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Hows this for a DnD campaign?
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Talen
Capellan Confederation
Sang-shao
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PostPosted: 07-May-2004 18:36    Post subject: Hows this for a DnD campaign? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Starting my first real DnD campaign tomarrow...and I want to run the basic of the idea by you guys and see what you think...


Prologue: In Defense of Bran's Hill
Estimated Leve = 1

The heroes, celebrating a hard day's work are at the local pub of a small town. While making merry, a beat up farmer runs in and says there is a Goblin raiding party on its way to town...the Heroes, being those of hating Goblins, must rid the town of the invaders...

Chapter 1: The Battle of Eldergard
Part 1: The Skirmish at Three Rocks
Estimated Level = 2

The heroes chase the Goblin raiding party on foot through the woods to the Northeast, toward the river Eldergard. Once the goblins and heroes break onto the plains near 2 river convergence, they witness the clash of the Goblin army and the standing army from the nerby city of Northhold Moor. The heroes are swept into what would be come known as the "Skirmish at Three Rocks" where the Goblin flank attack is defeated.

Part 2: The Convergence of Foes
Estimated Level: 3

The heroes are welcomed by the commander of Northhold Moor's captain, and learn of how the two armys met at the fields, and the real reason the army was there to begin with. Their victory on the field of battle gains them much prestige among the ranks of Northhold Moor's army, and the heroes agree to join them in defense of the once mighty fortress at the nerby river convergence. The fortress commands an excellet spot to defend trading on the river as well as the land. The goblin army, reinofrced with a few of their bigger friends, attempt a siege on the fortress.

Part 3: Chief One-Eye
Estimated Level: 4

A daring plan to take the commander of the Goblin army is presented to the heroes. They must make their way to the enemy command post and eliminate the one called "One Eye"

Chapter 2: The Spire of Alden
Part 1: The spire approaches...
Estimated Level: 5

After the goblin army is defeated, and their leader slain, the heroes travel to northhold Moor as, well...heroes. They arrive in the city and are honored by the govenor. Much partying and awesome follows, but during the night, a massive storm rolls in and last for three days. When the storm finally clears, the city under the shadow of a massive obelisk, thousands of feet tall. The obelisk hovers above the city, and a voice cries from it, demanding its champions face its maze, or the entire land around it will be doomed. Most of its own heroes are off fortifying the fortress up the river, or were killed in the battle, so the city asks the heroes to confront the tower...Once inside, the heroes are thrust into a series of challenges of all sorts, from battles, to traps, to riddles. Each level they go up becomes increasingly difficult...

Part 2: The Master and the Commander
Estimated Level: 8

The heroes make it to the top of the spire, thinking they have one. But insetad they find the master and commander of the spire, or so thats what he calls himself. Canthos is a powerful Wizard and Sohtanc is a powerful cleric. Together they control the spire of Alden. The catch is that Canthos is Sohtanc, and Sohtanc is Canthos. In his training, Canthos began to look down the road to divine magic, and the powers of the Mystic Theurge. But in the process he lost himself in his work, and devoloped a second personality. He does not know he is one or the other, but in either form he is much to powerful for the heroes to contend with...

Chapter 3: Menos the Dragon Lord
Part 1: Who is Menos? Where is Tereth?
Estimated Level: 9

During the battle with Canthos, his fits of rage are momentarily stopped, and he tells the heroes he has been searching the world for the Dragon Lord "Menos", the one that created the Spire. He also tells them that the spire is actually the housing of a great weapon that Menos created, but then lost control of. The weapon is so powerful that it turns whoever controls it against himself. This could partially explain why Sohtanc wants Canthos eliminated...a suprise twist. Canthos asks the heroes to find Menos in the Tereth region...otherwise known as the Sword Coast and ask him how to break the power the spire has over him..The heroes are transported to Neverwinter and begin looking for Menos.

Part 2: The three Things that Go Boom
Estimated Level: 9

Menos finds them, almost instantly, and tells them that he too wonders about a way to stop the Spire. He lost control to it some time ago, before Canthos took over. He has spent years trying to come up with a way to stop it, and has come to the conclusion that it is even too powerful for him to destroy. He tells the heroes that he does have an idea, but it requires three items that because of his nature, is unable to reach himself. He will give the power to stop Canthos and destroy the spire if they find the items. The first item is a spellbook containing the works of some of the greatest Wizards of all time...The book is located in, of couse, an abandoned, but not undefended wizarrd tower...

Part 3: The Focus
Estimated Leve:l 10

The next piece is a staff, the focus of the spells contained in the book. Without the staff, the spells are aimless and cannot be focused into the powerful anti-spire weapon. It itself is located int he heavily guarded fortress of Zahn, loacted on an invisibly island out in the ocean.

Part 4: The Shard
Estimated Level 11

The third piece is a a Shield, which is meant to guard the caster from the effects of the weapon. It cannot be used as a normal shield, but can block the effects of certain magics. It is located in a cave north of Waterdeep. In the dungeon/cave the heroes come upon an interesting glass shard...the focus of the last campaign this group played. A hero grabs it...and all hell breaks loose.

Chapter 4: The Gods Must be Angry
Estimated Level 12

This part is fun...more later

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Ronin
ComStar
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PostPosted: 10-May-2004 10:29    Post subject: RE: Hows this for a DnD campaign? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Hmmm, all I can say is be careful in assuming that the PCs will make the decisions that you think they will... like joining the army, etc.

Having th citadel show up over the city, complete with a maze and a challenge for the heroes, seems a bit contrived. But then again, it might be fantasy-story enough to work.

I like the twists with the Mystic Theurge, etc. Again, some of the events depend on the PCs making the decisions you think they will. I've certainly learned in my short stint as DM that whenever you think the PCs will do one thing, they'll do just about anything but what you expected.

If you stay flexible, this sounds like it could be a fun campaign.
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Talen
Capellan Confederation
Sang-shao
Sang-shao


Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
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PostPosted: 10-May-2004 16:30    Post subject: RE: Hows this for a DnD campaign? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Well...there are certain ways to get PCs to go the campaign direction...whether they know it or not...

In order to get them to join sides with the army...I played up the commanders response to their victory on the battlefield, and promised them rewards and the govenor's personal thanks, etc. That got them to join in the defense of the fortress and also to go and face One-Eye...

The first game went really well, and I still need to tweak here and there...but it should generally follow the path I have laid down...lol

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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
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PostPosted: 10-May-2004 19:36    Post subject: RE: Hows this for a DnD campaign? Reply to topic Reply with quote

There you go, bribe the party into situations so that they stay on track. Nothing like a little honey to attract the bees. hehe

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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
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PostPosted: 10-May-2004 23:37    Post subject: RE: Hows this for a DnD campaign? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Yes, bribes always work. At least they work much better than a big pack of level-draining undeads! That only makes the players hate you and look for some way of shooting down your campaign.

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Sir Henry
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PostPosted: 11-May-2004 06:25    Post subject: RE: Hows this for a DnD campaign? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Fear does work. You need to dish it out in the proper amounts. Give them a choices. Choices that you control, but choices in any case. They will go with what they think is their Choice and in their control....



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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Tai-sho


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PostPosted: 11-May-2004 09:02    Post subject: RE: Hows this for a DnD campaign? Reply to topic Reply with quote

After not playing any RPGs for a while, it is odd to look back from the GMs position like this. It makes me wonder how much manipulating my GMs were doing to my character. I once had a character fried by lightning and almost taken to zero hps when everyone else was fine. (I think he did not like my character.)

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Sir Henry
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PostPosted: 12-May-2004 06:37    Post subject: RE: Hows this for a DnD campaign? Reply to topic Reply with quote

Or your attitude....

Or he was instilling, in the party, a sense of dread, or sorrow for you, to get the party to stick together and work together.




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Sir Henry

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