Worldbuilding through oneshots is a technique where you play a one-session game and use it as the source material to create or expand on the setting for your campaign. By involving your players in the creation of the world, you can get unique ideas, unexpected twists, and a shared investment in the lore. Starting a campaign with a oneshot can introduce players to the game world and give them a reason to be invested in the lore. Oneshots can be used at any point during a campaign to introduce new locations, show different perspectives, foreshadow events, or explore the past. While there are some drawbacks, such as the need for additional prep time and the possibility of material not fitting the campaign, worldbuilding through oneshots can be a fun and engaging technique.
I’ve never thought about doing this before. I tend to treat my settings as semi disposable, I just make them up in service to a particular campaign. But I suppose there’s no reason I can’t have a oneshot in the middle of the campaign that takes place in the same setting 🤔