Post/Author/DateTime	Post
nytemare3701 09-03-07, 08:51 PM	I've been working on this campaign setting for some time now, and It is currently being tested (aka played) by my gaming group. The story revolves around a 2006 calendar year, starting at new years. Each month a large wave of negative energy bursts forth from the deep north, causing clerics and others sensitive to Negative energy to feel a deep uneasiness. The negative wave washes across the entire planet, raising undead at random. The strength of the undead is based on the proximity to the Lair*. The undead walk towards the source of the Negative energy (The Lich-Queen's Lair), destroying anything in their way. On the next-to-last month of the campaign, the D&D pantheon will abduct the players and inform them of the undead menace (if they don't already know), and provide them with a buff to fight them, The gods themselves are almost powerless, as the Lich-Queen has been sapping Divine energy to make her undead stronger. If the players are over level 20 by the end of the campaign, I'll let them take over the jobs of the gods (by the released energy of the Lich-Queen). (note: not using godly powers or divine ranks, I want them playable!) If not, then the gods get their powers back and reward the heroes by leveling them to 20. * Other side of the world: +0 Equator: +5 In the Lair: +10 Ideas? Comments?
nytemare3701 09-04-07, 08:28 PM	Nothing? :weep:
nytemare3701 11-27-07, 04:03 AM	wow, was my idea really that horrible?
Delfedd 11-27-07, 08:26 AM	Well. The +1 level/day is not the best idea. If the players aren't supposed to die or reach level twenty by the end of the first month, the undead should have some time to grow slowly. Perhaps they can grow faster after a while.
nytemare3701 11-28-07, 03:54 AM	Well. The +1 level/day is not the best idea. If the players aren't supposed to die or reach level twenty by the end of the first month, the undead should have some time to grow slowly. Perhaps they can grow faster after a while. Fixed. Now it is geographically dependant Other side of the world: +0 Equator: +5 In the Lair: +10
Delfedd 11-28-07, 07:53 AM	I hope that's by Month. The instant the players get to the equator (lets say it takes them two months) they will be fighting 30 HD zombies and Level 30 ghoul rogues. Not fun for level 7 characters. The basic problem with the fast advancement is monsters that can get class levels, such as the lich queen herself. Wouldn't she be more affected than anyone? the players would be fighting a level 400 wizard! Which is very not cool.
nytemare3701 11-30-07, 02:51 AM	sorry, I guess I didn't clarify well enough. That's a static level boost based on proximity. ALL undead that are raised by the blastwave are affected, and a random number of undead are raised monthly.
GoriceXII 11-30-07, 10:46 PM	Interesting. Let's try an alternative. First of all, I like elements of this but if you don't mind I'll propose thinking outside the box for a moment. What I do like is the undead rising in response to the negative plane gate, and in fact I'm going to steal the idea for my own lich war campaign. Thank you. What I don't like is the god plot. I think that what might work instead for that would be for the pcs to receive some idea of what is going on after they become involved. Not so much the 'pcs don't like to be shanghai'd thing' as it is a little clumsy. (no offense, just my thoughts) So I'd suggest this instead: any group of pcs are going to respond to nasty undead being around, almost any at any rate. Have them do a couple of adventures involving them; one 'normal' type perhaps, then another that makes them think "where the hell are all these undead coming from?!" Then do a third after that containing something of an explanation, namely the gods. The gods should seem faint, vague and should manage to get the pcs to come to some shrine that has some kind of positive energy infused into it. There might either be a limited number of these left or else this could be the last one; your choice. Anyway when they get there they might be given some benefits (including maybe a magical item or two) and told something of what is going on. Finally...well, you need the reactions of the rest of the world. How will clerics respond, paladins, etc? Even evil clerics may be startled by the implications of this. What is to stop the rest of the world from joining with the pcs to prevent this lich from gaining power? One answer could be of course that those who side with demons and devils and other evil outsiders (including aberrations) could be having a field day--either aligning with the lich or just striking out for their own. They might have no idea what is causing all this, and since it would benefit them somewhat at least they might not care. In other words the world could be breaking out into many wars and conflicts of a strange nature.
nytemare3701 12-03-07, 04:43 AM	Just...wow. You just resolved almost every major qualm I've had about this campaign. you sir, deserve a :cookie: The last question I guess then is how to balance character level vs undead progression?
Delfedd 12-03-07, 07:49 AM	Assume that undead progress at about the same level as the PCs, barring any major sidequest.
nytemare3701 12-03-07, 07:09 PM	That would work. I'll just drop a few hints that the best place to go for XP and cash is north. That way they will slowly increase with the undead.
GoriceXII 12-03-07, 08:04 PM	You might want to also plan it out--plan so many encounters with potential CR and how much experience you need them to have minimum before each sort of zone of progression. In my favourite Adventure Paths, Red Hand of Doom and Savage Tide, there is also a sidebar for each adventure with ideas on how to scale things. So that enables you to back things up as well. Thanks for the previous compliments btw--I hope this works for you it sounds interesting.