Writing the first D&D session in a new campaign

This video is a very relaxed chat about how I go about writing the first session of a new Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

Music Credits: "MidNyte" by Noir Et Blanc Vie
Used in accordance with YouTube Audio Library guidelines

[poisoncap]

I just wanted to let you know that I'm an aspiring first time DM, and your videos have come to answer my questions exactly as they came up. Not only is your timing impeccable, but your advice is so genuinely helpful. I love your content and can't wait for each video, short or long form.

[lolsfordays]

As a YouTuber, you have so much potential! Keep up the great work. It really is awesome! And I like how you talk like a “normal person”. What I mean is most YouTubers think it’s necessary to have a “speaker voice” but I like your style which sounds like a normal guy having a normal conversation.

[georgehampton]

This is great, I particularly like the combat start as it works well with other points of interest in an area (like a fountain, or a ferry crossing)

[davidu]

Really great how you started by giving the players some limited lore, building their goals and back stories into the basic plot before you even started playing. Smart having players back stories with blank spaces you can just fill in. Excellent advice all around, thank you! 👍 Hoping to see the kitty cat sometime 😃, even if it doesn't jump in your lap but is napping at your feet.

[johncayley]

This is extremely helpful. It is my first time DM'ing just for my wife and son at first. I've just been doing a lot of reading the books, but I want to start planning, and this had great directional info. Thank you!

[theyellowninjadude]

This is all really good advice for first sessions. Not just for new DMs. My current campaign almost started with a TPK, the party choose to attack a spider nest, turns out there were 5 giant spiders, too much for 6 level 1s! Luckily, they were able to escape and come back for round 2!

[bloementuintje]

HiHi! a am a module Dm, So i dont needed any of this! but man! you are smart! you aced everything. loved the vid! New campaigns new pl, around the table. is always! fun.

[jamesblount]

I'm loving this relaxed content and the ideas it is sparking.

[chickeneverythingisfine]

Lets go! Love these videos that are valuable for starting DMs but also a new perspective for experienced ones!

[archimedesd]

Amazing work fella. Just signed up to your patreon (first time for that) and it's definitely the best money I've spent on ttrpg content for a while. Love all this stuff and you clearly have a genuine passion for it which shines through. Thank you.

Love the idea of the clockwork zombie. Just written a tavern opening for my campaign (it's for the kids starting at lvl 1.) And I've had them outside in the rain and written them being cold and hungry looking for warmth. Think I've done pretty well at conveying the pass from the cold outside to a warm and friendly place inside. No one even has any quests although their are basic shops, they get a map and an introduction to some basic characters. Then an old guy bursts in on the edge of death screaming about goblins and asking any heroes to save the village. I wanted to introduce the kids to some classic tropes without making it too obvious, but it seems to work nicely.

[hoshiokashi]

I literally opened youtube to find music as I wrote up my first session, and this video popped up! So happy <3

[whiskeySeen]

Necromancer + artificer = artimancer OR necroficer

[angelalewis]

This video is so helpful! Thank you! I finally see a path forward in how to get a new campaign up and running in a way that goes smoothly for both me and the players.

[kribbu]

Thank you for this info. I've been DMing for 4 years and i got to say that I'm not that great at first session planning. this gave me a lot of insight for when our group starts our next campaign.

[jimmyh.]

OG D&D player and DM, since 1rst edition. I really enjoy your videos. Well done and thank you.

[ObliviousNaga]

I've been taking a different approach to session 1s. My games have revolved around an institute of some sort with my players working for that organization. Each player will discuss how they know each other as they've been working in this place for a period of time. Gives them a clue on what the character is about, gives them a reason to know each other and it gives then a direction as they have a boss that tells them what to do as well as a home base with resources at their disposal. I also run my games a little differently as the whole grand adventure lost its appeal, and I moved onto more bite-sized adventures where my players vote on the type of setting like the horror themed setting in the underdark or a sky ship battle with sahuagin pirates on flying manta rays. It all centers on the core of the institute they work for, whether it be a bounty hunter lodge or an academy that researchers lost magical artifacts that the players acquire. Anyway, back on topic. I always like to have my players just doing normal things, their daily routine or just relaxing in the commons with breakfast cooking while a few npcs mill about with them. A leader will them call them in and give them the rundown of what their mission is, rewards for completion, and any relevant info. I find this a little easier to run for me as there is a clear plot point with an end goal attached. The fun comes from how many twists and turns can I put in to make it exciting and having an established set of npcs that can help them initially, the ones that were passing through or relaxing in the commons with them, I find gives them that added bit of security. The long short of it is that having players all working for someone has relieved a lot of stress on making a group work together for a common goal and that's what works for me

[Griff]

Love how simple and chill this format is. Not even editing out the drinks. 😂 It feels way more conversational and relaxed, and your other videos already feel that way.

Another idea I had during your explanation of the tavern scene, which I'm not a huge fan of for the reasons you mentioned, but will still put here.

How common are people like your players in the world? The tavernkeeper could look up after everyone has arrived and say "not too often a group of dangerous looking strangers like all of you show up at my bar." Could even add him saying "even less often that they all come in separate and pretend not to know each other."

That might help break the tension a little bit, as well as adding a little bit of information about the world, in that people as dangerous as player characters aren't commonly found in civilized places. Even though this might not get the party to speak with each other, it could be an icebreaker before a bigger event happens to bring the party together.

[klaploper]

This came at the perfect time! I am running my first campaign ever next week and have been feeling a little overwhelmed. This video helped a ton!

[larstollardo]

I really hope you become a bigger TTRPG Youtuber!
You're so sympathic and your voice is calming and awesome!
The Vids are informative and fun to watch :)

Keep it up

[jordivrolijkanimation]

Great video🔥! I am currently writing my first first session of the campaign so these tips wil be very useful