Sometimes, campaigns lose momentum. Players seem less engaged, the energy at the table dips, and we, as DMs, start feeling less excited about preparing and running sessions. Maybe we’re even anxious about the game. If we find ourselves looking forward to the next campaign more than to the current one, it might be time for a change.

Should We End the Campaign?

When a campaign starts dragging, one option is to bring it to a close within a few sessions. A fresh start—new characters, new stories—can breathe new life into our games. However, if there are still compelling character arcs to explore, unresolved plotlines, or exciting plans that we don’t want to abandon, a full stop might not be the best choice.

Instead, we can opt for a Campaign Reset—a way to reinvigorate the story without throwing everything away.

How to Reset a Campaign

1. Talk to the Players

A reset should be a group decision. If we’ve noticed a dip in enthusiasm, chances are the players have too. An open discussion—or even a survey—can help sense their interest and gather ideas for the future. Framing the conversation around resetting the campaign to better finish the characters’ stories can keep everyone engaged.

2. Wrap Up the Current Arc Quickly

The first step in a reset is to conclude the current adventure. Rather than dragging out an uninspiring storyline, we can find a natural stopping point within the next session or two. A satisfying resolution can create a sense of closure before moving into a new and fresh campaign phase.

3. Introduce a Long Downtime

A significant chunk of in-game downtime—spanning months or even a year—can work wonders. It allows:

• Players to step back and reconsider their characters’ long-term goals.
• A natural reset in the world, allowing us to introduce a big in-world event, shifting politics, factions, and power balances.
• A chance to follow up on individual side quests or character-driven stories.
• A rekindling of excitement, reminding players why they built their characters in the first place.

4. Run an Adventure That Excites You

DM energy is contagious. If we feel uninspired, the players will pick up on it. Choosing an adventure or multiple that genuinely excite us—whether it’s a published module, a homebrew dungeon crawl, or a pointcrawl through a mysterious wilderness—can reignite our passion for the game.

5. Center the Story Around the Characters

Rather than picking up where we left off with the same broad campaign plot, a reset is an opportunity to refocus on the players’ characters. What personal arcs remain unfinished? What NPCs do they care about? Building the next leg of the campaign around them helps everyone stay engaged.

Example: Resetting My Eberron Campaign

In my Eberron campaign, I ran a few published adventures for the first several levels. They weren’t very good, and I found myself rushing through them just to “be done”—a classic sign that a reset was needed. Rather than scrap the campaign entirely, we ran a one-year in-game downtime and started fresh with three job options for the players. Each was tied directly to a character’s backstory:

• Experiments on warforged (for the warforged character)
• An expedition into the druidic Eldeen Reaches (for the druid character)
• Defending a goblin settlement in the sewers of Sharn (for the goblin character)

This shift reinvigorated the game and gave the players a sense of personal investment in this new phase of the campaign while still continuing their characters’ stories in a meaningful way.

Don’t Be Afraid of a Campaign Reset

A campaign reset is about preserving what works and refreshing what doesn’t. By recognizing the signs early and making intentional changes, we can steer our campaigns back on course, ensuring that both we and our players stay excited about the journey ahead.