I have been interested in D&D for many years but have only dipped my toes into the actual practice of playing a few times, a couple as a player and once as a DM.
I am going to run a small one shot for some friends who are also interested in getting into D&D and I don't just want to read off a pre-made script for the session, I want to make my own. Obviously, since I am new to DMing, I will be working using a pre made one shot but I want to write the introduction and some of the descriptive elements myself. The problem is, I am really struggling with writing something I think would be suitable for a little intro.
you should always have a basic idea of where your party will be along with the reasoning of why your players are there.
Now imagine yourself within the area the introduction is in, focus on the broadest details, then introduce smaller and smaller elements, from the other PCs to the light refracting from the water.
Another important part of description is to avoid unnecessary wording, keep each description concise and focused on what you want to invoke. You can usually afford more words and longer descriptions if they will play a bigger role in the story, such as a waterfall, where you can use sound, smell, sight and touch in order to give it more life.
For a One-shot I usually introduce the location where they are starting and the hook for the one-shot all at once in the intro. Otherwise the players can get stuck just chatting not knowing what they are supposed to do. So it might be something like:
"Our adventure begins with all of you on board a ship, sailing to the isle of bones following a rumour of lost souls and forgotten treasure. The ship rocks back and forth in the waves, and salt spray clings to your clothing. To the west you can see dark clouds gathering.. what would you like to do?"
or
"You have all arrived in the Head and Heart Inn to meet with your contact Mr. Widdlebutton in the upstairs room. You are on the ground floor, in a large room packed tightly with mismatched chairs, stools, and tables. At the far end a long oak bar is tended by a red skinned tiefling. The inn is busy, raucous laughter fills the room from a group of young men in the left hand corner. The air smells of grease, salt, sweat and ale... what would you like to do?"
or
"We begin with the party arriving at the door to ruins of a great temple as part of an archeology expedition. The jungle behind you hums with insects and strange bird calls, the heat and humidity has left you all sweaty and sticky. The expedition's leader, Dr Jones, orders some of your other companions to set up camp while he catalogues and translates some runic text found around the frame of the temple entrance... what would you like to do?"
I'll get started on that and then once my players give me their character sheets I can think about why they'd be there. Thank you!!
For a one-shot if they are making new characters for this adventure, tell the players the premise of the one-shot and ask them to come up with why their character is there. Much easier for you, and ensures all the characters have a reason to go on this particular adventure!
Honestly, i’d still use a prewritten adventure but just put your own spin on it more and more each time you do it. Starting a campaign completely from scratch is difficult especially for someone new to it.
When I have writers block, I start with a single sensory detail.
A strange smell, a sound in the distance, or a detail in the environment that feels out of place. It pulls the players in when they hear it and helps spark my creative juices.
Let me be a voice of not what you want to hear. If everyone is brand new to include you. Read the script, follow the script. Understand the flow the script is trying to do. By being an introduction, you may want to create a baseline, ergo follow the script. Once you have followed the script, and ended it, then start writing what you want.
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Hi there!
I have been interested in D&D for many years but have only dipped my toes into the actual practice of playing a few times, a couple as a player and once as a DM.
I am going to run a small one shot for some friends who are also interested in getting into D&D and I don't just want to read off a pre-made script for the session, I want to make my own. Obviously, since I am new to DMing, I will be working using a pre made one shot but I want to write the introduction and some of the descriptive elements myself. The problem is, I am really struggling with writing something I think would be suitable for a little intro.
Does anyone have any advice?
you should always have a basic idea of where your party will be along with the reasoning of why your players are there.
Now imagine yourself within the area the introduction is in, focus on the broadest details, then introduce smaller and smaller elements, from the other PCs to the light refracting from the water.
Another important part of description is to avoid unnecessary wording, keep each description concise and focused on what you want to invoke. You can usually afford more words and longer descriptions if they will play a bigger role in the story, such as a waterfall, where you can use sound, smell, sight and touch in order to give it more life.
Ah so instead of focusing on trying to introduce a story, more act like I'm writing a descriptive piece to start with.
I'll get started on that and then once my players give me their character sheets I can think about why they'd be there. Thank you!!
You should also brief your players on the basics of the world before or at session 0, this will allow them to have better context for the scene.
For a One-shot I usually introduce the location where they are starting and the hook for the one-shot all at once in the intro. Otherwise the players can get stuck just chatting not knowing what they are supposed to do. So it might be something like:
"Our adventure begins with all of you on board a ship, sailing to the isle of bones following a rumour of lost souls and forgotten treasure. The ship rocks back and forth in the waves, and salt spray clings to your clothing. To the west you can see dark clouds gathering.. what would you like to do?"
or
"You have all arrived in the Head and Heart Inn to meet with your contact Mr. Widdlebutton in the upstairs room. You are on the ground floor, in a large room packed tightly with mismatched chairs, stools, and tables. At the far end a long oak bar is tended by a red skinned tiefling. The inn is busy, raucous laughter fills the room from a group of young men in the left hand corner. The air smells of grease, salt, sweat and ale... what would you like to do?"
or
"We begin with the party arriving at the door to ruins of a great temple as part of an archeology expedition. The jungle behind you hums with insects and strange bird calls, the heat and humidity has left you all sweaty and sticky. The expedition's leader, Dr Jones, orders some of your other companions to set up camp while he catalogues and translates some runic text found around the frame of the temple entrance... what would you like to do?"
For a one-shot if they are making new characters for this adventure, tell the players the premise of the one-shot and ask them to come up with why their character is there. Much easier for you, and ensures all the characters have a reason to go on this particular adventure!
Honestly, i’d still use a prewritten adventure but just put your own spin on it more and more each time you do it. Starting a campaign completely from scratch is difficult especially for someone new to it.
When I have writers block, I start with a single sensory detail.
A strange smell, a sound in the distance, or a detail in the environment that feels out of place. It pulls the players in when they hear it and helps spark my creative juices.
https://startplaying.games/gm/dmkevin
Let me be a voice of not what you want to hear. If everyone is brand new to include you. Read the script, follow the script. Understand the flow the script is trying to do. By being an introduction, you may want to create a baseline, ergo follow the script. Once you have followed the script, and ended it, then start writing what you want.