Thus far this section of the site has catered to the neophyte DM, but we did plan on providing tips and clues for the more experienced DM looking for a new idea to hone their world or improve their campaign. You should be able to find these in our new-be articles, but we need to address you specifically as well. So, beginning this month I will offer a short "Memo to the G.O.D. (Gaming Operations Director)". This memo will hold an idea or a technique or something along these lines that I have used in my campaign or gleaned from the Guild’s discussions.

First, let me offer you a piece of advice. If you are not a member of the Guild, become one. There you will find discussions and debates on rules, brainstorming sessions on ideas and storylines, suggestions on development, and much more. Become an active member of the Guild and not only help your game improve but take heart in knowing that you are helping others improve theirs as well.

Now for the real topic of my memo: Information. Without information your world is nothing. It is just your imagination run rampant in your head. Believe me, if you store it all in your head it will continue to change and alter itself as your imagination runs. Your world will loose its coherency and your players will have a hard time with suspension of disbelief. You must write it down… whatever it is. I keep a Palm Pilot with me or a piece of paper is always nearby for me to jot down a note or a reminder of the idea I just had.

Now lets say that you have your campaign all down on paper and it’s easy for you to reference and keep in line. Well, what about your players. They are an important part to your game and your campaign. How are you sharing your information with your players and getting them interested in your ideas?

I provide my players with a newsletter each month. In this I go over recent events in the world, both inside and outside of the campaign. I take the time to detail one aspect of the world in each newsletter, whether it is a race, an organization, an event in history, or a specific personality. I also provide Prestige Classes, Unique Classes, Prophecies, Spells, etc for my players to use. I have a central file where all this information is stored. At the beginning of the year I provide the players with the updated file, including all the information I have added form the newsletters of the previous year.

I offer my players "side-projects" to work on, to help them develop and get involved in the world. One has created a thieves’ guild, another built a monastic order, a third has developed a series of spells, and yet another has composed an epic poem about one of my world’s legendary figures. Other side projects they have had included the development of their characters. To describe their hometown or neighborhood, to write a short description of the events that led up to them becoming adventurers, or to write down the three main goals of their characters.

So, as you can see the information that you provide for your players is beneficial to
both you and them. It gets them more involved in your world and often allows you to delegate some of the creative process onto them.

Good Luck in Gaming,

John "Calitrojan" Sansom