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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 3030081" data-attributes="member: 22779">I think I'm more of a B type as well.  There is a danger, IMO, when players come up with intricately detailed backgrounds, that the work will be ignored.  For example, if the campaign is mobile, which many are, with the party moving from place to place, the effects of your hometown aren't really going to be seen in the game.  Backgrounds need to be tailored to the campaign.  There's a bit of a balancing act for the DM between communicating specifics about the campaign and overloading the players with information.  With that in mind, what, in your opinion, should a "campaign overview" be?IMO, a campaign overview should be about 500-1000 words - about 1-2 pages or so - long.  Break it down in very concrete terms what the campaign will focus on.  Not so much the actual history of the campaign world, but, more of a meta-game level of where the campaign will focus.  The document should include the following (in no particular order):  <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Expected character power and chargen rules.  eg.  "This campaign will likely go from levels x to y.  These books are for use during chargen.  Anything else must be vetted by me before going into play.  The campaign is going to be high/middle/low fantasy featuring lots/some/a little combat and lots/some/a little role play and NPC interaction."</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A one paragraph dust jacket version of the campaign.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Any specific rule changes that the PC's need to know right now.  For example, arcane casting in Scarred Lands generates heat which doubles armor casting failure.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Any additional information that the players MUST KNOW RIGHT NOW.  The history of the kingdom for the last 500 years is not the place for this.  The founding of the city of Cauldron is not the place for this.  That weapons are not legal to carry in the City of Shelzar (which the players are in) without being peace bound is.  I'm not sure what does go in here, that will vary from campaign to campaign, but, it needs to be specific and must apply to the party.  Otherwise, don't put it here.</li> </ul>Did you ever play the computer game Baldur's Gate?  In BG, there are books all over the place which describe the setting.  Really interesting to those who want to know, but, easily ignored by those that don't.  A similar approach can be done in game.  Bards in the tavern are telling history stories - the players can either listen or ignore it and a thirty second monologue by the DM once in a while isn't going to tax their attention span.  NPC interactions include both verbal and visual cues of the setting - perhaps someone starts off a conversation with an anecdote about local history, the waitress recommends a local dish, fashions are mentioned in descriptions that sort of thing.I guess my point here is that campaign presentation can be done throughout the campaign.  It doesn't have to be presented as a complete package at the start of the campaign.  Like spice, a little goes a long way.</blockquote>

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