World under Siege - Campaign Idea [Archive] - Wizards Community

World under Siege - Campaign Idea [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mariele
09-29-07, 09:04 PM So I was reading through Boshi's 101 Funky Setting Ideas (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=930531) and I saw his idea about how "Monsters had destroyed all of the world, your village is the last." Or something along those lines.

So I decided to take this idea and expand upon it somewhat, I plan on making a campaign where the whole world has not yet been destroyed, but rather a world somewhat close to being post-apocalyptic. The world is largely under siege by a monsterous force, the PCs start in a relatively small town, compared to what is left. They have been cut off from the world and their town is subject to near daily attacks. There are other cities out there, still holding out, but under siege by some force or another. I had planned on making it so there was some force that was causing the fiendish creatures and monsterous humanoids to relentlessly attack the civilized world. The basic idea was that the PCs would start in a relatively small town (~50 some buildings, 40 some families, fortifications protecting the town (degrading ones), etc.), this town is suppose to be one of the last remaining ones of its size, due to all the ones smaller than it falling to the attacks. The only reason this one survived was due to the PCs being there. Outside of the town, in a cave or underground citadel there was going to be some object the PCs would find, the object being the thing causing the monsters of the animals and humanoids of the region to go into this blood frenzy. As the PCs advance through the campaign they would find that other cities are still standing, they are not in fact the last ones alive. This is the general setting for the game, but I could use some help fleshing out the specifics. I am not the most creative person, so I would be more than grateful for some assistance.
GoriceXII
09-30-07, 04:22 AM I think this sounds really promising. What I'd suggest would be to plan it perhaps as a series of hooks or even adventures fleshed out. You also need to figure out how long this has been going on from the pcs' point of view. Is this a generational war or has it just been going on a few years?

One angle you might try could be that the war is actually outside a relatively peaceful area but that it encroaches and overwhelms much of it. In this way pcs might get very involved with it.

You also need to figure out what the monsters are. You can actually use perfectly ordinary ones. The Midnight campaign setting makes use of orcs, goblins, ogres, worgs, dragons and undead quite nicely.
Hand_of_Kain
09-30-07, 06:25 AM The world is largely under siege by a monsterous force, the PCs start in a relatively small town, compared to what is left. They have been cut off from the world and their town is subject to near daily attacks.

Is this a NEW devolopment? How long has it gone on? If you start the game before the attacks begin and say let the PCs get to level 3 by running a few adventures around the town, they will be able to take on a lot more and might make your seige all the more interesting.

What if the item in the cavern system wasn't what was cauing the attacks but rather a lost magical item that would be of emmense help to EITHER side in the seige. That makes it a race against time as both the PCs and the monsters go after it.

What if someone recently discovered an atrifact of powerful magic item and brought it in to the kingdom that is now under attack. An example would be a relic of Gruumsh and the Orc tribes have chased the bearer to this kingdom and are razing it.
Elric Of Melnibone
09-30-07, 09:44 AM Typically post apocalytic stories run the same themes. Civilization has broken down, resources are scarce, and warlords dominate local areas stealing and murdering without prejudice. PC's hear rumors of a safe haven. PC's journey to find a refuge from the onslaught of monsters. The usually there is only one cause of the apocalyse. Anything from mages use of magic killing off living things (dark sun campaign) to undead disease turning life into zombies.

You have to be careful with this theme or you run the risk of it becoming cliche like another resident evil movie. Too many of the same opponents gets boring after they have killed a 100 zombies your players will lose interest. Instead twist the cliche on its ear......

One idea is to have an event (meteor, or curse, negative plane intersection etc) that applies an undead template to everything including the PC's but dont tell them that they are dead (more like vampires then zombies). Then have them discover that they dont need to rest, they are immune to crits, healing spells actually hurt them, and their gods no longer answer thier prayers. A party that is of good alignment will have to search for the "dark secrets" of evil clerics in order to gain hp back via inflict spells. Now the PC's have a murder mystery to solve, thier own. The one person that can help them has been destroyed and hes not responding to resurection spells....the PCs have to defeat a draco lich and recover a slay living scroll to bring him back to life. When PC's finally find the cure to thier affliction they will each have to make the decision of keeping thier undead immortality or returning to the living realm and regaining thier ability to have children.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mariele 09-29-07, 09:04 PM	So I was reading through Boshi's 101 Funky Setting Ideas (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=930531) and I saw his idea about how "Monsters had destroyed all of the world, your village is the last." Or something along those lines. So I decided to take this idea and expand upon it somewhat, I plan on making a campaign where the whole world has not yet been destroyed, but rather a world somewhat close to being post-apocalyptic. The world is largely under siege by a monsterous force, the PCs start in a relatively small town, compared to what is left. They have been cut off from the world and their town is subject to near daily attacks. There are other cities out there, still holding out, but under siege by some force or another. I had planned on making it so there was some force that was causing the fiendish creatures and monsterous humanoids to relentlessly attack the civilized world. The basic idea was that the PCs would start in a relatively small town (~50 some buildings, 40 some families, fortifications protecting the town (degrading ones), etc.), this town is suppose to be one of the last remaining ones of its size, due to all the ones smaller than it falling to the attacks. The only reason this one survived was due to the PCs being there. Outside of the town, in a cave or underground citadel there was going to be some object the PCs would find, the object being the thing causing the monsters of the animals and humanoids of the region to go into this blood frenzy. As the PCs advance through the campaign they would find that other cities are still standing, they are not in fact the last ones alive. This is the general setting for the game, but I could use some help fleshing out the specifics. I am not the most creative person, so I would be more than grateful for some assistance.
GoriceXII 09-30-07, 04:22 AM	I think this sounds really promising. What I'd suggest would be to plan it perhaps as a series of hooks or even adventures fleshed out. You also need to figure out how long this has been going on from the pcs' point of view. Is this a generational war or has it just been going on a few years? One angle you might try could be that the war is actually outside a relatively peaceful area but that it encroaches and overwhelms much of it. In this way pcs might get very involved with it. You also need to figure out what the monsters are. You can actually use perfectly ordinary ones. The Midnight campaign setting makes use of orcs, goblins, ogres, worgs, dragons and undead quite nicely.
Hand_of_Kain 09-30-07, 06:25 AM	The world is largely under siege by a monsterous force, the PCs start in a relatively small town, compared to what is left. They have been cut off from the world and their town is subject to near daily attacks. Is this a NEW devolopment? How long has it gone on? If you start the game before the attacks begin and say let the PCs get to level 3 by running a few adventures around the town, they will be able to take on a lot more and might make your seige all the more interesting. What if the item in the cavern system wasn't what was cauing the attacks but rather a lost magical item that would be of emmense help to EITHER side in the seige. That makes it a race against time as both the PCs and the monsters go after it. What if someone recently discovered an atrifact of powerful magic item and brought it in to the kingdom that is now under attack. An example would be a relic of Gruumsh and the Orc tribes have chased the bearer to this kingdom and are razing it.
Elric Of Melnibone 09-30-07, 09:44 AM	Typically post apocalytic stories run the same themes. Civilization has broken down, resources are scarce, and warlords dominate local areas stealing and murdering without prejudice. PC's hear rumors of a safe haven. PC's journey to find a refuge from the onslaught of monsters. The usually there is only one cause of the apocalyse. Anything from mages use of magic killing off living things (dark sun campaign) to undead disease turning life into zombies. You have to be careful with this theme or you run the risk of it becoming cliche like another resident evil movie. Too many of the same opponents gets boring after they have killed a 100 zombies your players will lose interest. Instead twist the cliche on its ear...... One idea is to have an event (meteor, or curse, negative plane intersection etc) that applies an undead template to everything including the PC's but dont tell them that they are dead (more like vampires then zombies). Then have them discover that they dont need to rest, they are immune to crits, healing spells actually hurt them, and their gods no longer answer thier prayers. A party that is of good alignment will have to search for the "dark secrets" of evil clerics in order to gain hp back via inflict spells. Now the PC's have a murder mystery to solve, thier own. The one person that can help them has been destroyed and hes not responding to resurection spells....the PCs have to defeat a draco lich and recover a slay living scroll to bring him back to life. When PC's finally find the cure to thier affliction they will each have to make the decision of keeping thier undead immortality or returning to the living realm and regaining thier ability to have children.