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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 13:39:26
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OK, last game day me and my group sat down and basically talked about goals what their characters would want to do in the future. I want to run stuff they want to do and not the prefab adventures anymore.
How to bring all of this into the campaign will be a tremendous task and I would appreciate any suggestions you sages have.
Here is the list of what the players came up with, in no particular order:
-fight in a war
-visit to the Underdark:
go to Blingenston
spy on the Drow family of one character/revenge
-hunt orcs
-gain acceptance in Waterdeep so that the Drow priestess of Eilistraee could build her own shrine on the surface
-annoy Zenthil Keep
-learn about the creation of portals
-do Harper things (please don't ask me what the player has in mind, I think she has no real idea either)
-look for clues of Shanatar
-find out if there are threats to the cities of the North (Silverymoon etc)
-eventually explore Myth Drannor
-gain prestige with the Warwizards of Cormyr
-research new spells (I know this should happen off-stage, but I list it for completion's sake)
I will edit in more in case I forgot anything.
1st edit: forgot to mention that the campaign at the moment takes place in 1366, February
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Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
Edited by - Mace Hammerhand on 29 Aug 2006 15:43:13
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 13:47:30
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Well most of these should be included in a campaign centered around Silverymoon. Intrigue. Blidgenstone is rather near in the Underdark and orcs are everywhere. There's also the Zentharim in Llorkh.
You know, a spy/diplomat campaign could easily include most of these with the players representing Silverymoon and Alustriel.
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Thangorn
Seeker
New Zealand
84 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 13:55:01
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pick one shorter term goal at a time for each player.. combine them into your campaign along with the main story features YOU want to run.. then try the same exercise later once they've achieved their shorter term goals, I guarantee you will have different answers as the PCs become more defined(or deaded) by their actions..
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Ex-A Land Far Away (ALFA) DM/Builder
Faerunian Canon Despot |
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Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 14:13:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
-gain acceptance in Waterdeep so that the Drow priestess of Eilistraee could build her own shrine on the surface
Well, Qilué´s temple is in/near Skullport, IIRC. This and that info (Spoilers of Blackstaff ahead):
Laeral is leaving Waterdeep, in the end of the novel. So, maybe Qilué could pass somee times acting like Laeral, if the need arises
This could start a hook/plot that could culminate in the Eilistraee followers gaining acceptance in Waterdeep (and the character building the shrine - there are so many possibilities).  |
Dwarf, DM, husband, and proud of this! :P
twitter: @yuripeixoto
Facebook: yuri.peixoto |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 15:41:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Thangorn
pick one shorter term goal at a time for each player.. combine them into your campaign along with the main story features YOU want to run.. then try the same exercise later once they've achieved their shorter term goals, I guarantee you will have different answers as the PCs become more defined(or deaded) by their actions..
The game/campaign has been running since 2001... but I'll think about the short term thingy, thanks |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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VonRaventheDaring
Learned Scribe
USA
197 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 15:42:20
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I would say you could combine several of those, what with annoying the Zents ( a favorite past time of myself) isn't that a harper thing? Anyway i would say that exploring Myth Drannor is one of those do a bit at a time things and hope you survive. But thats just me, i would say that you could combine that perhaps with the drow spying on the surface if its one of those houses, otherwise the underdark thing would be good for that and Blingenstone as it is in the underdark. And of course all of those could lead to fighting in a war. I usually pick some of their goals and kinda let the opertunities arrive for a few of them and let them pick which way they go, ie rumors come to you that the Zents are begining to be active around Darkhold, also there is tales from the north about orcs near silvermoon, and the war wizards of Cormyr are offering rewards (knowlage of portal making perhaps?) for anyone who recovers ----------- item from the ruins of Myth Drannor.
or something like that. |
"Develop the latent abilities within you for that is your power alone. Psionics is the ultimate art of magic and you are its practitioner. Through lifelong dedication, strive to unite your will with your physical form to become one. Only through the unrestrained union of one’s mind and body can the magic of psionics truly be mastered. Throw off the yoke of any who would impose tyranny upon you. Likewise, do not ever force another to submit to your will. Free your mind, free yourself and you have only just begun the path to true psionic mastery. Free others, open their minds to the Invisible Art, and you will show them way to Auppenser."
---Dogma of the Church of Auppenser |
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Kalin Agrivar
Senior Scribe
Canada
956 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 15:49:32
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| I can't remember..the Moonstars formed after 1366..but everything you suggested sounds more like Moonstar work...maybe your party can be some of Khelban's "test" agents as he prepares to form the Moonstars... |
Kalin Xorell El'Agrivar
- High Mage of the Arcane Assembly
- Lore Keeper of the Vault of Ancestors
- 3rd Son of the Lord of the Stand |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 16:00:31
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The Moonstar thing could work for some, but the Warwizard will probably not split his loyalties, he quit his probationary harper agent status when he joined the warwizards.
I like the idea about the recover xxx from Myth Drannor for info on portal creation. |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Kalin Agrivar
Senior Scribe
Canada
956 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 16:08:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
-gain prestige with the Warwizards of Cormyr
oh, you meant gain the the war wizard PrC ? I thought it was "get in good" with the War Wizards 
and since the Moonstars a re kinda shadey, I think the split loyalities wouldn't be much of a problem..especially if they work at parellel purposes.. |
Kalin Xorell El'Agrivar
- High Mage of the Arcane Assembly
- Lore Keeper of the Vault of Ancestors
- 3rd Son of the Lord of the Stand |
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idan_mor
Acolyte
Israel
6 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 16:20:47
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Obviously I am with the least Knowledge of the realms here Or just the only one Who had sufferd far too many times the effect of forgetlessness...
But my proposal to you if you havent done so already is to split the group and have them work on double the goals in the same time. Though Its gonna take a lot of you. They can also achieve individual goals such as building that temple or to spy on a drow house(the less in that is better). If you lead them to be able to create portals they would be able to link with eachoter even if there are no wizards in the mini groups.
Alot og good stories have thier pace picked up with splits(E.g drangonlace).
I would like to know though what are you planing on ahead sounds intresting to run 5 years campagin. |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 16:27:33
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That's the point, I wanna plan ahead. I want to accomodate my players since I, during the course of GMing almost 20 years, start to hate the entire "a stranger approaches the characters in a tavern and hires them"-approach since it:
a) limits the players
b) can spoil any adventure should the players decide to go off on the predecribed plot.
As to the prestige with the Warwizards, the character has become a member of the Warwizards already and wants to rise in their ranks.
Would it be wise to start my own timeline as to what will happen regarding all those wishes and let the characters decide what to do? |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Kalin Agrivar
Senior Scribe
Canada
956 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 16:30:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
Would it be wise to start my own timeline as to what will happen regarding all those wishes and let the characters decide what to do?
are you working with one character per player or are you using character trees (or the equivalent)? |
Kalin Xorell El'Agrivar
- High Mage of the Arcane Assembly
- Lore Keeper of the Vault of Ancestors
- 3rd Son of the Lord of the Stand |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 16:34:15
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| One character per player, half the party has had their character since the beginning, while the other half has been rotating, but the group has been of the same players for about a year now. |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Kalin Agrivar
Senior Scribe
Canada
956 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 17:19:38
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quote:
Would it be wise to start my own timeline as to what will happen regarding all those wishes and let the characters decide what to do?
quote:
One character per player, half the party has had their character since the beginning, while the other half has been rotating, but the group has been of the same players for about a year now.
well, off the top of my head (and I’ll assume since you started the characters off in 2001 they should be at a mid-to-high level) this is what I would do...first figure out where your players need to go...
here are your suggestions:
* fight in a war <-- can be done anywhere
* visit to the Underdark: <-- can be done anywhere
- go to Blingenston <-- the Silver Marches
- spy on the Drow family of one character/revenge <-- anywhere unless specifically in Menzoberranzan, then the North
* hunt orcs <-- can be done anywhere
* gain acceptance in Waterdeep so that the Drow priestess of Eilistraee could build her own shrine on the surface <-- around Waterdeep, there is Eilistraee drow southeast and northeast of Waterdeep
* annoy Zentil Keep <-- can be done anywhere
* learn about the creation of portals <-- can be done anywhere
* do Harper things <-- can be done anywhere
* look for clues of Shanatar <-- in the Shanatar area
* find out if there are threats to the cities of the North <-- the North
* eventually explore Myth Drannor <--in Myth Drannor
* gain prestige with the War Wizards of Cormyr <-- anywhere affiliated with Cormyr
* research new spells <-- can be done anywhere
So then it looks like the North (we’ll include Waterdeep) and Cormyr/Dales...and the fact they are higher levels it’s time for their own keep/base/settlement to own/rule. So to me the best place to place the party (i.e. their Base of Operations) is in the Western Heartlands.
* do Harper things <-- can be done anywhere
* annoy Zentil Keep <-- can be done anywhere
this works really well, with Berdusk and Darkhold nearby...they could be protecting their own property or people, be spies or resistance fighters, etc.
* look for clues of Shanatar <-- in the Shanatar area
* gain prestige with the War Wizards of Cormyr <-- anywhere affiliated with Cormyr
* learn about the creation of portals <-- can be done anywhere
Shanatar is just to the south and Cormyr the east...the War Wizard could be placed in your base as a liason to Cormyr...Azoun IV could be a patron, etc. And everyone wants to loot or reclaim Deep Shanatar. Candlekeep is close by for portal information, so is Undermountain (see drow suggestion)
* gain acceptance in Waterdeep so that the Drow priestess of Eilistraee could build her own shrine on the surface <-- around Waterdeep, there is Eilistraee drow southeast and northeast of Waterdeep
Waterdeep is just to the North...the Western Heartlands base wouldn’t accommodate the “want a Eilistraee temple in Waterdeep” but she definitely could have one in/around your base and it could be affiliated with the Promenade . (In fact, isn’t the Western Heartlands the location of one of those dark elf kingdoms that fell in the Crown Wars?)
*visit to the Underdark: <-- can be done anywhere
- go to Blingenston <-- the Silver Marches
- spy on the Drow family of one character/revenge <-- can be done anywhere unless it is specifically in Menzoberranzan, then the Silver Marches
* eventually explore Myth Drannor <--in Myth Drannor
This is really site specific so you could use this idea as a side adventure...they both promote the Harper activity and portal knowledge goal too....and there a few other drow cities nearby
* find out if there are threats to the cities of the North <-- the North
* fight in a war <-- can be done anywhere
This is also site specific but can be easily modified to the Western Heartlands...there is enough intrigue there, especially the Zhentarim, the spreading Red Wizards of Thay and the rising Serpent Kingdom Threat. Warring can be with any of these power groups or more....maybe even with the Velashroon (sp.) undead from the Battle of the Bones, devils from Dragonspear Castle or the trolls from Troll ford
* hunt orcs <--can be done anywhere
* research new spells <-- can be done anywhere
as I said, anywhere, especially if you are doing it for the base
I would use that great History of the Realms to map out a Western Heartland Timeline...then construct a map using the 3E maps as a base with the Serpent Kingdoms book, the add-on Elminster’s Ecologies and the Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast to add to the map what was left out....and finally find a nice quiet spot on the map to build their base/hold/barony, etc.
Without a character tree I wouldn’t be too gung-ho to split the party up...but there are always cohorts to use
whew!  |
Kalin Xorell El'Agrivar
- High Mage of the Arcane Assembly
- Lore Keeper of the Vault of Ancestors
- 3rd Son of the Lord of the Stand |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 17:29:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
Well, Qilué´s temple is in/near Skullport, IIRC. This and that info (Spoilers of Blackstaff ahead):
Laeral is leaving Waterdeep, in the end of the novel. So, maybe Qilué could pass somee times acting like Laeral, if the need arises
She's actually done that before -- see the article "If You Need Help -- Ask the Drow!" by Ed Greenwood and Steven Schend, in Dragon 176.
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 17:33:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Mace Hammerhand
Would it be wise to start my own timeline as to what will happen regarding all those wishes and let the characters decide what to do?
It's prolly a good idea. And if you need a good "what else, canon-wise, is going on?" timeline, then see A Grand History of the Realms, by our very own Brian R. James (grab it before it's gone; some of us are speculating that he may have to take it down, since WotC is going to publish it).
As for other ideas... There's always the "Untold Stories" adventure hooks in the Candlekeep Compendium (see my sig for the link; and yes, this is a shameless plug! ). |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2006 : 00:51:50
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I had an idea about Blingdenstone, but it would be a few years down in the timeline. It was inspired by the idea that in Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark, its mentioned as part of the Silver Marches, but 3rd edition products all say it was destroyed by Menzoberranzan. I always wanted to run part of a campaign that would have to do with Bruenor sending diplomats to Blingdenstone to see if they are interested in joining, while he argues with the members of the Silver Marches to incorporate them.
In the meantime, Triel gets wind of the impending alliance, and is concerned that the dwarves of Mithril Hall, along with the other dwarves and the "faerie loving" surface dwellers from Silverymoon might be willing to aid Blingdenstone in a war against Menzoberranzan, and so she puts into motion the events that lead to Blingdenstone's destruction. In this case, I wouldn't even use forces from Menzoberranzan, so much as "advisors" leading other Underdark races to assault the place, taking a cut for House Baenre.
Bruenor would feel so bad about arriving late that he extends an invitation to the deep gnome refugees to come live at Mithril Hall, thus making them defacto members of the Silver Marches. |
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Reefy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
892 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2006 : 01:19:57
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| KEJR, that's pretty much my take on things. It also seems to merge pretty seamlessly into canon. |
Life is either daring adventure or nothing. |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2006 : 01:25:25
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| Yeah, the destruction of Blingdenstone is another "3rd edition fast forward" that I would have liked to seen fleshed out some, but that chain of events seems to make sense to me. I hope that Mace can use some of this conjecture, since it would be about five years or so later than his current date. |
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Suggestions appreciated
