DragonLance Saga

DM101: How to Open a Campaign

Listen Later

Welcome to Dungeon Mastering 101, my Dungeon Mastering course based on over 30 years of experience. In this series I will share my failures and successes and the lessons learned along the way. In this episode, I will cover Running the Game: How to Open a Campaign.

https://youtube.com/live/byN5-egbWgc
Show Notes:
Intro

Welcome to another DragonLance Saga, Dungeon Mastering 101 episode! It is Palast, Deepkolt the 9th. My name is Adam, and today I am continuing my Dragonlance Gaming series all about Dungeon Mastering. Why do Campaigns Fail Early? Well, most campaigns don’t end — they fade out. Early misalignment is the silent killer for campaigns. The first session sets expectations players will carry for months. This episode is about opening strong before dice ever hit the table.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this channel, ring the bell, and you can support this channel by becoming a Patron on Patreon, a Member of this YouTube channel, and you can pick up Dragonlance media and get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games, using my affiliate links. All links are in the description below.

Discussion
Segment 1 — What “Opening a Campaign” Actually Means
  • It’s not just Session One
  • It’s the onboarding experience for your table
  • Opening includes:
    • Session Zero
    • tone and genre alignment
    • social contract
    • character relationships
    • A good opening prevents 80% of future problems
      • Segment 2 — Session Zero That Actually Works
      • Purpose of Session Zero:
        • alignment, not rules lectures
        • What to cover:
          • campaign premise and scope
          • playstyle expectations (RP vs combat vs exploration)
          • scheduling and commitment
          • What to avoid:
            • lore dumps
            • rigid restrictions without context
            • Keep it conversational and collaborative
              • Segment 3 — Setting Tone and Genre Early
              • Tone answers: What kind of story is this?
              • Examples:
                • heroic fantasy
                • dark survival
                • political intrigue
                • Show, don’t tell:
                  • opening imagery
                  • first NPCs
                  • early consequences
                  • Tone inconsistency causes player confusion
                    • Segment 4 — Safety Tools Without Awkwardness
                    • Why safety tools matter:
                      • trust creates freedom
                      • Common tools:
                        • Lines and Veils
                        • X-Card
                        • Open Door policy
                        • How to present them:
                          • briefly
                          • calmly
                          • without apology
                          • Safety is not censorship — it’s clarity
                            • Segment 5 — Creating Party Bonds That Matter
                            • The party must have a reason to exist
                            • Avoid:
                              • “you all meet in a tavern” with no glue
                              • Tools for bonds:
                                • shared history
                                • mutual debts
                                • common enemies
                                • Ask players to define connections between characters
                                  • Segment 6 — Aligning Character Concepts With the Campaign
                                  • Characters should fit the game, not fight it
                                  • Help players:
                                    • refine backstories
                                    • tie goals into the setting
                                    • Say “yes, but” instead of “no”
                                    • Alignment prevents spotlight friction later
                                      • Segment 7 — Ending Session Zero With Momentum
                                      • Session Zero shouldn’t feel like admin
                                      • End with:
                                        • a hook
                                        • a looming problem
                                        • a shared question
                                        • Players should leave excited, not exhausted
                                          • Segment 8 — The DM101 Mindset Shift
                                          • You are not pitching a product
                                          • You are building a social experience
                                          • A strong opening is about listening as much as talking
                                          • Collaboration beats control every time
                                            • Closing Takeaway
                                            • Opening a campaign is about trust, tone, and buy-in
                                            • Do this well, and everything that follows is easier
                                            • Skip it, and you’ll be fixing problems for months
                                              • Outro

                                              And that’s it for this episode of Dungeon Mastering 101, Running the Game: How to Open a Campaign. Do you have any tips or tricks based on your experience as a player or Dungeon Master? Was I off base on any of my suggestions? Feel free to email me at [email protected] or leave a comment below. 

                                              Thank you for tuning in. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this channel, ring the bell, and you can support this channel by becoming a Patron on Patreon, a Member of this YouTube channel, and you can pick up Dragonlance Gaming materials, using my affiliate link. All links are in the description below. Thank you Creator Patron Aaron Hardy, Developer Patrons Chris Androu & Sam Ruiz, and all of the YouTube Members!

                                              This channel is all about celebrating the wonderful world of the Dragonlance Saga, and I hope you will join me in the celebration. Thank you for watching, this has been Adam with DragonLance Saga and until next time Slàinte mhath (slan-ge-var).

                                              ...more
                                              View all episodesView all episodes
                                              Download on the App Store
                                              DragonLance SagaBy DragonLance Saga
                                              • 4.1
                                              • 4.1
                                              • 4.1
                                              • 4.1
                                              • 4.1

                                              4.1

                                              9 ratings

                                              More shows like DragonLance Saga

                                              View all
                                              Crime Junkie by Audiochuck

                                              Crime Junkie

                                              369,852 Listeners