Letting the players in on your world

[Kashell]

I don't know why, but I've always played homebrew settings. As much as the forgotton realms appeals to me, I have my own agenda when making D&D.

Everytime I make something in my campaign, it sparks 20 new ideas of different plots lines, story threads, dungeons, cities, towns, etc.

It's just so bloody hard to get it down all on paper.

This group is the first to play this campaign world, so as they play, their actions are effecting (more than they think) the way I plan things out, and the way I lay out the land. In fact, it's gone so far that the PC's who made up pasts for their characters (and have picked random blip on the map for their hometown) have gone and actually created the towns, NPCs and surrounding areas. Though of course, I've added in my own things on top of theirs (because generally they don't think about bad guys )

I was wondering if any other DM's had experienced this in their campaigns? If so, explain how it played out.

 

[Ferrix]

I agree, I had this problem for quite some time, and have finally just come to grappling with it in a manner which I find satisfying, it's not perfect but nothing really ever comes to that.

I created a Wiki, it's a type of website that works really well to create a large web of information which can be cross-referenced and linked all together coherently.

The thing I had so much trouble dealing with is keeping my information, npc's, etc. ordered in such a way that I could create a world which felt tangible. With the help of some of my players it has fleshed out exceptionally well so far.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Players creating game-world stuff is VERY GOOD! This gives players a reason to be invested in the game world.

As long as players don't create the "Fountian of Gold and Experience" then you're in for good times.

 

[ender_wiggin]

I agree, I had this problem for quite some time, and have finally just come to grappling with it in a manner which I find satisfying, it's not perfect but nothing really ever comes to that.

I created a Wiki, it's a type of website that works really well to create a large web of information which can be cross-referenced and linked all together coherently.

The thing I had so much trouble dealing with is keeping my information, npc's, etc. ordered in such a way that I could create a world which felt tangible. With the help of some of my players it has fleshed out exceptionally well so far.

Can you elaborate on Wikis? I've heard the term before, but forgot to investigate deeper before forgetting.

 

[Voadam]

I've occassionally done things like e-mail a player and say "all right, do out Ragnar's immediate family, it will come up in the next game and I want names to use." I then got a list from the player of how many siblings he had, their names, etc. and I was able to build off that and the PCs written history to build up a call from home that turned into the basis for an adventure and NPC interactions.