How to Build A West Marches Campaign (Step by Step Tutorial) | DM Academy

We're going to build a west marches campaign together, step by step, in this series. For this video, I'm focusing on everything I do before session 0.
Don't worry if the "plot" of the campaign seems unclear. It is supposed to be since we have no play backstories. Next session, when we cover campaign story building, it should be refined.
If you want to check out Band of Blades, you can right here:
Band of Blades | amzn.to/3pENagz
Session 0 Template: docs.google.com/document/d/e/...
Disclaimer: This video is made from my own opinions and experiences. It is filled with my own bias. You might have a different opinion. Great! Leave it in the comments. However, be respectful and don't shutdown discourse. Thank you - Colin
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00:00:00 Build Your Own Campaign with Me
00:00:30 Central Conceit
00:02:00 The Villain
00:09:43 Victory Conditions
00:13:30 Constructing Your Themes
00:21:40 The Home Base
00:30:25 Layout
00:33:45 Locations at Base
00:42:50 Building NPCs
00:53:50 Check Out Band of Blades
00:54:20 The Introduction Document
01:08:00 Character Creation
01:16:00 Secret to Great Player Backstories
01:28:45 Preparing for Session 0
01:48:45 Session 0 Walkthrough
01:53:20 This Series Going Forward
#dungeonsanddragons5e #ttrpg #dungeonsanddragons #dnd5e #DnDAdvice #rpg #dndcharacter #DnDTierlist #howtobeagreatdm #dmtips #enterthedungeon #WestMarches #TheWestMarches #WestMarchesD&DCampaign #HowToRunAWestMarchesCampaign

[@eliamorris1619]

I can't tell you how hard it's been for me to find good DMing resources as a new DM. So many people give shallow advise that ultimately means little to someone who isn't already experienced in prepping this kind of stuff. So imagine how much of a GODSEND this video is for someone who really has no idea how to actually prepare a WHOLE campaign or a session 0. People always say you should do a session 0, but don't elaborate further. This video outlines some really great ways to actually do that. Thank you so much for this video, its already been immensely helpful for prepping my next campaign. Here's hoping it lasts longer than a couple months. Wish me luck!

[@alliebarnhart6535]

This guy is just incredible

[@legendphil6232]

Yes

[@vahovick1629]

Thank you. My daughter asked me this week to DM for her and her friends again. They want to start as common people forced into an extraordinary (zero level start) and to belong to a traveling circus (the mobile home base). The mobile home base made this very relevant.

[@DracoPlaysYT]

These videos are always great to see, no matter how long they are. Even though I do not plan on running a Westmarch campaign, it is still fun to watch and learn! (Also 2nd comment lol)

[@JoaoSilva-pm3sw]

I just love your tutorial videos! Thanks for doing this! Your videos have helped me and (i think) a lot of other GM out there! They are priceless!

[@phantomprince4278]

The timing of this is great. A group I play with has been looking to start a game like this and nothing I've seen is more helpful than this video for the actual creation part.

[@Humanfarmerman]

I literally just started concepting a Planescape West Marches campaign, and this comes out? *Amazing* timing! This is great

[@epigreviews5405]

I watched through this video and filled out my own form while I was watching as a writing exercise. I had fun and came up with a short one and a Half page document. This video was helpful

[@natt5cents67]

Holy shit this is incredible!! Im dming my own homebrew and this video clears up so much for me thank you so much i owe you my life

[@kimno2776]

Yoooo perfect timing! I'm planning for a west marches game right now! Love the videos man keep it up!

[@brandonmitman3275]

How did you know I was thinking about running a West March game... The internet is truly listening..

[@metakarukenshi]

Honestly just good advice for planning any campaign not just west march.

[@henriqueribeiro8167]

Regarding REPUTATION on the powered by the Apocalipse systems, they use clocks for marking progress, I believe they always go forward, never back. So I would suggest 2 clocks, one of how loved they are, and another one of how feared. Like this they can be both, but one might overpower the other.

[@exoticspoon6117]

This is amazing. The exact kind of content i crave

[@bentapp4534]

Loved this! I'm excited to see more of this series.

[@powerunder9000]

I read the band of blades handbook, and I can clearly see the inspiration. Keep up the amazing content

[@infintygamers00]

How convenient that my first session of a West Marches campaign is in 2 days !!

[@conmore1]

I'm commenting as proof I was here before this channel becomes the next big DM channel, like Matt Coville

[@Infestedzerg98]

Amazing guide! Thank you for all the effort you put into this

[@capicheproductions]

This is really interesting idea for a campaign - really reminds me of "Band of Blades", which I've always been dying to run. (As I'm typing this comment, you mention the book itself!) I think its worth noting that that this isn't really a West Marches game so far, especially as this is presented as a tutorial. Other than being open table, I don't think you've hit any of the core WM elements yet, and there are some you seem to be going actively against. No reason that a game shouldn't be built that way, I'm interested to see if part 2 circles back to any of those concepts. Even with that said, this is still a very cool idea for a campaign, and has immediately made me want to revisit BoB, so thank you for that!

[@matheusferreirinha7569]

Yeah, the step by step tutorial as GM tips is very well done but this is not a WM campaign

[@constanzaespinoza2072]

literally a game changer, really good video and very inspiring, thank you! please keep posting ♡

[@jasonnguyen350]

Literally starting one right now please more!!!!!!!! Love the vids

[@berea2258]

holy shit, yesterday me and my group wanted to start a campaign like this

[@TheBronzeDog]

Nicely detailed video. Think I've got what I need to start forming my own game. Thanks!

[@Drabytt]

Just started a West Marches Campaign and was struggling to weave in the backstories! Can't wait for the next video

[@jasonnguyen350]

I’m pulling everything your giving me thanks so much

[@Stefano-rp2go]

Everybody talking about who's the villain? Where's the villain? Why's a Villain? But nobody is talking about how's the villain? That's disrespectful 😂

[@horacioaugustofilho6487]

Sounds a lot like Battlestar Galactica.

[@RafaelHermoso1204]

Ripping that idea for when I run this

[@tommynaclerio]

The Holy Grail video

[@legendphil6232]

You are just Amazing!

[@iancoelhograde3120]

Wonderful video

[@Globbyismy_Hobby]

10/10 video. Thank you.

[@patricks2645]

ayo im planning a west marches game rn and Im first comment lets go

[@sergiomarquesmunoz5433]

Thx you are awesome

[@sable2146]

you just made Battlestar Galactica

[@enterthedungeon]

I've never seen Battlestar Galactica so I hope it's a good thing!

[@thomaspedersen590]

really nice video, do you have a downloadable version of your backstory guidelines?

[@michaelsimons3758]

Great video dude. Deffs sticking around for the series as I've got a West Marches game starting next year. Random question, what font is that that you're using?

[@enterthedungeon]

Times New Roman

[@pzalterias5154]

I'm preparing a campaign on a similar theme, amazing ! I plan to mix dnd and wargame depending on missions the "brigade" chose, I wonder if it will work or not.

[@alexm1376]

What are you linking to with the hyperlink on the "Westmarches Style" in your intro document?

[@RabaShibaRabaSha]

Bit confused by a West Marches campaign having an overarching plot and BBEG from the get go. Sounds more like you've just made a regular campaign, not a West Marches one.

[@enterthedungeon]

While most don't, the necessities of a WM are simply that it is exploration-focused and has no set meeting time. I've found it effective to make WM campaigns with a central tension (in this case traveling to the other side of the map) and a few villains (Althara while the main antagonist, is one of many villains). Part of the goal of this series was to show DMs that you can play with form and style. Since my players like having a clear antagonist, I can throw one into a WM campaign and not sweat it.

[@dankla90]

Liked the video😅, but it seems to be more of a sandbox campaign than a westmarches style, nothing wrong with that, I was just curious what makes this westmarches and not a sandbox? You said you might split up the players into several groups, that to me is a foundational element to a westmarches style campaign.

[@RiotKurhein]

This campaign sounds a lot like the Banner Saga series. Which I admit was a game that once I played it thought it would make for an amazing ttrpg setting.

[@pzalterias5154]

Yes ! Always thought tat ! Sounds like Band of blades too, with the "chosen" that are corrupted and the one in the brigade.

[@bjarnes.4423]

Seeing how the unlisted video was uploaded on August 1st 2022 it doesn't seem to matter, but you can read the blacked out things in the document as the text and background are different shades of black

[@junderlandgames1186]

Do you have a link to this document to reference?

[@Rookie_Pyro]

1:41:00 Only playing when all players are present put a 2 year hiatus on my game. Learn from my mistakes!

[@thatwouldberad]

Any chance there’s access to this document us newbies can use as a template?!

[@kythian]

Battlestar Galactica. You're making a fantasy version of BSG. 😂 You villain is the Cylon "queen" and the "corrupted" are the Cylon warriors.

[@iamrutabaga7761]

I think this is a good resource for constructing a campaign for sure but I found it difficult to see the difference with this being for a campaign with a dedicated plot and a west marches. Maybe I have a different expectation of what a west marches is. Still a great resource for walking through making a campaign, just not what I was looking for.

[@ramonruijgt4532]

i like how you mosty keep it basic/ the minimum amount you need to run something. for people who going to be new dm's it might be bettter to know the esentials then setting the bar too high.

[@josephwilliams5732]

How would define a campaign? As I understand a west marches they are sandbox/ episodic and so narrative. So by that definition definition can you call a west march game a campaign? If I have some misunderstanding please let me know. Thank you.

[@archersfriend5900]

Campaign any group of sessions linked together. Sand box is more open world, players can go anywhere and do anything. Narrative, characters are following a plot. The problem with narrative is plot armor. If a character cannot die because they need to stay alive for plot, then it is no longer a game. It is story telling.

[@enterthedungeon]

@archersfriend5900 you pretty much nailed it

[@josephwilliams5732]

That makes sense. Thank you.

[@ArkhansMadness]

What is the introduction document made on? I’m trying to create something similar for my players. I want it to look like parchment.

[@enterthedungeon]

Google docs

[@saboogly]

Part 2 MF let's go!!!!!!!!!!!

[@darktimesatrockymountainhi4046]

LOL! I just realized that I’m running a “West Marches” campaign & didn’t know it! We’re set in the FR Silverymoon area, but one of my PCs was a soldier, so the party works out of a perimeter military encampment. Nice to hear your explanation!