Hi everyone, I know this is a common question - I'm going to run a campaign for three friends. I have experience as a player but only slightly as a DM. My party of three has no experience playing but is familiar enough with video game RPGs and the general theme.
We're planning to do a session 0 to create characters and talk about the flow of the game, and then I'd like to introduce a bite sized campaign (no more than maybe 3 sessions of a couple hours each). I want them to get the flavor of the game, feel a little accomplishment, and see if they'd like to continue on with a greater campaign. Namely the upcoming Icewind Dale campaign.
What would you guys suggest for what I'm looking for? I have tried Phandelver and honestly it's way longer than what I'm looking for and was a little boring. I hear a lot of praise for Sunless Citadel but I'm looking for something that has a combination of exploration, role playing, combat, etc.
Sounds like the Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh -- the first/intro adventure in the Ghost of Saltmarsh accessory -- could be your cup of tea; it's a reprinted classic that has the usual tropes but bundled together in a great intro adventure; exploration, interesting NPCs, combat, twists in the tale, and downright dastardliness.
The only downside is that first/intro adventure is probably a little longer than 6-8 hours, but it would not surprise me if you and your players were so into it after a first handful of sessions that you wanted to see it through.
Ok so you can use phandelver, when they find the guy in the goblin cave instead of being kidnapped by king whatshisface the mage has taken him. You finish that and get to town and overnight the bandits try and take the goods they were transporting to take to the mage, maybe they interrogate, or follow them back to the ruined manor, or just find map/note. They go explore the manor and deal with the mage and his minions and rescue the dwarf instead of the family members.
Not sure the length of time it will take but it could be three sessions or so.
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"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
First of all, excellent choice. One should never play their first game as a DM as the first session of a long campaign. Getting a feel for how everything works and what you all would like to do before committing to that campaign is a fantastic start.
Second of all, you may want to look into some of the 'Encounter of the Week' chains written here on DDB. Ever since they started producing them as filler content for promoting sourcebooks, they've turned from standalone encounters into what are, essentially, micro-campaigns designed to introduce the adventures they're promoting. Playing the EotW games leading up to Icewind Dale would give your players some grounding in the game you're hoping to run and give you a chance to get your feet wet in the adventure. And when that's done, you can retire those characters (your players won't want to - even you may not want to - but you should insist) and start over with a clean slate and a primed pump for Icewind Dale.
First of all, excellent choice. One should never play their first game as a DM as the first session of a long campaign. Getting a feel for how everything works and what you all would like to do before committing to that campaign is a fantastic start.
Second of all, you may want to look into some of the 'Encounter of the Week' chains written here on DDB. Ever since they started producing them as filler content for promoting sourcebooks, they've turned from standalone encounters into what are, essentially, micro-campaigns designed to introduce the adventures they're promoting. Playing the EotW games leading up to Icewind Dale would give your players some grounding in the game you're hoping to run and give you a chance to get your feet wet in the adventure. And when that's done, you can retire those characters (your players won't want to - even you may not want to - but you should insist) and start over with a clean slate and a primed pump for Icewind Dale.
That is an excellent idea too.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
I recommend introducing them to the combat encounter and exploration phases of the game by running the very short dungeon created by Matt Colville. Watch Matt Colville's Running the Game series, episodes 1-2-3 and he will show you the dungeon and explain his first philosophies as a DM to keep the game going well. There is a heck of a lot of "Magic" going on "Behind the Curtain". Matt is a great teacher. I hope you have a great time as a DM and spending time with your friends.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
You might want to check out these blogs for advice as well. The first one is a dad who runs the LMOP campaign for his kids, their friend and theirs friend’s dad. I know you said you don’t want to do the whole thing but the advice is still good even if you apply it to the EOTW that Yuri mentioned. While the PCs are young the advice the author gives is fantastic for any DM, especially those working with new players.
The other one has a bunch of links and advice to running most of the published adventures, including Dragons of Icespire Peak which is more a bunch of loosely related one shots around the same town. It has a lot of great stuff especially for new DMs.
Hi everyone, I know this is a common question - I'm going to run a campaign for three friends. I have experience as a player but only slightly as a DM. My party of three has no experience playing but is familiar enough with video game RPGs and the general theme.
We're planning to do a session 0 to create characters and talk about the flow of the game, and then I'd like to introduce a bite sized campaign (no more than maybe 3 sessions of a couple hours each). I want them to get the flavor of the game, feel a little accomplishment, and see if they'd like to continue on with a greater campaign. Namely the upcoming Icewind Dale campaign.
What would you guys suggest for what I'm looking for? I have tried Phandelver and honestly it's way longer than what I'm looking for and was a little boring. I hear a lot of praise for Sunless Citadel but I'm looking for something that has a combination of exploration, role playing, combat, etc.
Thanks guys!
Sounds like the Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh -- the first/intro adventure in the Ghost of Saltmarsh accessory -- could be your cup of tea; it's a reprinted classic that has the usual tropes but bundled together in a great intro adventure; exploration, interesting NPCs, combat, twists in the tale, and downright dastardliness.
The only downside is that first/intro adventure is probably a little longer than 6-8 hours, but it would not surprise me if you and your players were so into it after a first handful of sessions that you wanted to see it through.
Ok so you can use phandelver, when they find the guy in the goblin cave instead of being kidnapped by king whatshisface the mage has taken him. You finish that and get to town and overnight the bandits try and take the goods they were transporting to take to the mage, maybe they interrogate, or follow them back to the ruined manor, or just find map/note. They go explore the manor and deal with the mage and his minions and rescue the dwarf instead of the family members.
Not sure the length of time it will take but it could be three sessions or so.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
First of all, excellent choice. One should never play their first game as a DM as the first session of a long campaign. Getting a feel for how everything works and what you all would like to do before committing to that campaign is a fantastic start.
Second of all, you may want to look into some of the 'Encounter of the Week' chains written here on DDB. Ever since they started producing them as filler content for promoting sourcebooks, they've turned from standalone encounters into what are, essentially, micro-campaigns designed to introduce the adventures they're promoting. Playing the EotW games leading up to Icewind Dale would give your players some grounding in the game you're hoping to run and give you a chance to get your feet wet in the adventure. And when that's done, you can retire those characters (your players won't want to - even you may not want to - but you should insist) and start over with a clean slate and a primed pump for Icewind Dale.
Please do not contact or message me.
That is an excellent idea too.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
I recommend introducing them to the combat encounter and exploration phases of the game by running the very short dungeon created by Matt Colville. Watch Matt Colville's Running the Game series, episodes 1-2-3 and he will show you the dungeon and explain his first philosophies as a DM to keep the game going well. There is a heck of a lot of "Magic" going on "Behind the Curtain". Matt is a great teacher. I hope you have a great time as a DM and spending time with your friends.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
You might want to check out these blogs for advice as well. The first one is a dad who runs the LMOP campaign for his kids, their friend and theirs friend’s dad. I know you said you don’t want to do the whole thing but the advice is still good even if you apply it to the EOTW that Yuri mentioned. While the PCs are young the advice the author gives is fantastic for any DM, especially those working with new players.
https://gamenightblog.com/2019/02/15/phandelver-campaign-diary-1/
The other one has a bunch of links and advice to running most of the published adventures, including Dragons of Icespire Peak which is more a bunch of loosely related one shots around the same town. It has a lot of great stuff especially for new DMs.
https://slyflourish.com/start_here.html
Never say never.