well i am a recently dubed DM i got stuck with this after the groups last DM moved to canada, what i am looking for is help with getting started on a new campaign. (either dragonlance or forgotten realms which ever you fell is more new DM friendly) also good 1st leval quest ideas would be great. any help would be greatly apreciated ^..^
Overwelmed and in need of assistance
- Thread starter KRIM
- Start date
VirgilCaine
First Post
Go to www.wizards.com
There are loads of adventures there in the D&D section.
There are loads of adventures there in the D&D section.
VirgilCaine
First Post
And don't forget the features--the Vicious Venues, Adventure Locales, Random Encounters and Cliffhangers. You could easily turn any of the three former into larger adventures and the Cliffhangers are full adventures split into blobs.
Take a look at Dungeon #124. In it, you will find the new Adventure Path series that starts with The Whispering Cairn. Then, go here and download the web enhancement that gives you the information to set the AP in the Realms. 11 issues of Dungeon later and you'll have run them through an entire campaign.
P.S. Even if you don't use the adventure, Dungeon is still well worth it for a DM...
P.S. Even if you don't use the adventure, Dungeon is still well worth it for a DM...
IronWolf
blank
KRIM said:
Which are you most familiar with? Which do you like the best? What do your players like? Answering those questions will put you well on your way to determining which would suit you the best. Running something you are familiar with will help.
You could even consider a small homebrew. Just start with a simple town and the surrounding area. Let it build from there. As you start to get your feet under you then you can expand on that world.
Buttercup
Princess of Florin
KRIM said:
Honestly I wouldn't use either one. If you use one of them, you may find yourself in the situation where your players know more about the setting's history than you do, and that can lead to real problems for an inexperienced DM. Far better, in my opinion, to use a setting the know nothing about. Then *you* are the expert, which is as it should be.
Go look at Scarred Lands, Kalamar, Oathbound or Freeport and see if any of them inspire you. Alternatively, just use one of the mega modules from Necromancer, such as Lost City of Barakus or Trouble at Durbenford. Necromancer products are of the highest quality and either of those can keep your players busy for quite some time.
Dragonlance Vs Forgotten Realms?
Unless you're REALLY familiar with one or the other setting, don't use either. Either use a 3rd party setting or use what you like from each one (and other sources) to form your own homebrew. It will take a little work, but it will be worth it because:
you avoid the player familiarity problem (players know more about the setting than you)
your word is truly final
you can use the best of whats out there and houserule the rest
you can avoid things you feel are truly broken or problematic, like certain spells or PrCls
and so forth.
In a homebrew, your house rules have more weight. For instance, I never use generalist wizards anymore- specialist mages only in my campaigns, and I let Paladins and Monks multiclass freely with each other and with Clerics, assuming no alignment conflicts exist.
Something else that may help you out: after you decide on how to generate PC stats and what classes and races can be used, insist on a 1-2 pg background (double spaced- no need for a novel) on each potential PC. By forcing the players to think, they'll help you shape your campaign.
In fact, their backgrounds may even suggest adventure hooks, and it will give you some insight into what kind of campaign the players want...hack & slash, amateur theater, a mix of both...
If a background is particularly good, reward the player with some bonus XP or a special item (no more than 2000gp value) or contact for his PC...something that goes with the background. The fighter gets his family's ancestral sword, the mage gets a powerful mentor (good for answering questions), the rogue has a pal who is a fence or who has a safe-house, etc.
Unless you're REALLY familiar with one or the other setting, don't use either. Either use a 3rd party setting or use what you like from each one (and other sources) to form your own homebrew. It will take a little work, but it will be worth it because:
you avoid the player familiarity problem (players know more about the setting than you)
your word is truly final
you can use the best of whats out there and houserule the rest
you can avoid things you feel are truly broken or problematic, like certain spells or PrCls
and so forth.
In a homebrew, your house rules have more weight. For instance, I never use generalist wizards anymore- specialist mages only in my campaigns, and I let Paladins and Monks multiclass freely with each other and with Clerics, assuming no alignment conflicts exist.
Something else that may help you out: after you decide on how to generate PC stats and what classes and races can be used, insist on a 1-2 pg background (double spaced- no need for a novel) on each potential PC. By forcing the players to think, they'll help you shape your campaign.
In fact, their backgrounds may even suggest adventure hooks, and it will give you some insight into what kind of campaign the players want...hack & slash, amateur theater, a mix of both...
If a background is particularly good, reward the player with some bonus XP or a special item (no more than 2000gp value) or contact for his PC...something that goes with the background. The fighter gets his family's ancestral sword, the mage gets a powerful mentor (good for answering questions), the rogue has a pal who is a fence or who has a safe-house, etc.
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