Coming up with new campaign or story ideas can be difficult. But here is a simple way to get started!
A 34-year-old Children’s book!
I loved this book as a kid, and if you are not familiar with it here is a sample:
Fortunately, Ned was invited to a surprise party.
Unfortunately, the party was a thousand miles away.
Fortunately, a friend loaned Ned an airplane.
Unfortunately, the motor exploded.
Fortunately, there was a parachute in the airplane.
Unfortunately, there was a hole in the parachute.
What does this have to do with Dungeons & Dragons campaigns? You can use the same kind of back and forth to chart out a free flow of plot points for your story. All you need is a starting point. Let’s us one of our “Game Hooks” (find them here on Instagram) and test this out.
Fortunately, your party has found a nice town to rest in after a long delve in a dungeon.
Unfortunately, a meteor suddenly roars uncomfortably close through the night sky.
Fortunately, It misses the town.
Unfortunately, it flew so close it started several fires throughout town.
Fortunately, almost everyone could get out quickly.
Unfortunately, two kids are trapped in a nearby cottage engulfed in flames…
That’s just a few steps but you can keep this back and forth going until the whole arc of the adventure is done.
You have the first several minutes of the adventure planned. Now its up to the party to take action. Building a story structure like this helps you to ask yourself questions to fill in the gaps. Will they help with the fire brigade? Will they rush in to save the kids? Where did the meteor land? What will they find there?
I hope you are able to use this at your gaming table soon.
May the Dice be ever in your favor,
Jason
