When running a D&D campaign, the DM is the most important member of the group. In addition to running the game and making sure the players are having fun, the DM also has to deal with everything from rules ambiguities to player character survival. However, DMs don’t just talk to their players; there needs to be a lot of communicating and discussing going on between the DM and their players.
When a Dungeon Master first starts a campaign, there are lots of things that fall on the DM’s shoulders. They need to find a town of which to make a home base, they need to create a story for their characters, and they need to build their characters up with a possible goal for the campaign. But what about the players? They shouldn’t be burdened with all of the heavy lifting, right? That’s why they need to be asked “28 Questions a D&D Player Should Ask Their DM Starting a Campaign”
They say you should throw a party in the midst of the apocalypse. And, sure, this is a great idea for a lot of reasons. First, most parties can be held in just about any location, which is perfect. Then, it’s a great way to get ready for the apocalypse, where there’s a high likelihood of being surrounded in the worst possible situation. So, get your friends and family together, and prepare to party like it’s never been done before.
When you’re starting a brand new D&D Campaign it important to take the temperature of your group and figure out what kind of story you’re going to tell.
In Dungeons & Dragons, communication is crucial, and not only between players.
You’ll need some help from your players if you want to be the greatest Dungeon Master you can be. You’re not a mind flayer, by which I mean a mind reader.
So, what better method to engage your gamers than to talk with them and ask them questions?
This is by no means a comprehensive list of questions to ask; nevertheless, select your favorites and add any more questions you believe we may have overlooked in the comments section below.
We asked for recommendations on Twitter.
Pigs with Crayons is the source of this image.
Depending on your approach, you may want to pose these questions directly to your players, either officially or informally.
I just set up a Google Form for my gamers to fill out so that their responses could be kept private. As you’ll see, keeping players in the (under)dark may be entertaining at times.
Questions Every DM Should Ask
These are very simple, but we’ve included them at the top of the list for completeness. It’s helpful to know ahead of time if everyone wants to fight. There’s nothing wrong with hosting an all-fighter game; it allows you to have those important talks before you start playing.
- Name of the Player
- Name of the Character
- Race
- Class
- What do you think a suitable name for your adventuring group should be?
The McAwesome Lazers, of course!
Concerning Their Personality
It’s time to flesh out some character backstories now that you’ve figured out the party composition. This is useful for adding narrative hooks and intriguing NPCs to your world, homebrew, or module so that your players can connect with their characters.
- What is the character’s relationship with the other PCs?
- Why did your character join their current group of adventurers?
- @Ragramos writes: What significant incident catapulted your character into a dangerous adventurer’s career? No rational individual would battle monsters simply for the sake of fighting them.
- @Litzabronwyn writes: What motivates your character to go on adventures and stay with the rest of the group?
- What is your hidden motive for joining the adventurers?
- How significant is wealth accumulation? (For your persona) 1-5
- What is it that your character despises?
- What is your character’s greatest fear?
- Name someone who has been mistreated by your character.
- Give an example of something your character would be ecstatic to learn.
- Is there anything else I should know about your persona?
Here are some of the reactions I received from my players.
What kind of story do you want to tell?
You know all there is to know about your Player’s Characters’ backstories and hidden desires. As the great DM that I know you are, you’ll find methods to amaze your players with little things.
But what type of narrative arcs are you looking at from here? Even if you’re utilizing a pre-written module, there are certain elements you may emphasize and emphasize more than others. Your players may be yearning for a dungeon adventure at times, but they may be more interested in the political intrigue at other times.
The following questions are usually asked on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 5 being “Super Keen”).
- Pick three of the following from @Ragramos: Fantasy (elves, magic), Narrative, Discovery, Expression, Challenge, Fellowship, Abnegation (killing things), Sensory (dice, minis)
- Traps and Monsters Await You in the Dungeon
- Exploration – Take the risk of going where no one has gone before.
- Political espionage and social deception
- Mysteries in the style of noir with Dames to Die For
- Save the World from Evil is a quest to save the world from evil.
- If you fail, how high should the stakes be?
- Build a Castle, Rule an Empire, and Amass a Fanbase
- Dark and Serious or Wacky Zany Adventures
- To amass wealth or power, you must first amass wealth.
- Arc-Based vs. Episodic
- Is there a great narrative style I haven’t thought of? (You might use a book or a movie as a reference.)
It seems to be a fun experience for the whole family.
Now you’re ready to write a fantastic story.
Any thoughts?
These 28 questions will help you get started writing your adventures for D&D 5th Edition! They cover a lot of aspects of the game, and they’ll help you find out what kind of stories your players want to play, and help you decide the best way to run your game.. Read more about dm survey for players and let us know what you think.
Related Tags
This article broadly covered the following related topics:
- questions to ask in d&d
- d&d questions to ask your players
- d&d player questionnaire
- d&d character background questionnaire
- questions to ask npcs in d&d
