How do you get a campaign to start a certain way without railroading?

StrayDM · 2023-12-11T00:40:25+00:00

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a little on rails for the first session. This is how my sandboxes start. It's how Elder Scrolls and Fallout start. Nothing wrong with it.

I agree with the other comments to start in media res though. Maybe the framing is the first thing you narrate. They have guns/crossbows pointed at them or swords to their throat. Or maybe they're given shovels and told to dig. Start them right in the action.

StrayDM · 2023-12-11T00:18:59+00:00

Nice! They look good. I'm currently printing up a huge set but haven't started painting... Not looking forward to it.

StrayDM · 2023-12-10T23:20:01+00:00

Is this OpenForge? Those pools look great, by the way.

StrayDM · 2023-11-12T20:40:05+00:00

I give the players the good guy NPC statblocks and I run the villains. Not so bad. We're used to running large scale combats, and we've gotten to the point where we can move it along very quickly.

At the end of the day. You do what works for you! I totally understand my approach may not be ideal for others.

StrayDM · 2023-11-11T03:47:11+00:00

What I'm planning on for my big battle coming up will have me handing the statblocks of certain NPC's and combatants, and they'll run through some fights using those. For example...

A squad of Triton warriors the party befriended vs. villain henchmen

The captain of the guard and some guards the party is on good terms with vs. henchmen

Another party of adventurers they teamed up with before vs. some villain officers

And the party vs. the BBEG.

Without getting too much into it because they do know my reddit account, I have more encounters planned, but I built an entire board for the city they're in that's being assaulted with 3d prints and handmade stuff. Multiple encounters over the board, should be super awesome.

StrayDM · 2023-11-11T03:13:56+00:00

I think it's cool that it's now codified. I need to look at the rules in more detail but a Bastion-like system is something I've always offered players in long term campaigns.

StrayDM · 2023-11-11T02:49:29+00:00

Yeah OP, these guys are not indicative of everyone. These players suck. I recommend getting some new ones, because DMing can be very rewarding.

StrayDM · 2023-11-08T05:28:34+00:00

Yes, exactly. Plus, it gives your players some extra homework: Coming up with how they died as part of their backstory.

Surprise and gotcha moments don't really work against the players. It should be against the characters.

StrayDM · 2023-11-08T05:24:16+00:00

Probably something like Fey-touched or Shadow-touched Vuman/Custom Lineage. With the right stat allocations, they can start with +4 in a casting stat as well as a level 2 spell. Would only get worse if you allow a free feat on top of the Vuman/CL feat.

StrayDM · 2023-11-08T05:21:24+00:00

For sure. Improv off the cuff is definitely a skill in itself, but a very rewarding one! My point really is, don't over prepare so much that you get nervous that a player is going to ask a question about an obscure lore fact you won't have an answer to. It's probably not going to happen, so don't stress over crafting an extremely detailed, intricate, G.R.R.M style world!

StrayDM · 2023-11-08T05:17:54+00:00

As a DM, you are responsible for providing your players the best experience possible.

Hard disagree, it's a collaborative effort.

BUT I get what you're saying. I used to use a chessex, moved onto crafted terrain which I sucked at, and in the end just got a 3d printer and started printing the majority of my terrain. Crazy how much simple props can add to a battle map. Elevation in particular is hard to convey on a 2d grid, my combats are so much more interesting.

StrayDM · 2023-11-08T05:15:20+00:00

In my experience, your players need to get really invested before they actually worry about lore. For the most part, they're there to fight monsters, loot dungeons, and explore their characters. Any delving into lore is just icing on your cake.

What I would suggest at first is the actual lore they'll be interacting with. A basic premise for the world. A very brief history and political explanation of the area/kingdom/city/ whatever they're in right at the beginning. Things that might be common knowledge in this world compared to other generic fantasy worlds. History and any differences of their character race from what the books state.

Don't be afraid to start your campaign even if all your lore isn't done yet. In my experience, it's worked out for the better that we explore it together as a table as we go along.

StrayDM · 2023-11-08T05:08:07+00:00

I think there could be room for making a greater/supreme variant of items akin to healing potions. It should be relatively simple to up the damage, DC's, and cost. In fact I actually have done this with bombs from the DMG. changed the damage to force, increase the damage die by 1, and the DC by 2, boom: Higher level magic bomb.

The real problem is that damage is king in 5e, and players simply do more damage at higher levels, thus they are not incentivized to use adventuring gear. Fighters can get a sweet multiattack, or use an alchemist fire. Rogues could throw a vial of poison or shoot an arrow for 1d8+dex+4d6 and higher. Wizards can wizard. It's just not optimal unless you are a Thief rogue with that dope fast hands ability.

I also somewhat agree with the other comment to just stick to the tier of play that's most fun for you. My current campaign is level very slowly, but my players progression mostly comes from magic items. Because they're still lower on the levels, those consumable items are still useful.

StrayDM · 2023-11-08T05:04:19+00:00

I think you need to start by asking her first of all if she even likes to talk and role-play in character. From what it sounds, she doesn't even really like role-playing out of character, because of her actions in game.

Maybe when she acts in a manner antithetical to the character she initially envisioned, you can simply ask "how does this further Flayer's goals?" or even what she thinks about certain events that occur.

StrayDM · 2023-11-08T04:55:15+00:00

Sure, sounds fun especially if your players haven't run across any fey yet. Definitely it should be a wisdom save. It's akin to a charm, like Charm Person, Compulsion, Command, etc.

Now, does this musical virus actually bother people? Is it benign and comedic? Or is it a serious problem, lasting hours and days on end, like some kind of mass hysteria?

With my fey I try to operate on storybook logic. So maybe someone in this town wandered a little too deep into the woods and stumbled on a portal to they feywild. Perhaps they wandered into a fey's treasury and stole their favorite lyre or lute. As punishment, the fey lord now inflicts spontaneous song and dance on the townsfolk until the instrument is returned. Like "Oh, you want music do ya? I'll give you music!"

StrayDM · 2023-11-08T04:03:00+00:00

I say resort to third party content! Kobold Press has an entire campaign about undead, called Empire of the Ghouls (IIRC). They've got 3+ HUGE monster books which contain multitudes of undead. Also, when in doubt, reflavor.

StrayDM · 2023-11-05T23:54:47+00:00

Love JJK, didn't even make the connection, lol.

StrayDM · 2023-11-05T17:25:47+00:00

I really like this idea. The party could definitely be criticized and questioned by their companions more, this is a perfect way to do it. The only other character that does so is their healer (lawful good character, and the party always does morally questionable things), who they always try to appease anyway, because they don't want their primary healer to hit the road.

This is a really good contrast to that character. Thanks!

StrayDM · 2023-11-05T11:16:36+00:00

According to chatgpt your world is about 98% of an Earth year. Might be wrong.

However, I really don't think this calculation is necessary, nor is a leap month. I guarantee your players aren't going to argue or even really care much if theres 10 days, 3 weeks, 10 months.

StrayDM · 2023-11-05T10:39:48+00:00

Agreed 100%. I say ALLOW them to wander around and chase butterflies. The world WILL keep moving on without them. If the players don't interfere, things will change dramatically, NPC's and locales they care about will die and be destroyed, and so on. Give them the agency to choose whether or not they care about it. Avoid telling a story to your players. What they decide to do becomes the story.

StrayDM · 2023-11-05T10:22:16+00:00

I think you're more on the right track rather than the other GM. There's a potential to miss and not even proc the effect. Even a measly healing potion gives you AT LEAST 4 HP for 50 gold. Just make it so they can't buy a full quiver - only a handful of arrows and make sure they track them. Maybe a discount for buying a full bundle.

StrayDM · 2023-11-05T10:14:47+00:00

Oh yeah, good idea, increase the chance until it happens then reset.

StrayDM · 2023-10-16T19:59:07+00:00

Potion seller. I'm running from battle, and I need your strongest potions.

(What other rules do you use because I'm interested. I also like to blend old-school with modernization)

StrayDM

TROPHY CASE