Matt colville has a wonderful series on YouTube called Running the game, this is what I used and like to reccomend.
Hello everyone, I always wanted to play d&d. I figured that my girlfriend could play with me and since we both like pokemon and she is the more creative one in our relationship that I will make a pokemon based campaign. Fortunately I can always use a map from already existing pokemon game but with a new story. The problem is that i have never created a campaign and I don't really know how to prepare for being the dm. Any advice on what to start with?
Matt colville has a wonderful series on YouTube called Running the game, this is what I used and like to reccomend.
I am usually one to say new DM's can run a custom campaign no problem, but running a game on a completely different rule set is going to be difficult without experience. My suggestion is to play regular DND until you know better how the rules work. Your girlfriend can easily play a class with a familiar or animal companion, but going full blown pokemon is probably not going to work.
This sounds like you're looking for a Pokemon-themed TTRPG, not just looking to play D&D. Which is great! Here's a thread about finding Pokemon themed TTRPGs: https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/txchkg/is_there_a_pokemon_themed_ttrpg_out_there/ I haven't personally played any of these but I'm sure any of these would fit what you're looking for better than a beginner trying to turn D&D into a Pokemon game. I do also know of Animon, but that's closer to playing Digimon than Pokemon.
What would a pokemon-based campaign even look like? Do all the players have to play Beastmasters? Anyway, for general DMing advice you should first get your hands on the latest edition of the Dungeon Master's guide (DMG). I would also suggest running a few pre-written one-shot adventures first to practice your skills. You can find some by googling "best free D&D one shots".
I don’t know that D&D as a system is suited for what you’re trying to do. Unless you want to flavor monsters as Pokemon that the party fights maybe? That’s the first thing that comes to mind. Other things to look into: \-Beastmaster Ranger \-Bag of Tricks Beyond that, I’d maybe look into a different TTRPG.
since youre looking to incorporate another existing world (pokemon), maybe you can start by making it a dnd-similar trpg first instead of adding it into the dnd world directly? you can use elements like having attributes (abilities), rolling dice to make attacks and actions etc that will make your campaign an easy ease into dnd esp if neither of you have any experience playing dnd or other trpgs. if you are still looking to do a dnd campaign, i recently had my first dming experience. was a bit tight with time so i only read the official dungeon master guide but it was sufficiently helpful, given i already had some knowledge about dnd and played a few times. it might be useful to read the player’s handbook as well as an introduction to the world of dnd def watch videos of dnd games on youtube. i like watching smosh’s sword af because the dm is dming for the first time as well and there are a few new players in the group. you can get inspo of how to host a game from these videos, from doing voices to making things engaging and fun for the players id say maybe a oneshot or a short (2-3?) campaign would be best for beginner dm/players as well, doesn’t require you to read up on ~that~ much stuff if so
Write some characters and prepare some creatures for a combat and let her decide what she wanna do first. You can make a small questline but don't try to railroad a lot. Its kinda like a fanfic