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dmgorgon
Acolyte
28 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Jan 2013 : 18:58:47
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Hi Everyone,
I'm looking for a bit of advice.
I looking to start a new campaign and I've chosen Highmoon as the main city of focus. My plan is to lay Siege to the city from day one. :)
Can anyone here suggest an appropriate threat for Highmoon? Do you think any of the Dales would attack it? What about the Zhents?
I could use the typical horde of undead or random goblin types, but I'm look for something that has a little more FR flavour.
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Edited by - dmgorgon on 28 Jan 2013 19:00:05
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2013 : 19:50:37
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the only likely candidates I could think of are Sembia and Shade. The Zhents would have to go through the other Dales and Cormyr wouldn't. It should also be noted that Highmoon (Deepingdale) now has some manner of defense agreement with Myth Drannor and the other Dales; I have no idea on the particulars. While Highmoon is far from helpless, if an entire army were brought against it (thousands), a siege would not last long.
Highmoon, however is a way-point for trade. So if Sembia tride to take it over, I'd argue Cormyr would have something to say about it. If it were the Shades, everyone in the region (The Dales, Sembia, Cormyr) has something to lose by letting Highmoon fall.
I guess Archendale could take do it, but I can't think of any reason why they'd want to. The only real reason to invade would to take over the trade route, but Archendale has that going for itself already. |
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dmgorgon
Acolyte
28 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2013 : 20:21:20
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Thanks, that's very interesting. I also agree that the Zhents couldn't do it directly.
hmmm... I could have it attacked by all three factions (The Dales, Sembia, and Cormyr). All I'd have to do is engineer some reason for Highmoon to betray them or shut down the trade route. This would put the PC's in a predicament, one that they might not fully understand until they are in the thick of battle against forces they really shouldn't be fighting.
Even a diplomatic solution would be difficult with several factions waiting for the signal to attack.
Now, I just have to find a few factions that don't like each other and give them a reason to attack.
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2013 : 20:45:01
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| BTW, do you know what year? It would make a big deal because of the Archmage from Highmoon. |
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dmgorgon
Acolyte
28 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2013 : 21:02:01
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| At this point I might go with the current date (4e time period) I haven't really settled on the exact date yet. |
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The Masked Mage
Great Reader
USA
2420 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2013 : 21:15:08
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quote:
Originally posted by dmgorgon
At this point I might go with the current date (4e time period) I haven't really settled on the exact date yet.
In that case I think Rhauntides is dead - not sure though - Anyone know for sure? |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4688 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2013 : 23:07:28
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In many ways it strikes me a near impossible to have an effective Siege in a world of magic, unless magic can be blocked. A siege in itself just seeks to starve the target (or prevent needed resources) until a surrender or terms agreed to.
Cutting off food and a few Clerics that are about of enough level they can make food. With a few Wizards about teleport clearly can bring in food as well.
Sieges tend to end in many ways:
Target breached and invaded killing those of the stronghold. This requires more then just cutting supply lines.
Target sends out message for help to allies. With teleport this should bring aid quickly, if there are allies. Even then could hire mercenaries with promise of reward.
Sieger runs out of resources, troops desert and control of supplies are lost.
Sieger runs out of funds to maintain army so has to retreat.
Magic tends to trump massed force of persons when talking about achieving success. I also note even getting people there as an army is a bit of concern.
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"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 00:36:35
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Bear in mind that most sieges are drawn out, unpleasant, boring battles of attrition. The archers don't fire an endless barrage of arrows over the walls, individual archers might not fire a single shot for days, but the threat of archer volleys is maintained without pause. The fighters can hack each other apart in instants, yet they spend the vast majority of the siege harmlessly glaring at each other across a buffer zone. I think the same is true of magic; if spells cannot decide the initial battle then they probably cannot decide any other ... magic tends to be limited-use (even single-use) and rather expensive. It also tends to be overly destructive and the purpose of most sieges is to capture something relatively intact rather than just nuking it into a map smear. Reinforcements might take the form of another cavalry formation or a single wizard capable of casting distintegrate off a scroll.
Is this the HQ for the Highmoon Trading Coster? If so, it might have all manner of rare, precious, fragile treasures (perhaps even a single special artifact) sitting in a warehouse which the attacker must sieze intact. How much better when this prize is something like a wyrdstone, capable of blocking many magical effects (including teleport, etc). A powerful NPC (who might be capable of anti-siege magics) could replace an item.
I imagine Deepingdale, and quite a few other Dales, would muster forces to defend their ally (and "capital"), although an internal conflict (possibly stimulated by the Shadovar, just like in Sembia) could mean they arrive late and are positioned outside the walls as countersiege instead of siege defense.
Local druids and treants and such might join either side if somebody's been clearcutting the forests. Never underestimate a circle of 2d6 druids whisking up some bad weather then casting call lightning. Priests of Tempus (along with their armies of followers) are always looking for a good scrap, they need ground consecrated by spilled blood to build new temples. Disposable mercenary gangs of all flavours are available to augment or replace the attacking force, offering variety (a different shock troop/weapon every day!) and perhaps obscuring the trail to their employers.
I'd go for Cult of the Dragon. Highmoon has a history of dragon-bashing which needs to be addressed. Plus dragons (and their riders) can come and go as needed, making it easier to continue or end the battle whenever the story requires. |
[/Ayrik] |
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dmgorgon
Acolyte
28 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 01:18:45
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I think that magic can counter magic. For that reason a siege would most likely be just as difficult for both sides. Teleport, Scry, Control Weather, Stone Shape, etc can all be countered. If a wall falls a wizard can fill it with a Wall of stone or even a Wall of Iron.
It's rather hard to conceptualize exactly how long a siege would playout. I think it might last much longer and evolve into a war of attrition. It's true that the clerics of the town could cast create food spells all day, but I doubt it would be enough to keep everyone in a city fed. Disease might also be kept a bay with divine magic, but how long will that last? Would the temple not be one of the first places to be attacked when a wall is breached? Would assassins not attempt to kill all the clerics before the army is even seen on the horizon?
I think magic changes the dynamic, but it doesn't make the siege impossible.
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Edited by - dmgorgon on 29 Jan 2013 01:21:06 |
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dmgorgon
Acolyte
28 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 01:26:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
Is this the HQ for the Highmoon Trading Coster? If so, it might have all manner of rare, precious, fragile treasures (perhaps even a single special artifact) sitting in a warehouse which the attacker must sieze intact. How much better when this prize is something like a wyrdstone, capable of blocking many magical effects (including teleport, etc). A powerful NPC (who might be capable of anti-siege magics) could replace an item.
great ideas. I might use them :) |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 01:37:09
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quote:
Originally posted by The Masked Mage
quote:
Originally posted by dmgorgon
At this point I might go with the current date (4e time period) I haven't really settled on the exact date yet.
In that case I think Rhauntides is dead - not sure though - Anyone know for sure?
The 3e FRCS notes that Rhauntides died in 1371 DR.
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dmgorgon
Acolyte
28 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 01:39:27
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| btw, Are there any examples of prolonged Sieges in the realms? There might be some in Damara, but I'll have to check. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jan 2013 : 02:04:56
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Priestesses of Talona might accelerate a siege by introducing plague on the wind or poison to the well. Were-priests of Malar could await the coming full moon to break the gates and feast on those within. A once-every-1,187-years astrological alignment or comet or something could require some special ritual is completed at a very specific time and date. Reinforcements (for one or both sides) might be en route.
All these sorts of things can add tension to the siege, forcing the climax to occur exactly when you need the players to be concerned about it. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Laying Siege to Highmoon (Deepingdale)
