Suggestions for start of campaign?

DeathLich · Post by **DeathLich** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:10 pm

I am making a new campaign and the first thing I will have the PCs do is that they will meet the king of the town they are in and he will tell them what he needs them to do for him (they can accept or refuse after that), but my problem is how do I get them there in the first place?
Should I have the king's armed forces go out force them there or should I do something else?

Please post your suggestions here or private message me...

Thank you for your time...

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 2:18 pm

Well, there are many ways.

More important is the background, the story and the future.
What level are they? High levels get invited, low levels can be forced. Keep in mind that forcing characters could go wrong!
I always like characters to get involved themselves. Make em want to resolve the quest, meet the king and do whatever needs to be done.

But for a good advice, we need a bit more information.

Tell your players ot avoid this thread.

DeathLich · Post by **DeathLich** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 3:32 pm

My players dont even know of this site

.

Well, here is more info...don't make fun of me...it's my first campaign

.

Character levels: first level

Background: Thousands of years ago an evil half black dragon/half demon god named Darekaveruu (dare-wreck-caw-ver-oo) killed all the dragon gods, but during the battle with the gold dragon god they supposedly killed eachother. Well what happens is that the worshippers of Yondalla are weakening (they get -5 to everything, including all checks and saves) and they are slowly converting to the darker side of themselves. Unknown to the PCs, Darekaveruu is inside of Yondalla's body and is using her soul to restore himself to full power(the PCs don't even know about Darekaveruu, only the most evil and ancient of NPCs have even heard of him). The first mission is that the king wants them to go to the lycanthropy, human cleric, dwarven, barbarian, and elven citys(or forest/mountains) to assemble some reinforcements for the city they are in (called Yondale).

Is that enough info for you to help me???

Rigrider · Post by **Rigrider** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 3:45 pm

One of the tactics I like to use in these long campaigns is this: (only known to the DM of course) The power's that be need a group to vanquish an evil (or whatever! lol) The current "hero's" of the realm are to well known to be used, becuase the would be attacked almost imedeatly. So the "power's" decide to use a group of unknowns. But because these unknowns are so new, they set up a set of "tests" to get them better prepared, only revealing the true mission of thier party untill the "time is right!"

This sets up lots of possabilities, and also this benefit: I like to play a character even when I'm DMing. Every now and then I need a break from DMing and just want to play. I have other's in my group that also DM, so with the above tactic, it alows for the other dm to come up with adventures using the same character's without messing with my game to much. Of course I allways have a running agreement with the other DM, that if his campaign is throwing mine of for some strange reason (Using important NPC's for example) then I have the right to call him on it and have him change something.

I've probly given you to much and not enough at the same time here tho...lol

l8r

Halsy · Post by **Halsy** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 5:25 pm

Depending on their level, I'd be careful where you start them off. Kings are busy guys and don't have time for any old schmoe. I find it's always better for players to work their way up to that.

Why not meet the King's Captain of the Guard in the tavern and have him set them a task? If they succeed, he can introduce them to the king's seneschal who can set them a task, and then the king himself after that.

Have them do a few minor tasks for people around town so word gets out their reliable.

DeathLich · Post by **DeathLich** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 9:09 pm

[QUOTE=Halsy]
Why not meet the King's Captain of the Guard in the tavern and have him set them a task? If they succeed, he can introduce them to the king's seneschal who can set them a task, and then the king himself after that.

Have them do a few minor tasks for people around town so word gets out their reliable.[/QUOTE]

I like your idea, but my dilema is this:

How would they meet eachother...I mean at first I was planning to have royal guards from the king come and give each PC two choises:
1. escort them peacefully
or
2. we will take you by force

You see this solved two of my dilema's at the same time: they will go in the storyline I need them to go in and it is how they meet eachother and become partners, but it created more problems...I would need to do each person seperate from the others and they would have to lose(nobody likes to lose the first battle).

Well could you maybe give me more information on this idea, maybe like how they would meet

Other Info about campaign:
This is a dry climate campaign and also there is orc territory(makes up one third of map), a dying forest controlled by a gigantic sized/cursed/evil treant, and there is a huge desert (takes up one sixth of map).

DeathLich · Post by **DeathLich** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 9:18 pm

Sorry, I forgot to mention... the city they start in isn't very trusting of outsiders (visitors) during the threat of Orcish attack. Also the king is a halfling and about 80% of the villagers are halflings, 10% human, 6% Elven (this includes half-elves),2% gnome, 2% half-orc, and only one dwarf (he is the king's personal bodyguard and he is a level 6 dwarven defender/ level 5 paladin).

Just a little extra bit of info.

tirann · Post by **tirann** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 9:53 pm

Yeah, they might not like to lose their first battle but RP'ing is all about choices.

Have a squadron of guards come and accuse them of x murder. Whether they admit to doing it or not, have the guards tell them they are to be escorted to face justice.

If they choose to fight do everything in your power to suggest to them they will lose and they should go peacefully.

If they still want to fight, have the crap kicked out of them then run the following.

"The local magistrate is unavailable. The King's x will dispense justice today..."

When you players prove their innocence they are released and 'compensated' with an offer to help the crown.

Of course if they went peacefully they are given the same offer on the basis that the 'word on the street' is they are unemployed at present and since the king doesn't want vagabonds, vagrants or mischief makers on his streets he thought it best they become employees of the crown instead...

As for initial meeting... throw a party in the local tavern. Have a 'woman of the world' come and dispense invites at random to certina people including your PC's. When the leave togther...ROYAL GUARDS!!!!

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 3:14 am

First off: a well thought off campain, good story and properly prepaired

Think about this, if the king has a super secret plan, whould he work so out in the open?

I'd take an other approch, but it's depending on how long your campain is.

1. The characters are making their way towards the city, on their way they see a merchant being robbed, they help him. (critical point, make sure you have a back up!)

2. The merchant asks them to come with him to his house in the city where he rewards them. He is looking for an escorte to other cities as he is making an trip there that may not fail. (he is the official messager to get reinforcements for the king) He will pay them very well for it, most of it afterwards.

3. As they travel to the other cities, the mercahant meets with the ruler in the first city, the others don't know what he's doing. They don't even know he's meeting the ruler himself.

4. On their way to the second city, they are attacked. The merchant is killed but the players kill the attackers.

5. In the merchant's stuff, they find a letter from the city's ruler with the assignment for the merchant. The merchant had a secret contract with him for many years, especially for assignments like this that are to be kept secret.

6. They players furfill the assignment. Motivation could be an extra letter from the merchant to them in case of his death. But only if the first letter isn't enough motivation. Plus make sure they were too get paid when the got back! Money always motivates.

DeathLich · Post by **DeathLich** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 10:41 am

I like your idea, but my dilema still remains...how and why have they become a party?

Everyone here has given me great ideas, but still nobody has answered this part of my question.

Once again, thank you all for your posts.

tirann · Post by **tirann** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 10:56 pm

"How did they become a party" is really only a first-ever-adventure problem. I usually just write it off as... they just are. You all met in jail or you all met at a party or x and x served in the city guard together. x is x's sister and x has known x since they were kids.

'getting together' isn't something I usually role-play. I let the character's write that part of the history into their bio.

Any rp'ing that brings all pcs together would take five seperate mini-adventures that all had the same outcome. Each would have to be individually rp'ed before the adventure starts. Ie, one does military service, get's fired and ends up at x location. One is helping to heal the sick in x area and is asked to come to x location. One is killing homless people for thier fingers to make a 'finger hat' and is told a whole bunch of homeless people will congregate at x location.

It's difficult but it can be done. Ultimately, if your PCs don't want to BECOME a group then your group is a lost cause...whoops.

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Sat Jul 03, 2004 4:00 am

Level 1 groups are super easy to put together.
The characters have no experience and are just setting out into the big world.

This leaves you with several options and restrictions.
Characters can't have a big background yet.
Simple solution is simply letting the players make their backgrounds together, but with one point they have to have in common. They are childhood friends who recently decided to start advanturing.