Questions tagged [campaign-development]
For questions about writing, managing, and expanding campaigns.
325
questions
4
votes
2
answers
452
views
How to use Time Paradox In-Game
Position/State of Players : Trapped in the Underdark
Goal : To use time travel
A small explanation : While they are there, I want to make them travel back in time. However I have no idea on how to ...
- 689
2
votes
1
answer
337
views
What are some clearly defined differences between developing a linear campaign versus dynamic [closed]
I have had thoughts in the past of running my own campaign, but would love to run it as a more open-world campaign that has a kind of free free-roaming nature to it.
Having said that, what would be ...
- 125
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Mechanically, how do I prepare a village of not-quite-vampire-thrall monk NPCs?
What I need
I need to build one or more NPC character sheets, or cards, for the monk/ninjas in a fortified mountain monastery whose order was (and still is) founded by an ancient vampire lord, who is ...
- 932
16
votes
4
answers
396
views
Are there any established "best practices" for teams of GMs creating campaign content?
I maintain a group of roughly 10 players including 3-5 flaky DMs. While looking for solutions to the usual large group problems (maintaining attention, DM overload, slow combat, designing appropriate ...
- 1,367
4
votes
1
answer
493
views
PC vs PC team campaigns [closed]
I've been mulling over ideas for team vs. team D&D campaigns (or any system really), where two or more teams of PCs compete for a particular prize and PvP combat is allowed.
All players would ...
- 5,043
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
How would you create a MtG RPG Campaign/Game? [closed]
There was a MtG computer game published years ago which provided a campaign style game. The player travelled around a map comprised of differing terrain. This terrain was one of the MtG land types, ...
- 307
16
votes
8
answers
3k
views
How do you keep PCs from killing each other when 1 or more is evil?
I'd like to run a more mature themed campaign, along the lines of game of thrones. In that story, several of the main characters have an evil alignment.
I'd like to do something similar to this ...
- 373
12
votes
3
answers
13k
views
How to handle player run taverns?
Inspired partly by this question I have noticed that the natural progression of my campaign has led to a path that could potentially land my players with the oppurtunity to take ownership of a tavern.
...
- 445
2
votes
3
answers
290
views
What kind of missions would appeal to a tech heavy party in Shadowrun?
I'll be running a Shadowrun 4th game soon and after a character jam we have a party that's heavy tech focused. Specifically a Street Sam (melee focused), a rigger (vehicle/drone specialized hacker), ...
- 1,543
2
votes
3
answers
359
views
Shadowrun-esque 4e campaign advice [closed]
I am planning on starting a new 4e campaign. I was thinking that I would like to do a campaign that follows more of a Shadowrun style experience. My thought is that the entire campaign will take ...
- 823
10
votes
2
answers
906
views
Managing plots with multiple simultaneous GMs
I'm working with some fellow GMs to prepare a campaign in which we each host separate groups of players, but in the same shared world. This means that the actions of my players might actually ...
- 103
7
votes
6
answers
2k
views
D&D 3.5E Campaign that supports a large number of PC players
Okay, so here's the problem. I'm going to be dming a large group of around 10 players that have mixed experience and since I'm used to being in small groups of around 4 players I'm not used to having ...
- 81
20
votes
8
answers
2k
views
"Retiring" a maxed-out party
This question has a specific and a general sense.
Eventually, if your game runs long enough, a party will be pretty much maxed out - reaching level caps, wielding top-level powers and abilities, ...
- 3,795
9
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Structure for a political sandbox game
I am looking for a fairly structured approach to creating, preparing for, and running a political game.
To be more precise, I am looking for the following:
A structured approach or even a game ...
- 10.2k
3
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Creating a Racial Template (DnD 3.5)
So I had an idea for a race for my world. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I needed it to be a template, not a race. I'm trying to create a version of Elves, but the origin of ...
- 487
8
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Race Creation/Modification in D&D 3.5
I'm trying to create a set of races, based largely on the classic fantasy races of Man, Elf, Dwarf (and Gnome, but I don't consider that to be a 'classic' fantasy race). I'm using 3.5 rules, and the ...
- 487
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to develop arcs for player characters
If you've got a vague idea for an overall plot arc, how do you go about developing individual plot arcs for player characters (if that's something you do)?
I'm running two Savage Worlds campaigns, ...
- 615
3
votes
1
answer
437
views
How do you run a campaign of Dinosaur Planet: Broncosaurus Rex?
I've been GMing for the better part of a decade off and on through High School and college. In the past couple of years, I've only run my own homebrew d6 system and am looking to run a new game. If ...
- 33
3
votes
1
answer
440
views
Are Masterplan projects equivalent to adventures or campaigns?
I started using Masterplan last time I DMed and I love what the tool brings to the table. However, I'm not certain how to use it to track my entire campaign.
Does a Masterplan adventure project ...
- 133
56
votes
9
answers
44k
views
What are the essential features of a successful evil campaign?
Until this point, I have demanded that my players not build characters with evil alignments, as I am familiar with how to design campaigns and adventures around "good" or "redemption" themes. However,...
- 3,862
3
votes
2
answers
627
views
3 enchanted items to cast ritual - D&D
In planing my D&D campaign, I have an section where the group will have to find three enchanted copper pots to seal away a powerful daemon. I have an idea on how I want it to work, but not sure if ...
- 1,146
22
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Rules system for playing out the details of founding and developing a city? [closed]
I want to run a campaign in which the players control individual but influential characters (maybe heads of families), with the main focus of play on the PCs building up a city over time, starting ...
- 221
4
votes
1
answer
441
views
How can I maintain game balance at extremely high levels of power in a point-build system?
More specifically, how do I keep the game fun when all parties involved are extremely powerful? The game I'm asking this about is a Wild Talents 2nd Edition game where everyone is built on a budget of ...
user5834
2
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Is there any resource for side quests with which to fill out one's campaign? [closed]
Earlier I was helping to make a list of side quest ideas. Nothing like "defeat Arthur and obtain Excalibur." More like "rescue damsel in distress." Really simple stuff which is more like side quest ...
- 9,537
16
votes
8
answers
26k
views
Designing my own D&D Adventure
Currently, I am part of my first campaign of D&D 4E as a player and, I have been having fun.
Sometime in the near future I would like to host my own game of D&D with my own adventure. So far ...
- 1,146
10
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Writing a VtR Chronicle
I'm new to Vampire: the Requiem and I would like to write my own chronicle but I don't know where to start. Where can I get inspiration and how can I structure the campaign/chronicle so it's cohesive ...
- 101
11
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Software for diagramming branching campaign plotlines [closed]
I'm looking for something that simply allows me to connect nodes for different progression paths throughout the campaign, and that will let me connect them in arbitrary ways so that I can connect two ...
- 276
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How do I make a story based campaign revolve around a megadungeon?
I'd really like to make a more story-heavy setting in my next fantasy campaign, but I also love megadungeons. What is a good way to use a megadungeon to tell a story instead of as a place for Hack'n'...
- 13.1k
5
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Advice and sources for designing a fantasy political campaign? [closed]
A friend of mine is running a Middle-earth campaign and wants to make a political twist. As he knows I use to play that gamestyle (although in a contemporary setting), he has asked me to get involved ...
- 17.3k
14
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How to go from a humorous campaign to a more serious one?
I am currently running a D&D 4E game. The game started off kind of goofy (we have a thrikreen rogue with glowing blonde hair, an ale-obsessed dwarf battlemind, a ditzy human wizard, and a dwarf ...
- 571
27
votes
6
answers
5k
views
How can I have a mixed game of nWoD without having a thematic mess?
I'm planning on starting a full-on mixed nWoD game, but I don't know how to avoid having it feel like a fantasy kitchen sink, since that can easily destroy the feel of a game. What are scenarios or ...
user5834
17
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Are there any RPGs/settings where a character's class is not chosen but "earned" through their actions? [closed]
My experience RPGing has thusfar been limited to Dungeons and Dragons v3.5. As I've grown more experienced playing the game, I've toyed with creating my own campaign settings and am now playing with ...
- 3,862
23
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Is it plausible to have a Player Character play as a villain against the rest of the party?
If anyone has experience running a game like this, what are some common errors to avoid and tips you would give to a GM embarking on such a campaign?
Specifically I intend to have a 3 PC party with 2 ...
- 333
27
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Creating the setting with the players
As far as I'm aware, the two most common ways to choose a setting for your campaign are one of these:
The GM makes it up pre-game, or
the GM has some source book containing the desired setting.
...
- 3,586
17
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Adding comic relief
As a GM, I would like to add comic relief to my sessions.
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.
...
- 1,782
7
votes
4
answers
603
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
1
answer
177
views
How can I balance and blend spotlight time between PCs of different Lodges?
Recently, one of the players in my Werewolf game has taken on the Lodge of Spires, which is effectively "Batman: The Lodge". One of the benefits of this lodge (for those who don't play, consider a ...
- 1,543
55
votes
6
answers
8k
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 ...
- 1,782
12
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How can I emulate TV Shows with only 2-3 main characters?
I watch a lot of TV. Probably too much.
Shows like Buffy the vampire slayer and Firefly have a whole slew of characters, which is perfect for a gaming party as you fill in the slots to the point you ...
- 13.3k
9
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Starting a campaign at higher level
It's been difficult for me to start a game at higher level than level 1-4 in Pathfinder.
At higher level, the scale of the game changes. In the beginning of level 1-4 you save a village or a clan ...
user4000
31
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How much to bend "the rules" about populating a world?
All right, I have a question about creating a world and populating it with appropriate monsters, etc.
I created a world a little while back, loosely based off of the world found in Michael Stackpole'...
- 10.2k
4
votes
1
answer
273
views
Narrative options in an antique shop, old bookstore or library [closed]
I'm currently storytelling a Delta Green chronicle and, while studying various resources and scenarios, I was extremely intrigued by a scenario called "The Bookstore". That is a great opportunity to ...
- 143
18
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Rules for generating a game world as you go?
As an alternative to pre-fabricated game worlds (whether published or home-brewed), I'd like to create some rules for generating a game world gradually and organically.
It would work in a manner ...
- 181
12
votes
3
answers
856
views
What can I have the players do in my surreal horror scenario?
I'm gonna have the vast majority of my campaign take place in a large strange misty forest and I'm not gonna have any friendly human NPCs around too explain things.
Here is the premise:
After a ...
- 1,531
19
votes
3
answers
64k
views
Any good premade campaigns for beginners? [closed]
Does anyone know of some good premade campaigns for a small (not more than 5) players, all of whom are new to D&D? I want to start them at low level since they haven't played before. I'm finding ...
- 193
7
votes
4
answers
487
views
How do I promote my gaming campaigns?
I have two campaigns on two different sites and I need players. So how do I promote my games in order to get more players?
- 87
6
votes
1
answer
291
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 ...
user2862
5
votes
1
answer
507
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" ...
user2862
35
votes
8
answers
7k
views
Running Parallel Campaigns
So, as seems to frequently be the case with me, more players wish to be a part of my new campaign than I'm comfortable putting around one table (maybe 8). I toyed briefly with the idea of running two ...
- 453
19
votes
4
answers
939
views
How to succesfully make one quest naturally lead to the next?
My old GM used to make our quests highly modular and separated. While this had some advantages, it gave the feeling of running through a video game with discrete levels where we just popped from one ...
- 5,622