How to build a memorable campaign – 10 Tips from GMs
Looking to run a campaign your players will talk about for years? We asked 10 Game Masters to share their favorite tips for designing unforgettable adventures.
Each of them uses the Amsel Suite—especially Tome, our storytelling software—to bring their worlds and stories to life.
Starting a campaign inspired by a novel
If you want to play a published scenario/adventure or campaign read it through from cover to cover then read the end on how it all ends a few times before reading through it again from back to front. Marking the links through it from end to start and see how everything connected.
@Faldor1973
It’ll help you make connections on the fly and still bring your campaign to a satisfying conclusion.
Make mistakes and bounce back
Never be afraid to error and if you do make the error great and suit the story even if it breaks the rules. It is all about the fun and memories and if the players spin on your error go with the flow and continue the story. These are the events and story that you will remember years to come.
@Faldor1973
With Tome, you can use the personal notes feature to keep track of everything as it happens. At the end of the session, simply enter those details into your Tomy and use them as the foundation for your next sessions.
Draw inspiration from reality to create a credible campaign
Listen to history podcasts and watch documentaries - I've gotten so many ideas for my campaigns for NPC's, conflicts, plot hooks, etc.
Many people look to other works of fiction for ideas which is great, but sometimes the best ideas come from real events or people.
@DeviousSnail
Let inspiration fuel your creativity
Nothing is created out of thin air—so absorb as much material as you can. Get inspiration from the stories you love or from the artists you admire. Also, write your ideas down, and don’t be afraid to set them aside if they start to lose coherence. Use your emotions as a guide. If you don’t feel good when you sit down to do worldbuilding or story writing, it’s a sign you’re heading in the wrong direction.
Scrap a few ideas, go get inspired, soak in fresh material to get the creative juices flowing, and revisit your world with renewed perspective. Doing so will eventually lead you to connections you wouldn’t have made otherwise. I see this process like casting your net in a never-ending river of creative material—catching and releasing ideas as they pass. Eventually, you’ll end up with a collection of ideas that truly convey your vision.
@OliRO
Sometimes, It’s okay to break the rules
Rules matter—but they’re not everything. TTRPGs are like alternate lives, and just like in real life, rules can’t always apply to every situation. The key is fairness, and choosing what feels right in the moment.
The same goes for your sessions. A player wants to try something wild that technically shouldn’t work? Let them try it! If they succeed, it’ll be a memorable moment for everyone. And if they fail? Well… they can always limp away and try again.
@Myawy
Take a step back from your campaign
Sometimes, stepping back is the best thing you can do for your campaign. Make a list of what’s essential and what’s optional to stay organized—and don’t get discouraged by how much there is to prep.
Personally, when I’m getting ready to run a campaign in a specific setting, I dive in completely. I watch movies, play games, and listen to music that match the vibe I’m aiming for. It helps me soak in the atmosphere and carry that emotional charge into the game.
I tend to work in “creative phases,” where I can’t think about anything else but the world I’m building—at least until the campaign finally begins.
@L’écran du MJ
Start from a scene and build around It
When creating a campaign, I often draw inspiration from a movie, a series, a book, or even a piece of music that sparks a vivid scene in my mind. The tension in that scene, however, will shift and evolve depending on what the players bring to the table. And that’s the magic of tabletop RPGs.
@Arrowild
Support your players and draw inspiration from existing campaigns
Creating my own world and running it for players has taught me the powerful interplay between a setting, a game system, and a storyline. All three need to work together seamlessly to maximize the fun at the table. I enjoy crafting various game aids to make life easier for my group—rule summaries, tokens, coins, maps, and so on—as well as enhancing immersion with lights, music, sound effects, and decorations.
Playing and reading published campaigns has given me valuable material to explore and analyze, helping me develop my own workflow—especially when running regular sessions in the same universe, with recurring elements.
Watching other Game Masters is incredibly insightful, both for campaign design and play style. It helps me understand what inspires me and what doesn’t, what I like and what I don’t. Observe. Get inspired. Adapt.
@Keïten
Don’t prepare everything in advance
Don’t try to plan out every single detail beforehand… There will always be moments when your notes won’t matter. What makes a great GM? Improvisation and the ability to adapt on the fly! This will only make the adventure even more amazing. And who knows—maybe instead of heading to a tavern, your players will end up in a goblin-filled dungeon!
@Myawy
Start by building your world
I know my method is probably one that many will loose their minds over but I prefer to world build starting with the big stuff and working my way down to the details. I greatly admire people who can start with just a small town and build outward because I struggle so much with that.
In my current campaign I started off with "What is my pantheon" because how could I possibly know what this world looks like without knowing what Gods, created that world. It absolutely takes more time and adds a lot more challenges for my worldbuilding but it's a method that, to me at least, brings my world together much more cohesively than if I started with the small random village in the middle of a blank page and I have no idea what's going on around it.
@ElvenLady
To start building your world, you can use Lore, our worldbuilding software, and then create links within your story using Tomy. The files can be connected seamlessly.
We hope these tips help you craft your next campaign. Don’t hesitate to join us on Discord to stay updated on all things Amsel Suite.
