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Rabiesbunny
Seeker
USA
93 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 04:10:33
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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?
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"Then I was right. Jobe has all his children killed, and Michael Bay gets to keep making his movies. There is no god." |
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Arion Elenim
Senior Scribe
933 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 04:44:58
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I recommend you let your PCs decide. If you're planning on heading down all those various avenues, just write a couple sessions in for each adventure arc in anticipation. Then, start the party off at the most neutral place possible (traditionally, ye olde inn. Course, this could also be the temple of visiting templar of Bane, willing to 'reward' the cleric types for the faithfulness by granting them magical transportation anywhere they wish), and let their conversations guide you down the road. That way, it appears to be more organic, even though you're anticipating a more linear approach.
This means the PCs will be higher levels for the later arcs, but you can just add in appropriate hit dice and whatnot to make the villains more of a challenge later on.
Best of luck! |
My latest Realms-based short story, about a bard, a paladin of Lathander and the letter of the law, Debts Repaid. It takes place before the "shattering" and gives the bard Arion a last gasp before he plunges into the present.http://candlekeep.com/campaign/logs/log-debts.htm |
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Wrigs13
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
201 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 15:38:38
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Wow, running an evil campaign is a tricky business even for experienced dm's.
Arion is right keep things loose to start with, prepare small amounts for each storyline but don't over work the information. the more detail you add the more time consuming it can become. I remember when I started out spending hours scripting all my encounters for the pc's to run through them in minutes. Less is definitly more from a dm's point of view. A couple of hours designing several rough ideas is far more productive than one beautifully crafted encounter. PC's rarely notice all the details you pain stakingly create, and fixate on the most obscure of plot lines.
Also never underestimate a players ability to procrastinate. I once ran a 10 hour session off the back of a totally unimportant side plot that took only 20 mins to write. |
Do not try to understand the 4th edition. Thats impossible. Instead...only try to realise the truth. There is no 4th edition. |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 16:48:54
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Hmmm... evil campaign... you should be glad I ain't playing in it, unless you already got your share of rape and all the other "niceties" of the faces (feces?) of evil in it...
Now, having said that, there will be forces at work to counter the "bad guys" (PCs), eventually. You just have to figure out what their actions "provoke". Every action will send its ripples outward, and based on this assumption, the less evil, the less the response (if any), but if the PCs do too much, and piss off one person too many there will be a reckoning (of sorts).
Now to the Dendar issue... where is Ubtao (sp?)? We're talking about a major god whose job it is to prevent the gate from opening! Also, Sset (or was it Set, or whatever) the scalykind god might have something against the door opening also, since it would mean the end of Toril. I also go by the Powers & Pantheons entry for Ubtao's "foe" and he is a power unto himself and no aspect of Shar.
Why would Shar want to wipe out the world, and thus all her followers and thus her powerbase, for that matter?
I'd say you should focus away from those events and pin them down to rumor (false rumor at that) because the ramafications of any campaign based on the entire "we save the world" issue is IMO something that belongs to DragonLance and not the Realms.
As for playing evil characters... I wouldn't allow it, selfish bastards, sure, every group needs one or two, but a party devoted to evil? It might work if you have a definite leader, otherwise the party's roster will look more like a revolving door because, if played truly as evil bastards, there would be a lot of throat-slitting and backstabbing, in-game manipulation, possibly making other PCs addicted to a drug only one character can provide and all the other fun stuff. If not... sorry that's not really evil... so my advise is: don't do it. |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36965 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 20:04:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
Why would Shar want to wipe out the world, and thus all her followers and thus her powerbase, for that matter?
She won't need a powerbase if the powerbases of all other deities are removed. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 20:38:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
Why would Shar want to wipe out the world, and thus all her followers and thus her powerbase, for that matter?
She won't need a powerbase if the powerbases of all other deities are removed.
She'd be a goner as well, as per Ao's decree that a deity's power depends on how many followers one has. All people gone = all deities gone...that includes Shar |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36965 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 21:10:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
Why would Shar want to wipe out the world, and thus all her followers and thus her powerbase, for that matter?
She won't need a powerbase if the powerbases of all other deities are removed.
She'd be a goner as well, as per Ao's decree that a deity's power depends on how many followers one has. All people gone = all deities gone...that includes Shar
Since she's all about loss and oblivion, that's fine with her. Remember, she was there from the beginning, when there was nothing -- and she was cool with things being that way. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 21:18:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
Why would Shar want to wipe out the world, and thus all her followers and thus her powerbase, for that matter?
She won't need a powerbase if the powerbases of all other deities are removed.
She'd be a goner as well, as per Ao's decree that a deity's power depends on how many followers one has. All people gone = all deities gone...that includes Shar
Since she's all about loss and oblivion, that's fine with her. Remember, she was there from the beginning, when there was nothing -- and she was cool with things being that way.
True....Shadowrealm Spoiler, highlight to see : That is why Rivalen Tanthul teamed up with Cale and Riven, he realized that Shar's endgame in allowing Kesson Rel to start the Shadowstrom was Oblivion.....and once he realized that he did not want her to get her way, he was not ready for all things to end |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 21:19:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
Why would Shar want to wipe out the world, and thus all her followers and thus her powerbase, for that matter?
She won't need a powerbase if the powerbases of all other deities are removed.
She'd be a goner as well, as per Ao's decree that a deity's power depends on how many followers one has. All people gone = all deities gone...that includes Shar
Since she's all about loss and oblivion, that's fine with her. Remember, she was there from the beginning, when there was nothing -- and she was cool with things being that way.
But that was BEFORE Ao set those new rules after the ToT. Even if she is all about loss and oblivion there is a thirst for power in her, and power comes through followers/believers. So her promoting the destruction of the world would be like sawing off the branch you are sitting on...500 feet above the ground... |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36965 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 22:43:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
Why would Shar want to wipe out the world, and thus all her followers and thus her powerbase, for that matter?
She won't need a powerbase if the powerbases of all other deities are removed.
She'd be a goner as well, as per Ao's decree that a deity's power depends on how many followers one has. All people gone = all deities gone...that includes Shar
Since she's all about loss and oblivion, that's fine with her. Remember, she was there from the beginning, when there was nothing -- and she was cool with things being that way.
But that was BEFORE Ao set those new rules after the ToT. Even if she is all about loss and oblivion there is a thirst for power in her, and power comes through followers/believers. So her promoting the destruction of the world would be like sawing off the branch you are sitting on...500 feet above the ground...
It doesn't matter. Her thirst for power is so that she can destroy everything. She's not interested in power for the sake of power, she's interested in power so she can wipe out everything, leaving nothing. She wants a return to the nothingness that she first knew. She was happy with nothing, and she wants to get back to that.
Keep in mind that if there is nothing, there is no need for power. If nothing exists, there are no power struggles -- there's no one to struggle against, and nothing to struggle for. Power becomes meaningless in that scenario. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 17 Feb 2009 22:47:35 |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3290 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2009 : 23:01:23
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-Just keep it simple and make it fun for you and your players. 
BRIMSTONE |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Rabiesbunny
Seeker
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2009 : 15:40:56
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quote:
Now to the Dendar issue... where is Ubtao (sp?)? We're talking about a major god whose job it is to prevent the gate from opening! Also, Sset (or was it Set, or whatever) the scalykind god might have something against the door opening also, since it would mean the end of Toril. I also go by the Powers & Pantheons entry for Ubtao's "foe" and he is a power unto himself and no aspect of Shar.
Ubtao is weakened because of his major source of worship and power, the dinosaurs of Chult and the natives, being killed rather a lot by the dragonspawn. The thing about it is Ubtao has a treaty with the Faerunian pantheon; he has exclusive rights to worship in Chult. So while noone other than the goddess of total void wants Toril destroyed, per Ao's laws (and to a lesser extent by that, Tyr's word), they're powerless to directly play their hand. Hence the many clerics of Faerunian deities coming there; it's not so much about one party saving all of Toril, but the faiths working together.
Thanks for the advice so far, everyone. :)
I'm looking to run a more good aligned party in the Marches for people, though it looks like we'll have a LE Banite and a TN Maskite so far - but Lawful Evil is fun in that it can come off close to Lawful Good to the untrained eye if it's played right. Still, here's hoping SOMEONE will play a good guy for me. As long as it's not a Tormish paladin or something. Then the group MAY implode.
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"Then I was right. Jobe has all his children killed, and Michael Bay gets to keep making his movies. There is no god." |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2009 : 16:22:24
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| The thing is this: as a DM you can rule that there will be no evil PCs in the group |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Raith
Seeker
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2009 : 18:41:48
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The story Rabies told in the original post was about the campaign I'd been DMing for over two years, and our group plays in a persistent world where the actions of the high level PCs in the evil (read: not stupid, evil) party are reflected on the rest of the Realms. These people are level 17-20 now, so I thought a little "world saving" might be more fun than them saving kittens from trees and spending a session consoling the feline's little girl about how traumatic it was.
Or whatever.
I'm of the opinion that things CAN be both story driven and yes, occasionally epic. The prophecy about Dendar emerging from beneath the Peaks of Flame has been going around for a loooong time, and (after we all decided that we were offended by the 4e Realms and there wouldn't be any more official time line advancement we cared to take part in) I figured the players might enjoy something major to do for a change.
Mace, I feel like you're crapping all over something I've put a lot of thought and heart into, and to be honest I don't really appreciate it. Her question wasn't "Why is Raith's campaign bad", it was asking for tips on how she should handle her first campaign of her own. |
"Power and dominion are taken by the Will. By divine right Hail and Kill!" |
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Wrigs13
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
201 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2009 : 20:08:12
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Try not to take things so personally.
When you start a thread and ask for advice you will come up against people with different ideas and opinions. Generally the point of asking in the first place I think.
Just because Mace is asking difficult questions about how you perceive your game world does not mean he is saying your game is bad.
Well I hope not.   
But I have written many games which in hindsight had plot holes, logic anomolies or inconsistancies. But so do some of my favourite films. 
So just because we don't understand the motivation doesn't mean there isn't one. Even if you haven't thought of it yet.
I have gone back and filled in the holes with a second level of storyline that explains why events occured that from the first storyline might now seem odd. It gives you a chance to write a new campaign that revels the plot behind the holes, and all those questions from your players that you wish they hadn't asked or plots that don't seem to have been fully thought out the first time round can be explained.
The great thing is that the players are even more impressed that they noticed things were wrong and now they have a reason why. Players think it was all planned out and not just thrown together.
Anyway sorry if I took this thread down an evil pc path, i just made an assumption based on Zhents and Bane being mentioned. |
Do not try to understand the 4th edition. Thats impossible. Instead...only try to realise the truth. There is no 4th edition. |
Edited by - Wrigs13 on 18 Feb 2009 20:11:14 |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2009 : 21:47:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Raith
Mace, I feel like you're crapping all over something I've put a lot of thought and heart into, and to be honest I don't really appreciate it. Her question wasn't "Why is Raith's campaign bad", it was asking for tips on how she should handle her first campaign of her own.
Raith, I do not crap all over the campaign, far from it! I don't mind people playing bad guys, hell, I've played the occasional real bastard myself (if the other players in my Vampire game found out what I've really been up to, thing would get interesting, to say the very least).
The entire timeline thing is how it should be, do you think I do adapt every bit of (what I perceive!) nonsense into my Realms campaign, frak no!
What I mean is that actions usually force counter actions, so if your party was/is evil, and they did do some pretty bad shite, there will be forces reacting to that. If that evil party started getting the Dalelands polluted and threatened, Elminster will be the "big bad (or good rather) endboss" because you just don't crap on his hometurf and get away with it. That's what I am saying, nothing more.
I've been playing RPGs for 23 years now, and mostly DMing. I try to play things out realistically. So if my group of goody characters decides to take the fight to, say, Thay, and they are successful, they will have to deal with Zzass Tam sooner rather than later, and unless they are really really really lucky, they will not get out of this battle alive. Action, reaction, that sort of thing.
Same thing with something that did happen when we started playing the GDQ series. Hill Giant central: the group manages to kill the guards real quiet-like, they scout the terrain, see the party the giants are having, and discuss for some 50 minutes real time what they are going to do. Since it was their characters speaking I equaled real time to in-game time, and also said, if they are having such a party one or two giants might actually go and see if their buddies want some booze also. So they stumble onto the party, raise the alarm and the whole bunch of some 30 giants comes rushing towards the 7 characters. Pretty bloody fight, 3 or 4 PCs dying, but they did it... action, reaction, the environment does not stand still... that's all I am saying... |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Portella
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
247 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2009 : 22:06:06
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| Rabiesbunny just a small suggestion after reading your campaign notes i would start playing before some of the major events (attack and release of dendar) they sound like a good idea and it would be a shame to miss having a go at attack on Vorel-baeshra, it could be that the players were the ones to recover the book everyone one know most clerigy likes to send the sheep first before the pastor. anyhow, then you have the major attack of the the church of shar, that is all honesty sounds like a great encounter for party to play through. even if they fail which for the rest of the adventure to continue they would need to fail it opens some great ideas on how to capture dendar again and kick some sharrians butt. just trying to find how to impression dendar again is full on adventure. |
Purple you say?!
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Portella
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
247 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2009 : 22:16:27
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| Heay if i were shar i would have a load of sheep in the planes worshipping me even infiltrate other material planes, and as a last resort i would gather my sheep some nice sheep by the way and put on my pocket (super goddess pocket, extradimentional space on the robes of shar where food and other thing exist to the delight of the sheep) just to make sure that even is dendar wiped the world under his nouse taking out everyone with him. I the beautiful shar would still have sheep on my pocket. were i could take out dendar and put my sheep back on the world all alone. |
Purple you say?!
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Raith
Seeker
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2009 : 22:30:47
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Well the reaction to the whole Dale Lands infestation was the arrival of Storm...who the party swiftly dispatched, much to my dismay and surprise.
That encounter actually led to me rebuilding her entirely as a fighter 1/bard 1/sorc 3/eldritch knight 10/Spellsinger 5/Bladesinger 7/Harper Agent 1
Ridiculous maybe, but I've always figured that number of different classes was less important than the overall feel of a character, and I think that this build (capable warrior with great magical aptitude) kept true to Storm's "feel" while making sure that the next time she fought these evil folk, they'd be sufficiently terrified.
As for Elminster's whereabouts well...funny story! See, the first book of the Invasion of the Dalelands had come out and I thought it might be nifty. Elminster is gone so Zhents move in. Makes sense, sounds familiar...etc. I'd thought it would be nifty for the guys in my campaign to be running the scenario as bad guys. Of course since they had a Talontar Blightlord they went outside the box and said "Lets just salt the earth with Blightspawned".
Obviously the original adventure didn't call for the heroes to be fighting Blightspawned, but thats the risk that you take when you DM, and I saw it coming. Figured it would be easy enough to mop up at the end if need be.
This was all before I knew they planned to swat Darkhope like a bug.
It seemed to me that since I knew I wouldn't be killing Mystra off and saying that, ya know...the Weave never really mattered all THAT much in the first place, I might as well just start running in my own direction sooner rather than later.
So to recap; El was out of town. Storm had an underpowered build to handle my (slightly) power gamey group, but their strikeforce was eventually driven out by the Purple Dragons. They also lost an NPC assassin that they'd been running with for some time, and the druid of Talona's beloved (HIDEOUS!!!!!!) animal companion, Pox the rat.
I might owe you an apology Mace. Maybe to me my understanding of how things work in Faerun is a bit too SRS BUSINES, but I also pride myself on being a storyteller. The suggestion that the Dendar thing be made into an untrue rumor sort of hit me below the belt, though you obviously didn't intend it that way.
Please be assured that I looked hard at -EVERY- possible player in the big picture and know what they're currently up to and why.
...now that I've hijacked my wife's thread, I do want to say that I would absolutely love to discuss this stuff in greater plot-spoiling detail with other FR DMs, as I always like to discuss my interests with those who share them, and get feedback.
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"Power and dominion are taken by the Will. By divine right Hail and Kill!" |
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Portella
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
247 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2009 : 22:36:27
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storm dispatched!? *gasps* nice, out of interest what is the party build? class/level?
what did you do to the knight of myth drannor? |
Purple you say?!
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2009 : 23:29:39
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Offing Storm... I don't have the info at hand, mainly because I'd handle an attack on Mystra's Chosen as I would handle a group in an YT-1300 freighter attacking a star destroyer, I mean spellfire and all that, then again if my group was to hand me some convincing plan I'd prolly go for it.
Hell, I know that the 7 characters in my Realms-group are powerful, after all they come from 2nd edition backgrounds, at least 4 out of 7 toons, and that usually makes them more powerful (itemwise). Also, I play old adventures with them and don't care about the cash and whatnot, because, hey, they have to cope with a platoon of giants or more at some points during the GDQ series, regular (rules-strict) equipped characters don't have much of a chance against 10 frost giants...not really |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Raith
Seeker
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 04:04:51
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Like I said, Storm's build really wasn't that terrific right out of the book. I figured that even though her build was a little on the unwieldy side, she had a good 10 levels on everyone else so it would even out.
The one that took her down was the Duskblade/Shadow Dragon Disciple. They sent their NPC assassin in to the fabled cottage to scope her out, and suddenly lost contact with him. Storm then came busting out of her house like a bat out of hell with silver fire blazing.
I had figured that the group would figure they had no chance and beat a hasty retreat, but instead they rolled initiative. She weathered Knassh's (Sorc/Fire Shugenja) Flame Strike, then took a hit or two from Umulka's (Druid/Blightlord) summoned Elder Arrowhawk Curos (the dragon disciple) took wing and put everything he had into his power attack with his Legacy weapon...a Large size mercurial greatsword that had a few other properties that to be honest, hardly mattered.
Poor Storm had what protection on that she could from her spell list, but it wasn't enough to make much difference. By the time it was her turn the whole jig was up, but I thought fast and had her body vanish, leaving her +1 longsword behind, it's single Wish spell exhausted.
But like I said, I've reworked her a whole lot since then, as well as her previously pitiful gear. She hadn't been set up like a Star Destroyer in game terms, more like a Corellian Corvette.
I've since upgraded her to the Executor, and hopefully I can keep her safe from any more A-wings. |
"Power and dominion are taken by the Will. By divine right Hail and Kill!" |
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Rabiesbunny
Seeker
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 04:13:37
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quote:
I've since upgraded her to the Executor, and hopefully I can keep her safe from any more A-wings.
Nonsense m'love, nothing can save any kind of Star Destroyer from the amazing A-Wings!
Oh, don't worry about the thread, you can have it now. :P |
"Then I was right. Jobe has all his children killed, and Michael Bay gets to keep making his movies. There is no god." |
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Raith
Seeker
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 04:23:45
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A little update on the players that Rabies will have in her campaign by the way!
Cleric of Bane (me!)
Zhentarim Rogue
Monk of ...?
Right now it looks like we'll be a bunch of Banites/Zhents trying to spread the word by spinning our faith and doing helpful deeds, while keeping any unsavory acts carefully quiet, set in the Silver Marches.
Can't wait! |
"Power and dominion are taken by the Will. By divine right Hail and Kill!" |
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Arion Elenim
Senior Scribe
933 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 05:53:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Raith
A little update on the players that Rabies will have in her campaign by the way!
Cleric of Bane (me!)
Zhentarim Rogue
Monk of ...?
Right now it looks like we'll be a bunch of Banites/Zhents trying to spread the word by spinning our faith and doing helpful deeds, while keeping any unsavory acts carefully quiet, set in the Silver Marches.
Can't wait!
Hey, part of Bane's dogma is all about the Law. Deeds that organize a society under an iron fist are sometimes as rejoiced and praised as they are reviled.
I'm jealous of your party  . I always wanted to play a Baneite who was a professional barrister and state executioner in his downtime.  |
My latest Realms-based short story, about a bard, a paladin of Lathander and the letter of the law, Debts Repaid. It takes place before the "shattering" and gives the bard Arion a last gasp before he plunges into the present.http://candlekeep.com/campaign/logs/log-debts.htm |
Edited by - Arion Elenim on 19 Feb 2009 05:55:33 |
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Raith
Seeker
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 06:38:07
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I used to play a lot of Neverwinter Nights, and one of my favorite gimmicks then was to be a priest or priestess of Bane and put the most positive spin on the dogma I could. Faith in one's superiors, no mercy to the "wicked", things like that.
Had quite a few spirited debates with Paladins, and awarded myself bonus points if they reacted violently to my words in a public place! |
"Power and dominion are taken by the Will. By divine right Hail and Kill!" |
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Wrigs13
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
201 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 09:47:41
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I like the idea of putting a positive spin on banite tenets, but isnt the under lying message one of evil intent? I may be missing the point but if you are imposing law by being a tyrant doesn't it become hard to claim this is the activity of a good group. 
As for Zhents, I know just because your born in Zhentil Keep it doesn't make you evil, but a thief from Zhentil Keep? Surely such activities are closely monitored and controlled? 
Not saying that the group has to be evil but won't they ultimatly end up following a path to the dark side? |
Do not try to understand the 4th edition. Thats impossible. Instead...only try to realise the truth. There is no 4th edition. |
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Rabiesbunny
Seeker
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 13:58:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Wrigs13
I like the idea of putting a positive spin on banite tenets, but isnt the under lying message one of evil intent? I may be missing the point but if you are imposing law by being a tyrant doesn't it become hard to claim this is the activity of a good group.
As for Zhents, I know just because your born in Zhentil Keep it doesn't make you evil, but a thief from Zhentil Keep? Surely such activities are closely monitored and controlled?
Not saying that the group has to be evil but won't they ultimatly end up following a path to the dark side?
:) Pretty sure they'll start out with glowing red-and-yellow sith eyes, actually!
I'm a fan of this too, so I'll make it work in the campaign - these guys know better than to expect me to coddle them and keep their characters safe, luckily!
The way I like to think of it, Zhents ARE like the Empire. Peace through War and Tyranny. If you spin it "Hey, people who aren't being ruled over by a Tyrant are so plagued by conflict people can't have peace until we're all under the same god", then it brings a neat Lawful NEvil aspect to it. Think of Palpatine's first speech to the Senate after killing Windu. |
"Then I was right. Jobe has all his children killed, and Michael Bay gets to keep making his movies. There is no god." |
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Wrigs13
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
201 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 14:17:29
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| If you get a copy of Starwars RPG then you could actually include sith lords, force lightning is my favourite feat |
Do not try to understand the 4th edition. Thats impossible. Instead...only try to realise the truth. There is no 4th edition. |
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Rabiesbunny
Seeker
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 15:42:20
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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
XD Our other running campaign is a Star Wars one, actually. Maybe if they get out of line I'll do that.
"Aww, I'm sorry. Darth Krayt's hanging out at the Inn. Your mug of ale just spilled ALL OVER his Vong armor. Have fun." |
"Then I was right. Jobe has all his children killed, and Michael Bay gets to keep making his movies. There is no god." |
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Portella
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
247 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2009 : 15:43:59
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| OGL is great... force lighting feat!? nice. |
Purple you say?!
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First Time DMing - oh dear!
