| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ganthus |
Posted - 15 May 2007 : 19:13:25
Greetings.
I am currently running a game set for the time being in and around Cormyr. I am seeking a basis of comparison with other game masters regarding reaction times of Cormyrian military to threats, and how things are being rebuilt following the book trilogy.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If a small town was obliterated, how fast would the crown be aware?
--For example. A Zhent cell terrorizing a PC sends a squad of casters and scouts to kill everyone around them during the night. The PC awakens to find everyone gassed unconscious and killed in their sleep. How soon would the crown investigate in your games?
If a 6-7th level spell battle occurred how fast would your war wizards react? Would they show up via gate with soldiers or observe from a distance first? Would they even know? If so, do they even have the resources to do much about it?
Are there numbers somewhere to provide a basis to decide defenses?
In the novels I see a whole lot of soldiers killed crushed maimed or otherwise separated from the mortal coil. There had to be some sort of nationwide impact on morale, and people with no confidence in a military can't want to be in it.
How are the damaged/abandoned properties in Arabel being handled legally? Has the crown seized them, are they allowing squatter's rights, awarding land by merit or what? I currently have a tent town composed of displaced citizens and workers, a garrison of troops/wizards, and a whole lot of rubble. I assumed the walls were breached but remain largely intact. As it was occupied during the war I assume the orcs, true to form pillaged and burned the place. Is this similar to the way others handle Arabel?
Does Arabel stay a large city in your games or does its' sacking drive people away permanently? I would assume it drives away a few, obviously those who died defending it won't be sticking around etc.
How is theology being handled in your game?
--I have a PC who wishes to set up a shrine to Ilmater in Arabel, but I have noticed in the books a political issue surrounding religious places being backed by the crown. The PC has donated a great deal of money, healing and time to relief efforts in Arabel. They have made a formal petition to the crown for a relic of Ilmater kept in their vault, and permission to build a shrine with it. Would Alusair/Caladnei allow such a thing? How active is your clergy following the war?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Any response on these topics would be appreciated. I have always liked the Cormyr region of the realms, and am most eager to see some other people's vision of it. |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Wenin |
Posted - 18 Apr 2009 : 17:14:34
It was asked and answered. =)
In this thread. =) |
| Malcolm |
Posted - 18 Apr 2009 : 15:42:29
Heh. I'd ask Ed this, in his thread, if someone hasn't already. |
| bitter thorn |
Posted - 18 Apr 2009 : 04:34:19
What came of this? |
| bitter thorn |
Posted - 18 Apr 2009 : 04:33:10
Bump |
| bitter thorn |
Posted - 01 Jul 2007 : 23:23:38
quote:
Originally posted by Ganthus
Greetings.
I am currently running a game set for the time being in and around Cormyr. I am seeking a basis of comparison with other game masters regarding reaction times of Cormyrian military to threats, and how things are being rebuilt following the book trilogy.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Are there numbers somewhere to provide a basis to decide defenses?
In the novels I see a whole lot of soldiers killed crushed maimed or otherwise separated from the mortal coil. There had to be some sort of nationwide impact on morale, and people with no confidence in a military can't want to be in it.
How are the damaged/abandoned properties in Arabel being handled legally? Has the crown seized them, are they allowing squatter's rights, awarding land by merit or what? I currently have a tent town composed of displaced citizens and workers, a garrison of troops/wizards, and a whole lot of rubble. I assumed the walls were breached but remain largely intact. As it was occupied during the war I assume the orcs, true to form pillaged and burned the place. Is this similar to the way others handle Arabel?
Does Arabel stay a large city in your games or does its' sacking drive people away permanently? I would assume it drives away a few, obviously those who died defending it won't be sticking around etc.
How is theology being handled in your game?
--I have a PC who wishes to set up a shrine to Ilmater in Arabel, but I have noticed in the books a political issue surrounding religious places being backed by the crown. The PC has donated a great deal of money, healing and time to relief efforts in Arabel. They have made a formal petition to the crown for a relic of Ilmater kept in their vault, and permission to build a shrine with it. Would Alusair/Caladnei allow such a thing? How active is your clergy following the war?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Any response on these topics would be appreciated. I have always liked the Cormyr region of the realms, and am most eager to see some other people's vision of it.
There are no hard and fast numbers for Cormyrs current army navy and War Wizards, but they are still very potent forces. In my game the army is less numerous, and it has lost quite a few higher level NPCs, but the surviving force has quite few hardened vets as well as an influx of green troops who turned to the military as a way of supporting their families when the war destroyed their existing jobs and farms etc. The Purple Dragons are still seen as national heroes regardless of losses from the Grodd invasion. There is no broad loss of confidence is spite of the toll of the invasion.
Regarding Arabel, I gather from Into the Dragons Lair, RotAW, and Elminsters Daughter that rebuilding is progressing at an impressive pace. The crown and its vassels own all lands in the kingdom, and they ultimately have wide latitude in how they handle land and properties. Cormyr does not, however, have a tradition of heavy handed autocracy. Lord Myrmeen Lhal still has the crowns complete confidence, and she is an intelligent and prudent Lord. Arabel is still a major force and thriving trade center in spite of having a somewhat decreased population.
Theologically the crown and particularly the War Wizards have always been quite leery of powerful churches. This attitude seems to be softening a little of late. IMG the church of Lathander has been very active in Arabels new beginning. Lord Lahl has allowed the churches to bring substantial resources to bare in rebuilding Arabel and recovering from the plagues, but there is an ingrained suspicion of potent churches (even good ones). In spite of this reluctance, she is not inclined to discourage the influx of large amounts of gold and other support, but she does keep a very close eye on all the relevant players.
IIRC, the Broken God is not a major player in Cormyr. The crown might well have no issue with giving them some special latitude to balance the growing influence of Lathander and Chaunteas clergy. As long as no one religious power gets too influential I think that Alusair/Caladnei are inclined to cautiously take the help being offered.
I hope that helps some! |
| bitter thorn |
Posted - 01 Jul 2007 : 22:33:36
Wooly rightly points out that there are a ton of variables, but I'll take a shot making some generalizations.
The War Wizards are an itel intensive organization. They engage in extensive (often invasive) skrying and spying within their boarders and beyond.
The DM definately has some wiggle room for plot advancement. If it advances your story, Cormyran forces reacting immediately with a teleported strikeforce, or even preventing the assault all together, is wholly plausible. If it advances you story for the PCs to have to deal with this on their own, such an audacious attack might catch Cormyr off guard.
There are reasonable explanations for either outcome or a host of variations. You have a good amount of flexibility without having to use heavy handed plot devices.
As to your second question, the detection part could go either way, but I would bet on the War Wizards knowing about 6th + level spells going off sooner rather than later.
Keep in mind that the crown tends to keep a close eye on all arcane spell caster in their realm, especially adventurers. If one such potent caster teleports in without prior arrangements (like El and several of the Chosen's special royal dispensations) it could be viewed as an act of agression.
The War Wizards have the ability to respond to the above mentioned agression with massive power. IIRC Laspera can cast 8th or 9th level spells, and there are numerous War Wizards that can cast 7th and 8th level spells.
In my game every military district maintains a rotating "quick reaction force" of at least one vetran War Wizard, Battle Priest and sundry other warriors. These QRFs were substantially beefed up during the recent Rage of Dragons. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 15 May 2007 : 19:46:08
quote:
Originally posted by Ganthus
If a small town was obliterated, how fast would the crown be aware?
--For example. A Zhent cell terrorizing a PC sends a squad of casters and scouts to kill everyone around them during the night. The PC awakens to find everyone gassed unconscious and killed in their sleep. How soon would the crown investigate in your games?
If a 6-7th level spell battle occurred how fast would your war wizards react? Would they show up via gate with soldiers or observe from a distance first? Would they even know? If so, do they even have the resources to do much about it?
Both of these really depend on some variables that aren't addressed in the questions... Things that would factor in: location of the town/battlesite, location of nearby resources/strategic points, Purple Dragon assets in the area, War Wizard assets in the area, crown agents in the area, Harper agents in the area, whether or not any nobles live near there, etc...
A small town sitting outside a fortress and near a gem mine? They'll know pretty fast. The Harpers have an agent there, in regular contact with Berdusk? They'll send someone to investigate when the contact is lost, and get word to the Crown. A backwoods town, in the middle of nowhere, of interest to no one? It may be months before anyone knows about it... |
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