DM’s Corner
Behind the Screen
How campaigns are built, not just how they’re run
Every campaign looks effortless from the outside. From behind the screen, it never is.
Behind the Screen is where Tales & Tankards steps away from session summaries and dice results to examine the design decisions that shape a campaign long before the players ever roll initiative, and long after the table goes quiet for the night.
This hub is about why things were built the way they were.
The dice tell the story. Behind the screen is where it’s shaped.
What You’ll Find Here
Behind the Screen collects long-form reflections, DM diaries, and design retrospectives that explore:
- How published adventures are adapted, remixed, or restructured
- Why certain narrative choices were made, and others deliberately avoided
- What worked, what didn’t, and what changed mid-campaign
- How pacing, tone, player agency, and consequence are intentionally shaped
- The connective tissue between arcs, campaigns, and worlds
Note:
These aren’t step-by-step tutorials. Think of them as blueprints, post-mortems, and philosophy pieces. Written for DMs who want to understand the craft behind the curtain.
Featured Essays
These pieces form the foundation of Behind the Screen and are recommended starting points:
Why I Chose the Alexandrian Remix
A deep dive into structure, player agency, and why remixing Dragon Heist was the right choice for this table.
Start here if: You’re running a published module and want it to feel like your campaign.
Remixing Dragon Heist
A deep dive into structure, player agency, and why remixing Dragon Heist was the right choice for this table.
Start here if: You’re running a published module and want it to feel like your campaign.
How This Hub Fits into Tales & Tankards
Behind the Screen sits alongside, but distinct from, other major site pillars:
- Campaigns show what happened at the table
- DM’s Corner offers practical advice and tablecraft
- Homebrew Vault focuses on tools, mechanics, and creation
- Behind the Screen explains why the campaign was built the way it was
Many posts across the site link back here intentionally. When a session recap diverges from expectations, or a DM diary references a broader design philosophy, this hub provides the context.
Campaigns are the story. Behind the Screen is the craft.
Who This Is For
Behind the Screen is written for:
- Dungeon Masters who like to analyze their own games
- DMs running published modules who want permission—and guidance—to change them
- Story-focused tables that care about consequence and continuity
- GMs who believe reflection is as important as preparation
If you’ve ever finished a session and thought: “That worked… but why?”
You’re in the right place.
Start Here
If you’re new to Tales & Tankards, start with one of the cornerstone essays above. If you’re already following a campaign, use this hub to explore the thinking behind the moments that mattered most.
The dice tell the story. Behind the screen is where it’s shaped.
Latest in Behind the Screen
Trust Before Trouble: Pacing, Patience, and Trust in Dragon Heist
DM Diary: The Night I Tried to Let a Villain Escape
DM Diary: More than I Could Chew-and Worth It
Creature Feature: Waterdeep Urban Faction Pack
