I Started Writing Stories for my D&D Players and the Results are AMAZING!!! (DM Tip) 

This is probably one of the most interesting ideas for deepening the world's lore in a way directly related to what the characters (and players) already know and have directly interacted. I didn't notice until now that staying only on the PCs' perspectives bothered me, and now I can understand why AND have a perfect solution for me. I know it may seem obvious to some people, but for me it enriched the way I'll approach my players and my worldbuilding from now on. Thanks a lot!

I take all my players simple backstories, rewrite them into something much bigger that ties into the campaign plot and ties into other players stories. Then I give them each an individual 30-60 minute backstory session with a couple points for them to react to what is happening to them. BY FAR the BEST thing I could ever have started doing. They come to the campaign 10x more engaged and feeling like their characters are real. My 1st session they RP'd with each other for 2.5 hours without me saying a word. I highly highly recommend.

I like this idea. I have already started a bulletin board for my campaign. a corkboard that sits in our session room that has advertisements, newspaper clippings (I have created a columnist named Karen Com Lainsalot who is extremely judgmental and delights in stirring up trouble in our peaceful town... the characters love to hate her) as well as thoughts of various NPCs. but a short story i can send to my players by email, is a great idea. thank you for the idea

You are the Bob Ross of D&D crafting! There are several D&D crafting channels I watch, but yours is my favorite! This is an awesome idea I might use in the group I'm about to start. What's the Matt Colville video you got this idea from?

I use something similar, but focus on the past of the characters, I write short stories to give some lore information to individual players. So when I introduce an NPC, an object, or a place to the characters, one of the players will already know about it and can share the information, or keep it secret from the rest of the party and act for his own personal gain. Ex: - The thief while training for the guild heard about the ruby that is going to be auctioned tomorrow. - The warrior recognizes the decoration pinned on the Lieutenant's armour, perhaps he will be able to convince him to let them enter the city if he shows his medal or reveals that he took part in the same battle. - A fellow student of the wizard obtained forbidden knowledge and was banned from the magical academy. How does he react to finding him at the service of the BBEG?

I love this idea, the old West End Games's Star Wars modules were all like this. But I've got metagamers who couldn't deal with this. Maybe some day.

I've seen some DM's -- Aabria, for example -- do little cutscenes to give the pc's meta-insight into bts goings on, but I like the idea of doing it in story form. As a player, I tried writing our in-game stories a couple of times just to have a record. The first time, the game didn't last more than a few sessions. The second time, I started kinda late, and I didn't really take deep notes. As time went on, details got sketchier, and then the game ended before I had caught up so I just quit. But it was fun, and the others loved it. I even wrote songs that were more flavor than relevant to go along. Didn't perform them, just put them in between chapters. I encourage anyone, DM or player, to try it. You may not be Tolkien or Martin -- and by that I mean you *are* *not* them -- but it can still be entertaining. And adventurers deserve to have their exploits chronicled.

Great advice, I've been looking at doing something similiar for a while now, this really assured me that I just need to get it in there.

I love this presentation. I've been using it for a long time, and I've had some groups that initially rejected it - but ultimately, everyone ended up embracing it. I highly recommend this method. Sincerely, an Old GM.

I write up a "between adventures" to read to the players before the next session of what's going on while we aren't playing. It gets things ready for the game session. The players love it and I love writing it, so win win... I also have a " Chapter" event where it foucuses in on one of the players' characters. This was WeLL received! I usually do one like every 3 or 4 sessions...

This is a really cool idea!

Sounds super fun if you are willing to put in the time to make the stories :D

Great tip - thanks

Yes! It’s yet another call for collaboration! Or at least that’s what I call them in my campaigns anyway, although I’ve never thought to do short stories for leveling up background. I love it!

Thanks for sharing

I LOVE your gaming table! Every time I watch a video and can see it, I wish I had it, I looks super wide, do you remember where you got it or what brand it is? :) I am looking for a new table now and was hoping to get one like it. thanks :D

I really like this idea and am going to incorporate this into my current campaign. My PC’s are about to complete act 1 and I’ll introduce this as an interlude before the next act

This is an intriguing idea. A lot of work, but I'm going to put some thought into whether this might add to player engagement.

I love this idea. I'm wondering if it'll work with lazy players.

I'd love to do something like this, but my player group has trouble separating meta knowledge from character knowledge. I am currently writing backstories for all of antagonists so that they feel more alive, but I guarantee one of my players would metagame any of that information they felt would help them. It would be purely mechanical and not story driven at all.

You need to broaden your perspective. You should give serious consideration to righting fantasy novels. I'm speaking as a writer to another writer. You have it in you.

love the channel, but with these thumbnails I usually just unconsciously tune out the video on my feed and I have to make a conscious effort to click on it. Its like youtuber reaction face fatigue I guess. No hate, do what you gotta do. just something I notice for me.

I think allowing metagaming for any reason is a bad idea. Characters should react and interact with the game world authentically and not be manipulated to act differently than they normally would or even should. I get the concept of what is being suggested here, but it seems like more emphasis is being placed on writing a novel instead of playing a GAME, and the players are being indirectly manipulated into furthering a DM's desire to be a writer instead of players getting to authentically decide how characters respond to people and events. Maybe it's old-school thinking on my part, but id prefer players and characters to 'write' their own stories. As a DM, it's my job to present a world and situations they can respond to, not just have players play out my own pre-conceived plotlines. Normally, I'm a fan of what you come up with Garman, but not so much this idea. Looking forward to next week's video, though.