Running an RPG Campaign: The Basic Approach

As a Campaign, Mythic Figurines The Athetican Realm has just celebrated its sixth (6) gaming year. The use of figurines dramatically enhances the gaming experience, especially for those who take great pride in displaying their latest masterpiece.

Ultimately, it’s all about what works for you, the players, and creating an enjoyable shared experience.

Below is how we go about creating adventures/campaigns. It works for us; it may or may not work for you.

Now lets get to the basics:

1. Essentials

A campaign is a series of adventures that may be linked or not.
Start small with a simple adventure and keep things simple, e.g., find a missing person.
Starting simple allows:
1. You to get comfortable with the rules, dynamics, and players.
2. The players to get used to you!
Is the Campaign / Adventure setting on Earth?
Decide the period setting you want, e.g., Medieval, Victorian Age, Stone-Age, Sci-fi, present-day, etc.
1. Or ask the players what they want? Or don’t like?
2. The period determines what weapons/armour may or may not exist, i.e., guns, muskets, bow, crossbows, full plate, nuclear weapons, etc.
If in doubt at any time, refer to Point 2.
After the first couple of adventures, you’ll have plenty of feedback/ideas on what works or doesn’t work to move forward.

These are the very basic steps to get into the hobby of managing an RPG Campaign, or even provide guidance and being a dedicated player.

dungeon and dragons players manual image

2. Players and the Campaign

The players will always take the game in a direction you didn’t want, expect or plan.
1. This is a good thing! It shows the players are engaged and thinking.
You will never have everything worked out, planned, or prepared.
1. Why? As the players will be making the direction of the game, your plan might resolve in various manners.
2. The Solution? Think ahead! But most importantly keep trying to improvise and going with the players flow.
Prepare as much as you can to meet the “keep it simple rule” at a minimum for each session.
The Campaign will evolve as you play more. Each time you’ll add more background history, NPC’s and Plot Twists, etc.
1. Or, have an ending in mind and work backward? How did it all start? How did they end up here?
2. DropBox, Google Drive, etc., are great for sharing materials out of a session with players.
Get a copy of the RPG Rule Books, read them, and understand the basics.
1. How to resolve combat, cast spells, take damage, etc.
Treat the Rule Books as guidelines and reference material, NOT rigid law.
And most importantly: Have as much fun as possible!

After nailing down these basic tips you’re more than ready to face the RPG campaigns like a true inhabitant created by the dungeon master, you will then act as a fundamental piece for either victory or death!

Let us know what you think. Share your experiences with running desktop campaigns using miniatures and figurines.

Mythic Figurines will continue to release new races and characters throughout 2023