I just started a new campaign last week. So far just two players. I am using Dungeons and Dragons 5E. I am old time player so I am very familiar with most stuff back in the day and my goto back then was Dungeons and Dragons 2E.
Ok, as to how I got the game started was just have some ideas of where the players are starting and are at.
I notice when I started reading the 5E DMG (important) is that I designed my world so far is pretty much what the DMG guide mentioned, Gods oversee the world, much of the world is untamed, the world is ancient, Conflict shapes the world's history and the world is magical. Pretty spot on.
I named my campaign The Ancient Lands.
I remembered some things on improv while gaming and it was coming back to me.
I try to keep things simple.
For prepping, I have tons of random tables I got and printed out into a spiral bound book I made. The tables are from RPGDrivethru.com. Much of it free. Also links online. I put them into bookmarks on my chromebook. I right click on the bookmarks and open all at once when I am about to start a session of gaming. I also use a lot of 3x5 cards for ideas and stuff I get during times I am not gaming. The Lazy DM has good stuff I think as well.
Make lists of names if you have time or I would just grab them from my book of tables.
Online links to what I am currently using besides Campaign Logger.
Timekeeper
Fantasy Calendar
Descriptions
Fantasy Name Generators
Google Keep
Starting the game, I started with action. The first pc was next to a farm on some business when he noticed a goblin with a lit torch run into a barn. The other pc woke to smell of smoke, (he was in the barn sleeping in the hay). With that I just let them do as they will. I have no storyline planned. I have nuggets of stuff here and there I can put into the game as I need to. I just wing it. Players do something and I give them what is happening. Players will do what they want and I just plant things in front of them or to the sides as they go along in the game.
I do have some set encounters planned. But they are very flexible. Unless they are tied to a specific place and/or time, these encounters (just a name, description, items, purpose) can be put into the game when I want and mostly where I want. I think I called them Floating Encounters.
For the most part I just wing it.
But writing things down is the secret sauce to this and I am happy I subbed to Campaign Logs.
Ok, as to how I got the game started was just have some ideas of where the players are starting and are at.
I notice when I started reading the 5E DMG (important) is that I designed my world so far is pretty much what the DMG guide mentioned, Gods oversee the world, much of the world is untamed, the world is ancient, Conflict shapes the world's history and the world is magical. Pretty spot on.
I named my campaign The Ancient Lands.
I remembered some things on improv while gaming and it was coming back to me.
I try to keep things simple.
For prepping, I have tons of random tables I got and printed out into a spiral bound book I made. The tables are from RPGDrivethru.com. Much of it free. Also links online. I put them into bookmarks on my chromebook. I right click on the bookmarks and open all at once when I am about to start a session of gaming. I also use a lot of 3x5 cards for ideas and stuff I get during times I am not gaming. The Lazy DM has good stuff I think as well.
Make lists of names if you have time or I would just grab them from my book of tables.
Online links to what I am currently using besides Campaign Logger.
Timekeeper
Fantasy Calendar
Descriptions
Fantasy Name Generators
Google Keep
Starting the game, I started with action. The first pc was next to a farm on some business when he noticed a goblin with a lit torch run into a barn. The other pc woke to smell of smoke, (he was in the barn sleeping in the hay). With that I just let them do as they will. I have no storyline planned. I have nuggets of stuff here and there I can put into the game as I need to. I just wing it. Players do something and I give them what is happening. Players will do what they want and I just plant things in front of them or to the sides as they go along in the game.
I do have some set encounters planned. But they are very flexible. Unless they are tied to a specific place and/or time, these encounters (just a name, description, items, purpose) can be put into the game when I want and mostly where I want. I think I called them Floating Encounters.
For the most part I just wing it.
But writing things down is the secret sauce to this and I am happy I subbed to Campaign Logs.