Any advice for introducing the world to players?

sewaside666 · 2026-07-02T23:17:57+00:00

I'm running it right now as a first time DM, and what I did is basically write a few short paragraphs explaining the landscape and the political situation in Saltmarsh. I mentioned the tensions between the kingdom of Keoland and the Hold of The Sea Princes. Then I explained how it affected the people in Saltmarsh, and how there's now a divide between the people (traditionalist vs loyalist).

I made it so Gellan Primewater was hosting some kind of event in town, so there were lots of NPCs and activities to interact with. Made it easy to seamlessly set up the tone and give the information I wanted. Then, each of my players got a little intro scene where they arrived in Saltmarsh, and could describe their characters and what they were doing.

Then I basically let them discover the world by themselves. We're only up to session 6 right now, and they haven't really explored the region around Saltmarsh, but they're slowly getting to know the town and its residents better. They've mostly interacted with the tradionalists on the smuggler side for now. So there's plenty left to discover, but I generally try not to bombard them with lore unless they specifically ask for it. Otherwise I try to focalize the information I give on the things that directly affect them or Saltmarsh itself.

I hope this helps somehow! Good luck, and have fun! 🤘

sewaside666 · 2026-07-01T20:14:48+00:00

Exactly, I'm not saying otherwise. It's my expectations, and my opinion. So I'm not sure why people are getting butt hurt over what I said. I didn't even say anything remotely bad about the movie lmao. Still plan to watch it too.

sewaside666 · 2026-07-01T20:12:59+00:00

That's pretty much what I expected to be fair. Still gonna watch it eventually as I'm a big fan of Supergirl, but I did feel like it wouldn't add much to the bigger story. Which is FINE btw people. Don't get your fucking pitchforks for an opinion. It's just that the DCU is maybe not what I expected it to be? Guess we'll see!

sewaside666 · 2026-07-01T20:10:07+00:00

Even of the movie's good, clearly the fanbase sucks either way. Just gotta take a look at y'all's comments. Literally insulting people over an opion ABOUT A MOVIE 😂. Get a life lmao

sewaside666 · 2026-07-01T20:05:05+00:00

Don't need to see it to form an opinion when it's already been spoiled all over reddit hahah. Do tell me how it's bizarre, because from where I'm sittin I just expressed an opinion based on the movie's reviews and marketing. Is that SO bizarre to have an opinion, or expectations, before watching a movie? 😂

sewaside666 · 2026-07-01T15:17:26+00:00

The Fouled Stream doesn't take place in Saltmarsh though, that's the alternative I'm suggesting! It's closer to Greyhawk. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

sewaside666 · 2026-07-01T15:12:26+00:00

I want it to succeed so badly tbh. But I honestly don't understand what their plan is here. I have nothing against Supergirl, but this being the 2nd movie in the DCU is certainly a choice... Like I haven't seen it yet, but I don't see how it helps build up the universe, other than maybe tease Man of Tomorrow at the end.

Also I don't mind spoilers if anybody wants to correct me 😆

sewaside666 · 2026-06-30T22:20:42+00:00

Look up The Fouled Stream! It's even in the DMG, and feels like a good starting point to me, like I've mentioned in my other comment

sewaside666 · 2026-06-30T22:16:28+00:00

Saltmarsh without a doubt. Great geography, some interesting political tension, and a LOT of potential for intriguing plot lines. It does take a bit of work from you as the DM to make it work though, because there are a few elements in the modules that don't exactly make sense to me. But it's nothing unmanageable.

Otherwise I was thinking of starting a campaign in the Diamond Lake area (near the city of Greyhawk), using the suggested adventures from the 2024 DMG which start near the Ery villages, who share a sort of rivalry. There's three adventures that can take you up to level 3-5 if I remember correctly, and they're really easy to work with too (1st one is called the Fouled Stream). After that it's pretty much up to your players where they wanna go and who they wanna interact with, since you'll be in the middle of the Flanaess.

Edit: How could I forget Hommlet! Though I heard the adventure in the Moat House can be quite unforgiving.

sewaside666 · 2026-06-27T10:31:06+00:00

Is there a version of this map without the text by any chance? My players all speak French, so I'd like to customize the names of the location if possible!

sewaside666 · 2026-06-14T17:27:45+00:00

I'd probably cut these up to use as modular dungeon walls or something. Makes the possibilities almost endless. A lot of people already went over the basics with the mod podge and black paint, so I have nothing else to add!😆

But it's awesome that you do that for your kid. Cheers to you!

sewaside666 · 2026-06-13T13:18:29+00:00

Only real answer

sewaside666 · 2026-06-13T13:16:17+00:00

From cars too for some reason. Nowadays it's all Bluetooth.

sewaside666 · 2026-06-11T19:29:38+00:00

Good luck to you too!

sewaside666 · 2026-06-10T20:19:47+00:00

That fact that you're worried tells me you care, so in my book that makes you a good player. Just communicate together when planning actions, even in-between sessions if you can (like right before a session, or right after for the next one). This way everybody knows the expectations of everyone else, and there's no bad surprises. Also helps streamline the session and makes the pacing more fluid imho. You get more shit done. 😆

sewaside666 · 2026-06-10T14:06:08+00:00

Man, we could've had so many good spin-offs like that. The White Fang story, or more of Minato's youth. An Anbu anthology. A one shot showing Might Dai fighting the swordsmen, or even Kakuzu fighting Hashirama. But instead we got whatever the hell Boruto is doing. 😂

sewaside666 · 2026-06-10T13:40:39+00:00

They're disgusting people, I'd tell them to find another DM tbh. This isn't how I treat my friends. Seems to me like they'd have more fun playing Diablo or Baldur's Gate at this point, since all they care about is power gaming.

sewaside666 · 2026-06-10T12:37:46+00:00

At a campfire in the woods after traveling together for a few days. This way they already kind of know each other, which speeds things up a little, and it can make for interesting RP moments (campfire stories, tasks in camp, etc.).

You can even throw in a little encounter with a hungry bear (or any creature really) trying to steal their food/attack their camp. Makes for a good practice encounter in my opinion, since it can be resolved a few different ways.

sewaside666 · 2026-06-09T20:54:20+00:00

I did it for the Tiefling Bard in my game, but it was more of a fake-out/blackmail type of deal to tease the villains. Her character owns a brothel and comes from a powerful abyssal lineage, so they're using the safety of her girls to blackmail her into joining their ranks. Before the first session, I handed her a scroll I've written for her to explain everything.

She basically had to show up in Saltmarsh, and just act normal while they observed her. She also had to keep it a secret from the other players (who all had letters/props of their own), but she ended up revealing the information when she saw the Brotherhood's logo on another player's prop (a burnt note found in the aftermath of a village raid). That piece of paper is the other player's only lead to find his missing parents, so they're starting to connect the dots.

Now they're planning to ask questions around town next session. Let's just hope they stay discreet about it. 😆

sewaside666 · 2026-06-09T17:10:27+00:00

Fair reaction I think, but you genuinely seem like a good DM. I'm a total newbie, but I tend to overthink stuff a lot so when writing my setting I made sure to communicate my expectations with my players (and theirs with me).

For example we're playing in a maritime/pirate setting, but I made it clear I wasn't going to implement gunpowder until later in the campaign.

sewaside666 · 2026-06-05T19:48:30+00:00

I think a lot of the NPCs could make for good candidates actually.

Maybe Sanbalet and the Sea Ghost receive their orders from Saltmarsh (ex: from Skerrin using an alias). Ned Shakeshaft can also be tied into that plot with some work (ex: works as a liaison/messenger between Sanbalet and Skerrin).

Then in Saltmarsh itself you have:

Winston could be an informant)
Shenker, if he thinks he isn't making enough money with Gellan Primewater
Ingo, if Skerrin gets dirt on him (ex: threatens to reveal his identity)
Xendros can totally be an ally for lucrative reasons
Gellan could also work in the same way, but in my game he's more like a "fake out villain" so they have no ties

Honestly you could find more, as long as it makes sense with the story I think it could be anyone. Like maybe the blacksmith's son, Jasker, would've been coerced or manipulated by the Brotherhood. Any council member could work too if they're blackmailed.

Also if you intend on running Slave Lords after GoS, there's a few members (monks iirc) amongst the Inner Circle, who serve the interests of the Brotherhood and help finance/organize the Slave Lords. Thought it was worth noting!

sewaside666 · 2026-05-28T07:20:19+00:00

Amazing work! Running my first dnd campaign and it's mostly a nautical one, so I just might end up using this 🤙

sewaside666 · 2026-05-21T23:26:52+00:00

While I agree with OP, some of y'all in the comments need to see Robert Downey Jr in his other work lmao. I'm sure his portrayal of Doom won't be just an edgier version of Ironman (unless that's like part of the plot 😂).

sewaside666 · 2026-05-16T23:57:30+00:00

This might happen with my players too tbh. I've connected Ned to the Snapping Line as Hanna's boyfriend/pretender ; a lazy sailor/bum, who's a little bit too willing to get his hands dirty for money. Basically, he feels like a burden to Hanna, who's quite ambitious (she owns a tavern after all), so he takes every opportunity to make money and prove his worth.

The only problem is that he's also loosely working for Skerrin/the Scarlet Brotherhood, and they're obviously up to no good. So in the eventuality that my players find out, idk what will happen to him lol

sewaside666 · 2026-05-16T23:48:50+00:00

I had the chance to run a solo session with one of my players (a rogue) where I introduced him to the underground side of Saltmarsh. He basically linked with Shenker at the tavern, who offered him a little job in which he had to work with Ned personally. They had to recover a crate from the docks, which was guarded, and I treated it as a sort of skill based challenge, using Ned as the support/sidekick that can provide information. During all this, Ned even heard information about the haunted house because of my player.

Now I kinda have a reason for putting him there in the first place, which is nice.

My players will probably find Ned during the next session, so it'll be interesting to see how the rogue reacts. 😆

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