This is the 5th of an 18 part series on How to be a DM. To start at the beginning, click here.
As a DM, you need a source of inspiration for the tale to be told. Let’s focus on our goal here.
We need a story with all of the plot elements, flavor text, experiences, and combats ready to use in our campaign.
Luckily, resources abound.
Commercial Sources
One option is to go with the obvious. WoTC and other RPG publishers sell polished campaign books. Some have glossy hardcovers and incredible artwork. Although these seem like a great route, there are some issues. The hardcovers and artwork may inspire you, but really add nothing for your PCs. You need to pay close attention to the actual content being provided.
Some of these campaign books read more like novels. You need more than that. It is not length that matters but content.
For each episode, you need to know how the overall plot is advanced. Your PCs need choices and there need to be alternatives. You need to know a variety of settings and possible actions that all can lead to plot advancement.
Although they may have combat statistics and flavor, some of these published books can be very railroady. You may need to flesh out many details yourself, and be ready to improvise when needed. On the other hand, the adventures in these books will usually adhere to the core rules of your universe, be play-tested, and balanced.
Smaller Publishers
If you look online or in game shops, you will find there are a large number of adventures available from smaller publishers or independent gamers. These adventures vary greatly in quality so doing a bit of research before selecting one is helpful.
You may have to adapt them to fit your rules system and translate generic monsters into ones in your setting. But overall they can be a great resource! You are less likely to start a campaign and hear a player say “Oh, I played that one before with my other group.” One great resource for independent adventure modules is DriveThruRPG.
Traditional Literature
Traditional novels and movies can be a great source of plot elements for your story. The story is there, and you provide the details needed to actually run the campaign. Starting from scratch this way may be rewarding as you can choose a theme and story you already know and love.
However, it can be a bit daunting for a new DM. I recommend letting someone else do most of the legwork for you in your first few campaigns. There is enough to learn about running a campaign without adding to it. Crafting a campaign from scratch is a topic for a future story.
Tailor the Story
No matter what approach you choose, assume you will need to modify the source materials and improvise on the fly. You will want to customize the adventure to fit the PCs and how they are growing. You will want to tailor the campaign over time to give each character a chance to be in the spotlight.
So once you have your source material, how do you use it to run a campaign? You first have to recruit some heroes, So it’s time to Roll Up a Character…or Not!
Bitzy the Bard
“Life is an adventure story and you are the star. Choose to play a hero!”
