🦇🧛‍♂️ Vampire Crypt Conclave
Welcome to the ancient crypt! Among bats and tombstones, let's uncover hidden insights, immortal knowledge, and what could revive our agile journey. Prepare to share your tales from dusk till dawn!
Template Columns
🩸 Blood-Filled Blessings
Describe the valuable successes and moments that energized our crypt-dwelling crew.
Base column: Likedđź“š Ancient Tomes of Wisdom
Share new lessons, discoveries, or secrets unearthed among the dusty crypt books.
Base column: Learned🧱 Sealed Chambers
Highlight the obstacles or resources we missed deep within the crypt's shadows.
Base column: Lacked🦇 Batty Aspirations
Reveal what you yearn for next—be it more bats, better tools, or brighter moonlight for future nocturnal quests.
Base column: Longed ForAbout this template
The Vampire Crypt Conclave retrospective invites your team to explore wins, hard-won lessons, hidden challenges, and future wishes—all with a playful crypt-inspired twist.
When to use this template
This format works best when you want to boost team engagement, break routine, or inspire creativity—especially after complex projects or at the end of a significant sprint.
How to facilitate
Set the tone by welcoming everyone to the crypt and introducing each of the four themed columns, explaining their meanings using the descriptions.
Invite team members to reflect individually and add their notes to the Blood-Filled Blessings, Ancient Tomes of Wisdom, Sealed Chambers, and Batty Aspirations columns.
Once contributions are complete, facilitate a sharing round for each column, encouraging team members to elaborate on their stories and insights.
Cluster similar points and discuss emerging themes, celebrating successes and digging into obstacles uncovered in the Sealed Chambers.
Guide the team to brainstorm concrete actions for their Batty Aspirations, turning wishes or requests into potential improvements.
Wrap up by summarizing key insights and agreed action points, thanking everyone for participating in the crypt conclave.
Pro Tips
Use themed background music or visuals to help immerse the team and spark creativity.
Encourage quieter team members to contribute by asking open questions tailored to each column’s theme.
Keep the atmosphere light and playful—you don’t need perfect gothic role-play, just enough to lower inhibitions and foster honesty.
Set a time limit per column to keep momentum while allowing rich discussion.
FAQ
What if the team feels uncomfortable with the crypt theme?
Briefly explain the purpose is to make reflection fun and creative. Invite everyone to participate at their comfort level—the themes are just gentle prompts.
How can I manage time if discussions become too detailed?
Set timeboxes for each column and gently move the team along. Capture deeper topics in a 'tombstone parking lot' for future discussion if needed.
Some team members aren’t sharing—how can I draw them in?
Ask direct but supportive questions related to the columns, or allow anonymous contributions using the platform features to reduce pressure.
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At a glance
- Duration
50–70 min
- Team Size
4-12 people
- Columns
4 columns
- Base Format
Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed For
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective