Seeding is a powerful tool that game masters can use to create narrative depth and coherence over the course of a long-term campaign. By introducing seemingly random details into early sessions, GMs can later tie these elements into the broader storyline, giving the illusion of an intricately pre-planned narrative. This technique can be used to foreshadow key events, characters, or plot points that will only make sense much later. Seeding refers to creating interconnected elements on a campaign level that tie seemingly random occurrences into the larger storyline over time.

Building Narrative Threads Over Time

Dropping Seeds Without a Plan

At its core, seeding is about introducing elements that seem insignificant or random in the moment but are designed to become important later. The key to effective seeding is to make the element stand out enough that the players recognize its potential significance, even though its true meaning is not yet clear. To achieve this, the description of the seed should be notable in some way – whether through detailed imagery, unusual phrasing, or simply lingering on it for longer than necessary.

By making the seeded element stand out in the players’ minds, they are likely to remember it, even if they don’t immediately grasp its significance. This way, when the seed comes into play later, it will evoke a sense of recognition and importance, as though the players had been given a subtle clue all along. The goal of dropping seeds is to make them memorable without providing any immediate context, allowing you to later connect these elements to future plot points.

After each session, it is crucial to document the seeded elements. Taking detailed notes about what was introduced ensures that, when the time comes, you can recall the details accurately and use them to great effect. This practice ensures that nothing is forgotten and that you have a toolbox of seeds to pull from as the campaign progresses.

Seedable Elements in Long-Term Campaigns

Seeding works best when it involves elements that can be revisited or expanded upon later. Some key elements to consider seeding in a long-term campaign include:

• Names: Overhearing or encountering names – whether of kingdoms, ancient deities, or legendary figures – can plant the seeds for future quests or conflicts. Names create mystery and expectation, even when their relevance is unclear at first.
• Places: Describing a distant, foreboding location as the party travels can seed a potential future adventure. For instance, the party might pass a cursed forest or a long-abandoned fortress on their way to a current objective, unaware that they will one day have to return.
• Objects: Mundane items, like a strangely marked sword or a mysterious amulet, can become crucial later. Seeding an object early on, with no immediate explanation for its value, can lead to its reappearance in the story when the time is right.
• People: NPCs who make brief appearances – whether a mysterious merchant or a seemingly irrelevant traveler – can be reintroduced later as major players in the campaign. Seeding characters who can reappear under different circumstances adds a layer of continuity to the world.
• Dreams, Omens, or Prophecies: Vague prophecies, strange visions, or cryptic omens are classic ways to seed future events. These are particularly effective because they can be interpreted in many ways, giving you flexibility in how they play out.

Revisiting and Expanding Seeds

Once you have introduced a seed into the game, it’s essential to expand upon it when it reappears. Reintroducing a seed shouldn’t simply be a repeat of the initial moment; it should build on what was established before. Adding a new layer of detail or context gives it more significance, while also testing whether the players remain interested in it. If they respond with curiosity or intrigue, you can continue expanding the seed into a major plot point.

In reintroducing seeds, you’re also subtly testing player expectations. Players often form assumptions about what certain elements mean or how they will play out. These expectations can be leveraged to your advantage – either by confirming their suspicions or subverting them entirely. Seeding allows you to play with these expectations and keep the narrative dynamic.

Linking Seeds Together

One of the most advanced uses of seeding is linking multiple seeds together not only across sessions but across entire scenarios. This involves taking several previously introduced elements and weaving them into a cohesive storyline. By linking seeds, you create the illusion of an interconnected world, where seemingly unrelated details all serve a purpose.

Eventually, these seeds can be connected to a specific scenario. For example, names dropped in different contexts, a recurring NPC, and a mysterious artifact might all come together to set the stage for a major adventure or turning point in the campaign. These interconnected threads strengthen the campaign’s narrative structure, making the world feel deliberate and well-designed.

The Payoff of Patient Storytelling

Seeding is particularly powerful in long-term campaigns because it provides opportunities for gradual narrative development. As seeds from earlier sessions begin to bear fruit, players feel a deeper connection to the world and the storyline. The recognition of these long-planted elements can evoke a sense of satisfaction, as though they’ve uncovered a hidden layer of the narrative.

The slow, deliberate growth of seeds allows you to build suspense and create memorable moments for the players. When a seed finally comes to fruition and is given its full meaning in a new scenario, it should feel like a natural progression of the story. The payoff comes from the time invested in allowing these elements to mature.

By carefully planting and expanding seeds, you create a dynamic world that feels interconnected and full of potential. This technique not only strengthens your storytelling but also enhances the players’ engagement with the campaign, as they begin to see the depth and complexity of the narrative unfold before them.

The concept of seeding, as explained in this post, originates from the book The Complete Guide to Epic Campaigns by Guy Sclanders.