What is a D&D "campaign"?

[Vegepygmy]

Somewhere between "one party" and "one story"

I see a campaign as being the story that unfolds begining with one party, but being fluid enough to include changes in the party, and possibly with an entire party change as long as the story continues. Possibly even encluding succesor parties.

This is how I have always used the word.

Fascinating poll. Over a quarter-century of gaming under my belt, and I never realized there was any other definition. Even more fascinating; I never realized my definition was in the minority! (I answered #4.)

 

[genshou]

Somewhere between one party and one story, with heavy emphasis on the party.

 

[Steverooo]

Very simply, a "Campaign" is an interlinked series of Adventures. The question is what they're linked by... For me, it is the story. Players come and go, PCs die and new ones join, two or more GMs may run a campaign, worlds or even planes may change, time periods may change, the bounds of space, time, and physics may be broken, and game systems may be switched, but a plot continues from the previous adventures.

Campaigns may be ended by dissent/arguement, mutual agreement, GM Burnout, the intervention of "Real Life", lack of players, or many other means, but as long as previous events lead to the current game play, the Campaign continues. Even if all of the original PCs are dead, the original players and GM have moved on, and the current PCs are on a different world, operating under a different rules set! An extreme example, I know, but still possible.

 

[MonsterMash]

Between single world and single story for me for the definition. Actually I think I lean more to the single story for a campaign and the single world is my default setting.

 

[Silver Moon]

Somewhere between "one party" and "one story"

I see a campaign as being the story that unfolds begining with one party, but being fluid enough to include changes in the party, and possibly with an entire party change as long as the story continues. Possibly even encluding succesor parties.

That works for me. We've maintained tight continuity since our game began back in 1982 and while there are now two bases of operation each with their own adventuring party they are still on the same continent and same timeframe, with characters crossing back-and-forth enough between the two groups that I consider it a single campaign.

 

[Sammael]

Somewhere between "one party" and "one story"

I see a campaign as being the story that unfolds begining with one party, but being fluid enough to include changes in the party, and possibly with an entire party change as long as the story continues. Possibly even encluding succesor parties.

QFT, although I voted for option (3) rather than "other."

 

[shilsen]

Somewhere between one party and one story, with heavy emphasis on the party.

Same here.

 

[DragonLancer]

Same DM, single party, multiple stories that may or may not contribute to a story arc.

 

[Desdichado]

I picked a "single story" because the example of a TPK does not necessarily mean the campaign ends.

However, I can certianly envision a series of inter-related stories featureing more or less the same group of player/characters and still call that a campaign. Another game/system with other characters and another setting but still the same players, though--definately a break in campaigns.

 

[Hand of Evil]

As I always seem to call it MY CAMPAIGN - just a single DM.