How to Write Your Player Primer - Campaign Creator #20
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- Опубліковано 16 вер 2024
- We take a look at your player briefing document, do you need one and is it really necessary? Absolutely! And we find out why.
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I will confess I made a too-long primer for my most recent campaign (10-12 maps and a short paragraph accompanying each), but it was an intentional punishment! I *told* them all, we'd wait to make characters TOGETHER during a session zero. Then everyone started making characters alone before the session, and dammit, if they don't want my 30-second spiel followed by group brainstorming, they'll get the four volumes!
There's no party like a grandma bachelor party!
Ethan Bascom nice
I just love, that on the back of one of the books it says don't read.
I had NO IDEA this was a thing people do, and is a MASSIVE help to giving the background info to the players in a relatively quick concise way. Thanks!
2:20 "Dungeon Fog's website"
Too much brilliance in one mind, getting all scrambled. Lol
QUESTION: Why am I morbidly curious what a Grandma Bachelor Party entails? Why does several players of D&D have to attend?
Cause she's the ancient dragon all along
Silver dragon of course
Is it just me or are there others who want to read and discuss unlimited amount of gameworld lore? It just fascinates me to know about the world we are about to play in.
Me me me! :)
Same
This is why I always make two primers: One, A TL:DR, and the other a full in-depth world booklet full of common knowledge and such.
Ok here's my pitch:
The age of magic is waning, all across the lands the powers that held aloft order and balance are crumbling, as the grand magi lose grip over their domain. With the defenses of the old order failing darker forces are growing their armies and prepare for assault. Now it is up to you and other brave souls to change their grim fate, to stem the tide, find out what happened to the magi and protect the lands from falling into chaos once again.
Setting:
Generally high fantasy midieval world, set in a realm that is under the divided rule of the Grandmagi, powerful wizards that keep peace within their respective domains. Now it is under threat from the hordes of chaos, basically all kinds of creatures that the magi had managed to banish from their realm. Monsters you'll meet include giants, primal beasts, aberrations, demihumans and many more.
Playable races include all basic races, which function mostly the same, aswell as Runeforged, which are Warforged that have been created by the magi to act as their peacekeepers. Now, with the influence of them going away they have gained agency and roam across the land, seeking their place in society. Note that the public has mixed opinions on the Runeforged.
(I kinda ripped most of this from media I enjoyed, and I haven't fleshed it out too much, but making a pitch is more about getting the idea of the process anyway, right?)
I think you could be a bit more specific about where the player characters are, what they are going to do and what their relationship with the grand magi/magus is. Are the player characters anarchists rebelling against the absolute power of the tyrant magus, but now forced to work together with the magus to save their world? Or perhaps the magi are good guys and will assist the player characters with magical boons and items to use during their investigations.
@@rolfmeurink5373 Those would be valid ways to present that situation, definitely, but I'm not sure I wouldn't leave the direct input on the character's outlook/starting position up to a session zero, for once to help them find what they want their characters to be like, and secondly because I don't really want to pidgeonhole them into playing a character with a predetermined mindset. I'd want to line out a clear threat and the reason for why it's their battle to fight, but how they feel about the reign of the magi, if they try to fight the threat on their own or seek to restore the old order or maybe just temporarily ally with it and then turn on them, that's something I would want to leave up to them, but like I said, I didn't flesh the idea out enough beyond just a vague setting to make substantial points about this.
This might be the best sponsored video, he made or even the whole DnD based YTer community did. Useful video, no ad talking, he actually uses the tool and it doesn't seem forced/a useless video without the tool.
As the moon waxes so does the excitement for the Month of Bazah. The streets are colorful and full of fresh smells of fruits and flowers. As more people come into the city to celebrate, the people of Parishtown can almost forget about the mysterious disappearances of the past few months. This year the Festival has a renewed meaning for the residents, hoping to chase this smell of blood from their streets. The Shadows that prowl the night grow ever bolder and the question on your mind is “Who will be Next?” Will your rise to the challenge and defeat the Evil infestation, or become the next victim whose name is wailed in the dawn?
The first pitch I didn't skip and actually read in this comment section.
Almost felt like I was reading The Dying Earth
I recently had a GM ( Keeper) on Call of Cthulhu that went on and on for an exposition montage about the story of a book that one of the player characters was going to be holding. The story of the book spanned several generations of people as it was moved across continents for the past two or three centuries. None of our characters actually had access to any of that information, as it was dumped on us via cinematic display, so we were stuck in a situation in which our characters didn't have enough motivation to care at all about the book, and we as players didn't want to make our characters immediately care about the book because 1: we considered it metagaming, and 2: we'd already heard the story of the book, so we weren't curious about it anymore.
YES! I asked for that in one of your livestreams! Thank you!
I made a player primer document recently. It was 3 pages because of a picture and a map of the starting city, so it was really more of a page and a half. The players already knew the basic premise (they'd selected it off of a list of proposed campaign concepts), so I focused on technical stuff. First, effectively a paragraph of the most basic PC creation stuff (what content sources were allowed, what level you were starting and how high you could expect to get, starting wealth). Then, setting stuff - one sentence about the world's tech and magic level and two paragraphs about the starting city, laying out its extremely brief history ("it was a pirate port, but it has mostly civilized into an actual town"), a few unusual factions and its super-basic economy and government. Then a "scenario" paragraph about what has happened immediately before the campaign starts ("a meteor has hit a nearby island") and what the task in the first session will be ("investigate that island"). Then a "motivation" paragraph about the basic thing a PC needs to be motivated to do ("you MUST have a reason to join an expedition to the island") and some suggestions for diverse motives to do that. Then quick paragraphs about available and recommended/thematic gods, some campaign themes PCs might want to have connections to ("space, archaeology, eldritch knowledge, advanced technologies"), race options (including mentioning what races will most commonly appear in the campaign) and, finally, alignment ("please don't be evil"). Overall, a quick and useful PC-making guide.
Yay! This is perfect to watch while i lay sick in bed on my 30th birthday :)
Consolation gift ^w^
Happy birthday
Get younger scrub!
jk Happy B-day bro I feel ya!
The discord messages had me snapping my head to my dashboard! XD
Excellent video as usual. The advice is always great for this noob GM.
How to act at a Grandma Bachelor Party.
I was worried this would basically be another tutorial on world anvil. Glad I was wrong. Great teaching by example
(this may seem pretty basic and lengthy, but its my first world, and I intend to use parts of it for other campaigns)
THE QUEEN'S CRYSTAL
As members of a trading guild, you find yourselves caught up in a military battlefield where the impending war threatens your existence. You will have to fight them on the land, under the earth, and within the halls of the capital to eradicate the corrupted leaders who threaten everything you love.. This is a game of war, spies, exploration, and adventure fixed within the proud kingdom of Eldon.
SETTING
The world is a fantasy twist on a western medieval style culture. Kings reign in high castle and plan lords while lords and barons manage the mundane tasks. You can play as a religious arocokra, barbaric orcs, roughish gnomes, or Soldier of the kingdom.
Magic has found a little practical ways into the great cities and towers. Great wizards and lords alike covet the various artifacts that had been left behind since ancient times. While the arcane laws and theories have been set, much research into various practical uses to magic continue under the yolk of various leaders and religious priests who intercede on behalf of the population. The gods are many, but all follow under the basic elements that make up the universe: Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Nature, Time, and Space, and each seeks to become the dominate element in the land.
This was great, thank you for your quality content!
Guy I love reading a massive history so I would of love of my DM gave me books to read before the campaign with time to read it
Heads up. At 2:20, you said Dungeon Fog, not World Anvil. Don't want you to get in trouble :)
A phalanx of Shoplifters sounds intriguing, will it be in the next campaign?
At one point you have said something about grammar. I really advise you to use a browser extension called Grammarly, it helps when you're focused on something other than the grammar.
I’m currently working on a setting which is like masters of the universe but with more space travel so I guess like Conan the barbarian meets star wars
So like Masters of the Universe the movie?
There was space travel on the show as well.
Although your thing is guaranteed to be better.
"The city of Riddleton is abuzz with speculation. A meteor has struck an island not far down the coast. Rumors fly of precious skymetals, strange alien artifacts and vicious monsters. Several groups have already traveled to the island, but so far none have returned. As the next to venture forth, can the player characters uncover alien secrets, solve ancient mysteries, unravel vast conspiracies and survive the horrors of the dark things from beyond the stars?"
I caught that reference to Matt Colville "doobilydoo"
That term actually originated from PBS Ideachannel here on youtube :p
@@PhyreI3ird I thought it was originally from Vlog Brothers
For my current game, the teaser that I put out MONTHS ahead just to judge interest level, had nothing to do with the actual game -- but really only put out the theme (before I even knew that was the theme). It is a sci fi setting and the pitch was a re-work of Carl Sagan's "Pale Blue Dot" quote that references Moby Dick:
"I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas and land on barbarous coasts".
Only after they indicated interest did I follow up with info about the game system (the new Alternity) and basics about the world. I probably did overdo it, but deliberately did NOT give them specifics about the various alien races unless it was pertinent to their character.
I ended up with two separate groups to run for. One small group has started. The larger group is awaiting session zero -- probably mid to late summer -- scheduling is difficult this year!
How is this pitch, Guy?
Lord Benito de Nobla Sango invites those who adventurers thirst for adventure, gold, and fame to join him in his new settlement of Paradiza Alteriĝo in the lands of La Frukaj Teroj. Lord Benito is sponsoring many expeditions into the lands around Paradiza Alteriĝo in an effort to map out the unsettled wilderness, clear out monsters that threaten the town, and solve mysteries like why did the previous settlements and their expeditions to this continent fail. With your help, great Adventurer, Lord Benito and the town of Paradiza Alteriĝo shall succeed where previous attempts failed.
I don't know if there aren't too many names already in there? Kinda slows down the reading for me, maybe that's just my problem. I'd probably keep the lord or the name of the land and change the "solve mysteries" line to smth like "... protect his settlement from the roaming monsters that seem to constantly threaten it's citizens, and investigate the mysteries of the continent, that led to the fall of all previous endeavours." And then the line about him planning to succeed, that's a good one.
A pitch exists to show them the setting and give them an idea what there is to do, it's not too much about their first contact in that world or the specific contents of the world. I feel like the pitch is session zero stuff, when the game actually starts you can get into some more detail about why they are there, so that's where you can drop the "Lord Benito has invited you all to do X" thing if you want them to start right there, or have them meet a messenger that gives them a formal invitation, which is what your pitch basically sounds like, it reads like a document you'd get handed in the actual game world.
Grandmother's bachelor party!!! ROFL!!!
Guy I am obsessed with your azure sea map and have an idea for a homebrew campaign set on a land mass like this. I was wondering where (if anywhere) I could get a larger, detailed photo, that I could possibly print for my players?
Hi Guy, I just asked this question in your public GoS Session 2 live chat. I know this might not be the best place to ask it again but I'm not sure where else to do it: I've been playing this character in a campaign for over a year (56 sessions). I'm a Warforged Arcane Archer Fighter in Eberon. I like the original idea, but I REALLY cant bring myself to enjoy playing this character. The DM is great. He's very creative which is both a blessing and a curse. He has created an amazing home-brew campaign but my character, as I have found out, is wearing thick "plot" armor. I have inquired as to how I can retire/kill-off him off but have been asked to continue a bit longer due to a huge plot twist coming up (I've heard this many times). I wan't to keep playing; I love the group. I just don't love this character. Any suggestions (or maybe a video addressing the topic on how to "get out from under plot armor" or if it's OK to not like the character you're "stuck" playing? Thanks Guy. I appreciate you!
How do you write an enticing primer without really giving any plot spoilers?
Would YOU allow a warforged?
Knowing your players will help with your pitch, of course.
Do they like roleplay or combat, intrigue or black and white, serving the cause or leading the charge?
Personally I'd allow Warforged, but not without some serious balancing tweeks if we're using the Wayfinder's guide to Eberron, because the Warforged in that book are absolutely bullshit, and are the worst case of Power creep in 5e, the integrated defense trait alone is busted as written, alongside some of the other elements like the expertise that Envoys get, or the lack of need for sleep or food.
Remember the Antikythera mechanism.
Exiled:
Neuva Arizona, 2187. In a post apocalyptic society dominated by mythical monsters, alternative races and marauding bandits, you will experience the turmoils of the wasteland and the small pockets of civilisation trying to rebuild itself. Hive minded cultists, armoured trains, tank battles, gunship attacks, vampires, racial competition, scavenging and survival scenarios alike abound, as a small bastion of cities serving as beacons of civilisation surrounded by chaos is fighting for its mere survival.
Broken Cosmos:
Millenia ago the Primogeni reached unfathomable heights in manipulating the fabric of reality to their benefit, ulitmatly even daring to rewrite and create their own laws. This resulted in a cataclysmic event known as the Shattering which caused their world of Primogia to break apart. Now life exists on fragments of Primogia that float across the Aether where countless nations are formed. These great empires, mighty kingdoms and fledgling republics boldly traverse the Aether deeper into the void away from the central star known as the World-Eye in search of new lands resources and Primogeni artefacts. The latter are deemed invaluable to scholars as keys to understanding the reason behinf Primogia's fall, and to monarchs potential as weapons.
You've written a nice piece of setting. Now we need a pitch to go before it. Where are the player characters? What do they care about? What do you think your players want to do in this game?
@@rolfmeurink5373 The players are all members of a flying circus complete with their own zeppelin to traverse the Aether from one place to the next. Initially they are set in a politically volatile area between three nations. However the circus is just a front for the players as they are actually using the time in between shows to look for potential targets to rob blind and sail away.
You did it again. t=137
Here is my intro to a world/campaign I am working on
Welcome to the world that was lost
Haven is a world that once was whole and now is not. Many worlds have a tipping point, a place and
time where those who would destroy it come to the fore and attempt to take and remake the world
into what they wish it to be. On this world, that time has come, and passed, and the Heroes and
Protectors have lost or, at the least, not won
Where once a green and fertile planet rode the firmament . its remnants now lie, shards of stone and
earth floating in the Void, the outcome of the continuing war between the Gods and those that would
UnMake All.
This is a Reality where Sky Ships and Floating Cities travel through the Void, where Pirates roam in
Skyships searching for victims, where Gnome Dirigibles carry cargoes of eccentric works of wonder
to cities on the remnants of the world. It is a place where tribes of barbarians ride flying steeds to
battle dragon knights, where shoals of fish swim through Seas of Mist and monstrous races sail
stone fortresses to attack and pillage. Where heroic crusaders spend their lives and the lives of their
brethren traveling the remnants in search of artifacts of virulent power and where Elves reside on
trees the size of moons that move through the Void while hordes of Demons fly ancient stone
obelisks in search of prey. Here ancient enmities and cults reside, drawing on forbidden knowledge
to hasten the end of time and bring power to themselves and their Gods and UnGods
It is in this land of conflict and peace that you find yourself.
It is here you will learn the paths of power and make decisions that may either bring the world
together or finally end it
Welcome to Haven
It seemed a bit much at first, but after reading it, I now want to play in that world.
All the dms write their notes in a different language at our table, one in Japanese, another in Spanish, wife's in French, and me in English, cause I'm u n c u l t u r e d.
Pitch
The Emperoress laylaloon has been assassinated and empire left rulerless. As Kings and queens rush to be next ruler you have been chosen to find the great orbs of the dragon kind to help save capshen
A game of thrones, mystery , fate, desire, scandle and intrege prepare yourself for an adventure like no other for the world's fate belongs to you
Setting
A medeveil world full of magic, wispers of treachery all ingulfed by dragons
Any race ,class in pH is ok but remember no faint of heart for one might need to stand alone if your path or desire deffers from another
Please read and tell me your thoughts I love your channel and would greatly appreciate your advise thank you
Trusted follower Clell lightner
The notion of a good roleplayer who wants to make a character which does not fit the setting is an oxymoron in my book. One of the hallmarks of a good roleplayer is getting a feel for a setting and creating a character that engages with the setting and which fits in it.
Okay, but HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO ACTUALLY READ IT. Mine was 8 pages (4 front and back), one page was a map, and they just. Would. Not. Read it.
Falon Sherrard because they shouldn’t have to. If, as a dm, you are writing a primer for your world for any single reason other than to help collect and organize your thoughts you are a) doing it wrong b) setting yourself up for massive disappointment. As the legendary advice goes: show, don’t tell.
I can't speak for your players, but to me 6 pages sounds a bit much when I haven't engaged with any of the world yet. The key seems to be the pitch, catching the reader's intrigue and making them want to know more. Show'em what they can expect, and then go into the setting in a broad way, keeping it short and concise. Homebrew settings run the risk of having loads of things that are important to know, which is why a session zero where you can go over the setting a bit more while making sure player backgrounds fit in etc can be helpful. If your setting has outlawed magic, that's a big information the players should know. Information the players don't really need is stuff like 'at the dawn of creation there was light and darkness, of which the original gods were born. Each one of them created a plane to their liking, which have always been in dire conflict with each other yadayada".
The material you give them on the setting should probably not be more information than a lv 1 character would have at the start of their journey, sure the names and locations of the country are a must and the current conflict that leads to the adventure ("war is coming', 'goblin activity has been on the rise', 'a strange illness seems to have grasped the countryside') should be lined out aswell, but not too much more. Maybe a little bit about the culture, if there are things you wouldn't assume are common ideas so the players don't break your world the second they appear in it, but all of that jazz seems like it's more session zero or introduction monologue stuff.
If they can't be bothered to read atleast the first page with the pitch they might not have that big of an interest in exploring a living breathing world, so maybe the problem can be addressed by figuring out everyone's main drive to play.
Ask them questions on a mechanic or if they just wanna cut themselves off, let em. If my players dont read my material, its really their lose as others get way ahead
Also tell em to have the stats of THEIR familiars / pets / constructs if they wanna have em
8 pages is too much. If I give you 8 pages of events, history, names and the like its an info overload. I understand your world is complex and has history, but you should give them 1 page and if they want more - THEN - and only then expand it to 2 pages. I have to say if a GM gave me 8 pages I'd gloss it. Maybe I'm lazy, but if all 8 pages are required knowledge in the game world it feels like homework.
Let me know how I can improve!
Legend of the Floating Isle
:
There is trouble on the high seas as the dwarven navy of the Holy Centrellian Empire clashes with the pirates of the Skeletal Isles Federation. The legions of dwarves in floating fortresses seek to conquer the Skeletal Isles for the glory of the Emperor Purisimo Luxus Caelus XIII. The dread pirate Cass “Fangbeard” York leads merfolk of the federation in resistance, a fleet of brigs and schooners ribbed with the skeletons of the massive magical sea serpents that infest these waters. Both armies quest for the ancient lost city of Dwesla’ven, a city rumored to have floated into the clouds, it’s advanced magitech lost to the people of Everkin. Will they find this mythical place? Can the dwarves survive these deadly tropical isles? What is the price of a pirates honor? Join the crew of the magitech powered “Sea Slayer” as swashbuckling adventure leads to upgrades and answers!
Ok so the world has been selected to be a battle ground by various gods and is being ravaged, in session 0 you all will be fighting to save the world but ultimately u will fail due to unseen circumstances (can be discovered in main campaign).
For session 0 make a Lvl 20 mentor character, this mentor can have 5 magical items, your main character will be able to earn these items after senpai notices them. Depending on their strength will determine how much Renown you have to earn with them to obtain 1 or 2 items. These mentors will be held up high for their efforts even if they're chaotic stoopud (i will allow silly stoof and meme charectors lol id love if someone could play a Michael J Caboose with justice)
Main campaign start at lvl 5 (because you had to noticeable)
Depending on back story / character / race / etc etc, i will give u special boons
You can have 1 free feat that has a prerequisite trait of your race.
Starter cash 1k gp 500sp - if u wanna do pre shopping let me know what u have..... Wait instead ill make a chat section for each character, that way i can see what u have - post gear, stats, and cash or make the whole charector there.
For fun i thought itd be cool for the players to make a quest or be the DM for a session and add to the new worlds lore or just have fun or torment lol
Heres another cool idea, u can make ur own race!!! However their benefits must be identical to another race.
Remember, its DnD so ppl may be after you just for heritage or class.
As far as the PCs go they think the new world is a globe but its a fractured piece of a planet thats protected by the gods (but why)???????
Main campaign starts in a booming village as civilization is growing again, there's lots of construction, busy busy busy ppl about. A security perimeter has been established and after 2 months it feels as if.... This could be home now for most ppl, they enjoy the peace and theres not many shady characters itd seem in this up and coming soon to be city. Druids and rangers are checking the forest, mages and barbarians are building, rogues are delivering messages and running about, bards are playing almost everywhere trying to keep moral high, paladins are patrolling but feel gladly useless in this peace, most have joined with construction and hunting, artificers are proudly making things around the clock feeling greatly accomplished, fighters have also helped build up homes/shops/etc but also have made a crude stadium for friendly sparring matches, sorcerers are entertaining the kids with magic tricks with bards and building government.
They shook the earth stirring those connected to nature and the elements. Ppl and creatures gained an uneasy feeling of danger and have went to a state of order and chaos, banding together as dragons of all kinds were being enslaved and attacked cities in droves, spewing fire from on high. Few were immune to this dark miasma that cloaked the dragons heads, those few have picked up arms and are in this world war.
Its been months since the last meteor barrage but only bcuz our unseen foes have unleashed a worlds worth of tarrasque on us..... Cities, islands, and even continents lay scorched.... THAT IS WHY YOU ARE HERE!!! WE WILL SAVE OUR LAST CITY!!! FROM EVEN ASHES WE WILL REAP THE HEADS FROM THESE OUTSIDERS! I ASK YOU, THE HEROES OF THIS WORLD, ARE YOU WITH MEEE!!!
(This goes between the 2nd to last and the last sections)
It was a day like any other, dwarves crafting a large monument for their fallen ancestors. For no real ryhme or reason they did other than to just do it, it was half way there too when the 1st barrage of meteors hit the planet
Doobly Doo?
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=doobly-doo
He's been watching Matt Coleville's videos, apparently.
@@ArthurRex131 I thought the phrase "Doobly doo" was invented by Craig Benzine aka Wheezy waiter, or is it?
16:55 Damn it Guy!! You actually made me pause the video, exit fullscreen, and check for discord messages (I have it set to only make that noise when someone tags me specifically!). Absolutely unprofessional... Unsubbed, unfollowed, and unwatched. I can't deal with this!! /s
You're lucky. Guy actually sent goblins to my house (Goblins!) who yanked my mouse out of my hands, flushed it down the toilet, ate my keyboard (yes, the whole thing, can you believe it?), and ripped the cable modem out of the wall. Absolutely unprofessional... Also unsubbed, unfollowed, and unwatched.
Holy mother of 26 views and 1 comment 0 likes 0 dislikes...
I know this is an old video but I'm greatful for this and it is helping my creation of a new campaign world so as such here is my pitch.
As ranking members of the Rangers guild, you find yourself in a political battlefield. The Celestial king Luminos, the god of light, has passed on. Long after surviving the ravaging brought on by his brother Var’kar who released a mutation of lycanthropy after being banished to the material plane, in an attempt to overthrow him. His rightful heir and son Glendaal the god of nature has gone missing and without a rightful heir by the end of the year the celestial crown will fall to the God/Goddess with the strongest worship. Border nations are growing in tension with whispers of war on the horizon, rumours of increased appearances of fiends and abominations of nature grow unrest amongst the citizens. Many are questioning what will become of them during the next great lunar hunt and who will sit on the celestial throne. This is a game of intrigue, double-crossing, aerial travel and combat, celestial intervention, adventure and discovery.