Building Your Own Campaign Setting (with Matthew Mercer) │ Adventuring Academy

Dimension 20・2 minutes read

Matthew Mercer and Brennan Lee Mulligan discuss homebrew settings in D&D, emphasizing themes, storytelling, and player engagement. They stress the importance of aligning worldbuilding with player preferences and balancing realism with thematic elements to create an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience.

Insights

  • Matthew Mercer and Brennan Lee Mulligan highlight the importance of themes in homebrew settings, emphasizing how a strong theme guides worldbuilding ideas, excites players, and informs the unique story being told, showcasing the significance of aligning worldbuilding with agreed-upon play styles and character backgrounds.
  • The discussion underscores the need for sensitivity in using accents for NPCs in games to avoid derogatory portrayals and stereotypes, encouraging appreciation over mockery, while also promoting reflection on representation and diversity in character portrayals, showcasing the depth of thought required for immersive and inclusive storytelling in role-playing games.

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Recent questions

  • How did Mathew Mercer get introduced to D&D?

    Mathew Mercer shared that he was introduced to Dungeons & Dragons through a homebrew game, where he played as a character. This experience sparked his interest in the game and motivated him to start Dungeon Mastering, leading him to create his own worlds for gameplay.

  • What is the importance of having a core theme in homebrew settings?

    Having a core theme in homebrew settings is crucial as it guides worldbuilding ideas, excites players, and informs the unique story being told. Themes like flying people, animal companions, political threads, or a changing world can add depth and coherence to the setting, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

  • How can Dungeon Masters balance player comfort and problem-solving in worldbuilding?

    Dungeon Masters can balance player comfort and problem-solving in worldbuilding by using pragmatic and logistical elements as inspiration without getting lost in unnecessary details. It is essential to align worldbuilding with agreed-upon play styles and character backgrounds to ensure a cohesive and enjoyable gaming experience for all participants.

  • What role does the alignment system play in games like D&D?

    The alignment system in games like Dungeons & Dragons serves as guidelines for character development, aiding players in decision-making by reflecting the cosmology of the setting. While it can be a useful tool for beginners, experienced players may focus more on character personalities and goals rather than strict alignment categories.

  • How can Dungeon Masters encourage player engagement in role-playing?

    Dungeon Masters can encourage player engagement in role-playing by incentivizing character creation with rewards for backstory development, engaging players through small character details and pop culture references, and addressing player disinterest through open discussions and tailored questionnaires. It is crucial to adapt gameplay to align with player preferences and foster a collaborative storytelling experience for all participants.

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Summary

00:00

"Adventuring Academy: Homebrew Settings in D&D"

  • Brennan Lee Mulligan and Mathew Mercer are hosting Adventuring Academy.
  • Mathew Mercer is known for his roles as Dungeon Master of Critical Role, McCree in Overwatch, and Leland in Dimension 20's Escape From the Blood Keep.
  • The discussion revolves around running homebrew settings in D&D and creating worlds for gameplay.
  • Mercer shares his introduction to D&D through a homebrew game and the motivation to start Dungeon Mastering.
  • He initially created a world without knowledge of modules, later realizing their existence.
  • Reading modules helped him understand worldbuilding structures and prepare for sessions.
  • Both hosts emphasize the freedom and creativity that come with homebrew settings.
  • Mercer highlights the cathartic aspect of creating a homebrew world and its potential to inspire other creative pursuits.
  • The importance of a strong theme in homebrew settings is discussed, with Mercer sharing his experience in developing themes for his campaigns.
  • The conversation delves into the personal narratives and viewpoints that individuals may want to express through their homebrew worlds.

11:35

"Guiding Themes Enhance Worldbuilding for Players"

  • Building a setting around themes like flying people and animal companions, political threads, or a changing world.
  • Importance of having a core theme to guide worldbuilding ideas.
  • Having a theme excites players and informs the unique story being told.
  • Organizing worldbuilding around the experience players will have at the table.
  • Differentiating between hyper-realism and thematic worldbuilding.
  • Harry Potter's worldbuilding strength lies in themes like Hogwarts houses, despite logistical inconsistencies.
  • Marrying logistics with tone and mood in worldbuilding.
  • Balancing player comfort and problem-solving in worldbuilding.
  • Using pragmatic and logistical elements as inspiration without getting lost in details.
  • Importance of aligning worldbuilding with agreed-upon play styles and character backgrounds.

22:51

Challenges and Considerations in Role-Playing Games

  • The group attempted to run for 10 hours straight during the night, facing constitution saving throws, creating a challenging encounter.
  • The players rolled 12 constitution saving throws consecutively, leading to intense gameplay and physical reactions.
  • The characters barely reached the final destination before sunrise, showcasing the difficulty of the task.
  • Different settings in role-playing games require varying levels of realism, such as tracking injuries and diseases in low-magic scenarios.
  • Prior discussions among players about themes, tones, and comfort levels are crucial before starting a game to avoid conflicts.
  • Alignment systems in games like D&D serve as guidelines for character development, aiding players in decision-making.
  • The alignment system can be a useful tool for beginners but may become less necessary for experienced players focusing on character personalities and goals.
  • The alignment system in D&D reflects the cosmology of the setting, providing a framework for character morality and choices.
  • Customizing alignment systems to fit cultural contexts or personal preferences can enhance gameplay and storytelling.
  • Using accents for NPCs in games can add immersion but requires sensitivity to avoid derogatory portrayals and stereotypes, emphasizing appreciation over mockery.

34:46

"Enhancing Role-Playing Dynamics in Tabletop Games"

  • Comedy often involves class dynamics, highlighting societal biases and stereotypes.
  • Real-world settings can prompt reflection on representation and diversity in character portrayals.
  • Accent choices in fictional worlds can perpetuate stereotypes or limit cultural diversity.
  • Encourage players to voice discomfort with character portrayals and strive for a variety of accents.
  • Use accents as a cultural layer, not a defining trait, to enrich world-building.
  • Incentivize players to invest in character creation with rewards for backstory development.
  • Engage players in role-playing through small character details and pop culture references.
  • Address player disinterest in role-playing through open discussions and tailored questionnaires.
  • Balance player engagement with the Dungeon Master's role in facilitating a collaborative storytelling experience.
  • Adapt and adjust gameplay to align with player preferences and foster a mutually enjoyable experience.

45:50

Navigating Family Hurt: Character Building and Solutions

  • He hates when families are hurt by the system, guiding them to define their character in the world.
  • There is no definitive answer to solving these issues, but options and tools are available online and in forums for feedback.
  • Adjusting expectations or finding a compatible DM or players may be necessary if initial solutions don't work.
  • When worldbuilding, decide what to flesh out and what to leave vague to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
  • Re-skinning discarded elements like a thieves guild can reintroduce them later in the game.
  • Limit worldbuilding details to two pages for small-scale settings like a city, focusing on key aspects like appearance, society, and major trades.
  • Create just enough pre-work information to facilitate improvisation during gameplay.
  • Macro-scale worldbuilding requires only a few sentences to establish themes and key elements for reference.
  • Be prepared to adapt and change plans based on player actions and unexpected developments during gameplay.
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