Writing, managing, and expanding campaigns.
52
votes
18answers
3k views
I'm creating an original setting for D&D—where do I start?
Creating a new fantasy setting for D&D is daunting but I don't want to use one of the published settings. I have a blank piece of paper in front of me and a whole world to create. My friends want ...
12
votes
5answers
584 views
Are there any good websites which have story hooks and plots points for campaigns? [closed]
Are there any good websites which have story hooks and plots points for campaigns?
22
votes
8answers
701 views
How do you discourage “player knowledge” as a GM?
As a trivial random encounter is winding down, a player thinks "That was too easy... The GM wouldn't give us an encounter that doesn't give XP," and starts searching for hidden bad guys or other ...
17
votes
3answers
530 views
Good resources for travel times?
What are some good resources, on or off-line, for determining clear travel times for:
different methods of travel (eg: foot, horse, vehicles by period and type, etc)
different terrain types ...
25
votes
9answers
867 views
What qualities are important when creating a fantasy RPG campaign?
Creating custom game play content for a group can be challenging for even the most experienced GM. Understanding how your group members' play and understanding what they want to experience is ...
7
votes
3answers
393 views
Adapting literary works into RPG adventures
Beowulf is a classic tale which has been translated many times and has had many film adaptations. Seamus Heaney's new translation and Frederick Rebsame's translation
are good starts if you have not ...
9
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the best first adventure to run in D&D 4e?
I am very new to Dungeons and Dragons 4e. I recently picked all the necessary books and surprisingly low priced pound of dice from eBay. I have also coaxed my friends into giving it a shot while I ...
36
votes
6answers
903 views
Preventing saturation in a horror campaign
I am currently designing my first horror campaign and what I've come up with so far is pretty dark and gruesome. I worry that if it is gut wrenching the whole way through, eventually the players will ...
17
votes
14answers
1k views
What are some interesting ways to structure a random encounter table?
The standard tables I've seen have been basic 'Wandering Monster' tables where you roll some dice in order to generate a random encounter.
I'm sure many have taken this concept further, but I haven't ...
31
votes
11answers
1k views
What are some dangerous non-fantasy creatures?
We're running a fantasy game where the adventurers frequently travel through the wilderness. Too many of the threatening encounters they have are with fantasy creatures (like goblins, orcs, etc.). ...
20
votes
7answers
558 views
How can I convey the nonsensicality of a dream world?
Soon I will be GMing a campaign that allows the players to move freely back and forth between the "real" world and the "dream" world. I do not want this to be a secret or try to confuse the players; ...
15
votes
4answers
858 views
Middle age transportation by river questions
I am playing in a medieval fantasy type setting and am trying to determine travel speeds when people are traveling on rivers. This is similar to this previous question, but that question really only ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Are there other cooperative world building games like Dawn of Worlds?
I found Dawn of Worlds on the web and got the PDF of it. My group tried and loved it. I was wondering has anyone else worked with this very novel system for cooperative world building?
13
votes
7answers
1k views
Starting the first game tips?
I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to start our very first session. Everyone, counting the DM, has yet to play the game and we are not exactly sure were to start. Our PCs are:
Drow ...
10
votes
5answers
446 views
Advice on setting up a campaign for a new GM?
A month or two back, I bought the GURPS Basic Set with the hopes of GMing a campaign at my school. I'm fairly familiar with the rules and general concepts by now (GURPS is very well documented), but ...
7
votes
4answers
300 views
Looking for local colour for a Cyberpunk set in Brazil
I have a plot line and with the addition of player characters' background I think I have a solid game planned. However, so far the plot could happen in any odd city in the world. I was thinking of ...
7
votes
2answers
222 views
What campaign wiki - or other collaborative tool - has these features?
I saw the question "Is there a campaign wiki with mobile support" and realized that perhaps I could find what i was looking for with a more targeted question.
I am organizing a plot team (for a LARP) ...
20
votes
4answers
294 views
How do I construct an individual session as part of a larger campaign?
I've been GMing/DMing on and off for years. I prefer playing. Mainly because when I run a game, I'm more a fly by the seat of your pants kind of dm, and it works sort of..
My problem is that, while I ...
17
votes
6answers
466 views
Am I designing my campaign setting to be too specific?
I'm a first time DM (3.5e), and, being a passionate writer, I decided to create the entire campaign and campaign setting myself. It's been good fun, and I have about 12 pages of (elaborated upon) ...
9
votes
2answers
278 views
What collaborative mapping software would meet my needs?
Background
I am the head of plot for a boffer LARP that runs monthly. A given game has anywhere from 10 to 50 players. We have around 5 people that run plot. I need the entire plot team to be able to ...
5
votes
2answers
241 views
Point buy/structured system for cooperative 4e campaign building?
Our group is currently building a campaign world (one nation per player) for the Pillars of the State campaign (as suggested in the DMG2 somewhere around page 170).
Today we encountered the "problem" ...
5
votes
4answers
219 views
How to avoid the feeling of railroading in my campaign pregame?
This question is related to my other question. Please see that one for campaign background, rather than me repeating it all here.
I don't want the players to feel "trapped" and forced into a ...
17
votes
9answers
411 views
What ways are there to convey loneliness and betrayal in an encounter?
A little background: I am designing a campaign that largely takes place in the mind of a twisted wizard. The wizard was shunned and exiled from his home due to a physical disfigurement, and after a ...
9
votes
1answer
132 views
Playing a pregame, how to keep sense of continuity in campaign
My players and I are currently playing a "pre-game" for a whole campaign I have written. I want the players to be aware of the "how did it get to be this way", so I make them play two games 4000 and ...
8
votes
10answers
691 views
What RPG worlds/systems work best together in crossover combinations? [closed]
I'm curious: What RPG worlds have you combined most successfully in a crossover setting as a GM? (Or what was the best crossover that you played as a player?)
My best experiences almost always ...
6
votes
3answers
3k views
Custom Race Creation for D&D 4e
The Monster Manual and Dungeon Master's Guide provides a few examples of how to adapt monsters into full-fledged PC races, but they're limited to only a few options.
Are there any resources or other ...
4
votes
1answer
136 views
How to adapt a 3e community-building system for a larger-scale use in a 4e game?
This question is a follow up to Point buy/structured system for cooperative 4e campaign building?.
I've found a system that is quite close to what we want/need, but there's a catch: it's for 3e and ...
