Should DM's inform their players which campaign they are playing?
or is it just all a mystery until day one of gameplay? I've looked up tips on how to DM but this question was never answered.
I've always wondered and never really asked anyone because...obviously embarrassment lol. I feel like its a dumb question like i SHOULD know this, but I dont.
I let em know which adventure/campaign i'm planning to run. Helps with the session 0 set up for the players, and how they can link into the adventures to come. There's many in my area who have the same books... I'll still trust them not to use that knowledge to better their odds. Besides, I always add my own spin on things to keep my players on their toes and to make the campaign our own.
I like to tell players (and know when I play) the premise of the campaign so they have a character that they want to run for that adventure.
You don't want someone bringing a build based on forests and plant and animal control to your desert survival campaign. You don't want someone building a pyromancer for the undersea campaign. Things like that.
I tell my players and trust that they won't spoil anything for themselves. Because, that only ruins their own fun. But, I want them to have an idea what they are getting into and what kind of builds they would want for said adventure. Like, DxJxC said, a player may have an awesome character build lined up with an immersive backstory, but if it won't flow for the campaign you're about to run, they will want to save that character for later or they will regret using said character and end up asking you kill them off for being useless.
In my current campaign, I'm running Descent Into Avernus. Obviously, some things are a given, so all my players (save one) chose to speak Infernal. And, everyone caught on pretty quick he didn't know the language and started having long drawn out conversations just to exclude him and make fun of him for not understanding it. However, as the DM, I have him make intelligence checks to try to pick up and learn the language based on what he hears. So, he's coming around. So, it's not all bad, but you do want your players prepared for a glimpse of what they'll be in for.
It would be fair to ask about the environment you’ll be in and what your character would generally know about the surrounding areas. I’m sure your DM would allow you to retcon any mistakes.
As DxJxC says, a sensible character for a sensible adventure.
Information about the likely terrain in which the events will take place is kind of critical for anyone planning on playing a Ranger.
If the campaign is heavily focused on intrigue, rather than questing, that may be pertinent. Most people would reconsider playing a Barbarian in that situation, since CHA is an easy dump for a Barb.
Vice-versa, a Sorcerer planning to go heavy on manipulation, both in and out of combat, might change their spell selection if the campaign is heavy questing and combat, rather than intrigue based.
If you are specifically playing a pre-written campaign, then you may wish to avoid giving out the title, but that would depend on whether or not you have one of "those" people at your table, which is not something we here could advise you of.
I will ask them what kind of campaign they'd like to play and offer my suggestions or a few to choose from. Gives them a good deal of input and generates some good discussion around how things will go in relation to amount of RP and combat. We normally talk about what level range we want to do first (not a big fan of starting at 1), then narrow some options down based on that.
I am new to being a DM and I had a system where I made a quest board in a tavern with occupations like demon hunters or Mercenaries so they can pick the premise of the adventure their playing.
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Should DM's inform their players which campaign they are playing?
or is it just all a mystery until day one of gameplay? I've looked up tips on how to DM but this question was never answered.
I've always wondered and never really asked anyone because...obviously embarrassment lol. I feel like its a dumb question like i SHOULD know this, but I dont.
But I'll never know if i dont ask right!?
Personally I have always told my player the name of my campaign On the other hand I have never ran a pre-made campaign.
However, I don't think I would tell them the campaign name at all unless you trust them.
I know a number of DM's who have had people go out and buy the same campaign so they could get the edge.
Truly that is one of the lamest of things to do in D&d
I let em know which adventure/campaign i'm planning to run.
Helps with the session 0 set up for the players, and how they can link into the adventures to come.
There's many in my area who have the same books... I'll still trust them not to use that knowledge to better their odds.
Besides, I always add my own spin on things to keep my players on their toes and to make the campaign our own.
I like to tell players (and know when I play) the premise of the campaign so they have a character that they want to run for that adventure.
You don't want someone bringing a build based on forests and plant and animal control to your desert survival campaign. You don't want someone building a pyromancer for the undersea campaign. Things like that.
I tell my players and trust that they won't spoil anything for themselves. Because, that only ruins their own fun. But, I want them to have an idea what they are getting into and what kind of builds they would want for said adventure. Like, DxJxC said, a player may have an awesome character build lined up with an immersive backstory, but if it won't flow for the campaign you're about to run, they will want to save that character for later or they will regret using said character and end up asking you kill them off for being useless.
In my current campaign, I'm running Descent Into Avernus. Obviously, some things are a given, so all my players (save one) chose to speak Infernal. And, everyone caught on pretty quick he didn't know the language and started having long drawn out conversations just to exclude him and make fun of him for not understanding it. However, as the DM, I have him make intelligence checks to try to pick up and learn the language based on what he hears. So, he's coming around. So, it's not all bad, but you do want your players prepared for a glimpse of what they'll be in for.
It would be fair to ask about the environment you’ll be in and what your character would generally know about the surrounding areas. I’m sure your DM would allow you to retcon any mistakes.
As DxJxC says, a sensible character for a sensible adventure.
Information about the likely terrain in which the events will take place is kind of critical for anyone planning on playing a Ranger.
If the campaign is heavily focused on intrigue, rather than questing, that may be pertinent. Most people would reconsider playing a Barbarian in that situation, since CHA is an easy dump for a Barb.
Vice-versa, a Sorcerer planning to go heavy on manipulation, both in and out of combat, might change their spell selection if the campaign is heavy questing and combat, rather than intrigue based.
If you are specifically playing a pre-written campaign, then you may wish to avoid giving out the title, but that would depend on whether or not you have one of "those" people at your table, which is not something we here could advise you of.
I will ask them what kind of campaign they'd like to play and offer my suggestions or a few to choose from. Gives them a good deal of input and generates some good discussion around how things will go in relation to amount of RP and combat. We normally talk about what level range we want to do first (not a big fan of starting at 1), then narrow some options down based on that.
I am new to being a DM and I had a system where I made a quest board in a tavern with occupations like demon hunters or Mercenaries so they can pick the premise of the adventure their playing.