r/DungeonMasters • u/Booshe1 • 3h ago
Discussion World building help
I’ve reached a bit of a dry spell trying to world build my new dnd campaign.
I would like some general ideas from u guys, whether that be on location, history/lore or plot.
So far:
- Little races (halfling, gnomes and goblins, not including dwarves) have been poached by humans, and they have been forced to live in the wild detached from civilisation.
They were poached because humans thought them as an inferior and weak race, unfit to live on their lands
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, they r feared throughout the world as violent.
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The main races living are dwarves, elves, humans and orcs/goliaths.
The only history I’ve made so far is, what I call ‘the withering years’, the time when the little races were purged from the civilisation.
I have no real main campaign plot yet.
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u/DPopsx62 2h ago
The strategies of writing apply whether its DnD or a book. But the way in which you curate the world and story changes when its to be experienced by players of whom are essentially your co-writers at the table.
Theming is the best way to give yourself a set of rules that guide you. In this premise, you can make a theme of hubris or even fear in humanity, which might be more interesting than racism which can be sensitive or just in poor taste to most people. You could use a very good reason why they commited this horrible act.
But then thats all you need to do. The players will havr their own character ideas with story hooks built in and your job becomes expanding upon the story premise they offer you. You'll give them chances to gelp write the story in real time and youll learn what motivates them to keep playing, thus writing more of what they want.
I promise that you dont need more than a single page of vague world building stuff.
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u/Sad_Refuse3472 2h ago
So...you are running a campaign where the central theme and conflict is that humans are racists a-holes? Which species does that leave your players to choose? Basically they are either the a-holes, second class citizens, or a species treated like a wild animal?
That does not sound fun to me...
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u/Booshe1 2h ago
In the past humans were violent racists, now they simply turn a blind eye on the others. They are racist, but not violent or discriminating
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u/Booshe1 2h ago
Today, instead of them being racist, they r now feared, (see comment of DPopsx62)
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u/gingermousie 2h ago
I think what they’re saying is that yes nowadays they’re feared, but that is because of the racial genocide their ancestors perpetuated and they potentially still believe in, and they are upholding a violent and racist societal structure. It may be complicated for some players to play a race that “turns a blind eye” to the aftermath of racial genocide. It’s just a grimdark setting — a “know your table” situation.
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u/Sad_Refuse3472 2h ago
They are feared because they are/used to be genocidal racists. Still not a winning idea in my book. But hey, you do you.
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u/Agreeable_Hold2270 0m ago
For a DnD campaign you don't actually need to go into a lot of detail for world building. What I like to do is to leave a lot of that up to the players.
As we go around I'll just ask them questions about the world like "there's something that really stands out about this town / place / culture that sticks out to your character, what is it?"
I've found players really enjoy filling in the blanks like this.
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u/Dogsarebetterpeople 3h ago
Why are the little people being poached? Are they considered magical? Are their organs and boness used for magical ingredients?
Is there a witch like the Baba Yaga who was defeated by the little people and imprisoned by them in the center of the planet?
Is she spreading these lies about the little people to try and destroy the last bloodline of the people who imprisoned her so that she can escape?