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Goals for a party - why should they even go anywhere together?
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<blockquote data-quote="Oofta" data-source="post: 7058792" data-attributes="member: 6801845"><p>I'll just echo the session 0 statements and throw in some of my own.</p><p></p><p><strong>Do you allow evil?</strong></p><p>Decide whether or not you want to allow evil characters. Some people enjoy playing and DMing for them, but I don't so I don't allow them. I also know that one of my players (my lovely wife) will always want to play a good character and it's not fair to her to force her character to play with someone her character would never associate with. If you can't decide have a secret vote. If even one person doesn't want to allow evil characters, don't allow them. I keep hearing about these amazing groups that were all evil, but I've never seen it work. Your mileage may vary.</p><p></p><p><strong>Don't be a jerk.</strong></p><p>Never assume that someone isn't going to bring a narcissistic, chaotic character who's only goal seems to be causing disruption in the group. If you want to be a griefer, play a video game. Along these lines, I simply don't allow PVP theft, murder or other shenanigans (unless someone is being controlled). I've seen hurt feelings between players (not just their characters) because the party rogue decides they're a kleptomaniac. Just say no.</p><p></p><p><strong>It's all about relationships.</strong></p><p>Everyone in the party should know at least one other person in the party. They don't have to all know each other, but usually they should know at least one other person even if only as a distant cousin or someone they know by reputation. I have occasionally thrown people together by having them being raw recruits in a nation about to be invaded but I'm more likely to have a couple of sessions of them as children.</p><p></p><p><strong>Why are you an adventurer?</strong></p><p>Every PC should have an answer for this. Gold? Glory? The greater good? Because you ran away and you need to do something to survive?</p><p></p><p><strong>Set the scene.</strong></p><p>As a DM, you need to give your players a broad overall picture of the type of campaign you're envisioning. Don't write a novella on your background (or if you do, don't make it required reading) but give them a rough idea. "It's a time of war, when orcs threaten to destroy your peaceful kingdom..." is enough. It should be a paragraph or two at most. I give information I think the commoner on the street would know, which often isn't much.</p><p></p><p><strong>Listen to your players.</strong></p><p>I'm not talking about just listening to feedback when you explicitly ask for it, but also pay attention when they chat among each other. I've gotten some of my best ideas from players when they say things and think I'm not paying attention.</p><p></p><p><strong>Have fun, and don't sweat the small stuff</strong></p><p>Different groups game for different reasons. For some it's just an opportunity to roll some dice while eating junk food and talking about their daily lives. For others it's about building a deep fantasy world where when you are at the table you <em>are</em> Torg the Barbarian who has never heard of this "football game" of which you speak. Let the group guide you as much as you guide them and try to find a balance.</p><p></p><p>Just remember that nobody is a perfect DM. If people are engaged and having fun you are doing it right. Good luck!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Oofta, post: 7058792, member: 6801845"] I'll just echo the session 0 statements and throw in some of my own. [B]Do you allow evil?[/B] Decide whether or not you want to allow evil characters. Some people enjoy playing and DMing for them, but I don't so I don't allow them. I also know that one of my players (my lovely wife) will always want to play a good character and it's not fair to her to force her character to play with someone her character would never associate with. If you can't decide have a secret vote. If even one person doesn't want to allow evil characters, don't allow them. I keep hearing about these amazing groups that were all evil, but I've never seen it work. Your mileage may vary. [B]Don't be a jerk.[/B] Never assume that someone isn't going to bring a narcissistic, chaotic character who's only goal seems to be causing disruption in the group. If you want to be a griefer, play a video game. Along these lines, I simply don't allow PVP theft, murder or other shenanigans (unless someone is being controlled). I've seen hurt feelings between players (not just their characters) because the party rogue decides they're a kleptomaniac. Just say no. [B]It's all about relationships.[/B] Everyone in the party should know at least one other person in the party. They don't have to all know each other, but usually they should know at least one other person even if only as a distant cousin or someone they know by reputation. I have occasionally thrown people together by having them being raw recruits in a nation about to be invaded but I'm more likely to have a couple of sessions of them as children. [B]Why are you an adventurer?[/B] Every PC should have an answer for this. Gold? Glory? The greater good? Because you ran away and you need to do something to survive? [B]Set the scene.[/B] As a DM, you need to give your players a broad overall picture of the type of campaign you're envisioning. Don't write a novella on your background (or if you do, don't make it required reading) but give them a rough idea. "It's a time of war, when orcs threaten to destroy your peaceful kingdom..." is enough. It should be a paragraph or two at most. I give information I think the commoner on the street would know, which often isn't much. [B]Listen to your players.[/B] I'm not talking about just listening to feedback when you explicitly ask for it, but also pay attention when they chat among each other. I've gotten some of my best ideas from players when they say things and think I'm not paying attention. [B]Have fun, and don't sweat the small stuff[/B] Different groups game for different reasons. For some it's just an opportunity to roll some dice while eating junk food and talking about their daily lives. For others it's about building a deep fantasy world where when you are at the table you [I]are[/I] Torg the Barbarian who has never heard of this "football game" of which you speak. Let the group guide you as much as you guide them and try to find a balance. Just remember that nobody is a perfect DM. If people are engaged and having fun you are doing it right. Good luck! [/QUOTE]
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