Please help me write a Campagin [Archive] - Wizards Community

Please help me write a Campagin [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Yana_Starcross
11-02-07, 09:51 AM I really really want to write a campagin for my players. I've been playing for alomost a year now, but I've never run anything but pre-made adventures, all one shot with no continueing storyline. I have no idea how to begin writeing my own campagin.

I have three players in my group, and they have already written up characters for the new game and put them aside, giving me time to start on the campagin. The characters are all first level and they are a Half-orc Fighter, an Elven Druid, and a Human Bard. I'd like the campagin to take them as high as level twenty if I can manage it, though I realize that might be a bit out of reach.

So, can anyone help me? I'm totally clueless about how to do this. :confused:
amethal
11-02-07, 10:04 AM Are you planning to write all the adventures yourself, or will you be using pre-written adventures and linking them together in a logical order and "filling in the gaps"?
seTiny
11-02-07, 10:06 AM Homebrewed world, or one of the official settings?
--If homebrewed what are some of the major conflicts in the world.
--Who are the major power groups? Especially an evilish ones and what are their goals?

What are some of the backgrounds that your players came up with for their characters?
What type of game do they want to play in? (Hack 'n' Slash heavy, Roleplay heavy, an even balance of the two, etc...)
Yana_Starcross
11-02-07, 10:22 AM amethal: I was planning to write the whole thing myself. Pre-made adventures are fun, but I'd really like to have something thats all my own work. Well, my work and whatever help I can get here.

seTiny: I was going to set it in my homebrew world which currently is only one kingdom on an island. There really aren't any major conflicts, at least I haven't planned any. And I hadn't really thought about any evil organizations. I suppose there would probably be a thieves guild.....:confused:

Um, as for character backgrounds, The half-orc was born and raised in a small town, his parents are both dea, and he works as a bouncer at the local tavern. The elven druid is from the only elven community on the island and she lives in the woods just outside the half-orc's home town provideing potions for the villagers, and the bard is a traveler from the mainland who dosen't really have a home or family, he's on a quest to write an epic ballad. I know those are kind of weak backgrounds...

The players I have enjoy dungeon crawls with some roleplaying thrown in for flavor. I tried once to run a roleplay heavy game and they all got bored.

Suddenly I feel horribly unprepared for this. :weep:
Zousha_Omenohu
11-02-07, 10:37 AM I have similar problems with campaign design. If you're having trouble designing the rest of the world, I found a series of articles by Rich Burlew, the creator of Order of the Stick, where he builds a campaign world and goes into detail about each step. You'll have to infer the tips somewhat as the series is more one big example than a step-by-step list, but I think it might be a good place to start.

The New World, Part 1: Purpose and Style (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/YPgbz2j3PckGjjviJU5.html)

The New World, Part 2: Class Decisions (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/cSxJLxZJnFM0fj1faTP.html)

The New World, Part 3: Race Decisions (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/9hktFVfS2ZaHiPsj21F.html)

The New World, Part 4: The Right Tool for the Right Job (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/d3yU9VbXd8DxiiVgD8k.html)

The New World, Part 5a: Politics (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/BTDwdGM3lHRAL64zojo.html)

The New World, Part 5b: Politics (Continued) (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/lCDTGczIJgTuKODhzCa.html)

The New World, Part 6: Geography (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/xO3dVM8EDKJPlKxmVoG.html)

The New World, Part 7: Names and Cultures of the Civilized Nations (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/ieXLOFKij6eMmNIwTcy.html)

The New World, Part 8: Names and Cultures of the Gnomes (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/Y2BEzifZZgrsSdReVf4.html)

The New World, Part 9: Names and Cultures of the Barbarians (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/5auSGfgpCb6Zh9QKBl3.html)
seTiny
11-02-07, 10:42 AM seTiny: I was going to set it in my homebrew world which currently is only one kingdom on an island. There really aren't any major conflicts, at least I haven't planned any. And I hadn't really thought about any evil organizations. I suppose there would probably be a thieves guild.....:confused:

That's fine you don't need those things, I was just asking. There is still things that you can do with it. A threat could come from the outside....

Can you supply some information on this kingdom?

Um, as for character backgrounds, The half-orc was born and raised in a small town, his parents are both dea, and he works as a bouncer at the local tavern. The elven druid is from the only elven community on the island and she lives in the woods just outside the half-orc's home town provideing potions for the villagers, and the bard is a traveler from the mainland who dosen't really have a home or family, he's on a quest to write an epic ballad. I know those are kind of weak backgrounds...

Yeah I asked, because some players will actually give you something that you can work off in their backgrounds

The players I have enjoy dungeon crawls with some roleplaying thrown in for flavor. I tried once to run a roleplay heavy game and they all got bored.

Good. You know what your players like and don't like, so it should be easy to get something started.

Suddenly I feel horribly unprepared for this. :weep:

Don't. Remember you do not have to write the entire thing right now. Start small and work from there.

The first adventure could be as simple as finding a hidden cavern or unknown tunnel system. The next adventure could be that they find a map that shows the location of three other hidden areas somewhere beyond the shores of the island. The map partially describes a vast treasure and keys that are located in these dungeons open the door. The map is ripped and it mentions a danger but the part about the describing the danger has been ripped off...

That is just one idea (kinda got away from me too :D)

What do you like? What kind of foes do you like to have? Smart villians, monsters, combinations of the two, other?
amethal
11-02-07, 10:48 AM Suddenly I feel horribly unprepared for this. :weep:Don't worry about it, its not that difficult.

The key piece of advice is to remember not to design more than you need. Concentrate on the bits your players are going to see and leave the rest for another day.

Its good that your players love dungeon crawls, since they are dead easy to design and you don't have to worry too much about them going off course and exploring parts you haven't designed yet.

If it was me, I'd come up with a rough idea for a five level story arc which will be set entirely on the island. For instance, someone (as yet undetailed, but who will be an appropriate "boss monster" for 5th level PCs to defeat) has a grudge against the village for some (as yet unknown) reason.

He encourages a group of humanoids to harass villagers. The PCs are asked to put a stop to it. They travel to the humanoids lair, venture in and defeat them, and find a clue that hints they are pawns in a bigger plan.

I also like to have some "age" to my dungeons. They were almost always designed for something different to their current use, and have areas the current occupants avoid.

The humanoids are expecting some kind of retaliation, so will have some defences prepared.

Work out how much XP your party will need to get to 2nd level, and include sufficient encounters to get them there.
Yana_Starcross
11-02-07, 11:14 AM seTiny: The kingdom is roughly inspired by gothic settings like Ravenloft. It is ruled by a Czar instead of a king, who rules the land through Counts and Barons. There are only two major cities on the island, the capitole city of Mordavia, and City of Highport. Everywhere else the communities don't get any bigger than small towns. Um...what else....oh! The patron deities of the kingdom is the god of war, but the goddess of healing is also worshipped. The goddess of death is also worshipped being a neutral deity who is worshipped everywhere.

I like to have one smart villian with a few smart advisors/generals who in turn controle a bunch of monsters/minions.
seTiny
11-02-07, 11:37 AM Random idea:

The BBEG (Big Bad Evil Guy) wants to take control of the kingdom. He has weaseled his way into a position where he can take power, but it is tricky and he doesn't want anyone screwing it up. (Maybe he even has the majority of the Counts and Barons as his minions/advisors) He has his minions put out posters asking for Heroes and Adventurers. They hire them to do random tasks, to keep them busy and out of the way. The first few adventures are simple (ish) types of tasks. Go here, and find me this. They may have even tricked some local monsters into attacking parts of the kingdom.

While the party is performing these low level adventures, the BBEG is making the Czar create new laws and proceeding with his plans. After about the 5th adventure the party starts getting clues that something isn't right. Around the 8th the BBEG has taken control and his private army (monsters and humanoids) are in control of the city.

The party must find their way into the Mordavia and make their way to the BBEG. They find regular people and must help them (or not). As they travel through the city they can encounter some of the minions. They have to hide while they sleep and will be hunted when they've done enough damage.

Again just an Idea.

Do you have any ideas on where you would like to start?
Any preferences that you or your players may have that I haven't asked about?
Yana_Starcross
11-02-07, 12:26 PM seTiny: I don't really have any ideas for this campaign. I've thought of having a dragon be the main bad guy, but I don't know what it would be doing or why. I also had an idea for undead orcs, but its just a picture in my head really.

The idea ou suggested is okay, but it seems to make dungeon crawling a side note or time filler. I'd rather have the dungeon crawling be more of a focus.
seTiny
11-02-07, 01:12 PM In that idea the trip through the city would be a dungeon crawl (just in an open air dungeon). The building the BBEG is based in would also be a dungeon crawl.

Dungeon crawls don't have to be in dungeons. They are moving from room to room avoiding/overcoming obstacles.

Though if you want one big dungeon you could do something like World's largest dungeon, or Diablo 1.

You could have a Dragon that practices necromancy (or has a lich like minion(s) that do). It took over and killed a nearby Orc civilization, turning them into undead servants. For months/years they have dug a cave system to protect the dragon who resides in the deepest part of the cave. He laid dormant for nearly a century, just biding his time. As new groups and creatures would move into the cave system he would have them killed and brought back to undeath (including a few adventurers). Some creatures (maybe ones he lured there) he left be, because they were unintelligent and would serve better as an obstacle for any adventuring party than a undead servant. So with his army built and his cave filled with nastiness he sends his undead servants out to gather valueable items for his horde.

The party tracks a group of undead heading back to the cave system. They enter the mouth and the large dungeon crawl begins.

Is that what you had in mind?
Yana_Starcross
11-02-07, 02:00 PM seTiny: Yes! Thats exactly the kind of adventure I was looking for. :) My only real question now would be, would there be any intelligent creatures left alive in the caves? Would it make sense for there to maybe be a tribe of gnolls or lizardfolk liveing in the caverns who maybe don't serve the dragon but are still enemies to the PCs?
seTiny
11-02-07, 02:24 PM Liches would be intelligent. :D There are some more intelligent undead that can be used as well.

Yes. They could have found another entrance a month (a week) or two back. They have been setting up their homes and some traps for protection and have not had time to scout the rest of the massive cave system. They have started to send out scouting parties to see what else the cave holds, but have yet run into the undead because the section they are in is no longer used and hasn't been used in decades.

The lizardfolk could be just finding out about the dragon and their minions.

Though with your party, I don't know if I would use a lot of undead. They may have a lot of problems with them.
Yana_Starcross
11-02-07, 02:32 PM Oh, I had an idea. Maybe the upper levels of the caverns are held by two different tribes, maybe one lizardfolk one hobgoblin (or other savage race) One of the tribes, probably the lizardfolk, work for the dragon, allowing his undead minions to move through their camp to attack the surface in return for part of the valuables they bring back. But the hobgoblins do not work for the dragon, and infact might not even know about the dragon, and are only interested in eliminateing the lizardfolk so they can set up a permanent camp and begin raideing the surrounding area themselves.

Does this sound like a doable idea or am I wasteing my time?
seTiny
11-02-07, 02:41 PM It is doable.

If you do it be sure to have a few encounters that have one group fighting the other and the party comes upon them (hearing the clanging before they see them), or one group entering a fight that the party is in with the opposing group.
Zousha_Omenohu
11-02-07, 03:01 PM Does this sound like a doable idea or am I wasteing my time?

You're the DM. Almost anything is doable, as long as you and your players are having fun!:)
Yana_Starcross
11-02-07, 06:29 PM Okay, so here is what I've thought up so far.

A BBEG (Possibly a dragon but I'm not totally sure yet) is interested in stealing the wealth of the kingdom for their own. To do this they employ necromancy to raise skeletons and zombies to do their bidding for them. This BBEG has made his/her/its home in an abandoned building (barracks/fort) and has made an alleigence with a tribe of lizardfolk. the lizardfolk agree to let the BBEG live in the lower level of their lair, and allow the undead to pass through their camp to the surface in return for part of the valuables the undead bring back.

However, a rival tribe of hobgoblins, unaware of the BBEG below, has begun a war with the lizard folk for controle of the lair, already claim half of the upper levels. These hobgoblins, while lower in number, have pet krenshar that help even the odds. Niether tribe is fond of the human settlements nearby.

In my head I see the two tribes controleing the first two levels of the dungeon, pretty much splitting them down the midle with a few contested rooms and corridors between. The third level of the dungeon is sort of wild, with no intelligent creatures living there only monsters and a few scattered undead. And the finale level of the dungeon is where the BBEG lives along with his/her/its hoard of undead zombies and skeletons (and maybe a couple higher level undead.

So what do you think? Does this sound like a good adventure? anmd what level do you think I can reasonably get the players too? Obviously they wont get all the way to level twenty in one dungeon crawl, and I don't really want them too. I'd be satisfied if they could reach level five or six, but in that case, what would be a good BBEG for them? A dragon would be too powerful, but the obligatory necromancer seems kinda cliche'. Anyone have any other ideas?
Zousha_Omenohu
11-02-07, 08:41 PM Question is, what level are they starting out at? If they plan on taking on this BBEG at low levels, he's going to be a lot different then if the players start at level 10.
Yana_Starcross
11-02-07, 08:49 PM I said earlier that all the players are starting at level one.
Yana_Starcross
11-03-07, 11:02 AM Okay...well...I appreciate all the help.

I guess I can figure the rest out on my own....I think...maybe...:( oh boy...
seTiny
11-03-07, 12:38 PM Start drawing out each level of the dungeon. Make up the encounters that you want the party to face. Keep track of how much experience they should have by the time they get to the next level and see if the encounters that you've provided will get them where you want them to be. If not add rooms, traps and other encounters that seem fitting to allow for extra XP. Random encounters for each level will also add a little XP. When you've drawn your levels and you think they will be within a character level range you want then you can drawn out your BBEG level.

Remember they may not visit each room or trigger each encounter, so make your encounters flexible.

If you want a lower level BBEG you could always go with a sorcerer that is posing as a Dragon. He has made the lizardfolk think he is a dragon and they refer to him as such so the party will think they are moving toward a dragon encounter.
Passivearmada
11-03-07, 05:29 PM Racewise, I'd recommend humans and some foreig race from another land overseas. Make the humans different, though. This human is stocky and has fair skin so they must be from XXX the mountain country, just as we see someone with fair skin and high cheekbones with black hair oriental. People will say humans are boring, but that's only because they make them that way.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Yana_Starcross 11-02-07, 09:51 AM	I really really want to write a campagin for my players. I've been playing for alomost a year now, but I've never run anything but pre-made adventures, all one shot with no continueing storyline. I have no idea how to begin writeing my own campagin. I have three players in my group, and they have already written up characters for the new game and put them aside, giving me time to start on the campagin. The characters are all first level and they are a Half-orc Fighter, an Elven Druid, and a Human Bard. I'd like the campagin to take them as high as level twenty if I can manage it, though I realize that might be a bit out of reach. So, can anyone help me? I'm totally clueless about how to do this. :confused:
amethal 11-02-07, 10:04 AM	Are you planning to write all the adventures yourself, or will you be using pre-written adventures and linking them together in a logical order and "filling in the gaps"?
seTiny 11-02-07, 10:06 AM	Homebrewed world, or one of the official settings? --If homebrewed what are some of the major conflicts in the world. --Who are the major power groups? Especially an evilish ones and what are their goals? What are some of the backgrounds that your players came up with for their characters? What type of game do they want to play in? (Hack 'n' Slash heavy, Roleplay heavy, an even balance of the two, etc...)
Yana_Starcross 11-02-07, 10:22 AM	amethal: I was planning to write the whole thing myself. Pre-made adventures are fun, but I'd really like to have something thats all my own work. Well, my work and whatever help I can get here. seTiny: I was going to set it in my homebrew world which currently is only one kingdom on an island. There really aren't any major conflicts, at least I haven't planned any. And I hadn't really thought about any evil organizations. I suppose there would probably be a thieves guild.....:confused: Um, as for character backgrounds, The half-orc was born and raised in a small town, his parents are both dea, and he works as a bouncer at the local tavern. The elven druid is from the only elven community on the island and she lives in the woods just outside the half-orc's home town provideing potions for the villagers, and the bard is a traveler from the mainland who dosen't really have a home or family, he's on a quest to write an epic ballad. I know those are kind of weak backgrounds... The players I have enjoy dungeon crawls with some roleplaying thrown in for flavor. I tried once to run a roleplay heavy game and they all got bored. Suddenly I feel horribly unprepared for this. :weep:
Zousha_Omenohu 11-02-07, 10:37 AM	I have similar problems with campaign design. If you're having trouble designing the rest of the world, I found a series of articles by Rich Burlew, the creator of Order of the Stick, where he builds a campaign world and goes into detail about each step. You'll have to infer the tips somewhat as the series is more one big example than a step-by-step list, but I think it might be a good place to start. The New World, Part 1: Purpose and Style (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/YPgbz2j3PckGjjviJU5.html) The New World, Part 2: Class Decisions (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/cSxJLxZJnFM0fj1faTP.html) The New World, Part 3: Race Decisions (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/9hktFVfS2ZaHiPsj21F.html) The New World, Part 4: The Right Tool for the Right Job (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/d3yU9VbXd8DxiiVgD8k.html) The New World, Part 5a: Politics (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/BTDwdGM3lHRAL64zojo.html) The New World, Part 5b: Politics (Continued) (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/lCDTGczIJgTuKODhzCa.html) The New World, Part 6: Geography (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/xO3dVM8EDKJPlKxmVoG.html) The New World, Part 7: Names and Cultures of the Civilized Nations (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/ieXLOFKij6eMmNIwTcy.html) The New World, Part 8: Names and Cultures of the Gnomes (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/Y2BEzifZZgrsSdReVf4.html) The New World, Part 9: Names and Cultures of the Barbarians (http://www.giantitp.com/articles/5auSGfgpCb6Zh9QKBl3.html)
seTiny 11-02-07, 10:42 AM	seTiny: I was going to set it in my homebrew world which currently is only one kingdom on an island. There really aren't any major conflicts, at least I haven't planned any. And I hadn't really thought about any evil organizations. I suppose there would probably be a thieves guild.....:confused: That's fine you don't need those things, I was just asking. There is still things that you can do with it. A threat could come from the outside.... Can you supply some information on this kingdom? Um, as for character backgrounds, The half-orc was born and raised in a small town, his parents are both dea, and he works as a bouncer at the local tavern. The elven druid is from the only elven community on the island and she lives in the woods just outside the half-orc's home town provideing potions for the villagers, and the bard is a traveler from the mainland who dosen't really have a home or family, he's on a quest to write an epic ballad. I know those are kind of weak backgrounds... Yeah I asked, because some players will actually give you something that you can work off in their backgrounds The players I have enjoy dungeon crawls with some roleplaying thrown in for flavor. I tried once to run a roleplay heavy game and they all got bored. Good. You know what your players like and don't like, so it should be easy to get something started. Suddenly I feel horribly unprepared for this. :weep: Don't. Remember you do not have to write the entire thing right now. Start small and work from there. The first adventure could be as simple as finding a hidden cavern or unknown tunnel system. The next adventure could be that they find a map that shows the location of three other hidden areas somewhere beyond the shores of the island. The map partially describes a vast treasure and keys that are located in these dungeons open the door. The map is ripped and it mentions a danger but the part about the describing the danger has been ripped off... That is just one idea (kinda got away from me too :D) What do you like? What kind of foes do you like to have? Smart villians, monsters, combinations of the two, other?
amethal 11-02-07, 10:48 AM	Suddenly I feel horribly unprepared for this. :weep:Don't worry about it, its not that difficult. The key piece of advice is to remember not to design more than you need. Concentrate on the bits your players are going to see and leave the rest for another day. Its good that your players love dungeon crawls, since they are dead easy to design and you don't have to worry too much about them going off course and exploring parts you haven't designed yet. If it was me, I'd come up with a rough idea for a five level story arc which will be set entirely on the island. For instance, someone (as yet undetailed, but who will be an appropriate "boss monster" for 5th level PCs to defeat) has a grudge against the village for some (as yet unknown) reason. He encourages a group of humanoids to harass villagers. The PCs are asked to put a stop to it. They travel to the humanoids lair, venture in and defeat them, and find a clue that hints they are pawns in a bigger plan. I also like to have some "age" to my dungeons. They were almost always designed for something different to their current use, and have areas the current occupants avoid. The humanoids are expecting some kind of retaliation, so will have some defences prepared. Work out how much XP your party will need to get to 2nd level, and include sufficient encounters to get them there.
Yana_Starcross 11-02-07, 11:14 AM	seTiny: The kingdom is roughly inspired by gothic settings like Ravenloft. It is ruled by a Czar instead of a king, who rules the land through Counts and Barons. There are only two major cities on the island, the capitole city of Mordavia, and City of Highport. Everywhere else the communities don't get any bigger than small towns. Um...what else....oh! The patron deities of the kingdom is the god of war, but the goddess of healing is also worshipped. The goddess of death is also worshipped being a neutral deity who is worshipped everywhere. I like to have one smart villian with a few smart advisors/generals who in turn controle a bunch of monsters/minions.
seTiny 11-02-07, 11:37 AM	Random idea: The BBEG (Big Bad Evil Guy) wants to take control of the kingdom. He has weaseled his way into a position where he can take power, but it is tricky and he doesn't want anyone screwing it up. (Maybe he even has the majority of the Counts and Barons as his minions/advisors) He has his minions put out posters asking for Heroes and Adventurers. They hire them to do random tasks, to keep them busy and out of the way. The first few adventures are simple (ish) types of tasks. Go here, and find me this. They may have even tricked some local monsters into attacking parts of the kingdom. While the party is performing these low level adventures, the BBEG is making the Czar create new laws and proceeding with his plans. After about the 5th adventure the party starts getting clues that something isn't right. Around the 8th the BBEG has taken control and his private army (monsters and humanoids) are in control of the city. The party must find their way into the Mordavia and make their way to the BBEG. They find regular people and must help them (or not). As they travel through the city they can encounter some of the minions. They have to hide while they sleep and will be hunted when they've done enough damage. Again just an Idea. Do you have any ideas on where you would like to start? Any preferences that you or your players may have that I haven't asked about?
Yana_Starcross 11-02-07, 12:26 PM	seTiny: I don't really have any ideas for this campaign. I've thought of having a dragon be the main bad guy, but I don't know what it would be doing or why. I also had an idea for undead orcs, but its just a picture in my head really. The idea ou suggested is okay, but it seems to make dungeon crawling a side note or time filler. I'd rather have the dungeon crawling be more of a focus.
seTiny 11-02-07, 01:12 PM	In that idea the trip through the city would be a dungeon crawl (just in an open air dungeon). The building the BBEG is based in would also be a dungeon crawl. Dungeon crawls don't have to be in dungeons. They are moving from room to room avoiding/overcoming obstacles. Though if you want one big dungeon you could do something like World's largest dungeon, or Diablo 1. You could have a Dragon that practices necromancy (or has a lich like minion(s) that do). It took over and killed a nearby Orc civilization, turning them into undead servants. For months/years they have dug a cave system to protect the dragon who resides in the deepest part of the cave. He laid dormant for nearly a century, just biding his time. As new groups and creatures would move into the cave system he would have them killed and brought back to undeath (including a few adventurers). Some creatures (maybe ones he lured there) he left be, because they were unintelligent and would serve better as an obstacle for any adventuring party than a undead servant. So with his army built and his cave filled with nastiness he sends his undead servants out to gather valueable items for his horde. The party tracks a group of undead heading back to the cave system. They enter the mouth and the large dungeon crawl begins. Is that what you had in mind?
Yana_Starcross 11-02-07, 02:00 PM	seTiny: Yes! Thats exactly the kind of adventure I was looking for. :) My only real question now would be, would there be any intelligent creatures left alive in the caves? Would it make sense for there to maybe be a tribe of gnolls or lizardfolk liveing in the caverns who maybe don't serve the dragon but are still enemies to the PCs?
seTiny 11-02-07, 02:24 PM	Liches would be intelligent. :D There are some more intelligent undead that can be used as well. Yes. They could have found another entrance a month (a week) or two back. They have been setting up their homes and some traps for protection and have not had time to scout the rest of the massive cave system. They have started to send out scouting parties to see what else the cave holds, but have yet run into the undead because the section they are in is no longer used and hasn't been used in decades. The lizardfolk could be just finding out about the dragon and their minions. Though with your party, I don't know if I would use a lot of undead. They may have a lot of problems with them.
Yana_Starcross 11-02-07, 02:32 PM	Oh, I had an idea. Maybe the upper levels of the caverns are held by two different tribes, maybe one lizardfolk one hobgoblin (or other savage race) One of the tribes, probably the lizardfolk, work for the dragon, allowing his undead minions to move through their camp to attack the surface in return for part of the valuables they bring back. But the hobgoblins do not work for the dragon, and infact might not even know about the dragon, and are only interested in eliminateing the lizardfolk so they can set up a permanent camp and begin raideing the surrounding area themselves. Does this sound like a doable idea or am I wasteing my time?
seTiny 11-02-07, 02:41 PM	It is doable. If you do it be sure to have a few encounters that have one group fighting the other and the party comes upon them (hearing the clanging before they see them), or one group entering a fight that the party is in with the opposing group.
Zousha_Omenohu 11-02-07, 03:01 PM	Does this sound like a doable idea or am I wasteing my time? You're the DM. Almost anything is doable, as long as you and your players are having fun!:)
Yana_Starcross 11-02-07, 06:29 PM	Okay, so here is what I've thought up so far. A BBEG (Possibly a dragon but I'm not totally sure yet) is interested in stealing the wealth of the kingdom for their own. To do this they employ necromancy to raise skeletons and zombies to do their bidding for them. This BBEG has made his/her/its home in an abandoned building (barracks/fort) and has made an alleigence with a tribe of lizardfolk. the lizardfolk agree to let the BBEG live in the lower level of their lair, and allow the undead to pass through their camp to the surface in return for part of the valuables the undead bring back. However, a rival tribe of hobgoblins, unaware of the BBEG below, has begun a war with the lizard folk for controle of the lair, already claim half of the upper levels. These hobgoblins, while lower in number, have pet krenshar that help even the odds. Niether tribe is fond of the human settlements nearby. In my head I see the two tribes controleing the first two levels of the dungeon, pretty much splitting them down the midle with a few contested rooms and corridors between. The third level of the dungeon is sort of wild, with no intelligent creatures living there only monsters and a few scattered undead. And the finale level of the dungeon is where the BBEG lives along with his/her/its hoard of undead zombies and skeletons (and maybe a couple higher level undead. So what do you think? Does this sound like a good adventure? anmd what level do you think I can reasonably get the players too? Obviously they wont get all the way to level twenty in one dungeon crawl, and I don't really want them too. I'd be satisfied if they could reach level five or six, but in that case, what would be a good BBEG for them? A dragon would be too powerful, but the obligatory necromancer seems kinda cliche'. Anyone have any other ideas?
Zousha_Omenohu 11-02-07, 08:41 PM	Question is, what level are they starting out at? If they plan on taking on this BBEG at low levels, he's going to be a lot different then if the players start at level 10.
Yana_Starcross 11-02-07, 08:49 PM	I said earlier that all the players are starting at level one.
Yana_Starcross 11-03-07, 11:02 AM	Okay...well...I appreciate all the help. I guess I can figure the rest out on my own....I think...maybe...:( oh boy...
seTiny 11-03-07, 12:38 PM	Start drawing out each level of the dungeon. Make up the encounters that you want the party to face. Keep track of how much experience they should have by the time they get to the next level and see if the encounters that you've provided will get them where you want them to be. If not add rooms, traps and other encounters that seem fitting to allow for extra XP. Random encounters for each level will also add a little XP. When you've drawn your levels and you think they will be within a character level range you want then you can drawn out your BBEG level. Remember they may not visit each room or trigger each encounter, so make your encounters flexible. If you want a lower level BBEG you could always go with a sorcerer that is posing as a Dragon. He has made the lizardfolk think he is a dragon and they refer to him as such so the party will think they are moving toward a dragon encounter.
Passivearmada 11-03-07, 05:29 PM	Racewise, I'd recommend humans and some foreig race from another land overseas. Make the humans different, though. This human is stocky and has fair skin so they must be from XXX the mountain country, just as we see someone with fair skin and high cheekbones with black hair oriental. People will say humans are boring, but that's only because they make them that way.