Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 SnappGamez May 16, 2015 20:33:40	Hello! I am SnappGamez, I am new to Dungeons & Dragons, and I need some help.   Me and my friends have suggested to play our first D&D session next week on Monday, during school. I've offered to be the DM, as I have an idea for a campaign called Nithorian Tales whereas the party is shipwrecked on a forgotten island nation and have to save it from an ancient evil. However, I am unsure as of how to go about this. I'm thinking about making it up one session at a time as to avoid rairoading (aka making up everything giving the players little say as to how the story goes), but what else do I need? Please help me figure this out.
#2 OGRE1984 May 17, 2015 7:11:45	that is called sandbox style of play.  have an outline of events, locations, NPCs. some people flounder when given too much freedom so be ready to give direction. foreshadowing is useful for building a sense of drama and continuity, my favorite is the dream sequence where something is trying to communicate with them or general visions of apocolypse. old dragon magazine article "if you wing it, make a flight plan", if you can find it. you tube videos on DM binders and session prep can be useful as well. using notecards for session prep is my favorite
#3 SnappGamez May 17, 2015 11:16:50	Hmm. Thank you for that. I'll take it into account. Though, what are the other styles of play? Just wondering.
#4 BRJN May 20, 2015 17:53:17	Have there be several islands in this nation.  Also (shades of Gilligan's Island) the ocean currents tend to pull you towards another island if you get lost at sea.  This offers the chance to have each island be a bit different.  - If your group likes to chase Orcs, one island has been invaded / overrun and must be rescued. - If they prefer political manipulations, the islands are headed toward civil war or independence movements. - Every group needs a safe base to recover after dangerous adventures; one island can be just that. - If the group likes to make money via merchant trade or con man tricks, one island can be a Free Market where the normal laws do not apply - as long as you stay on dry land. - A "nature preserve" island gives them the chance to fight beasties and weather.  Maybe while looking for a long-lost temple / city / ruins? - Place the islands like the Aegean Sea: there is always one or two islands in sight from any given point.  From atop a high hill you can see three or four other islands.  (Some of the islands may be no bigger than a palm tree's shadow.)
(Reply to #3) OGRE1984	SnappGamez wrote: