Story First Campaigns

Streamline Your Storytelling and Create Immersive Adventures

Campaign Creation Process

This campaign process is designed to help RPG Game Masters (GMs) craft, plan, and run engaging campaigns with ease. The goal is to enable AI (ChatGPT) to assist you in creating your campaign and getting you to run your first session. This process will generate a campaign planning guide that you will feed an AI tool like, ChatGPT, NotebookLM, The Game Master Platform or Gemini, to train the AI on what your campaign is all about. By doing this, you will create an AI assistant helping you to build and run your campaign.

It breaks down the creative process into clear, actionable steps, enabling you to transform an idea into a cohesive and dynamic adventure. Storytelling is the heart of an engaging campaign, weaving player choices into a dynamic narrative that brings the world to life.

To keep your campaign exciting and immersive, balance the ebb and flow of encounters and emotional beats:

Alternate between high-stakes action and quiet moments of discovery to maintain pacing.
Include a mix of combat, exploration, role-playing, and resource management encounters.
Guide your players through emotional highs and lows, shaping character arcs that grow and evolve over the campaign.
Use twists sparingly to disrupt expectations and create memorable moments.

This balance ensures your campaign remains engaging while providing space for players to explore, strategize, and immerse themselves in the story.

Example Campaign Planning Guide (PDF) >>

By now you should have a solid campaign idea. If not, you can use this Campaign Idea Generator to generate ideas.

Build a Cohesive Campaign: Organize story arcs, acts, and encounters into a logical, engaging progression.
Enhance Player Engagement: Tie character backstories to the overarching narrative, local conflicts, and global stakes giving the players agency within the campaign.
Create Engaging Encounters: Create encounters that are memorable, taking players from highs and lows as they make their way through the campaign.
Streamline Session Prep: Simplify encounter design, NPC motivations, and the integration of player actions.
Adapt to Player Choices: Incorporate flexible elements to respond to player agency and dice-driven outcomes.

Campaign
- Definition: The overarching story or narrative journey that unfolds over multiple sessions. A campaign serves as the "book" of your RPG experience, ranging from a short, self-contained story to an epic saga that spans months or years. It encapsulates the themes, conflicts, and goals of the story, providing a framework for the players’ adventures and character development.
Story Arc
- Definition: A major storyline within the campaign, often revolving around a central conflict, goal, or theme. Story arcs form the foundation of the campaign’s narrative, highlighting key turning points, challenges, and resolutions. They are the "acts" in the larger "book" of the campaign, guiding the progression of the story and the evolution of the characters.
Act
- Definition: A distinct chapter or phase within the story arc. Acts divide the campaign into smaller, more manageable narrative beats, each with its own focus, stakes, and objectives. Acts help GMs structure gameplay, ensuring pacing and player engagement as the story unfolds.
Encounter
- Definition: A scenario or challenge presented to the players, requiring them to make decisions, take actions, and react to the world around them. Encounters are the building blocks of gameplay and can include combat, exploration, roleplay, puzzles, or social interactions.
  - Key Encounter Types:
    - Combat Encounters: Battles with enemies or monsters.
    - Exploration Encounters: Discovering new locations or solving environmental challenges.
    - Roleplay Encounters: Interacting with NPCs to uncover information or build alliances.
    - Puzzle/Trap Encounters: Solving riddles or disarming traps to progress.
    - Dynamic Encounters: Scenarios that adapt based on player choices or actions.
Campaign Outline
- Definition: A high-level summary of the campaign, used to map out the narrative, key conflicts, and major characters. This outline serves as the blueprint for the GM and can be used to train AI or assist in collaborative campaign development.
Modified Story Spine
- Definition: A narrative framework adapted from Pixar’s Story Spine, guiding GMs in structuring their story with clear beginnings, middles, and ends. It helps ensure that the story remains cohesive while allowing flexibility for player-driven choices.
Problems
- Definition: The challenges, obstacles, and conflicts the players must overcome during the campaign. These can be broken into:
  - Global Problem: The overarching issue that drives the campaign’s primary narrative, impacting the entire world or setting.
  - Local Problems: Smaller, more immediate challenges tied to specific characters, regions, or acts, often stemming from the global problem.
Backstory
- Definition: The personal history of a player character, providing depth and motivation. Backstories often tie into the story arc, creating a personal stake for the character and enhancing roleplay opportunities.
Resolutions
- Definition: The outcomes of the players’ actions and decisions, determined through gameplay and dice rolls. Resolutions close out story arcs, acts, and encounters, shaping the narrative and influencing the campaign’s trajectory.

3 Steps to Running Your First Session

Step 1: Complete Campaign Planning Document
- Build tension with main problem
- Build secondary problems tied to players backstories
- Determine key antagonist(s)
- Create hooks to pull players into the story, the goal is to give your players a reason, meaning, for being in your campaign.
Step 2: Outline Key Encounters (4-7 encounters)
- Identify key encounter types (Combat, Storytelling, Exploring)
- Strong Start planning
- What if planning
- Rule of cool planning
- Add twist(s)
Step 3: Prepare and Run Session 1
- Tips for running your first session, be prepared
- Be flexible
- Say Yes, but...
- Session Summary Template

Here are a few great videos to watch regarding storytelling. These are based on movies, but a lot of learnings can be adapted for creating high quality engaging campaigns.

Story Telling

Search video...

Kurt Vonnegut on the Shapes of Stories

04:37

Play Video

The Game Master Platform Overview Final

07:12

Play Video

Endings: The Good, the Bad, and the Insanely Great

01:30:13

Play Video

Step 1: Campaign Template

The main purpose of the first step is to get a strong understanding of your campaign. What the AI produces will not be final, but a starting point. You will need to edit the content to get to a final document.

We will use ChatGPT to help us create our campaign template. Use the prompt to create your template. If you want to see what is in the template check out the Campaign Template tab.

1. Campaign Overview

Campaign Title:
Name your campaign to reflect its themes or central story arc.
Campaign System:
(e.g., Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, etc.)
World and Setting:
Describe the world where the campaign takes place. Include the tone, theme, major regions, and notable features.
Themes and Tone:
What are the central themes (e.g., redemption, betrayal, survival)? What is the tone (e.g., grim, hopeful, epic)?

2. Story Structure

Story Arc

Primary Conflict:
What is the central conflict or problem driving the campaign?
(Example: A cursed heirloom must be restored to save a dying village.)
Secondary Arcs:
What additional storylines or subplots exist? These can involve key NPCs, player backstories, or side quests.

Story Spine

Use this structure to outline your campaign's progression:
- Once upon a time, there was...
- Every day...
- Until one day...
- Because of that...
- Until finally...

3. The Assemblage of Heroes

Key Characters:
Who are the players' characters? What motivates them?
(Example: Ronan Stormheart, a paladin seeking redemption for his family's sins.)
Backstories:
Tie each character's backstory to the campaign. Select or create archetypes like “The Restless Dreamer” or “Bound by a Promise.”

4. Important NPCs

Key NPCs:
Who are the critical non-player characters, and what motivates them?
(Example: Greta Thornwillow, a weary village elder guiding the heroes.)
Antagonists:
Who are the main antagonists, and what are their goals?
(Example: Lord Alaric, a noble seeking to exploit the heirloom’s power.)

5. Problems

Global Problem:
What is the overarching problem affecting the world or setting?
(Example: A powerful artifact has been shattered, spreading a curse across the land.)
Local Problems:
What smaller, act-specific problems exist?
(Example: The first shard of the heirloom lies in a forest guarded by hostile spirits.)

6. Catalyst for the Quest

Triggering Event:
What event starts the adventure?
(Examples: A bandit attack, a vision from a restless spirit, or a plea from the village elder.)

7. Campaign Acts

Act 1: Introduction

Level Range: (e.g., Levels 1–3)
Sessions: (e.g., Sessions 1–3)
Focus: Introduce the world, NPCs, and primary problem. Tie player backstories into the story arc.
Key Encounters:
(Example: Encounter with bandits holding a shard of the heirloom.)

Act 2: Escalation

Level Range: (e.g., Levels 4–6)
Sessions: (e.g., Sessions 4–6)
Focus: Deepen the stakes with secondary arcs and challenges. Introduce moral dilemmas or conflicting goals.
Key Encounters:
(Example: Confronting the corrupt noble seeking to keep the curse active.)

Act 3: Resolution

Level Range: (e.g., Levels 7–9)
Sessions: (e.g., Sessions 7–9)
Focus: Conclude the story arc, resolving global and local problems.
Key Encounters:
(Example: Final battle against the spirit of the shattered artifact.)

8. Resolutions

Possible Outcomes:
What are the potential results of the campaign?
(Example: Success: The heirloom is restored, and the curse is lifted. Failure: The village succumbs to darkness.)

9. Rewards

Physical Rewards:
(Example: The reforged heirloom.)
Character Rewards:
(Example: Ronan’s Redemption Shield, tied to his backstory.)
Narrative Rewards:
(Example: The players gain the trust of the village and its allies.)

Step 2: Encounters

The main purpose of the second step is to outline the encounters that will make up the acts with a goal of creating, in detail, the encounters for act 1. Once you play your first session and you know what happened, then you can go back and flesh out the details of act 2.

Encounters are the building blocks of your campaign. Sometimes, an encounter can be as simple as a brief idea or bullet point outlining what might happen. Other times, it can be a fully detailed plan, complete with an integrated storyline, crafted NPCs, designed maps, written dialogue, and well-thought-out strategies.

Regardless of your approach, starting your session with a strong foundation is key. Consider brainstorming a few "what if" scenarios, applying the Rule of Cool to enhance player enjoyment, and introducing an unexpected twist at the right moment. These elements will help bring your campaign to life, immersing your players and making them feel like a vital part of your world.

The first five minutes of your session are crucial for grabbing your players' attention and setting the tone for the game. Whether it's revealing a surprising piece of information, introducing a compelling new NPC, or launching straight into an intense combat encounter, your goal is to engage your players right from the start.

Here are some additional ideas to ensure a strong opening:

Flashback or Vision: Begin with a brief flashback or vision tied to a character’s backstory or the overarching plot. This can provide context while drawing players into the narrative.
In-Media-Res: Start in the middle of an exciting event, such as a chase, a heated argument, or a mysterious discovery, to throw players immediately into the action.
Puzzle or Dilemma: Present the players with a quick puzzle or moral dilemma that they must solve or address before proceeding.
Character Highlight: Focus on a single player character by spotlighting a moment related to their personal arc, like a message from a mentor or a memory surfacing in a tense moment.
Unusual Setting: Open with the party in a strange or unexpected location, such as awakening in a dreamlike realm or stranded in a precarious situation.

No matter which approach you choose, the key is to make the first five minutes memorable and engaging. Hook your players early, and they’ll be eager to dive into the adventure ahead.

When planning encounters, it’s helpful to consider five possible what if outcomes. While some are more likely than others, preparing for each ensures you're ready for whatever your players decide. Using AI can streamline this process, helping to generate detailed notes for each possibility.

Here are the five encounter outcomes I prepare for:

Parley: The players attempt to talk their way through the encounter, whether by negotiating, persuading, or intimidating.
Trick: The players use cunning tactics, such as stealth, ambush, or creating a distraction, to bypass the encounter.
Combat: The players choose to fight their way through, engaging directly with the challenge.
Discover: The players uncover or leverage information—like clues, lore, or weaknesses—to navigate the encounter successfully.
Avoid: The players decide to skip the encounter altogether, using ingenuity or circumvention.

In the Game Master Platform, I use an AI assistant to prepare notes for each of these outcomes. This ensures I’m ready to adapt to my players' choices, keeping the session dynamic and engaging.

The Rule of Cool: Putting Players First

The Rule of Cool is a guiding principle for GMs, designed to keep the focus of the game where it belongs—on the players. It serves as a reminder that the heart of any campaign lies in creating memorable and exciting moments for the group.

The Rule of Cool states:
"Wouldn't it be cool if {insert player name} was able to {insert something awesome} during this session?"

By thinking in these terms, the GM can craft or adjust encounters to set up scenarios where players have the opportunity to shine. It’s not just about tailoring the experience but ensuring the players feel like heroes in their own story.

Expanding the Rule of Cool

To take this concept even further, consider these approaches:

Spotlight Moments for Each Player: Actively think of ways to let every player have a moment to shine. Whether it’s the rogue pulling off an impossible heist, the wizard bending reality with a well-placed spell, or the fighter smashing through a barricade, build scenarios that play to individual strengths.
Encourage Creativity: When players propose bold, creative, or unconventional solutions, lean into the idea. Even if their plan isn’t in the rulebook, find ways to reward ingenuity and make the attempt epic.
Foreshadow Opportunities: Drop subtle hints earlier in the session about something the players could use later. For example, if you know the bard loves dramatic speeches, plant an NPC who needs inspiring at a critical moment.
Big Payoffs: Create setups for those "legendary moments" players will talk about for years. Maybe the barbarian leaps from a burning airship to bring down a dragon, or the paladin uses divine intervention to stop an undead army.
Collaborate with Player Backstories: Tie "cool" moments to a player’s backstory or character arc. Did the ranger lose their family to marauding bandits? Set up a chance for them to confront their nemesis in a cinematic showdown.
Break the Rules (When Necessary): Sometimes, the rule of fun outweighs the written rules. If bending or even breaking a rule makes for a better, more memorable experience, do it—provided it enhances the game for everyone.

Making the Rule of Cool Practical

When preparing your session, take a few minutes to brainstorm, with the AI, scenarios where each player can do something extraordinary. Think about their abilities, personality, and what they might enjoy most. Keep these questions in mind:

What unique skills or traits could this character use in an unexpected way?
How can I set the stage for an epic or emotionally resonant moment?
Are there challenges or conflicts they could solve in a spectacular fashion?

The Rule of Cool isn’t about making the game easy; it’s about making it unforgettable. It helps players feel empowered, engaged, and like they’re the stars of an epic tale.

The Power of Twists in Your Campaign

Introducing a twist at the right moment can elevate your session, turning an ordinary encounter into a memorable event your players will talk about for years. Twists add intrigue, challenge expectations, and keep players engaged by encouraging them to think on their feet.

While twists are powerful tools, it’s important to use them sparingly. A well-timed twist that feels organic to the story can enhance your game, while too many can dilute their impact or frustrate players.

Using Twists Thoughtfully

To make a twist impactful:

Tie it to the Story: Ensure the twist feels like a natural extension of your world and story. It should surprise players, not feel out of place.
Focus on Player Impact: A twist should create opportunities for your players to act or make decisions, not just serve as a plot device.
Time It Right: Introduce twists at moments when the players are fully engaged—during climactic scenes, tense negotiations, or just when they think they’ve solved the puzzle.

Examples of Twists

Here are a few ideas to inspire twists in your game:

Revealed Ally or Foe: An NPC the players trust turns out to have their own hidden agenda, or an apparent enemy is revealed to be an ally working undercover.
Shifting Objectives: Just as the players think they’ve achieved their goal, circumstances change. For example, the artifact they retrieve begins to corrupt them, or the rescued villager reveals critical information that changes the stakes.
Unforeseen Consequences: An action the players took earlier comes back to haunt them. Perhaps they spared an enemy who now returns with reinforcements, or a forgotten choice leads to a new challenge.
Environmental Change: The battlefield changes dramatically during an encounter. A raging storm, collapsing ground, or rising floodwaters force the players to adapt their strategies.
Mysterious Interference: A new faction or entity suddenly appears, disrupting the encounter. This could be a rival adventuring party, a powerful monster, or even a deity making their presence known.
Deceptive Victory: After defeating the "big bad," the players realize it was just a puppet for a greater villain pulling the strings.
Personal Connection: An NPC or creature involved in the encounter has a personal tie to one of the characters, such as a lost sibling, former mentor, or someone tied to their backstory.
False Threat: What appears to be a dangerous enemy or situation turns out to be harmless—or even helpful—but only after the players take actions based on their assumptions.
Magic Gone Awry: A spell or magical item used during the encounter produces an unexpected effect, altering the situation in ways the players must adapt to.
Unstable Ally: A companion aiding the party turns out to have unpredictable behavior or hidden motives that surface at a critical moment.

Enhancing Your Sessions with Twists

By introducing thoughtful and well-timed twists, you can create dynamic, engaging sessions that challenge and delight your players. Remember, the goal is to keep them on their toes while enriching the story and providing opportunities for creativity and role-play. When done right, a single twist can transform your campaign and make it truly unforgettable.

We will use ChatGPT to help us create our session 1 encounters. Use the prompt to help plan session 1. If you want to see what is in the template check out the Encounter Template tab.

1. Campaign Overview

Campaign Title:
Name your campaign to reflect its themes or central story arc.
Campaign System:
(e.g., Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, etc.)
World and Setting:
Describe the world where the campaign takes place. Include the tone, theme, major regions, and notable features.
Themes and Tone:
What are the central themes (e.g., redemption, betrayal, survival)? What is the tone (e.g., grim, hopeful, epic)?

2. Story Structure

Story Arc

Primary Conflict:
What is the central conflict or problem driving the campaign?
(Example: A cursed heirloom must be restored to save a dying village.)
Secondary Arcs:
What additional storylines or subplots exist? These can involve key NPCs, player backstories, or side quests.

Story Spine

Use this structure to outline your campaign's progression:
- Once upon a time, there was...
- Every day...
- Until one day...
- Because of that...
- Until finally...

3. The Assemblage of Heroes

Key Characters:
Who are the players' characters? What motivates them?
(Example: Ronan Stormheart, a paladin seeking redemption for his family's sins.)
Backstories:
Tie each character's backstory to the campaign. Select or create archetypes like “The Restless Dreamer” or “Bound by a Promise.”

4. Important NPCs

Key NPCs:
Who are the critical non-player characters, and what motivates them?
(Example: Greta Thornwillow, a weary village elder guiding the heroes.)
Antagonists:
Who are the main antagonists, and what are their goals?
(Example: Lord Alaric, a noble seeking to exploit the heirloom’s power.)

5. Problems

Global Problem:
What is the overarching problem affecting the world or setting?
(Example: A powerful artifact has been shattered, spreading a curse across the land.)
Local Problems:
What smaller, act-specific problems exist?
(Example: The first shard of the heirloom lies in a forest guarded by hostile spirits.)

6. Catalyst for the Quest

Triggering Event:
What event starts the adventure?
(Examples: A bandit attack, a vision from a restless spirit, or a plea from the village elder.)

7. Campaign Acts

Act 1: Introduction

Level Range: (e.g., Levels 1–3)
Sessions: (e.g., Sessions 1–3)
Focus: Introduce the world, NPCs, and primary problem. Tie player backstories into the story arc.
Key Encounters:
(Example: Encounter with bandits holding a shard of the heirloom.)

Act 2: Escalation

Level Range: (e.g., Levels 4–6)
Sessions: (e.g., Sessions 4–6)
Focus: Deepen the stakes with secondary arcs and challenges. Introduce moral dilemmas or conflicting goals.
Key Encounters:
(Example: Confronting the corrupt noble seeking to keep the curse active.)

Act 3: Resolution

Level Range: (e.g., Levels 7–9)
Sessions: (e.g., Sessions 7–9)
Focus: Conclude the story arc, resolving global and local problems.
Key Encounters:
(Example: Final battle against the spirit of the shattered artifact.)

8. Encounters

For each encounter, provide the following details:

Name of Encounter:
(Example: Forest of Shadows)
Type:
(Combat, Exploration, Roleplay, Puzzle, Dynamic)
Purpose:
How does this encounter tie to the story?
Challenge Level:
(Match the encounter to the party’s abilities.)
Key Details:
Include enemies, NPCs, or environmental challenges.
Player Choices:
What decisions might the players face, and how will those affect the story?

9. Resolutions

Possible Outcomes:
What are the potential results of the campaign?
(Example: Success: The heirloom is restored, and the curse is lifted. Failure: The village succumbs to darkness.)

10. Rewards

Physical Rewards:
(Example: The reforged heirloom.)
Character Rewards:
(Example: Ronan’s Redemption Shield, tied to his backstory.)
Narrative Rewards:
(Example: The players gain the trust of the village and its allies.)

Story First Campaigns

Campaign Creation Process

​​3 Steps to Running Your First Session

Story Telling

Kurt Vonnegut on the Shapes of Stories

The Game Master Platform Overview Final

Endings: The Good, the Bad, and the Insanely Great

Step 1: Campaign Template

Step 2: Encounters

3 Steps to Running Your First Session