)
  • Disable browser extensions temporarily
  • Update browser to latest version

Why: Some browser extensions interfere with RevealJS.

Display Problems

Problem: Wrong content showing on wrong screen.

Solution:

  1. Identify which window is which (advance slides on each)
  2. Drag windows to correct displays
  3. Make projector display “primary” in display settings if needed

Why: RevealJS follows window positioning, not automatic screen detection.

State Persistence Issues

Problem: Session state (checkboxes, notes) not saving between browser sessions.

Solution:

  • Enable localStorage in browser privacy settings
  • Don’t use private/incognito mode
  • Check browser console for errors (F12 → Console tab)
  • Fallback: Screenshot session state before closing browser

Why: Private browsing modes don’t persist localStorage.

Performance Issues

Problem: Slides lag or animations stutter.

Solution:

  • Close unnecessary browser tabs
  • Close other applications
  • Reduce browser zoom (Ctrl+0 for 100%)
  • Lower display resolution temporarily

Why: RevealJS is graphics-intensive, older hardware may struggle.

Pre-Session Checklist

Print this checklist and verify before every session:

Technical Setup

Materials Ready

Session Content

Contingency Plans

When everything is checked, you’re ready to run a great session!

Quick Reference Card

Print this one-page reference and keep it next to your laptop:

Essential Shortcuts

Key Function
S Speaker View
P Player-Safe Mode
← → Navigate
ESC Overview
B Blank Screen
F Fullscreen

Slide Types

Color/Label Audience Safe for Projector?
White Players ✅ Yes
Colored border “IM ONLY” IMs only ❌ No

Emergency Recovery

Problem Solution
Lost presenter view Press S
Can’t advance slides Click presentation, try arrows
Wrong window on projector Drag windows to correct screens
Blank screen Press B to unblank

Setup Checklist (Quick)

  1. ✅ Connect laptop to projector
  2. ✅ Open slides in browser
  3. ✅ Press S for speaker view
  4. ✅ Position windows correctly
  5. ✅ Press P for player-safe mode
  6. ✅ Test navigation

Ready to run your session!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use scenario slides without a projector?

Yes, but it’s less effective. Players will need to crowd around your screen, or you can describe scenarios verbally while referencing slides for facilitation notes. Projector strongly recommended.

Do I need internet during the session?

No. Once you’ve built the slides and opened them in your browser, they work entirely offline. The HTML files are self-contained.

Can I edit scenario slides to customize them?

Yes, but requires editing the .qmd source files and rebuilding with Quarto. See handbook chapter on customizing scenarios for details.

What if I accidentally show an IM-only slide to players?

Acknowledge briefly (“Oops, that was my notes”), advance quickly, and continue. Players likely won’t process it fast enough to spoil anything. Enable player-safe mode (P) to prevent this.

Can players use their phones to follow along?

No - slides are designed for shared viewing on projector. Individual viewing would require distributing HTML files, which risks players seeing IM-only content.

How do I export my session notes after the game?

IM scratchpad content persists in browser localStorage but doesn’t auto-export. Copy/paste the text to an external document before closing browser.

Do I have to use all the IM-only slides?

No. IM-only slides are facilitation tools - use what helps you. Some IMs prefer minimal notes, others use every feature. Adapt to your style.

Can I run sessions without speaker view?

Possible but not recommended. You’d lose access to facilitation notes and next-slide preview. Speaker view is the core feature that makes slide-based facilitation effective.

What browsers work best?

Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all work well. Safari works but sometimes has display quirks. Chrome is most tested.

How do I reset session state for a new group?

Navigate to Session State slide (IM-only), click “Clear” button. Or close/reopen browser (depending on localStorage settings).

Additional Resources

Related Documentation:

Support:

Summary

You’ve learned:

  • ✅ How to set up laptop + projector for live sessions
  • ✅ Essential keyboard shortcuts (S for speaker view, P for player-safe mode)
  • ✅ How to prevent players from seeing spoilers
  • ✅ How to use session state tracker and scratchpad
  • ✅ Solutions to common problems
  • ✅ Pre-session checklist to ensure smooth sessions

Next steps:

  1. Practice: Open an example scenario and practice navigating with keyboard shortcuts
  2. Test setup: Connect to projector and verify dual-screen workflow
  3. Run test session: Walkthrough scenario solo to build confidence
  4. Facilitate: Run your first real session with players

Remember: The first session may feel awkward. By session 2-3, keyboard shortcuts become muscle memory and you’ll focus on facilitation instead of technology.

You’re ready to use scenario slides for live Malware & Monsters sessions!