Why So Serious?

During my last Adventure’s League session, we played through the manticore encounter in the Princes of the Apocalypse module. Our half-orc barbarian set himself up as the comic relief and hero member of the group, as he took one dare after the next, and succeeded in each one with authentic die rolls, astounding us and our DM equally. He pretty much won the encounter for us, and we players all had a couple hours of fun and laughs. D&D as it was meant to be.

But what if that player had been unable to attend that session? We have been playing for a few weeks now, and I have a good read on the personalities of the other characters, and can say that none of us are playing overtly humorous characters. Without our half-orc, I don’t think that evening would have been near as funny as it was.

Not only is it in the DM hands to set the facts and figures of each session, the DM should also be aware of the tone of the game, as well as the persona of the PCs. Every now and then, or as often as you and your players like, set them up with some humor on purpose. Don’t always count on a player to bring it to the table.

In my current video gaming craze is the game Dying Light. Right in the midst of a plague outbreak turning those infected into zombies, there’s a side mission which lightens up the mood of the game, and did much to draw me deeper into the game. It helped me realize I didn’t have to work so hard to save everyone, that there are some people who are dealing with the current atrocity in their own way, and may just make it through okay. Click the link to see the mission, A Baby is Born, in play.

Not every session has to be the PCs pitted against all the evils of their world. Don’t let your DM legacy be all doom and gloom. Give PCs a fun and funny break every once in awhile, and lead them into purely comedic adventures they may not encounter on their own. Role ‘em!   

Campaign Ideas

As I’m taking fresh, new steps to returning to the DM groove, I’ve been digging out notes on campaign ideas I’ve jotted down over the past 4 years or so. In my thoughts, and on paper (yes, real paper), I have 5 solid scenarios that I think could become full campaigns. I’ll list them in basic details here, in case someone else is looking for a spark for their own campaign ideas.

Souls in Chaos

This campaign is based on The Chaos Scar campaign from 4th edition, with a dash of Skyrim. In mine, the meteor broke into a bagazijillion pieces before impact, and those pieces flew out and landed from one end of the land to the other. They range in size from shards small enough to fit in your palm, to large chunks the size of ogre heads. It somehow becomes discovered that, with the proper application of magic, the rocks make for a source of power. The PCs slowly work to uncover the secrets of the rocks as they journey to ground zero.

Dungeon Keeper

A PC somehow comes into possession of a sprawling underground dungeon complex. There is something fantastically valuable somewhere within, and the PCs venture down to search it out. Other beings learn of the complex, and possibly the item, and begin making their way into the complex. PCs now must contend with invaders while searching.

Magiclysm

A long time ago, or perhaps early in the lives of the PCs, a terrible event happened to the force of magic throughout the world. Magic is outlawed in the civilized places, and those who can make use of it are shunned and hunted. Could the PCs be the ones to find out what turned magic so, and change it?

Zombie Apocalypse

The Walking Dead, D&D style.

Subterranean Homesick Blues

Basically, the Fallout scenario in the realm of D&D. Something happened that forced all formerly above-ground dwelling races into moving below ground. To go above ground during the day is extremely dangerous. To go above ground at night is death.

Now, to start the hunt for a compatible group of players and PCs, and run these ideas by them to see which one they may be most interested in. By summer’s end I hope to be in DM mode in one of these campaigns.

Awesome Pixel Art

Canvas Cycle

Just take a look at this. With each image, my imagination was already writing up the encounter it could be used for. Awesome.