Creating an Organized Play West Marches D&D Campaign for Common Ground Games
As someone deeply invested in the tabletop RPG community, I’m currently in the process of creating a West Marches campaign using an organized play system for Common Ground Games in Dallas, TX. It’s an ambitious project, but this format is uniquely suited for the store’s vibrant gaming community. Here’s how I’m approaching the creation so far.
The Foundation: Building the Campaign World
The heart of any West Marches campaign is its world, and I’ve anchored mine around a central hub—the bustling city of Greyhawk and the Common Grounds Guild where adventurers gather to share tales, find quests, and trade treasures.
- NPCs: I’m creating shopkeepers, tavern keepers, and quest-givers to breathe life into the hub.
- Bounty Board: A physical or digital board lists quests for players to pick from, which fits perfectly into the organized play model.
The world itself is divided into zones of escalating danger, so players of different experience levels can find something to challenge them.
Organizing Play at Common Ground Games
I knew I needed clear structure to handle the number of players interested in joining. Here’s how I’ve tackled it:
- Scheduling: I’ve set up a shared calendar using Discord and Obsidian Portal where players can sign up for sessions. Sessions are designed to stand alone, allowing for flexibility.
- Player Pools: Groups are self-organized from the larger community, but I’ve made sure there’s room for newcomers to jump in. I’m also looking into ways to rotate players to ensure fairness.
- Character Guidelines: To keep everything balanced, I’ve created a simple set of rules for character creation, focusing on starting level and gear.
We’re also keeping a shared campaign log so everyone can track the world’s evolution based on each session’s outcomes.
Recruiting Dungeon Masters
Running an organized play system means I can’t do everything myself, so I’ve reached out to other experienced DMs in the community.
- DMs will be characters as well. Each DM will create a persona that they will play as a leader of the guild.
- Each DM will be equipped with the skills necessary to run adventures at a moments notice.
- Some of these DMs will also be tasked with helping to write 2 page adventures.
This team approach ensures every player gets a high-quality experience, no matter who’s running the game.
Adding Overarching Story Arcs
While West Marches campaigns are traditionally sandbox-style, I’ve been weaving in some shared story arcs to unite the players.
- Events like a mysterious plague, regional festivals, or threats of invasion give the campaign structure without limiting individual group freedom.
- Each group’s actions create ripple effects for others. For instance, one party rescued a missing noble, and now he’s funding better roads in the region, opening up new travel routes for everyone.
Leveraging Common Ground Games
Common Ground Games itself is a perfect fit for this organized play system.
- We are planning on having regularly scheduled Guild Days for regular adventuring.
- Epic battles and collaborative events will make use of the space for large-scale, multi-group encounters.
- The store’s social media will help showcase session recaps and community highlights, boosting engagement.
Building Community
To keep momentum, I’m fostering a strong sense of community:
- New players can join Session Zero events to learn the rules and meet the group.
- There will be leaderboards for accomplishments, and we’ll spotlight exceptional roleplay moments.
- I’m also considering small prizes, like dice sets or store credit, to reward creativity and teamwork.
The Road Ahead
This process has been a rewarding challenge, and I’m thrilled about the potential for this system at Common Ground Games. The mix of West Marches exploration and organized play structure feels like the perfect blend to grow the store’s community and provide an unforgettable experience.
If you’re in the Dallas area and want to join, keep an eye out for announcements at Common Ground Games—or better yet, swing by the store to see what’s brewing!
Would you like a peek at the bounty board or a behind-the-scenes look at our DM planning sessions? Let me know!