Do you love Dungeons and Dragons? If so, then you know that the possibilities for storytelling are endless. The game can take you on all sorts of adventures, from saving the world to finding lost treasure. This blog post will share 44 D&D story ideas to get your imagination running wild! Whether you are a seasoned player or just getting started, these ideas will help you create amazing stories with your friends. So what are you waiting for? Get creative and start telling some tales!
20 D&D Quest Ideas to Get Your Players Hooked
As a Dungeon Master, part of your job is ensuring your players are always engaged. One way to do that is by coming up with interesting story ideas that will pique their curiosity and keep them wanting more. If you’re stuck for ideas, never fear! Here are 20 D&D story ideas to get your players hooked:
- The city guard has been turning a blind eye to a group of smugglers using the city’s sewer system to transport illegal goods. Your players are tasked with investigating the smuggling operation and stopping it.
- A local tavern owner has been murdered, and evidence points to one of the city guards as the killer. It’s up to the players to figure out who did it and clear the guard’s name.
- A shipment of valuable goods has gone missing, and the players must track down the thieves and retrieve the goods before they can be sold on the black market.
- A group of bandits has been terrorizing trade caravans traveling through the area, and the players are hired to put an end to it.
- An evil sorcerer has taken up residence in an abandoned keep, and the players must defeat him and his minions before he can enact his plans for world domination.
- A group of goblins has been stealing livestock from farms in the area, and the players must stop it before the farmers starve.
- A young noblewoman has been kidnapped, and the player must rescue her from her captors before they can ransom her off to her wealthy family.
- An ancient artifact has been unearthed, and rumors abound that it is cursed. The players must investigate the artifact and determine if the rumors are true.
- A dragon has been spotted in the area, and people are living in fear of its wrath. The players must slay the dragon and restore peace to the land.
- An evil witch has cursed the town’s wells, poisoning the water supply. The player must find the witch and lift the curse before everyone in town dies of thirst.”
- A powerful magic user is terrorizing locals with illusions and driving them mad with hallucinations. The players try to catch this madman.
- A small-time alchemist is making a name for himself by selling potions made from a very rare and deadly flower. The players try to catch him before he can hurt anyone.
- A young woman has been going mad, claiming something is after her. She doesn’t know if it is real or just an illusion.
- A group of pirates has been attacking local shipping. They are after something more than just booty, however.
- The king has been kidnapped! Your mission is to get him back before his double starts a war in his name.
- A magical ceremony goes wrong, unleashing horrors upon an unsuspecting village.
- While trying to help a friend in need, the players trigger an ancient trap that unleashes fiendish creatures into the world.
- During this year’s harvest festival, the town is under siege by an unknown enemy.
- Ancient ruins have been discovered in the nearby forest, and excitement about their contents draws a crowd of treasure hunters – among them the players.
- While on vacation in a city far away, the players trickle into a series of events that lead to them preventing a massive terrorist attack.
D&D Villain Ideas
Defeating a well-crafted villain is one of the most satisfying experiences a player can have in Dungeons & Dragons. To make your players feel that sweet victory, you need to create a challenging villain but not impossible to defeat. Here are eleven villain ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
- The Arisen: This villain was once a great hero who fell in battle and was resurrected by dark magic. They are now a twisted parody of their former self, using their strength and power to sow chaos and destruction.
- The Beastmaster: This villain controls a menagerie of deadly beasts, which they use to do their bidding. They take sadistic pleasure in watching their creatures tear apart their enemies.
- The Blackguard: A fallen paladin who has embraced the darkest aspects of their power, the blackguard is a remorseless killer who shows no mercy to those who cross them.
- The Blight: A creature of pure evil that spreads death and destruction wherever it goes. The blight is immune to all forms of damage, making it a nearly unstoppable force of nature.
- The Cult Leader: This diabolical villain heads up a secret cult dedicated to overthrowing the government and bringing chaos and anarchy. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, sacrificing their followers.
- The Dragonrider: A fearsome warrior who has tamed a dragon and used it as their battle mount. The Dragonrider is a master of aerial combat and will strike fear into the hearts of those who oppose them.
- The Illusionist: A devious trickster who creates illusions that deceive and mislead their enemies. The illusionist is often underestimated because of their small stature, but they are more than capable of holding their own in a fight.
- The Necromancer: A spellcaster who has mastered the dark art of necromancy, raising the dead to do their bidding. The necromancer is often feared and shunned by society, but they view mortals as nothing more than tools to be used and discarded at will.
- The Orc Chieftain: A brutal warrior who leads a horde of orcs in conquering the land. The orc chieftain cares only for bloodshed and violence and will show no mercy to those foolish enough to cross them.
- The Lich King: An evil sorcerer who has achieved immortality by sacrificing his soul to dark forces. The Lich King is incredibly powerful and intelligent, making him a dangerous foe for any adventurer.
- The Witch Queen: A malevolent sorceress whose powers come from dark deals made with powerful demons. The Witch Queen is beautiful but deadly, her beauty masking the hideous creature she truly is beneath..
D&D Monster and Creature Ideas That Will Give Your Players a Run for Their Money
- The Cloud Race: These creatures are made entirely of gas and live in the planet’s upper atmosphere. They are capable of great speed and have electrical powers to defend themselves from predators.
- The Djinn: A race of genie-like creatures with the power to grant wishes but always with a twist that leaves the wisher regretting their decision.
- The Elemental Plane Creatures: Creatures that come from the elemental planes of fire, water, earth, and air. They are immune to the effects of their native element and can use their powers to control others.
- The Gorgon: A massive creature with a head of writhing snakes instead of hair. Anyone who looks upon its face is turned to stone instantly.
- The Grim Reaper: A skeletal creature that is the personification of death itself. It comes for all mortals eventually, no matter how they try to resist it.
- The Medusa: A hideous woman with living snakes instead of hair on her head. Like the gorgon, anyone who looks upon her face is turned to stone immediately.
- The Minotaur: A raging bull-headed creature that dwells in labyrinths, searching for victims to devour
- The Wendigo: A spirit monster that lives in cold climates and preys on human flesh. Regardless of how much it eats, it is never satisfied and is always hungry for more.
Some Good Ideas for Side Quests in D&D
Sometimes the best-laid plans for an adventuring party can go awry. Players can get sidetracked, lose interest, or just get plain ol’ stuck. That’s where side quests come in! Side quests are a great way to add some extra spice to your campaign, and they can be used to re-engage players who might be losing interest.
Here are some ideas for great side quests that your players are sure to love.
- The lost city of Atlantis: A group of adventurers stumbles upon a map that leads to the lost city of Atlantis. Will they be able to find it? And what treasures (or dangers) will they encounter along the way?
- Escorting a caravan: A local merchant needs help escorting a caravan through dangerous territory. Can the adventurers get the caravan to its destination safely? And will they be able to protect the merchant’s goods from bandits?
- Investigating murders: A series of murders has been plaguing a small town. Can the adventurers figure out who (or what) is behind the killings? And will they be able to stop them before more innocents are harmed?
- Escaping from prison: The adventurers have been captured and thrown in jail for a crime they didn’t commit. They’ll have to use all their ingenuity and skills to escape from their cells and clear their names. But even if they manage to do that, they’ll still have to contend with the guards who are hot on their heels…
- Infiltrating a cult: A nefarious cult has been causing trouble in the area, and the local authorities have asked the adventurers to investigate them and end their activities. This will be no easy task, as the cult members are heavily armed and extremely distrustful of outsiders…
A Good and Interesting Background Story for a D&D NPC
In every party, there must be a ranger. The character is in charge of predicting problems, planning solutions, and above all else, keeping the group together. In most stories, the rangers are loners who live in the wild and shy away from contact with other people.
But what if there was a ranger who was the complete opposite? A ranger who loved company, was always eager to help, and saw the best in everyone they met? That’s where Thalos comes in.
Thalos is a Weirwood ranger from the Faerun continent. For those who don’t know, Faerun is a fictional continent created by Dungeons and Dragons. It is a place of magic, monsters, and adventure. Thalos grew up in the forest of Cormanthor, surrounded by animals and nature. Thalos showed an affinity for connecting with nature and understanding the natural world from a young age. He would often sit for hours in silence, watching the animals and plants around them go about their lives.
Thalos began to feel the pull to protect those around him as he grew older. He started defending creatures being hunted unjustly and putting themselves in danger to save others. When he came of age, Thalos left their home and joined the Rangers Guild. For years he roamed the land, helping those in need and making friends wherever they went.
Finally, after years of wanderlust, Thalos settled down in the city of Neverwinter. He met the rest of their adventuring party: a group of like-minded individuals who also wanted to make a difference in the world. Together, they continue to fight for justice and help those who cannot help themselves.
Appearance
Thalos is tall for a human at 6 feet 2 inches. He has long curly hair dyed green at the tips (a throwback to his rebellious teenage years) and piercing blue eyes. Thalos likes to dress brightly and often can be seen wearing floral patterns or bright colors. He carries himself with confidence and ease, always exuding positive energy.
Personality
As mentioned before, Thalos loves company and hates being alone. He is always seeking out new friends and interesting conversation partners. Thalos has an unending optimism that can be infectious; even on the darkest of days, he will see the silver lining. This hope fuels his commitment to ensuring that no one ever has to suffer like he has seen others suffer throughout their lifetime. Justice is important to Thalos; he believes everyone should be treated equally under the law regardless of social status or race. Lastly, nature is sacred to Thalos; he respects all creatures, great and small.
Backstory
Thalos grew up as an only child in the forest of Cormathor. As mentioned before, Nature played a big role in his childhood. Both of Thalo’s parents died when Thalos was very young; his father during combat training exercises gone wrong, and his mother to an incurable illness contracted while trekking through dangerous terrain. This left Thalos’s grandparents to raise him. Even though life was hard, Thalos never gave up hope. When he was old enough, he left home to join The Rangers guild, where he hoped to find some measure of purpose. Years passed as Thalos roamed from place to place, helping those less fortunate than himself, until finally finding himself in Neverwinter, where he met his current adventuring party.