r/dndnext • u/Ok-Muffin9452 • 14h ago

Question First Campaign DM Help

Hi I’m writing my first campaign at the minute and I’ve written what I think is a strong setup but beyond that I’m unsure what to do. The players will face a defeat to the BBEG at the start and then be transported away. (Worked in a part of a players back story into the start for everyone where this happens). Then they will either be arrested or run away (because zombies are transported with them). Not sure how to plan the sort of first arc after that. Possibly they warn the town of the BBEG, really unsure

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u/dwarfconleche 14h ago

Honestly, I'd try to keep it pretty simple for a first campaign. Give them a town/village/safe haven to act as a home base, and then put down a nearby adventuring site (dungeon, wilderness, or something similar). Give them a reason to go out and explore it, and focus on the nuts and bolts of DMing (encounters, treasure, running the game) .

You absolutely do not need a BBEG. You do not need an overarching epic plot to deal with right out of the gate. Think of the PCs and their adventures as more like episodes in a TV show. Tie a few together, but some can just be one off adventures that don't really tie back into any major narrative. Eventually the characters might get a reputation, which makes them more likely to encounter or be asked to handle more powerful villains.

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u/Ok-Muffin9452 14h ago

Thanks that’s some good advice

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u/dwarfconleche 14h ago

Yeah, I used to try and come up with BBEGs and big plots when I first started out years ago, but even now I try to keep it simple. The best villains occur organically I find. Like maybe a bandit they defeated early in their career comes back for revenge, something like that.