Breaking away from the “you all meet in a tavern” trope creates opportunities for immersive and memorable beginnings. Strong openings not only set the tone for your campaign but also foster connections among the characters. Here’s how to make your party’s first moments together truly stand out, complete with why each concept works and examples from official D&D modules.
For each starting scenario I provide an AI template to be used for ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Perplexity, for you to copy and paste.
Step 1: Tell the AI about your campaign and then have it complete the simple campaign template or you can use the campaign idea GPT.
Step 2: In the same chat window ask the AI to complete the template for how you want to begin your campaign. Copy and paste the entire name, concept, why it works, example and template.
The campaign template should be used in conjunction with your creative ways template. Ask the AI to read your starting campaign template and then ask the AI to complete the begin your campaign template.
Example Simple Campaign Template
9 Creative Ways to Begin Your Campaign
The start of a campaign is where the magic begins—it’s your chance to hook players, establish the world, and bring the party together in a way that feels meaningful. While the classic tavern opening is a staple of D&D, stepping outside this trope can add depth and excitement to your story. From surviving a siege to embarking on a daring heist, these nine starting types offer fresh and dynamic ways to kick off your adventure and forge bonds between characters.
1. The Wrong Place at the Right Time
Concept: Characters are thrust together by an uncontrollable event—a natural disaster, siege, or other chaotic scenario. Cooperation becomes a matter of survival.
Why It Works: This approach creates instant tension, establishes stakes, and gives the party a shared experience to bond over. It also allows for immediate action, pulling players into the game without lengthy exposition.
Example Module: Out of the Abyss – The characters start as prisoners in the Underdark, forced to escape together after a sudden opportunity arises.
AI Template: The Wrong Place at the Wrong Time
2. The Crossroads
Concept: A location where paths converge becomes the meeting point for characters with their own reasons for being there. An event or situation forces them to interact.
Why It Works: Crossroads settings naturally draw diverse characters into one place. The shared location can serve as a neutral ground while also hinting at larger plot elements, such as factions or conflicts.
Example Module: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist – Waterdeep’s bustling city setting brings adventurers together through shared interests or encounters with powerful NPCs like Volo.
AI Template: The Crossroads
3. The Summoning
Concept: A powerful force or individual calls the characters together, whether through a royal decree, a divine vision, or a magical ritual.
Why It Works: This approach provides a clear reason for the party to exist while leaving room for personal motivations. It immediately ties the group to the campaign’s overarching conflict or mystery.
Example Module: Curse of Strahd – The party is summoned to Barovia through mysterious letters or supernatural forces, setting them on a collision course with Strahd.
AI Template: The Summoning
4. The Relic’s Call
Concept: A powerful artifact or phenomenon attracts the characters, each for their own reasons. Once there, they are drawn into a shared quest.
Why It Works: This approach adds intrigue and mystery while providing personal stakes for each character. It’s perfect for campaigns with strong magical or exploratory themes.
Example Module: Tomb of Annihilation – The Death Curse caused by the Soulmonger pulls adventurers to Chult, where they must uncover its secrets.
AI Template: The Relic's Call
5. The Escape
Concept: The characters begin in captivity and must work together to escape, overcoming shared obstacles and forging bonds along the way.
Why It Works: A shared struggle creates camaraderie. This setup allows you to introduce a major antagonist or faction while giving players immediate action and teamwork opportunities.
Example Module: Out of the Abyss – The characters escape drow captivity, starting their journey through the perilous Underdark.
AI Template: The Escape
6. The Heist
Concept: The party is assembled for a daring mission, whether hired, blackmailed, or motivated by personal goals.
Why It Works: Heists encourage creativity and collaboration while allowing characters to showcase their skills. The moral ambiguity of many heist scenarios can also create interesting dynamics.
Example Module: Keys from the Golden Vault – A collection of heist-themed adventures where characters must steal powerful items, often working together under intense pressure.
AI Template: The Heist
7. The Trial
Concept: The party comes together as participants in a challenge, test, or initiation. Success often hinges on teamwork.
Why It Works: Trials allow players to showcase their characters’ skills early while building a sense of camaraderie through shared danger. They also create natural opportunities to introduce important factions or NPCs.
Example Module: Candlekeep Mysteries – In The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces, characters are tested as they navigate a magical library filled with puzzles and dangers.
AI Template: The Trial
8. The Unified Banner
Concept: The characters are already part of the same organization, such as a mercenary company, guild, or religious order, giving them a built-in connection.
Why It Works: Starting with shared loyalties and goals establishes trust among characters and sets up easy hooks for the campaign. This approach is especially useful for group cohesion.
Example Module: Tyranny of Dragons – Characters often start as members of factions like the Harpers or the Order of the Gauntlet, working together to oppose the Cult of the Dragon.
AI Template: The Unified Banner
9. The Great Hunt
Concept: The characters are all pursuing the same target—a creature, fugitive, treasure, or artifact. Whether as allies or rivals, they must unite to achieve their goal.
Why It Works: The hunt creates immediate focus and urgency while allowing for tension and competition. It also provides an easy way to introduce key elements of the world and campaign.
Example Module: Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden – The party often begins by pursuing creatures or resources tied to the Everlasting Rime, which sets the stage for larger threats.
AI Template: The Great Hunt
Let AI take some of the heavy lifting off your shoulders, so you can focus on what matters most: running an unforgettable game. Start your campaign with one of these ideas, and watch your players dive headfirst into the adventure!
The Game Master Platform (TGMP)
TGMP AI is trained on your campaign, encounters, NPCs and more allowing for real-time improvisation when the session goes sideways.
It allows you to prepare for sessions by saving off AI conversations around any topic; from the 5 outcomes to NPC dialog, it helps you prepare for the unpreparable.
It allows you to share images and items helping you to better story tell.
It helps you draft your session notes and saves them for your players to review.
It automatically collects player feedback from the last session.
TGMP saves all chats by encounter allowing for amazing session reflection.
The players can chat with their AI character adding an opportunity to make a more impactful player experience
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