I've been playing for around 3-or-4-ish years and have never DMed. What should I start with? Any campaigns you'd recommend? Or maybe themes for a one-shot?
I recommend running something written the first few times. Doesn't have to be a full campaign, but something where you know the maps, encounters, etc are tested, and you have descriptions to read. You can always add more, or leave parts out, but it gives you a nice complete starting point. Dragon Heist maybe?
Not only do you get the usual DM tools (maps, screen, etc...), but you also get access to the D&D Beyond Essentials Kit Bundle for free via an included coupon.
Just come up with a simple story then add some combat encounters. You can even toss some problem solving situations in as well.
Here is an idea.
There is a small village or town that is having an issue with some beasts that come down from the mountain at night. Its totally random but when they do come the really do some damage. Give the players a warring sign like... A fiery trail forms and slowly makes its way down the mountains. It in a way resembles a snake to the locals but in reality its several torches being carried by the supposed beasts. Want more on this one then look up the movie The 13th Warrior. It makes for a great small adventure or even one shot.
Make notes and have some form of map reference at least for yourself. As with the notes. Keep them simple because you players can and often times will go outside of your adventure and wander off basically. Be ready to make adjustments on the fly if it happens. Have a few random encounters ready to go. you may need them to tie up the players while you make adjustments. I know some may not approve of this but it is a useful tool. I would not bother writing down any dialog because you dont know how your players will react and dont know what they will say in character. So be ready to make stuff on the fly. And in the case where a player or the whole party wants to attack some poor NPC that you were simply using to feed the players some information. No need to flesh out the NPC. Just make up the stats on the fly. Again some may not agree with this but it works. There is a ton of useful tools out there that can make thing a bit more easy. Like random name/map generators and you can even use the bazillion maps that are all over the internet. Use the tools if you feel you need them. I also use google docs and one note (several other options out there as well).
I could go on but I dont want to overwhelm you with info. Now my take on pre-written is that its not a bad way to start out, But I would suggest you do not use one and start from scratch. With that said. Some like pre-writtens and some do not. I personally do not and can honestly say I have never run one, but I have read through a good amount. I have been running games for 30 years however only been in a game as a player 2 or 3 times.
I started with Lost Mines of Phandelver in the starter kit years ago and it worked out great. I would really encourage it. Get a group of friends, have a session zero, then get stuck in. When LMOP finished, I just segued into homebrewish campaigns (bastardised and chopshop versions of published stuff) to marry into players backstories and we haven't looked back.
I would start off with a one off battle. Draw out a battle scene. Trees, rocks, buildings, water, or whatever you want. Line you players up on one side and the enemy on the other and have at at it.
Then create a simple dungeon. Make 6 or seven chambers. Put in a few traps and several encounters.
I was directed to Tales from the Yawning Portal when I started DMing last year. There are seven adventures, and they haven't been terribly complex to run. Just make sure you read through them completely before trying them and make copious notes. Post-it notes have become my book's best friends.
I started with Curse of Stradh. For me, it was really nice having a written campaign to start with and that really opened my eyes to how fast PC's will do something that makes the DM think on their feet! I ran the book one time through and have been doing all homebrew games after. I'd recommend having a list of extra npc names already written down as well
I've been playing for around 3-or-4-ish years and have never DMed. What should I start with? Any campaigns you'd recommend? Or maybe themes for a one-shot?
I recommend running something written the first few times. Doesn't have to be a full campaign, but something where you know the maps, encounters, etc are tested, and you have descriptions to read. You can always add more, or leave parts out, but it gives you a nice complete starting point. Dragon Heist maybe?
Everyone is the main character of their story
Since you've never DMed before, may I suggest purchasing a physical copy of the Essentials Kit?
https://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/essentials-kit
Not only do you get the usual DM tools (maps, screen, etc...), but you also get access to the D&D Beyond Essentials Kit Bundle for free via an included coupon.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/marketplace/bundle/essentials-kit-bundle
And the included campaign is targeted towards first time DMs too.
Just come up with a simple story then add some combat encounters. You can even toss some problem solving situations in as well.
Here is an idea.
There is a small village or town that is having an issue with some beasts that come down from the mountain at night. Its totally random but when they do come the really do some damage. Give the players a warring sign like... A fiery trail forms and slowly makes its way down the mountains. It in a way resembles a snake to the locals but in reality its several torches being carried by the supposed beasts. Want more on this one then look up the movie The 13th Warrior. It makes for a great small adventure or even one shot.
Make notes and have some form of map reference at least for yourself. As with the notes. Keep them simple because you players can and often times will go outside of your adventure and wander off basically. Be ready to make adjustments on the fly if it happens. Have a few random encounters ready to go. you may need them to tie up the players while you make adjustments. I know some may not approve of this but it is a useful tool. I would not bother writing down any dialog because you dont know how your players will react and dont know what they will say in character. So be ready to make stuff on the fly. And in the case where a player or the whole party wants to attack some poor NPC that you were simply using to feed the players some information. No need to flesh out the NPC. Just make up the stats on the fly. Again some may not agree with this but it works. There is a ton of useful tools out there that can make thing a bit more easy. Like random name/map generators and you can even use the bazillion maps that are all over the internet. Use the tools if you feel you need them. I also use google docs and one note (several other options out there as well).
I could go on but I dont want to overwhelm you with info. Now my take on pre-written is that its not a bad way to start out, But I would suggest you do not use one and start from scratch. With that said. Some like pre-writtens and some do not. I personally do not and can honestly say I have never run one, but I have read through a good amount. I have been running games for 30 years however only been in a game as a player 2 or 3 times.
I started with Lost Mines of Phandelver in the starter kit years ago and it worked out great. I would really encourage it. Get a group of friends, have a session zero, then get stuck in. When LMOP finished, I just segued into homebrewish campaigns (bastardised and chopshop versions of published stuff) to marry into players backstories and we haven't looked back.
I would start off with a one off battle. Draw out a battle scene. Trees, rocks, buildings, water, or whatever you want. Line you players up on one side and the enemy on the other and have at at it.
Then create a simple dungeon. Make 6 or seven chambers. Put in a few traps and several encounters.
I was directed to Tales from the Yawning Portal when I started DMing last year. There are seven adventures, and they haven't been terribly complex to run. Just make sure you read through them completely before trying them and make copious notes. Post-it notes have become my book's best friends.
Carrion
I started with Curse of Stradh. For me, it was really nice having a written campaign to start with and that really opened my eyes to how fast PC's will do something that makes the DM think on their feet! I ran the book one time through and have been doing all homebrew games after. I'd recommend having a list of extra npc names already written down as well
This is the best advice I ever got as a DM. I started D&Ding a couple decades ago, and I still learn from that series.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Darn it stop beating me to posting the Colville Running the Game video link.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Sorry. Lol
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting