Hi everybody, just a question to toss out there I have been looking into DMing for some time now I have been playing dnd since the end of 3.5.
I am currently a player in a game and my DM is really good, the reason I am wanting to DM is for the most part to get so experience at it and when my DM wants to take a break he can and I can fill in.
my question is would it be a good idea to build my own campaign or use a pre gen campaign?
and if it is a pre gen, which would be a good one to start with?
the reason I am wanting to DM is for the most part to get so experience at it and when my DM wants to take a break he can and I can fill in.
Those are excellent reasons to get into DMing! And I'm sure your DM will greatly appreciate it.
Houilgan already listed many awesome resources. I'd also chat with your current DM, especially if you want to jump in to run a game for just a session or two. You can offer to run a one shot, set in the same world with your players all playing their same characters. You can offer a little side adventure, where your DM gets to join in as a character. That way your already familiar with the setting and the characters, and can try out running an adventure without the pressure of a whole new module.
In my gaming group (7 people), 3 of us are comfortable running games. Most of the time, one of us will be running something for several months at a time. Occasionally, there will be a break where we need to prep over more than one week. Rather than not have game, we recently started a West Marches style game. The concept is that each session begins and ends in the same town, and each adventure is relatively self contained. The players are the same characters in each adventure (leveling up when appropriate of course). So whenever we need an interlude, one of us just puts together a quick one shot at whatever the West Marches player level is at, and everyone already has characters made for it.
So as OboeCrazy suggests, see about just running a one-shot.
The adventure from the new Essentials Kit might be good for this: It is based in Pandalin, same town as the Start Set, but is broken up into various quests. At the moment, this is only an option if you live in the US and reasonably close to a Target, as the Essentials Kit is a Target Exclusive until September 3. The boxed set does include a code to get the adventure here for free, which is nice.
Aside from which to do is better for your first time DMing, you would have enough time to write a campaign and review it if your only gonna DM when the current DM is ready to take a break.
The Lost Mine of Phandelver and the new Dragon of Icespire Peak is designed to get new players started - both in DM'ing and in playing the game, entirely. They're both excellent starting adventures. I'm reading through DoIP right now and it reads very much like an open sandbox giving the players agency to choose how they want to proceed. LMoP is more of a directed experience but is considered to be the quintessential D&D adventure for beginner players as it dabbles in just about everything that makes the game great.
If you can get the D&D Essentials Kit - it's being sold by Target until September, after which every other major outlet gets it - DoIP is well worth it and you get some extra goodies to help you get started with properly DM'ing. It's written by Chris Perkins, who is a senior editor for Wizards on D&D and also DM'd Acquisitions Incorporated during PAX, and just from my brief read-through it's sounding like an amazing experience.
Hi everybody, just a question to toss out there I have been looking into DMing for some time now I have been playing dnd since the end of 3.5.
I am currently a player in a game and my DM is really good, the reason I am wanting to DM is for the most part to get so experience at it and when my DM wants to take a break he can and I can fill in.
my question is would it be a good idea to build my own campaign or use a pre gen campaign?
and if it is a pre gen, which would be a good one to start with?
thanks
I would suggest using a pre-gen, or the beginning of one, with your own personal modifications if you want, as your first adventure to DM.
Lost Mines of Phandelver is often cited as a good pre-gen to run if your group hasn't yet.
I personally really like the intro adventure in Ghosts of Saltmarsh.
Some things to look out for on the other pre-gens
Some threads on the topic:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/41350-new-dm-player-looking-for-experience
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/dungeon-masters-only/41718-new-to-this
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/dungeon-masters-only/39882-id-like-your-opinions-me-and-my-group-have-just
Specific to the pre-gens:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/39824-any-hardcover-campaigns-i-should-avoid
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InsiderThose are excellent reasons to get into DMing! And I'm sure your DM will greatly appreciate it.
Houilgan already listed many awesome resources. I'd also chat with your current DM, especially if you want to jump in to run a game for just a session or two. You can offer to run a one shot, set in the same world with your players all playing their same characters. You can offer a little side adventure, where your DM gets to join in as a character. That way your already familiar with the setting and the characters, and can try out running an adventure without the pressure of a whole new module.
Find me on Twitter: @OboeLauren
In my gaming group (7 people), 3 of us are comfortable running games. Most of the time, one of us will be running something for several months at a time. Occasionally, there will be a break where we need to prep over more than one week. Rather than not have game, we recently started a West Marches style game. The concept is that each session begins and ends in the same town, and each adventure is relatively self contained. The players are the same characters in each adventure (leveling up when appropriate of course). So whenever we need an interlude, one of us just puts together a quick one shot at whatever the West Marches player level is at, and everyone already has characters made for it.
So as OboeCrazy suggests, see about just running a one-shot.
Site Info: Wizard's ToS | Fan Content Policy | Forum Rules | Physical Books | Content Not Working | Contact Support
How To: Homebrew Rules | Create Homebrew | Snippet Codes | Tool Tips (Custom) | Rollables (Generator)
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Feats | Spells | Magic Items
Other: Beyond20 | Page References | Other Guides | Entitlements | Dice Randomization | Images Fix | FAQ
The adventure from the new Essentials Kit might be good for this: It is based in Pandalin, same town as the Start Set, but is broken up into various quests. At the moment, this is only an option if you live in the US and reasonably close to a Target, as the Essentials Kit is a Target Exclusive until September 3. The boxed set does include a code to get the adventure here for free, which is nice.
Trying to Decide if DDB is for you? A few helpful threads: A Buyer's Guide to DDB; What I/We Bought and Why; How some DMs use DDB; A Newer Thread on Using DDB to Play
Helpful threads on other topics: Homebrew FAQ by IamSposta; Accessing Content by ConalTheGreat;
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Aside from which to do is better for your first time DMing, you would have enough time to write a campaign and review it if your only gonna DM when the current DM is ready to take a break.
Also known as CrafterB and DankMemer.
Here, have some homebrew classes! Subclasses to? Why not races. Feats, feats as well. I have a lot of magic items. Lastly I got monsters, fun, fun times.
This is all great stuff, thank you all for the advice, and the links 😁
LMOP !! DM me directly anytime I will give you tons of advice
The Lost Mine of Phandelver and the new Dragon of Icespire Peak is designed to get new players started - both in DM'ing and in playing the game, entirely. They're both excellent starting adventures. I'm reading through DoIP right now and it reads very much like an open sandbox giving the players agency to choose how they want to proceed. LMoP is more of a directed experience but is considered to be the quintessential D&D adventure for beginner players as it dabbles in just about everything that makes the game great.
If you can get the D&D Essentials Kit - it's being sold by Target until September, after which every other major outlet gets it - DoIP is well worth it and you get some extra goodies to help you get started with properly DM'ing. It's written by Chris Perkins, who is a senior editor for Wizards on D&D and also DM'd Acquisitions Incorporated during PAX, and just from my brief read-through it's sounding like an amazing experience.