hey guys I have been with a group playing dnd for a little while now we played 4th edition to cut our teeth and now that ive bought most of the books for 5th the group decided I need to be DM since our DM is sick of DMing, ive never done it before and I want to try to go a different route and hope it doesn't kill the group, I like the RP aspect and less hack and slash non stop I feel it should be balanced un like our last campaigns of murder hobo 24/7 to gain xp. is there a way to do XP through RP? I feel like that making the right choice here and there to drive the story could slip a few extra xp their way. so to keep the RP aspect alive and they willing to do so.
now for the second issue. the home brew campaign. we all want a LONG campaign we fully expect to loose characters along the way. it happens we know. I am thinking a tech to map a new silk road, following the coast up to the Spine of the World mountain range and then move across the rollling highlands and then deep into the humid jungles of the south that way we have constant new foes and new RP challenges. think sea battles and Vikings along the coast then across the mountain ranges with fighting and terrain issues maybe blizzards and trolls and mountain barbarian tribes and then into like a Mongolian setting mounted combat rolling hills bitter cold nights then down into the humid jungles of bamboo forests to find the cities of great power to build a trade route. idk too hard? wont work? im not even sure what hordes to use, don't even own figures or maps or anything so im starting blind. could really use help
Ah, the excitement of writing a campaign. If its your first time I strongly recommend running a string of modules. Edit and Reflavor them, rip them up and stitch them together. Build your world aroud them.
This will give you experience in running encounters which will help you build them later on. Plus this means less prep time, time you can now spend World Building and making plot hooks for your players.
Sandboxes sound cool in theory, but in practice the lack of focus makes things a bit tedious after a while. I good campaign need player buy-in, and players will buy in more if the plot is focused and engaging.
You can do XP without combat easily enough. Just use "milestone leveling" or "story based leveling."
"Milestone leveling" works by setting goals ("milestones") for the PCs and giving them XP for earning those milestones. Minor milestones are worth one amount of XP, major are worth another amount. They achieve enough milestones, by whatever means (combat, RP, skill checks, etc.), they gain a level. Lather, rinse, repeat.
"Story-based leveling" works by setting out story points and the characters gain a level when they get to those story points. Your silk road could easily be done like this. Want a long 20 level campaign? Make 20 cities along the trade route that they must reach (or 20 "destinations") and each time they get there, they gain a level.
I absolutely love your Silk Road idea for a homebrew campaign. It lets the players explore your entire world, but it also gives you time to build it gradually... all you need to know is the general idea of where they are going overall, and then you can build regional maps/local areas as needed while they travel along. I would love playing in a campaign like this.
As for pre-made modules -- IMO, these are more work than they are worth. They might be worth using for the pretty maps, but I have never met a module I did not have to heavily modify to suit the party I was running through it. In many cases these were more work than just making stuff up on my own. Not sure if the encounter is too easy or hard? You can use the encounter builder here to give you a rough idea.
The thing about using someone else's (published, or not) module is that you don't know it, and you have to almost treat it like taking a correspondence course. You have to read it, read it again, read it a 3rd time, study it, take notes on it, etc. This is because it didn't come from inside your head. When you make your own dungeon or map or town, you know it much better right from the off, because you created it. So for instance I only make a series of small bulleted notes, 1 page long, for a large sized map, just to remind myself of what is there. Or to set up things ahead of time like ability check DCs or what treasure is found in the locked chest. To me doing this takes less time overall and is easier than trying to use someone else's 50 page module and become familiar enough with that to run it.
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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.
The thing about using someone else's (published, or not) module is that you don't know it, and you have to almost treat it like taking a correspondence course. You have to read it, read it again, read it a 3rd time, study it, take notes on it, etc. This is because it didn't come from inside your head.
This is true. I find myself re-reading pre-made adventures whenever I have nothing else to do in prep for the campaign. The time I’m not using making a map or preparing loot, I’m using re-reading the descriptions of each room to make sure I’m not missing which doors are locked, whether there’s environmental effects at play in the room, what exactly will trigger the trap, etc. So that’s a fair point. Just depends on what you want to do with your prep time.
I agree with Biowizard. Silk Road is great concept for campaign. Definately you are going to need 3+ factions along the road and characters need to do things that keep all factions happy. Traders can travel the road safely and every faction gets a share of the profits. If you have roleplaying focused session you are going to have long discussions with faction leaders. If you have combat focused session you are going to attack goblins, ogres and other monsters that are threat for the business and bandits are always after wealthy merchants. 20 levels and 3 session per level makes campaign of 60 sessions for example.
ok now we have a few player that aren't into RP how would you try to open up the idea to them? personally I love RP in D&D you can do so much and really focus time into your character. but I know others don't feel the same way. now I had an idea for one area you'd need to make peace with the chieftains or destroy the rival tribes or maybe another way to gain passage through the lands, every trading guild wants a piece of this possible profitable route but I want tribes to not want it in some areas or really want it in another. traveling tribes in a Mongolian style society roaming villages horse back sentries and horse back combat. caravan protection to a town for resupply or to buy safe passage maybe? I feel this part gives a wide veriety. the mountain trek across the spine of the world. figured safe havens in the woods ranger camps maybe some monk temples in the high mountains, not sure about enemies besides the weather any ideas? as for the other end of Mongolia area jungles of beasts and reptilian creatures its hot humid maybe some cool temples to pillage and explore. then maybe river boat to new cities more humans and other stuff along the way. then make it back to the sea?
ok now we have a few player that aren't into RP how would you try to open up the idea to them?
You can't make people want to RP. So I wouldn't try to force it. I would say lead by example -- RP the NPCs to the hilt, and let the other players who like to RP do that with you, and hope the non-RPers will change their mind and come along.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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.
Even though you have a long time group, it sounds like you really need a session 0. Discuss with your players that you want to go more RP with this campaign and make sure they buy in. Otherwise you could end up running a game they don’t want to play, they start killing things because they are bored, and then everyone is upset. Work with them on a balance to keep everyone happy.
It be really cool if someone else did my idea for the new silk road! Would love to see how others do it! Id post my opening like i guess scene setting introduction if i knew where to post it up. Would love to see what people thought and get pointers. I love expressing detail in my writing so i like to paint the scene with words for your mind to see
Even though you have a long time group, it sounds like you really need a session 0. Discuss with your players that you want to go more RP with this campaign and make sure they buy in. Otherwise you could end up running a game they don’t want to play, they start killing things because they are bored, and then everyone is upset. Work with them on a balance to keep everyone happy.
Its a little more with a few new players. Our group has a few people that wanted to start playing that never have. They oddly enough are also the ones that dont want to RP.. but that is a very good idea i think we should do that before this weekend since everyone locked up anyway
I agree with Biowizard. Silk Road is great concept for campaign. Definately you are going to need 3+ factions along the road and characters need to do things that keep all factions happy. Traders can travel the road safely and every faction gets a share of the profits. If you have roleplaying focused session you are going to have long discussions with faction leaders. If you have combat focused session you are going to attack goblins, ogres and other monsters that are threat for the business and bandits are always after wealthy merchants. 20 levels and 3 session per level makes campaign of 60 sessions for example.
is there a way i could post up how i wrote the opening to see what people think? just the first like paragraph or something. make sure im setting the right mood
Odd questiom but iseem to have trouble. How do i share the content for the players? Like the books i bought on dndbeyond? My wife wants to join the campaign but wants her own account
hey guys I have been with a group playing dnd for a little while now we played 4th edition to cut our teeth and now that ive bought most of the books for 5th the group decided I need to be DM since our DM is sick of DMing, ive never done it before and I want to try to go a different route and hope it doesn't kill the group, I like the RP aspect and less hack and slash non stop I feel it should be balanced un like our last campaigns of murder hobo 24/7 to gain xp. is there a way to do XP through RP? I feel like that making the right choice here and there to drive the story could slip a few extra xp their way. so to keep the RP aspect alive and they willing to do so.
now for the second issue. the home brew campaign. we all want a LONG campaign we fully expect to loose characters along the way. it happens we know. I am thinking a tech to map a new silk road, following the coast up to the Spine of the World mountain range and then move across the rollling highlands and then deep into the humid jungles of the south that way we have constant new foes and new RP challenges. think sea battles and Vikings along the coast then across the mountain ranges with fighting and terrain issues maybe blizzards and trolls and mountain barbarian tribes and then into like a Mongolian setting mounted combat rolling hills bitter cold nights then down into the humid jungles of bamboo forests to find the cities of great power to build a trade route. idk too hard? wont work? im not even sure what hordes to use, don't even own figures or maps or anything so im starting blind. could really use help
Ah, the excitement of writing a campaign. If its your first time I strongly recommend running a string of modules. Edit and Reflavor them, rip them up and stitch them together. Build your world aroud them.
This will give you experience in running encounters which will help you build them later on. Plus this means less prep time, time you can now spend World Building and making plot hooks for your players.
Sandboxes sound cool in theory, but in practice the lack of focus makes things a bit tedious after a while. I good campaign need player buy-in, and players will buy in more if the plot is focused and engaging.
You can do XP without combat easily enough. Just use "milestone leveling" or "story based leveling."
"Milestone leveling" works by setting goals ("milestones") for the PCs and giving them XP for earning those milestones. Minor milestones are worth one amount of XP, major are worth another amount. They achieve enough milestones, by whatever means (combat, RP, skill checks, etc.), they gain a level. Lather, rinse, repeat.
"Story-based leveling" works by setting out story points and the characters gain a level when they get to those story points. Your silk road could easily be done like this. Want a long 20 level campaign? Make 20 cities along the trade route that they must reach (or 20 "destinations") and each time they get there, they gain a level.
I absolutely love your Silk Road idea for a homebrew campaign. It lets the players explore your entire world, but it also gives you time to build it gradually... all you need to know is the general idea of where they are going overall, and then you can build regional maps/local areas as needed while they travel along. I would love playing in a campaign like this.
As for pre-made modules -- IMO, these are more work than they are worth. They might be worth using for the pretty maps, but I have never met a module I did not have to heavily modify to suit the party I was running through it. In many cases these were more work than just making stuff up on my own. Not sure if the encounter is too easy or hard? You can use the encounter builder here to give you a rough idea.
The thing about using someone else's (published, or not) module is that you don't know it, and you have to almost treat it like taking a correspondence course. You have to read it, read it again, read it a 3rd time, study it, take notes on it, etc. This is because it didn't come from inside your head. When you make your own dungeon or map or town, you know it much better right from the off, because you created it. So for instance I only make a series of small bulleted notes, 1 page long, for a large sized map, just to remind myself of what is there. Or to set up things ahead of time like ability check DCs or what treasure is found in the locked chest. To me doing this takes less time overall and is easier than trying to use someone else's 50 page module and become familiar enough with that to run it.
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.
This is true. I find myself re-reading pre-made adventures whenever I have nothing else to do in prep for the campaign. The time I’m not using making a map or preparing loot, I’m using re-reading the descriptions of each room to make sure I’m not missing which doors are locked, whether there’s environmental effects at play in the room, what exactly will trigger the trap, etc. So that’s a fair point. Just depends on what you want to do with your prep time.
I agree with Biowizard. Silk Road is great concept for campaign. Definately you are going to need 3+ factions along the road and characters need to do things that keep all factions happy. Traders can travel the road safely and every faction gets a share of the profits. If you have roleplaying focused session you are going to have long discussions with faction leaders. If you have combat focused session you are going to attack goblins, ogres and other monsters that are threat for the business and bandits are always after wealthy merchants. 20 levels and 3 session per level makes campaign of 60 sessions for example.
ok now we have a few player that aren't into RP how would you try to open up the idea to them? personally I love RP in D&D you can do so much and really focus time into your character. but I know others don't feel the same way. now I had an idea for one area you'd need to make peace with the chieftains or destroy the rival tribes or maybe another way to gain passage through the lands, every trading guild wants a piece of this possible profitable route but I want tribes to not want it in some areas or really want it in another. traveling tribes in a Mongolian style society roaming villages horse back sentries and horse back combat. caravan protection to a town for resupply or to buy safe passage maybe? I feel this part gives a wide veriety. the mountain trek across the spine of the world. figured safe havens in the woods ranger camps maybe some monk temples in the high mountains, not sure about enemies besides the weather any ideas? as for the other end of Mongolia area jungles of beasts and reptilian creatures its hot humid maybe some cool temples to pillage and explore. then maybe river boat to new cities more humans and other stuff along the way. then make it back to the sea?
You can't make people want to RP. So I wouldn't try to force it. I would say lead by example -- RP the NPCs to the hilt, and let the other players who like to RP do that with you, and hope the non-RPers will change their mind and come along.
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.
Even though you have a long time group, it sounds like you really need a session 0. Discuss with your players that you want to go more RP with this campaign and make sure they buy in. Otherwise you could end up running a game they don’t want to play, they start killing things because they are bored, and then everyone is upset. Work with them on a balance to keep everyone happy.
It be really cool if someone else did my idea for the new silk road! Would love to see how others do it! Id post my opening like i guess scene setting introduction if i knew where to post it up. Would love to see what people thought and get pointers. I love expressing detail in my writing so i like to paint the scene with words for your mind to see
Its a little more with a few new players. Our group has a few people that wanted to start playing that never have. They oddly enough are also the ones that dont want to RP.. but that is a very good idea i think we should do that before this weekend since everyone locked up anyway
is there a way i could post up how i wrote the opening to see what people think? just the first like paragraph or something. make sure im setting the right mood
Well, you can make a own thread for your campaign plans. I think Homebrew section of this forum is best one.
Just make sure your players don't read this forum or else... spoilers.
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.
Odd questiom but iseem to have trouble. How do i share the content for the players? Like the books i bought on dndbeyond? My wife wants to join the campaign but wants her own account
You need to have a master level subscription, I believe.
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.