The 3 Stages to Creating an Awesome D&D Adventure

So you've been watching the videos on this channel and, feeling inspired, you are ready to create your first roleplaying adventure. But with so much information, it can feel confusing with where to even start when planning an adventure for your RPG session. In today's video, I break down planning an adventure into 3 digestible parts that you can take and use to start creating your own DnD or Pathfinder, (or whichever roleplaying system that you use) adventure immediately. This is a slightly longer video than usual, but I promise that you as the Game Master as well as your roleplaying game will be better for it if you stick around to the end!

Timestamps:
00:00 Creating an adventure
03:00 Part 1: There are no plots, only plans.
13:02 Part 2: Plan versus game.
21:50 Part 3: Nuts & bolts.

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[HowtobeaGreatGM]

*Thanks for watching!* Let us know in the comments below what methods or steps that you use to plan your awesome RPG adventures.

The Kickstarter for The Practical Guide to Becoming a Great GM is in its final few days - check it out and back it before it ends, or if you can't back right now - just share it with some friends who may be interested in the project!

[zionich]

I prefer the longer videos. They make great listening material while driving, working, or just working around the house.

[MysticRick]

The most fun for me as a DM is that I have no idea where the story is going either!

I have my town fleshed out, with things happening within the town and around it, then let my players get immersed within the world.

When they pick a direction or interest, I plan the next session accordingly. Creating new NPC's, things they might come across along the way, etc...

For example, they decided to rescue the daughter of the town ruler. On the way they encountered a traveling gypsy type trader.

They bought several random weird items I just made up on the spot.

Most of the time I don't know what's going to happen. It's what makes it an adventure for me as well.

As the game progresses some things they came across randomly worked its way into a future adventure. 😁

[sharonlarsen]

I want to have that tee-shirt! Secondly I can't wait for the kickstarter and thirdly, great video as always. This style is fitting in with my style of GM so well.

[YelloDuzzit]

OGAS
Occupation
Goal
Attitude
Stakes

[GlenHallstrom]

In my GMing I substitute the word "plot" for "framework." Keeps things in perspective.

[RyuuKageDesu]

I, for one, miss your longer videos. I feel like I get a lot more information. And, I don't even watch it at the faster speed.

[sleazydrache]

It's so cool how you bring to the table such easy to follow ideas, giving clear examples of organized chaotic improvisation.
Thanks for sharing with us!

[Proximax]

Your videos have improved my gm workflow so much. Thank you for all this stuff you do

[gendor]

YEEEESSS!! Old time videos!! Gods below I have missed these videos, both the length, but also this is the first in a long time (possibly this year!) that I found really helpful!
Thank you Guy!

[dragonias]

Watching your videos is always fun, thanks for entertaining and interessting videos.
I am new as DM, so I practice writing adventures, creating npc and plans following your ideas. The first one really didn't provided space for improvising, it had a plot 😃
Using plans instead is a huge improvement.

[Turd_Rocket]

Every time you thank us for watching all the way through to the end, I just think: man what a polite dude.
Like, your content is always so interesting it's tough for me to imagine anyone not listening intently for the entire time. Thanks always for the interesting takes and advice Guy!

[SheenaTigerspielt]

26:45 WHAT!? Playing the video faster? No way! I want the whole experience of a properly sized video!

[lancepickett]

Since 1978, when I got my first computer, I have designed with the concept of flow charts using if / then statements. This allows me to quickly adapt to what the players do. If the players go in a different direction I just add that as a new pathway giving me a visual representation as how the plan has been affected,

[shinrafugitives]

First step speaks volumes. It's like story. It simply doesn't exist in the context of role-playing games. Sure there's stories that can be derived from the games, but they aren't an integral part of the game.

[dogdungeon]

I love to listen to your content while creation DnD Miniatures for 3D-printing. Thanks for your awesome work. Currently I'm working on some last minis for Halloween and can't wait for our sunday DnD session. Happy Halloween everybody!

[DominoPivot]

What a good way to start this video, and exactly the confirmation I needed. I was looking for a prewritten adventure for my group a couple weeks ago and found one that had some really inspiring ideas, but the more I read it the worst it felt, because it kept making assumptions about the player's actions:
- A shady individual is willing to pay a hefty sum to those who will retreive an item from a sorcerer's tower. The quest assumes the players will do exactly that, as if this was a video game quest that ends when that box is checked, but what if the players decide to investigate without the intention of doing it?
- A group of dryads under the sorcerer's influence surprise the players and try to get them to leave. But what if the players have pass without a trace active and high perception? Or are druids who would never want to hurt a dryad?
- The door to the tower is locked, but there's also a window one can climb. Ok, but what if the players fail all their skill checks and can't find a way in?
- The sorcerer arrives when the players steal his item and chases after them on the way out... but what if they decide not to intrude upon the tower and to just camp outside and wait for the sorcerer to come and have a talk?

I had to come up with a completely different plot, and by plot I mean "past" for the characters of the adventure, to have them fit in my world. And in the process, I gave those characters resources and motivations and realized following the script was no longer necessary. The only plot already written is the past, not the adventure itself, because that story is for the players to write.

[KrivTheBard]

Love the style of this video! Your dialogue is more colorful and freeform than other videos I've seen, makes it much easier to stay engaged! 😁

Also - HOW did you know I was wanting to run another game soon? There cannot be coincidence that everything in this video applies to my current DMing situation, so the only logical solution is you're a shapeshifting spy, or an omnipotent deity gathering a following by creating useful content online

I'm onto you...

[kadie]

😂 the exceedingly more desperate cries of „plan! Plan!“ - pure perfection 👌

[b-you-tube]

Thanks for this video. OGAS is very helpful. I would appreciate a video that goes into more detail about breaking down a campaign into a series of adventures