| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Rabiesbunny |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 04:10:33
How nerve wracking!
Hi folks, Rabies here. :) I am going to be having my first shot at DMing soon, and I'm trying to figure out what would be the best way to start my campaign. Let me give you folks a run-down on what's been going on in our little corner of the Realms in the past two years. Maybe you would be so kind as to offer some advice?
Okay - the first Realms campaign we started running was based out of 1376. We started it out of Zhentil Keep, with a group of people hired to help work on clearing the ruins - Zhentil Keep, in our Realms campaign, is rebuilding back out into the ruins with the help of paid "Ruin sweepers" who take care of the perilous parts.
Nothing too world-shaking went on here. We ended up taking out some Knights of the North, then going to Waterdeep. My character, a Talontar, had been reasearching through other means a way to create blightspawned without Talona's direct hand. Her research eventually led to her first levels in Talontar Blightlord, and she was able to collaborate with a Banite Holy Warrior in her party.
The group went out to the Dalelands. My character's presented plan was accepted by a high ranking priest of Bane as an unofficial action preparing the Zhents for a future war and invasion of the Dalelands (notice, in our world, we didn't sacrifice Scyllua Darkhope to a mob of low level adventurers).
We spread some infected animals, got information, and left.
...I got off topic.
Long story short: Now, in our Realms, the Dalelands are infected by Blightspawned. Zhentil Keep tried to step in on this and move in an invasion force, and sustained many losses themselves to the Blightspawned. Cormyr, seeing the Blightspawned knocking on their doorstep and knowing the Zhents would take advantage of the situation best they could, stepped over in defense of the Dalelands and set themselves up in Shadowdale with a heavily armed defense force. The Zhents retreated to avoid all out war against such a prepared nation.
On the bottom side of Toril, there has also been a series of events involving Dendar, the Night Serpent. Priests from all Major Deities' churches, one for each, were sent visions that Dendar may be soon released from her gate at the Peaks of Flame in the Chultan Peninsula. They all gathered under a tenuous treaty in a makeshift campsite with small temples from what they could construct or gather. The city of Mezro pulled it's shields back up, once more making it impossible to locate.
Possibly connected to the Dendar situation, it became quickly known that the Wyrm-fiend Mohrgaindevanasandahr had been creating a race of fiendish dinosaur-dragons. His offspring were slaughtering the dinosaur inhabitants of Chult at an ever-faster pace, thusly weakening Ubtao, the god charged with protecting the gate holding Dendar.
The church of Shar was fingered as one suspected of assisting, and eve though the church of Cyric had shown up at the gathering, most remained suspicious of them as well. A trial was called out on the Banites in the encampment, by the Tyrrans, for harboring the Book of Vile Darkness they had located down in a Vorel-baeshra (his offspring's name) lair without informing the other churches. The church of Cyric drug these proceedings out until, when all were gathered, Mohrgaindevanasandahr attacked in full force.
Most of the priests were lost or left via magic when near death. This is when the Church of Shar struck, starting the opening of Dendar's gate. Despite the efforts of those left, Dendar was released.
Her release did not bring about the imminent death of Toril as was assumed, but more and more adventurers are being called from around Faerun to help find a solution to either the Blightspawned problem, or the imminent danger Dendar poses.
And this is where my campaign will take over. I plan on it being a low level (Five or under) campaign to start with, taking place in the Silver Marches. My thought has been that since many adventurers are getting wrapped up in the greater evils at hand, King Obould Many-Arrows may see his opportunity to strike.
It seems that crippling Silverymoon's mythals might add to this.
Fwoo. As a first time DM, I'm just not sure where to start. This may be vague, but anyone else have ideas? |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Zucrous |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 19:38:07
-thumbs up and grins-
|
| Raith |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 18:26:17
...it isn't gonna be hard for my cleric to look like a decent person when she stands next to this creepy rogue of yours, Zuc. |
| Zucrous |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 03:31:11
ok so ive come to some conclusions about my character HE will be named Toel Belor. Im gonna go for the orphan idea this time. Im gonna use orcs as the badguys. They were Cormyrian farmers, but originally from Maztica, so they were not very liked in Cormyr in the fist place. So when the orcs attacked the purple dragons woefully left them to their fate, or so he believes. So after spending three days in the cellar with his older sister dying in his arms from a wound, he tells himself he will never trust "honor" or "valor" to do anything right, and that for something heroic to happen someone else pays. So over his years of back-alley deals and gaining confidence in his abilities. He becomes a skilled infiltrator. His first kill is a wealthy landowner's wife and her lover. It is before he slays her that she starts to confess to a number of scandalous escapades she has engaged in. In this moment as the woman tells him things that she would not tell her priest he realizes how powerful he feels in that position. To bleed the most intimate of secrets to him before they die was a power he had not felt before. With that he becomes obsessed about other people's secrets. So he devotes himself to the teachings of Mask, and that of the dead god Baal.
So thats all Ive got right now. hope to get more to you fellas. |
| Rabiesbunny |
Posted - 21 Feb 2009 : 19:48:14
quote:
Originally posted by Raith
Right, but even the MoLD give at least lip service to whatever deity currently holds the Death hot-potato. Jergal, Myrkul, Cyric, and now Kelemvor have all technically held their allegiance.
Actually babe, from what I've read, they certainly do not need to have a god. It would be REALLY STUPID for them not to, as they venerate death and KNOWS what will happen if they don't have a god, but technically they could be free of deities. |
| Raith |
Posted - 21 Feb 2009 : 18:33:27
quote:
Originally posted by ErskineF
The monks of the Long Death do not worship a particular god. They worship Death itself.
[/quote]
Right, but even the MoLD give at least lip service to whatever deity currently holds the Death hot-potato. Jergal, Myrkul, Cyric, and now Kelemvor have all technically held their allegiance. |
| ErskineF |
Posted - 21 Feb 2009 : 15:10:57
quote:
Originally posted by Raith
LN Monk of undisclosed religious affiliation, potentially none. ARE there any Faithless monks? That sounds like an oxymoron to me, but I could be wrong.
The monks of the Long Death do not worship a particular god. They worship Death itself.
quote:
Anyway, plot hooks that work for good guys usually work for us too, since I'm gonna be playing the cleric and doing my level best to convince everybody in the world that Bane is an okay guy. (Really!)
I think it'd be pretty cool if the bad guy for your initial adventure was a Banite cleric who has gone rogue.
|
| Wrigs13 |
Posted - 21 Feb 2009 : 14:57:55
A monk without a specific deity seems reasonable. Many eastern philosophies deal with the concept of internal alchemy and self reliance and improvement. As such there is no actual need for a deity guiding the way, only a set of ideals by which to live. 
As for the campaign, always fun to be had with desert tribes of anauroch, pirates in the moonsea, or those pesky good organisations or npcs who that want to spoil all your evil fun.  |
| Raith |
Posted - 21 Feb 2009 : 07:44:35
This thread seems pretty gone, yeah. I'm building a big one of my own detailing the history of my campaign and eventually asking opinions for future plot hooks. It'll take a bit of typing to get the whole thing down though. http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12214
In any case, the original topic of this thread was Rabies asking for suggestions about running a campaign in the Silver Marches. I can update the criteria a bit!
We'll be level 3.
We'll be mostly evil.
We'll be trying to not SEEM evil.
So far I haven't been able to suggest anything better than "We try to keep orcs from doing bad things" and "Somebody breaks an important artifact that the orcs don't want reassembled and scattered all the pieces across the land, and now several parties of (low level) adventurers are trying to track it down!"
...
"And when they assemble all of the mystical Dragon Balls Shenron will appear and grant them three wishes!" (Yeah yeah I know. Beat you to it.)
Party will be:
LE Priestess of Bane
NE Rogue of Mask (publicly of Waukeen)
LN Monk of undisclosed religious affiliation, potentially none. ARE there any Faithless monks? That sounds like an oxymoron to me, but I could be wrong.
Anyway, plot hooks that work for good guys usually work for us too, since I'm gonna be playing the cleric and doing my level best to convince everybody in the world that Bane is an okay guy. (Really!)
I'm sure there are things to do in the Silver Marches besides orc stomping, but I'm such a King Obould fan that I have a hard time thinking of much else!
One of his sons falls in love with an elf and wants us to help cover their forbidden affair?
We're beset by female monks of Luthic?
Maybe something a little simpler and more obvious, like "Your cleric was just crit by a raging orc barbarian with base 22 str (26 while raging!) and a x3 modifier Greataxe. What do you do?" |
| Zucrous |
Posted - 21 Feb 2009 : 07:03:36
Hey wooley ive been meaning to say something to you for a long time. I think you have had this coming btw...
I ****ing love ur name dude. I heart giant space hamsters.
As for the topic of the thread, I believe we ran it over witha lawnmower, then set it on fire, went to have a beer, and then set it on fire again. Now we are watching it burn. Do you mind paying for the next round of brooskies?
Mod Edit: Shortened the "..." since it was stretching the page.
Mod Edit II: Censored the inappropriate language somewhat.
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 21 Feb 2009 : 06:59:45
Now, where did that topic go? I'm sure it was around here somewhere...  |
| Zucrous |
Posted - 21 Feb 2009 : 06:37:59
WELL THATS RUDE! How was I supposed to know you are undead!? Why would u care?! How can you be undead and have rabies!? I mean ur immune to it for bane's sake! WHY AM I ARGUING WITH YOU ABOUT THIS!? WHY ARE MY CAPS LOCKED!? |
| Rabiesbunny |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 23:33:01
quote:
Originally posted by Zucrous
I wish I could pave the road of hell with undead bunny rabbits, perhaps that would bring a softer feel to eternal damnation. 
...you want to kill me, then pave the road to hell with me?
I'm downright insulted, zucrous. |
| Zucrous |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 23:28:40
I wish I could pave the road of hell with undead bunny rabbits, perhaps that would bring a softer feel to eternal damnation. |
| Rabiesbunny |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 20:39:04
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Not in 4e... Zhents have a big-time hatred for the Shades, and they'd probably work for free just to get a piece of them.
In 4e Zhents are Cyricists again, so I pretend 4th edition doesn't exist.
LALALALALALALALALALALA! *Fingers in ears* |
| Markustay |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 18:33:09
Not in 4e... Zhents have a big-time hatred for the Shades, and they'd probably work for free just to get a piece of them. |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 18:18:37
quote:
Originally posted by ErskineF
The scariest statement you can make in the Dalelands: "Hi, I'm from Zhentil Keep, and I'm here to help."
Probably scarier for the character making the statement...  |
| ErskineF |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 16:25:38
The scariest statement you can make in the Dalelands: "Hi, I'm from Zhentil Keep, and I'm here to help." |
| Raith |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 16:14:13
Right-o. Though we'll be bad people with the very best of intentions!
I hear the road to the hells needs paving. Could that be a quest arc? |
| Wrigs13 |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 14:10:51
So it is an evil campaign then |
| Raith |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 12:29:58
quote:
Originally posted by Wrigs13
quote:
Originally posted by Zucrous
To a pc good is really a point of view. An evil pc rarely refers to himself as evil. A good pc rarely refers to himself as good. They choose actions they seem as best and follow through, im sure that unless they have an actual player's handbook standing in front of them they refer to the tenets of their own beliefs to determine what is right and wrong. A banite priest does not think of himself as evil, but he may think that the acts he is doing in the name of his faith are, and in doing so he is by the phb definition, evil. But if he thinks that what he is doing is for the greater good of mankind, and that in doing so makes him good, that is still evil according to the phb. Its all about actions, rarely about intent in the rules of DnD.
Don't get me wrong I agree with what you are saying, individuals rarely consider themselves as evil, but most people like to think they are good, don't they? I do. And generally I like to think my pc's are good too. No matter what they may get up too.
The point I am trying to make is that pc's are not normal people. They are by default heroes whos actions and opinions carry significant weight in the game world.
So even if you think you are bringing villagers under the yoke for the greater good, then at some point you will be forced to impose your tyranical rule by means other than preaching and cohersion. At that point what will your good characters do? 
Not saying its a bad idea, in fact individuals who find out that their good works are actually supporting evil ends will produce a very interesting campaign. I may even steal it. 
To be totally clear here, on the character sheet it's gonna say LE/LN for me and something like NE/N/LE/LN for Zurc's rogue, regardless of how these characters feel about themselves personally.
In my opinion it will be the opposite of what you said there, Wrigs. Instead of good deeds being used for some greater evil, I expect them to commit some evil deeds in the name of the greater good, justifying it as something that can't be avoided and maybe even feeling a little bit self-righteous and martyred for it, in a sick way. |
| Wrigs13 |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 09:24:50
quote:
Originally posted by Raith
I'm sure Cyric would have been proud!
Sadly Selune wasn't 
I tried not to talk to the follower of Helm after that. |
| Wrigs13 |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 09:22:18
quote:
Originally posted by Zucrous
To a pc good is really a point of view. An evil pc rarely refers to himself as evil. A good pc rarely refers to himself as good. They choose actions they seem as best and follow through, im sure that unless they have an actual player's handbook standing in front of them they refer to the tenets of their own beliefs to determine what is right and wrong. A banite priest does not think of himself as evil, but he may think that the acts he is doing in the name of his faith are, and in doing so he is by the phb definition, evil. But if he thinks that what he is doing is for the greater good of mankind, and that in doing so makes him good, that is still evil according to the phb. Its all about actions, rarely about intent in the rules of DnD.
Don't get me wrong I agree with what you are saying, individuals rarely consider themselves as evil, but most people like to think they are good, don't they? I do. And generally I like to think my pc's are good too. No matter what they may get up too.
The point I am trying to make is that pc's are not normal people. They are by default heroes whos actions and opinions carry significant weight in the game world.
So even if you think you are bringing villagers under the yoke for the greater good, then at some point you will be forced to impose your tyranical rule by means other than preaching and cohersion. At that point what will your good characters do?
Not saying its a bad idea, in fact individuals who find out that their good works are actually supporting evil ends will produce a very interesting campaign. I may even steal it. |
| Raith |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 05:24:22
quote:
Originally posted by Wrigs13
I once used the greater good arguement to kill dozens of evil-doers in their beds, including a bit of torture to find those not currently in their beds. The organisation was completely evil and ruled with absolute tyranny, and at the time the actions seemed justified but in hindsight I really was a rather naughty boy and I doubt even Silvanus would let me off with that.
I'm sure Cyric would have been proud! |
| Zucrous |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 22:31:55
To a pc good is really a point of view. An evil pc rarely refers to himself as evil. A good pc rarely refers to himself as good. They choose actions they seem as best and follow through, im sure that unless they have an actual player's handbook standing in front of them they refer to the tenets of their own beliefs to determine what is right and wrong. A banite priest does not think of himself as evil, but he may think that the acts he is doing in the name of his faith are, and in doing so he is by the phb definition, evil. But if he thinks that what he is doing is for the greater good of mankind, and that in doing so makes him good, that is still evil according to the phb. Its all about actions, rarely about intent in the rules of DnD. |
| Wrigs13 |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 22:02:27
I once used the greater good arguement to kill dozens of evil-doers in their beds, including a bit of torture to find those not currently in their beds. The organisation was completely evil and ruled with absolute tyranny, and at the time the actions seemed justified but in hindsight I really was a rather naughty boy and I doubt even Silvanus would let me off with that. |
| Raith |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 21:51:41
That depends I guess. What do you personally define as "the greater good"? If everyone was united under Bane I suspect that fewer people would be killed, but it would be a stifling way to live. Usually "the greater good" is kind of a creepy phrase. |
| Wrigs13 |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 21:26:05
quote:
Originally posted by Raith
I'm sure that my CHARACTER can claim to be good, even while I might have some serious questions as to his or her moral stability.
All part of the fun of role playing though!
Well anyone can claim to be good.
I thought you were suggesting you actually were working for the greater good 
Anyway we all know Bane is a big softy really.  |
| Raith |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 21:21:44
I'm sure that my CHARACTER can claim to be good, even while I might have some serious questions as to his or her moral stability.
All part of the fun of role playing though! |
| Wrigs13 |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 21:17:47
quote:
Originally posted by Zucrous
As for Banites being evil, its a tricky situation atleast how I look at it. Bane himself is evil, that does not make every worshiper he has evil. People will do unthinkable things in the name of peace and stability, and in most cases that is evil. Most of Zenthil keep's conversion as far as I have read at the moment is more about bringing powerful nobles from other nations into the fold, and in the long run just march in with the gates open. War and conquest are in his repertoire, but he is not Hextor, or the wannabe that has popped out of 4th edition. He is an emperor not a warrior.
But pc's are not sheep in the flock under the sway of banes clergy. They are individuals of importance in the world. the ones that make changes and champion causes. In your case you are championing bane and the zhents. As such can you claim to be good? 
While a storm trooper can claim to just be following orders, but a sith lord or a bounty hunter can't hide behind this excuse. |
| Wrigs13 |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 21:11:19
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
quote:
Originally posted by Wrigs13
If you get a copy of Starwars RPG then you could actually include sith lords, force lightning is my favourite feat 
There is only one game that deserves the name StarWars attached to it, and no d20 has ever set foot in that system.
If you wanna play StarWars grab the old WEG stuff, might be a little difficult to find, but it, IMHO, reflects the reckless pace and heroics of the movies much much better than what Wotzee cooked up
Is that the version based on d6's and refers to dice and pips? Played that when I was younger. Those were the good old days |
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