Community Campaign

One of the cornerstones of the Quelmar world-building community is the Community Campaign.

Community Campaigns are large scale stories told using a large number of rotating players. As opposed to a closed-table roleplaying game, where the same group of players and DM/GM gather as frequently as their schedules allow, open-table games can include many different players popping in and out throughout the story being told. A Community Campaign is great for newbies to TTRPGs, as they can try out a couple sessions to see if they like it; players with busy schedules, as there is always a next session coming up; any gamers looking to try out a fresh new game and expand their circle of friends. In short, a Community Campaign is a fantastic way to tell a great story with a bunch of new friends over the span of a year or so. They're great!

List of Community Campaigns

"We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race." - Cicero

Quelmar has been the generating force behind several Community Campaigns, including:

• Bedlam in the Badlands (2025-present, Pennsylvania)
  • Spearheaded by DM(s) ????
  • Held ??? MegaGames
  • 53 Players (and counting!)
  • 60 Player Characters (and counting!)
  • Recruited and played at local PA game stores
• The Fantasial Freeze (2025-present, Minnesota)
  • Spearheaded by DM James
  • Utilized "Guest DMs" as featured in previous Community Campaigns
  • Held 1 MegaGame
  • 48 Players
  • 60 Player Characters
    • Plus Guest appearances from 5 PCs from other Campaigns
  • Recruited from the Minnesota Theater Arts scene
  • Played entirely at The Dungeon
• Within the Wicked Wilds (2023-2025, Pennsylvania)
  • Spearheaded by DM(s) ????
  • Later included DMs ????
  • Held ?? MegaGames
  • 81 Players
  • 118 Player Characters
  • Recruited and played at PA local game stores
• Qandela Obscura (2023-present, Online)
  • Spearheaded by DM(s) ????
  • Later included DMs ????
  • 34 Players (and counting!)
  • 61 Player Characters (and counting!)
  • Recruited and played entirely through Discord
• Into the Greedy Green (2022-2023, Pennsylvania)
  • Spearheaded by DM James
  • Later included DMs Dave and Kyle
  • Further expanded to include DMs John and Patrick
  • Also the first to utilize "Guest DM" games to allow players to try DMing.
  • Had 3 MegaGames
  • ??? Players
  • 116 Player Characters
  • Recruited and played at local PA game stores
    • (Combining that with the Ancients Alive Community built in 2019)
• Beggar's Bodega (2021-2022, Pennsylvania)
  • Spearheaded by DM James
  • 23 Players, about half of those across the world calling in to play with the other half in PA
  • 24 Player Characters
  • Did not recruit, but did unite Quelmar communities across states to play online.
  • Played entirely at The Dungeon
• Ancients Alive (2019-2020, Pennsylvania)
  • Spearheaded by DM James
  • Due to Covid, was able to have a faux "MegaGame" by having one large discord call with almost all players.
  • 23 Players
  • 24 Player Characters
  • Recruited from the State College Theater Arts Scene
  • Played entirely at The Dungeon
• Townson Tabletop (2014-2016, Maryland)
  • Spearheaded by DM James
  • This campaign's finale was the very first Quelmar MegaGame
  • 48 Players
  • 79 Characters
  • Recruited from the Towson University Theater Department
  • Played entirely at The Dungeon

Community vs Open Table

Generally it is agreed that the difference between a Community Campaign or an Open Table campaign lies in these 3 qualities:

1. Community Campaigns have the official backing of the Quelmar nonprofit organization, and have the involvement of a board member, making them "official" outreach endeavors.
2. Community Campaigns strive to expand the Quelmar community in notable ways, and frequently have a plurality or majority of players who are new to Quelmar
3. Community Campaigns have a strong foundation and proven record of gamemastery within the Quelmar community, assuring players that the campaign will be seen through.

Behind the Screen

• Quelmar's community campaigns got us onto the real Wikipedia too!