Genre

Setting the Mood

Dungeons and Dragons 5E can be used to run many different types of games. The Forgotten Realms setting favors High Fantasy, with powerful gods and nigh-immortal wizards shaping every adventure. Eberron provides a Noir/Pulp Action world with Dragonmarked Houses scheming against the backdrop of a world war. Ravenloft leans towards Fantasy Horror by presenting unsettling sights at every turn.

Naevis, for its part, is intended for Survival Fantasy games. It has as much in common with the Oregon Trail series as it does with Skyrim or Diablo. Sessions should have players thumbing their chin as they weigh their options.

DO…

• Start campaigns at level 1.
• Encourage creative solutions to problems.
• Keep combat short and lethal.
• Be a fan of the players’ characters.
• Signal when there’s danger in an area.

DON’T…

• Start campaigns at level 3.
• Use “only one correct solution” scenarios.
• Allow combat to go for longer than 3 rounds.
• Portray the players’ characters as bumbling or ineffectual.
• Spring traps or hazards that don’t allow the players at least one chance to react.