Questions for a Campaign

Somebody (sadly, I can't remember whom) pointed me back to Jeff's Gameblog's list of twenty quick questions for your campaign setting.

As with just about anything I run into, I can't take it as is -- I have to play with it and make it fit my way of thinking and my way of campaigning. So, inspired by Jeff, here are my questions.

Please note that they can work for every level of campaign scale: cosmic, setting, territory, settlement. (I think however, a different set of related questions are necessary for generating dungeons and the underworld. More on that to come.)

Questions for Campaigns at Each Level of Scale

What is the name of this place?

• ·       Why
• ·       Backstory
• ·       Size
• ·       Population
• ·       Army and size

What race is in charge here? Really?

Do they speak common? Something else?

Is anything illegal?

• ·       Weapons
• ·       Magic
• ·       Something odd or absurd?

Who is in charge? Really?

Secret societies? Cults?

Who is the wealthiest? Different from above? Really?

Stronghold?

• ·       Motte & Baily
• ·       Castle & Keep
• ·       Curtain Walls
• ·       Wood
• ·       Stone
• ·       Enchanted

What is the religion? Really?

Who is their cleric? Really?

• ·       What are “clerics”?
• ·       How do clerics “work” here?

Is this place for law, chaos or no-side?

Can we change alignment here?

Who is the most powerful?

• ·       FM
• ·       CL
• ·       MU
• ·       TH
• ·       Dwarf
• ·       Elf
• ·       Hobbit

Who knows the most?

• ·       Book knowledge
• ·       Experience

Is there a _______ here?

• ·       Tavern / inn
• ·       Stable / livery
• ·       Jail / Prison (Who is in it?)
• ·       Church / Temple
• ·       Bank
• ·       Town / Guild Hall
• ·       School

Can we buy?

• ·       Supplies
• ·       Equipment
• ·       Weapons/armor
• ·       Magic Items
• ·       Transportation

Can we find?

• ·       Healing / potions
• ·       Antidote
• ·       Cures
• ·       Raise dead
• ·       Curse / remove
• ·       Lycanthropy cure

Can we hire hirelings? Retainers?

Where is the nearest treasure to recover?

• ·       Is it legendary
• ·       Will it make us famous
• ·       Will it make us rich

Are there any problems around here?

• ·       NPCs
• ·       Monsters
• ·       Will it make us famous
• ·       Will it make us rich
• ·       Will it make us landed

Is this place its own problem?

• ·       Deception
• ·       Intrigue
• ·       Corruption

Does anyone need something done?

• ·       Are they rich
• ·       Powerful
• ·       Will they pay:
• ·       In kind
• ·       In coin
• ·       In land

Is this place at war?

• ·       With whom
• ·       How long
• ·       Is it just
• ·       Who is winning

Where is the nearest dragon? And hoard? Or any creature that:

• ·       Petrifies
• ·       Paralyzes
• ·       Drains Energy
• ·       Poisons
• ·       Breathes a weapon
• ·       Contagious condition
• ·       Regenerates
• ·       Enchants

How do PCs find out about these things? Rumors?

Enjoy!