Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Roac 02-04-08, 02:51 PM	Yes I'm planning an arena based campaign but unlike others of its sort I actually want a story to accompany the wide range of interesting fights. I know its unprecedented for such things to have a plot, at least when its anything more than a side quest or attraction. Yet I feel the need to make something more. Something with substance and side quests wherein lies the problem. I ain't got much, at least not to start out with. The party starts out essentially as slaves, branded as criminals wether guilty or not and forced to compete (sounds familiar but I can't put my finger on it . . . oh well). They are owned by paticular "stable" owners who pit their fighters against other stables and wild beasts, whatever suits the crowds blood thirsty fancy. I'm trying to think of a way to break up the monotony with side quests and intrigue, possibly assassination attempts, poisoning, and gambling. The problem is how do I incorporate these things without the PCs busting out and escaping. I have been playing with the idea of their stable masters "renting them out" to perform jobs PCs normally might do for people, but I'm having trouble doing this without the dreaded epic DMPC who could easily do it himself, but would rather watch the PCs muck about constantly keeping them in line. Any advice or ideas with this would be appreciated, but please note this is only temporary. The main plot hook that I'm planning around levels 5-7 is an extra planar being believes them to be worthy competitors and whisks them away to a great arena in Sigil city of doors where many perils and extraordinary challenges await them (ooh . . .). During which they are able to finally participate in their own adventures. This start is meant mostly as an exposition and growth but I still want it to be significant, and more than "you kill the baddie, yay. Next fight."
Krusk 02-04-08, 02:58 PM	Allow the PCs free reign to do as they please in the city in which the arena is located. The city has laws regarding slaves, must wear special obvious collar with a really high lockpick DC, are not allowed to leave the city, and lastly are not citizens. By not being citizens, they have no rights whatsoever, the incentive for the PCs to continue to compete in the arena is that there is a yearly contest. The winner of which can opt to become the new arena master -still answerable to the government so no, we let you win and you let us all go- or they can opt to be granted full citizenship. This enables all the plot and cool adventure ideas of a normal city campaign, combined with the action of an arena campaign.
russdm 02-04-08, 03:21 PM	There is an old 2nd Ed SSL Game called, Dark Sun: Shattered Lands. You start out as gladiators and once you escape you move into a campaign involving free cities. Quite fun and I enjoyed it alot. It may help you out.
Lord_Varos 02-04-08, 04:55 PM	Let's not forget the Star Trek Dilemma. At some point, the PCs may be put in a match together to the death and the winner will be slain for disobedience if he fails to kill the loser. Also, have you considered just not having them be slaves at all? You could tell all your players to work the fact that they really want to/need to/are magically bound to fight in the arena. They will have free reign to leave and do what they wish, and there are many more opportunities for "regular adventures" with little old ladies and city constables coming to the "famous gladiators" to solve the problem with rats in the basement/orcs in the forest/balors in the sink/what have you. You wouldn't even need to demean them by treating them badly all the time. The only problem with that is that there won't be that contrast of slave/interplanar champion.
Orchomenos 02-05-08, 09:59 AM	Watch the movie Gladiator. That makes you at least two plot hooks: a former high-ranking officer betrayed and sold to slavery, and the gladiatory fights becoming illegal in the largest cities, forcing the glatiator fights to occur in remote places. You could have some guild fights between gladiator stables. A rich owner with a 4-5 gladiators with him walking in the street is as much feared and respected as a guard patrol. You could have one stable dealing in protection racket ("Pay me 500 gp a month, or you might have troubles..."). I've read a book taking place in Old Rome. There were not that many firefighters, and when a house caugth fire, the owner had to destroy it as soon as possible. If the fire spreaded to neighboring houses, he could face justice. A gladiators owner was famous to appear in front of fires, buy the house for one tenth the price, have his gladiators destroy it, rebuild and resell it ten times the price! You could also have the PCs face themed gladiators: a group of lizardfolks, a group of kobolds, a group of ogres...
pigknight 02-05-08, 11:23 PM	You could also have the PCs face themed gladiators: a group of lizardfolks, a group of kobolds, a group of ogres... ...a group of awakened animals (pig knights, hamster rogues, cat wizards, and dog clerics, oh my) and gnome gnights (gnome fighter, knight, duskblade, paladin). On another note, gladiator campains are pretty good if you only go to lvl 10 or have mostly martial characters. Can't have a team of a wizard, druid, cleric, and favored soul, would own the (N)PCs.
Roac 02-06-08, 11:48 AM	Thanks the help is really appreciated, particularly the free city roaming with collars idea. That gives alot more room for side quests, especially as renta-mercs. I'm doing pretty good on what to do for the actual fights with a mix of single and team matches (mostly team), but I'm not one to turn down good ideas. Thanks!
Alexeduardo 02-06-08, 10:49 PM	("Pay me 500 gp a month, or you might have troubles..."). "Well, maybe I do want to have troubles" "Maybe I might" "It's a risk I'm willing to take" I could go on and on, this is great stuff, man. (btw, is stuff considerd a bad word? I just happen to be a dumb foreigner) Here are some ideas that just came up: While not very plotty, you could have their owner put them in fights where they fight unarmed/with noting but a dagger tied to their wrist. Could make a simple fight with a kobold squad a lot more interesting... The monster gets out of hand. I recall reading a story about gladiators in which the lion actually ate the gatekeeper, what if this happens with something like a dire bear? a Minotaur? I know, I know, most colisseums are supposed to be ready for such a situation, but maybe the ignorant orc king mistakes a paralyzed mindflayer for just some girly freak... What's so wrong with the PCs escaping? ever seen spartacus? Trust me, man, I wish my players would once in a while try and escape destiny...