DM-ing first campaign

[LazerPointer]

I'm sure there are many threads that would be helpful, but I haven't found them yet.

So here's my situation: I'd like to try my hand at DM-ing, and create a campaign world from scratch. (I may even get into tweaking classes, weapons, spells, etc, or the amount of work might kick my @ss.) My goal is to have the world fleshed out enough that I can thread together some neat stories, and not just have it feel like a series of unrelated modules. I want battle to be really tactical, with the players putting thought into terrain, etc.

So... when you started your first campaign world, what do you wish people had suggested? What should I spend the most time developing? When I sit down for my first session, what lists and tables will I wish I had in front of me? What are some of the more memerable nations, locations, and tribulations you worked out?

Thanks for any input!

BTW, treasure and magic items will be fairly scarce, PC's will start level 1, there will be no monks or PC druids, and if anyone can direct me to a description of the Shaman class, I'd be grateful.

 

[Jolly Giant]

Start with whatever you need for your first few nights of gaming! Let the rest come as time and inspiration allows.

 

[Mark]

I'm sure there are many threads that would be helpful, but I haven't found them yet.

DMing Advice

Hope that helps a bit...

 

[Emiricol]

That's a treasure trove thread, Mark. Thanks for reminding me about it

 

[LazerPointer]

That'll keep me busy for a while.... Thanks!

 

[Mark]

That's a treasure trove thread, Mark. Thanks for reminding me about it

That'll keep me busy for a while.... Thanks!

You're both quite welcome. Be sure to bookmark it for future reading and don't be afraid to give it the occasional "bump" to make sure others are aware of it, too!

 

[Painfully]

Best advice I can give is collect a folder of ideas. Gather interesting NPCs, plot ideas, maps, monsters, pictures, spells, magic items, and anything else that sounds, feels, or looks interesting to you, and keep them in one place. I've gathered so many ideas that I actually transferred a lot of my stuff into a file box.

The real challenge then, is to select just a few ideas to use in a campaign.

 

[Guilberwood]

You asked for advice people wish they had been given, right?

Well, when I first started home-brewing, I wish someone had told me to be organized and file everthing!
Keep notes constantly and save everything. This can help a lot, and everything starts to make sense. After all, what was the inkeeper's name? What was the tavern name? Memory can betrayl you, it did so to me!

Anyway, If I could give you some advice, I'd tell you to keep notes constantly and try to write down things that matter to the adventure, and to the world itself

Hope that helps

See ya

 

[Emiricol]

Actually, when I first homebrewed I wish someone had told me to use a hybrid style. There's two schools of thought, which are either to create every last detail first, or create virtually no details first. Both are good, both aren't great for my style of play.

What I wish I'd done is use 1-line bullet points to detail the kingdom the PCs start in, the neighboring kingdoms, the deities and the history in very very general terms. That way when I added a village I could look to what countries were close, the rough history outline of the region, and make something that fit with the overall picture. The details can get filled in as you go.

And yes, as said before - keep all notes, and make lots of them.