Dungeons & Dragons Quest Retrospective

Dungeons & Dragons Quest retrospective format

Dragons We Slayed

What big challenges or obstacles did we overcome?

Name the big challenges, blockers and hard problems the team beat this period. Ask the party to name each dragon and describe how they brought it down, so the strategies that worked get repeated.

Treasure We Found

What wins, gains or rewards did we collect along the way?

Treasure can be something you delivered or something you gained, like a new skill or a better way of working. Ask people to add their loot to the chest and say why it matters.

Traps We Triggered

What mistakes, risks or pitfalls tripped us up?

List the missteps, hidden risks and setbacks the party walked into. Keep it blame-free so people own up to them, and ask how the team could spot or avoid each trap next time.

Next Quest

What adventures and goals should the party tackle next?

Set the team's next goals, experiments and improvements. Frame each one as a quest with a clear objective and a volunteer to lead it, then turn the best ones into actions with owners.

When to use this retrospective

• After a long or intense project, when the team needs a lighter way to look back.
• When you want a less formal review that gets quieter team members telling their side of the story.
• When you've had big wins and hard fights and want a memorable way to capture the lessons.
• When a new team is getting to know each other and could use a retro that doubles as an icebreaker.
• When your regular sprint retrospectives have gone stale and people have stopped contributing.

Suggested icebreaker questions

• If you were a Dungeons & Dragons character class, which would you be and why?
• What magical item would you want in your inventory to help with your work?

Want a warm-up your team plays, not just answers out loud? Browse free icebreakers →

Ideas and tips for your retrospective meeting

• Set the scene by narrating the team's recent work as a quest. A little drama helps people get into character.
• Not everyone plays D&D, so explain each column in a sentence before people start writing.
• Timebox each phase so the storytelling stays lively and you keep time for actions.
• Use anonymous brainstorming first so every adventurer contributes, not only the loudest party member.
• Close by turning the best Next Quest ideas into actions with owners and due dates.
• Keep Traps We Triggered blame-free so people can share mistakes as lessons for the whole party.

Frequently asked questions