Step 1: Preparing for Your Game
Before you can start building your campaign, you need to make a decision about what world you are going to play in. If you are new to Game Mastering, then it's recommended that you start within the structure of an existing world, such as The Forgotten Realms, Midgard, or Eberron. This can make it easier to create unique and compelling storylines, as the world already has an established lore, history, and culture. However it will come with its own weight and baggage of its existing lore, history and culture.
Blog: The Art of Worldbuilding: Hard vs. Soft Approaches and Finding Your Perfect Balance >>
If you only want to run a short campaign, you can probably skip this step and jump to step 3.
Create Your Own World or Use an Existing?
Creating Your Own
Pros:
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Creativity and originality: Starting from scratch allows you to create a world that is entirely your own, with unique creatures, geography, and cultures that you can tailor to fit your own creative vision.
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Freedom: You have complete creative control over the world, which can be liberating and empowering.
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Avoiding pre-existing lore: You won't have to worry about existing lore or canon, which can be especially beneficial if you're not already familiar with a particular D&D world or find that it doesn't align with your creative vision.
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Customizability: You can tailor the world to fit your specific campaign or player group, which can help create a more immersive experience for your players.
Cons:
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Time-consuming: Building a new world from scratch takes time and effort, and may require a lot of planning, research, and writing.
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Learning curve: Depending on your level of experience with D&D, you may need to spend additional time learning about world-building, map-making, and other related skills.
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Risk: There is a risk that your players may not be as interested in a completely new world, or that the world may not be as well-developed or immersive as a pre-existing one.
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Lack of familiarity: Since the world is entirely new, players may not have the same level of familiarity or attachment to it as they might with a pre-existing one.
Leveraging Existing
Pros:
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Familiarity: Many D&D players are already familiar with existing worlds, such as Forgotten Realms or Eberron, which can make it easier to jump right into a campaign and get everyone on the same page.
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Established lore: Using a pre-existing world means that you don't have to spend as much time creating lore or backstory, which can help streamline the process.
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Access to resources: There are a wealth of pre-existing resources available for many established worlds, including maps, supplements, and pre-written adventures.
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Shared experiences: Since the world is already established, players may have shared experiences or knowledge about the world, which can help create a sense of cohesion and immersion.
Cons:
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Limitations: Using a pre-existing world means that you'll be working within an established framework, which may limit your creative freedom.
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Familiarity: While familiarity can be a benefit, it can also be a drawback if players feel like they already know everything about the world, or if they're looking for something more original or unique.
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Inconsistencies: If you're not already familiar with an existing world, you may run into issues with inconsistencies or contradictions in the lore or canon.
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Expectations: Since many players have existing knowledge or expectations about established worlds, it may be harder to surprise or impress them with new twists or plotlines.
Picking an Existing World
The Forgotten Realms:
The Forgotten Realms is a popular setting for Dungeons & Dragons games, known for its high magic and epic fantasy. The world is filled with ancient ruins, powerful wizards, and fierce monsters, and players can explore everything from bustling cities to dark dungeons. The world is vast and detailed, with a rich history and diverse cultures, making it a great choice for players who want to immerse themselves in a deep and complex world. Forgotten Realms Wiki >>
Midgard:
Midgard is another popular world for tabletop RPGs, known for its dark and gritty setting. The world is inspired by European folklore and mythology, and is filled with grim forests, haunted castles, and malevolent creatures. The world is often compared to Game of Thrones for its complex politics and intricate power struggles, making it a great choice for players who enjoy a more mature and nuanced storyline.
Midgard Website >>
Eberron:
Eberron is a world that combines elements of high fantasy and pulp fiction, creating a unique and exciting setting for tabletop RPGs. The world is filled with airships, warforged (living constructs), and magical trains, and players can explore everything from ancient ruins to bustling metropolises. The world is also notable for its intricate history and political landscape, making it a great choice for players who enjoy a rich and complex world. The World of Ebberon >>
Symbaroum:
Symbaroum is a dark and atmospheric world, inspired by Scandinavian folklore and mythology. The world is filled with mysterious ruins, powerful sorcery, and dangerous creatures, and players must navigate treacherous forests and haunted swamps to uncover the secrets of the land. The world is notable for its haunting atmosphere and unique mechanics, making it a great choice for players who enjoy a more immersive and atmospheric experience.
Dark and Mysterious Symbaroum >>
Each of these worlds has a detailed background and unique features, and can provide a great foundation for your tabletop RPG campaign. Ultimately, the decision about what world to play in will depend on your personal preferences and the type of campaign you want to run. Whether you choose to play in an established world or create your own, remember that the most important thing is to have fun and create an engaging and memorable experience for your players.
Story Structure
Orient the Auidence
Orient the player characters to where they are and what is going on. This may be a good time to understand your players different archetypes. By doing so it will give you a sense of the type of content you should think about producing.
Conflict
The heroes are introduced to a challenge or a problem that needs to be solved. This is where the hero receives the call to embark on a journey.
Test, Allies, Enemies
Along the way, the hero faces a series of tests and challenges. They make allies and enemies, and learn valuable lessons about themselves.
Ordeal
The heroes face their biggest challenge, often in the form of a battle or confrontation.
Reward
The heroes emerges victorious from the ordeal and receives a reward, such as a treasure, a lesson, or a newfound sense of self.
Return with the Elixir
The heroes returns to the familiar world with a newfound understanding of themselves and the world around them. They use their knowledge and experience to help others and make positive change in their community.
Tools I Use
