The Game Master’s Handbook of Collaborative Campaign Design

BUILD BETTER WORLDS—TOGETHER! • A game-changing TTRPG guide to collaborative storytelling and campaign creation • Written by Jonah Fishel and Tristan Fishel, bestselling creators of The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying• Perfect for Dungeon Masters who want deeper, more meaningful storytelling The Game Master’s Handbook of Collaborative Campaign Design redefines what it means to run a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Instead of relying on stat blocks or pre-written modules, this essential roleplaying guide teaches Game Masters how to co-create immersive stories with their players—building worlds, character arcs, and emotional payoffs that everyone invests in. Inside, you’ll find step-by-step methods for planning, writing, and running collaborative campaigns that adapt to your players’ ideas in real time. Learn how to build narrative arcs that evolve organically, write satisfying endings, and design encounters that fit your world’s tone and themes. With detailed case studies, ready-to-use templates, and “Session 1” collaboration exercises, this tabletop RPG handbook helps you master the art of shared storytelling. Whether you’re running D&D 5e, Pathfinder, or a homebrew RPG, this is the ultimate toolkit for crafting adventures your players will remember for years. FEATURES • Detailed guidelines and strategies for planning campaigns, implementing them during play, and effective post-game practices • Examples and case studies for worldbuilding, planning story arcs, and resolving a campaign in a satisfying way • A “Session -1” collaborative world-building system • A wealth of tables to inspire or speed along the campaign-building process, including setting-building tools and narrative plot arc generators • Examples and checklists for integrating others’ content into a homebrew game