The fate of the world lies in your hands. What will you do? [Archive] - Wizards Community

The fate of the world lies in your hands. What will you do? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
korcheck
11-15-07, 12:54 PM Last night I had a very strange dream that has lead me to attempt to make a campaign out of it. This campaign will by its nature have to be a homebrewed world so I will have to develop it further. this is the story so far with a few details missing from the dream that are really to odd to add into it as a story. Please forgive me if it doesn't seem complete because it isn't.

The Head of Omnibus, and the tablet of Armageddon are always drawn together. The head has to read the tablet aloud to initiate the end of the world. The army good has the head and the demons have the tablet. Whoever possesses both controls the end of the world and the future. After a desperate raid "good" steals the tablet but in the conflict both the head and the tablet fall to earth with a group of both evil and good but, both sides loose the items and are now searching for them. If they are brought together and used on "earth" the final battle will be waged here instead of in the heavens or the other plane or what have you this of course would spell doom for the world whether good initiates it or not.

This is a bit of what I remember about the head: It is an intelligent item to some extent in that it apparently has its own motives and it has a limit form of movement. By movement I mean to say that it can inexplicably fall from ones hands and move in the direction it wants to and has the ability to always remain just out of reach as it does so should it wish to. The head itself looked much like a dead male head might look with a wreath of long hair at the back and a smooth liver spotted scalp, white eyes with black dots in the center, and lips pulled away from the teeth. It seem to be good in its alignment as it helped the warriors of good in my dream and stayed away from the demons to it limited extent.
The tablet looks to be an old yellowed clay tablet with strange writings on it. in my dream the women that picked it up was able to read a bit of it even though she didn't know the language and after the reading began when she was stopped from continuing it was absorbed into her abdomen with the writing facing out I don't know if that will be in the story yet or not though.

This is all that I remember from my dream besides the few other details that I am unsure of and whether they would fit in a campaign. What I would like is your help fleshing out the rest of the story and the world, as I have never made a homebrewed world before. tell me what you think, any advise is a help whether it is good or negative.
Delfedd
11-15-07, 10:45 PM The last bit with the woman who read the tablet... that could be quite interesting. Perhaps whoever reads the tablet becomes the "bearer." The bearer becomes terrified whenever in the prescence of the head, and flees at highest speed. If one of the PCs is the bearer of the tablet, The bearer of the head could appear to be the BBEG, but is in truth just misunderstood. He might send minions and whatnot after the PCs, seeking not to kill but to merely aquire the tablet.
Anuvrix
11-16-07, 08:44 AM He might send minions and whatnot after the PCs, seeking not to kill but to merely aquire the tablet.

Hmmmm, :lightbulb

Skin the player, easy solution:schemes:

You gotta keep an open mind, ya know?:angelhide
korcheck
11-16-07, 03:44 PM The last bit with the woman who read the tablet... that could be quite interesting. Perhaps whoever reads the tablet becomes the "bearer." The bearer becomes terrified whenever in the prescence of the head, and flees at highest speed. If one of the PCs is the bearer of the tablet, The bearer of the head could appear to be the BBEG, but is in truth just misunderstood. He might send minions and whatnot after the PCs, seeking not to kill but to merely aquire the tablet.

I Like this perhaps it is do-able with one of the players but the head and the tablet are constantly being drawn together so why would the bearer become terrified of the head?
Delfedd
11-17-07, 01:14 AM Well, I think that would be part of the plot. The head wants to read, while the tablet knows what will happen if the head does. Or something. Or perhaps the body is too greedy.
korcheck
11-17-07, 01:26 PM Well, I think that would be part of the plot. The head wants to read, while the tablet knows what will happen if the head does. Or something. Or perhaps the body is too greedy.

Yes I like both of these ideas and could see the possibility of you not just one but both thank you.
soulnova
11-18-07, 12:54 AM Wow, I like this. Pretty good dream... it seems very mythological.
korcheck
11-19-07, 10:42 AM Wow, I like this. Pretty good dream... it seems very mythological.

thank you I wish I could tell you about the one I had the night before this dream occured, I remembered it as well for a time but it went away and was even stranger.

So does anyone else have some ideas that may help me develop this out further than it is?
korcheck
11-20-07, 05:02 PM Here's another question: What do you think would be the optimal level range of this campaign? Should I start them out low knowing that most of the things out to get them would force them to constantly flee thus creating a sense of horror and fear of death, or low and adjust the initial monsters accordingly. Should I instead start them off a bit higher and give them a fighting chance that way, or should I start them out higher yet and let them start facing the truly powerful enemies right out of the gate but still make them work for their victory?

How should I end this? What should be the eventual goal? (I awoke before my dream finished.) I have a few ideas but I am unsure how best to proceed, so help from all of you in this would greatly enhance the enjoyment of my players. My ideas were; the destruction of the items, or their return to another plane.

If the party destroys the items, what might be the consequences of this?

If the group takes the artifacts to another plane then we also have a number of choices to pursue. 1) Separate them again, that the battle over them will continue and life as we know it will continue to go on, or 2) so that the world might end on a happy note bring both pieces together thus giving power to those who seek to thwart the demons. The problem I see with 1) is that this would only delay things. The problem with 2) is that the players really would have no way of knowing or understanding what this other force’s views of a happy ending might be and it could be vastly different from what the party actually wants.
Delfedd
11-20-07, 05:05 PM I think that one should always start at low level.

As to when you should start introducing the campaign themes, go mid level. Best time to do it.
korcheck
11-21-07, 04:21 PM how low do you consider low? 1st to 3rd or 1st to 5th?
Delfedd
11-21-07, 05:31 PM First.

I find that players definately don't use all the options open to them when they start their characters above first level. The fighter forgets that power attack is there for a reason other than great cleave, the mage never uses silent spell even when it is a good idea.

Basically, low level adventuring is about using every advantage you can get. High ground, cover, weather conditions, anything. Teaching your players this makes the campaign much more fun at high levels.
korcheck
11-21-07, 06:50 PM First.

I find that players definately don't use all the options open to them when they start their characters above first level. The fighter forgets that power attack is there for a reason other than great cleave, the mage never uses silent spell even when it is a good idea.

Basically, low level adventuring is about using every advantage you can get. High ground, cover, weather conditions, anything. Teaching your players this makes the campaign much more fun at high levels.

Oh you've met my group? lol. They hate starting at first because and I quote "I hate building a character that has to run away from mice." I admit when I was only a player I felt the same way but, now that I have started to DM I see the fun and intention behind it.
Delfedd
11-21-07, 10:01 PM Make them reread the combat section of the Players Handbook. My friends first level wizard held out against a very powerful undead monster for quite a while by going into total defense while everyone else simply shot at it.
korcheck
11-26-07, 10:40 AM Hhmm 245 view and 7 replies that aren't mine. Oh well.:weep:
False-paradox-Truth
11-26-07, 10:49 AM Make them reread the combat section of the Players Handbook. My friends first level wizard held out against a very powerful undead monster for quite a while by going into total defense while everyone else simply shot at it.

Impressive. I had a a second level fighter that took on a level 5 Ogre Barbarian one on one. Terrain makes such a huge difference.
korcheck
11-26-07, 12:37 PM Impressive. I had a a second level fighter that took on a level 5 Ogre Barbarian one on one. Terrain makes such a huge difference.

Wow, maybe I should reread it as well, lol. I have often thought that there are oppertunities missed in combat for some real drama but my players usually make the mistake of simply standing there and taking the beating.
Delfedd
11-27-07, 01:43 AM Yeah. Things change in between high and low levels. At low levels, the party is mobile, taking full advantage of the terrain. At higher levels, most characters don't have the option of moving around, it sacrifices too many attacks.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
korcheck 11-15-07, 12:54 PM	Last night I had a very strange dream that has lead me to attempt to make a campaign out of it. This campaign will by its nature have to be a homebrewed world so I will have to develop it further. this is the story so far with a few details missing from the dream that are really to odd to add into it as a story. Please forgive me if it doesn't seem complete because it isn't. The Head of Omnibus, and the tablet of Armageddon are always drawn together. The head has to read the tablet aloud to initiate the end of the world. The army good has the head and the demons have the tablet. Whoever possesses both controls the end of the world and the future. After a desperate raid "good" steals the tablet but in the conflict both the head and the tablet fall to earth with a group of both evil and good but, both sides loose the items and are now searching for them. If they are brought together and used on "earth" the final battle will be waged here instead of in the heavens or the other plane or what have you this of course would spell doom for the world whether good initiates it or not. This is a bit of what I remember about the head: It is an intelligent item to some extent in that it apparently has its own motives and it has a limit form of movement. By movement I mean to say that it can inexplicably fall from ones hands and move in the direction it wants to and has the ability to always remain just out of reach as it does so should it wish to. The head itself looked much like a dead male head might look with a wreath of long hair at the back and a smooth liver spotted scalp, white eyes with black dots in the center, and lips pulled away from the teeth. It seem to be good in its alignment as it helped the warriors of good in my dream and stayed away from the demons to it limited extent. The tablet looks to be an old yellowed clay tablet with strange writings on it. in my dream the women that picked it up was able to read a bit of it even though she didn't know the language and after the reading began when she was stopped from continuing it was absorbed into her abdomen with the writing facing out I don't know if that will be in the story yet or not though. This is all that I remember from my dream besides the few other details that I am unsure of and whether they would fit in a campaign. What I would like is your help fleshing out the rest of the story and the world, as I have never made a homebrewed world before. tell me what you think, any advise is a help whether it is good or negative.
Delfedd 11-15-07, 10:45 PM	The last bit with the woman who read the tablet... that could be quite interesting. Perhaps whoever reads the tablet becomes the "bearer." The bearer becomes terrified whenever in the prescence of the head, and flees at highest speed. If one of the PCs is the bearer of the tablet, The bearer of the head could appear to be the BBEG, but is in truth just misunderstood. He might send minions and whatnot after the PCs, seeking not to kill but to merely aquire the tablet.
Anuvrix 11-16-07, 08:44 AM	He might send minions and whatnot after the PCs, seeking not to kill but to merely aquire the tablet. Hmmmm, :lightbulb Skin the player, easy solution:schemes: You gotta keep an open mind, ya know?:angelhide
korcheck 11-16-07, 03:44 PM	The last bit with the woman who read the tablet... that could be quite interesting. Perhaps whoever reads the tablet becomes the "bearer." The bearer becomes terrified whenever in the prescence of the head, and flees at highest speed. If one of the PCs is the bearer of the tablet, The bearer of the head could appear to be the BBEG, but is in truth just misunderstood. He might send minions and whatnot after the PCs, seeking not to kill but to merely aquire the tablet. I Like this perhaps it is do-able with one of the players but the head and the tablet are constantly being drawn together so why would the bearer become terrified of the head?
Delfedd 11-17-07, 01:14 AM	Well, I think that would be part of the plot. The head wants to read, while the tablet knows what will happen if the head does. Or something. Or perhaps the body is too greedy.
korcheck 11-17-07, 01:26 PM	Well, I think that would be part of the plot. The head wants to read, while the tablet knows what will happen if the head does. Or something. Or perhaps the body is too greedy. Yes I like both of these ideas and could see the possibility of you not just one but both thank you.
soulnova 11-18-07, 12:54 AM	Wow, I like this. Pretty good dream... it seems very mythological.
korcheck 11-19-07, 10:42 AM	Wow, I like this. Pretty good dream... it seems very mythological. thank you I wish I could tell you about the one I had the night before this dream occured, I remembered it as well for a time but it went away and was even stranger. So does anyone else have some ideas that may help me develop this out further than it is?
korcheck 11-20-07, 05:02 PM	Here's another question: What do you think would be the optimal level range of this campaign? Should I start them out low knowing that most of the things out to get them would force them to constantly flee thus creating a sense of horror and fear of death, or low and adjust the initial monsters accordingly. Should I instead start them off a bit higher and give them a fighting chance that way, or should I start them out higher yet and let them start facing the truly powerful enemies right out of the gate but still make them work for their victory? How should I end this? What should be the eventual goal? (I awoke before my dream finished.) I have a few ideas but I am unsure how best to proceed, so help from all of you in this would greatly enhance the enjoyment of my players. My ideas were; the destruction of the items, or their return to another plane. If the party destroys the items, what might be the consequences of this? If the group takes the artifacts to another plane then we also have a number of choices to pursue. 1) Separate them again, that the battle over them will continue and life as we know it will continue to go on, or 2) so that the world might end on a happy note bring both pieces together thus giving power to those who seek to thwart the demons. The problem I see with 1) is that this would only delay things. The problem with 2) is that the players really would have no way of knowing or understanding what this other force’s views of a happy ending might be and it could be vastly different from what the party actually wants.
Delfedd 11-20-07, 05:05 PM	I think that one should always start at low level. As to when you should start introducing the campaign themes, go mid level. Best time to do it.
korcheck 11-21-07, 04:21 PM	how low do you consider low? 1st to 3rd or 1st to 5th?
Delfedd 11-21-07, 05:31 PM	First. I find that players definately don't use all the options open to them when they start their characters above first level. The fighter forgets that power attack is there for a reason other than great cleave, the mage never uses silent spell even when it is a good idea. Basically, low level adventuring is about using every advantage you can get. High ground, cover, weather conditions, anything. Teaching your players this makes the campaign much more fun at high levels.
korcheck 11-21-07, 06:50 PM	First. I find that players definately don't use all the options open to them when they start their characters above first level. The fighter forgets that power attack is there for a reason other than great cleave, the mage never uses silent spell even when it is a good idea. Basically, low level adventuring is about using every advantage you can get. High ground, cover, weather conditions, anything. Teaching your players this makes the campaign much more fun at high levels. Oh you've met my group? lol. They hate starting at first because and I quote "I hate building a character that has to run away from mice." I admit when I was only a player I felt the same way but, now that I have started to DM I see the fun and intention behind it.
Delfedd 11-21-07, 10:01 PM	Make them reread the combat section of the Players Handbook. My friends first level wizard held out against a very powerful undead monster for quite a while by going into total defense while everyone else simply shot at it.
korcheck 11-26-07, 10:40 AM	Hhmm 245 view and 7 replies that aren't mine. Oh well.:weep:
False-paradox-Truth 11-26-07, 10:49 AM	Make them reread the combat section of the Players Handbook. My friends first level wizard held out against a very powerful undead monster for quite a while by going into total defense while everyone else simply shot at it. Impressive. I had a a second level fighter that took on a level 5 Ogre Barbarian one on one. Terrain makes such a huge difference.
korcheck 11-26-07, 12:37 PM	Impressive. I had a a second level fighter that took on a level 5 Ogre Barbarian one on one. Terrain makes such a huge difference. Wow, maybe I should reread it as well, lol. I have often thought that there are oppertunities missed in combat for some real drama but my players usually make the mistake of simply standing there and taking the beating.
Delfedd 11-27-07, 01:43 AM	Yeah. Things change in between high and low levels. At low levels, the party is mobile, taking full advantage of the terrain. At higher levels, most characters don't have the option of moving around, it sacrifices too many attacks.