Planning a Campaign
Pathfinder Core Rulebook (Second Edition), page 483
A Pathfinder game is typically structured as a campaign—a serialized story that focuses on a single party of characters. A campaign is subdivided into multiple adventures, smaller stories that involve exploration and interaction with nonplayer characters. A single adventure represents a complete story that might be connected to the larger arc of a campaign. Playing an adventure spans one or more game sessions—gatherings where the group plays a part of the adventure over the course of several hours.
A campaign provides the overall structure for your Pathfinder game. As you prepare for your campaign, you’ll establish its scope and themes, which you’ll then reinforce in the adventures and scenes that take place within it.
In this section
- Campaign Length The length of a campaign can range from a few sessions to many years. Two main factors determine campaign length: how much time you need to complete the story, and how much time players want to devote to the game.
- Themes The themes you choose for your campaign are what distinguish it from other campaigns.
- A Welcoming Environment The role of Game Master comes with the responsibility of ensuring you and the rest of the players have a rewarding, fun time during the game.
- Character Creation At the outset of a new campaign, the players will create new player characters. Part of that process involves you introducing what the campaign will be about and what types of characters are most appropriate.