Accompanying the Ambassador [Archive] - Wizards Community

Accompanying the Ambassador [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
GoriceXII
04-08-07, 03:05 AM My players told me they'd love to adventure in lands emulating that of north Africa/Morocco/Middle East. I've come up with some ideas on that but since they have proven in the past to be lousy at actually showing any idea of what they want to do and start getting lethargic without context I was thinking of having this happen: as part of the course of the war they are sent to accompany an ambassador or ambassadorial party as bodyguards/troubleshooters etc and that that is the context in which they are adventuring.

I kind of like the idea but I'd be appreciate of any experience people might share or ideas others might have about this.

I'd also like some idea on what this embassy would be like--how many people would go, what kind of other classes would be included, etc.
alecthemad
04-08-07, 08:53 AM The old Al Qadim setting might be useful to you. I am sure you can find it cheap on e-bay or on PDF download from one of the sites that does that sort of thing.

This site (http://www.al-qadim.com/people.htmlhttp://www.al-qadim.com/people.html) give a primer on it.

For historical reference you might try dropping the ambassador bit and doing a defeat the pirates thing similar to Jefferson and the Barbary Coast pirates.
Pfisiar
04-08-07, 08:56 AM My players told me they'd love to adventure in lands emulating that of north Africa/Morocco/Middle East. I've come up with some ideas on that but since they have proven in the past to be lousy at actually showing any idea of what they want to do and start getting lethargic without context I was thinking of having this happen: as part of the course of the war they are sent to accompany an ambassador or ambassadorial party as bodyguards/troubleshooters etc and that that is the context in which they are adventuring.

I kind of like the idea but I'd be appreciate of any experience people might share or ideas others might have about this.

I'd also like some idea on what this embassy would be like--how many people would go, what kind of other classes would be included, etc.
An ambassador party would like have several men of noble birth, a wizard or two, a bard for entertainment, and several slaves of both genders. If this is a decedant society, you can increase the number of slaves and items carried in this little caravan of sorts.
Imatash
04-08-07, 10:04 AM An ambassador party would like have several men of noble birth, a wizard or two, a bard for entertainment, and several slaves of both genders. If this is a decedant society, you can increase the number of slaves and items carried in this little caravan of sorts.

Good list and add in something commercial like Merchants and/or if war is something have a fighter to evaluate the armed might of those nations either as an ally or perhaps an opponent.

When they are there they could be approached to help solve or get involved in local politics or economic ventures.
GoriceXII
04-08-07, 08:11 PM Hm...I'd probably go with servants since slavery is outlawed in the Republic of New Edom but that makes sense.

The pc party by the way should be ideally 6-7th level by the time I do this. I was thinking of not having a high level wizard accompany them unless someone thinks I could work that without it giving the pcs too much backup?

I was also thinking that perhaps this party contains three to four patricians with one of them at least with a good but rather normal military background.

I might have an adventure along the way involving the ship, since they will probably have to hire a foreign ship as their own country doesn't build very good ones yet.

BTW that is one of the underlying parts of the mission: having the foreigners build them the start of a navy in exchange for...what the foreigners might want.

I also want a kind of Marco Polo feel to it in which the embassy is visiting different cities and places to establish contacts and trade. Does this seem feasible?
GoriceXII
04-09-07, 04:41 AM What I've come up with for the list anyway is:
4 members of the Great Council of the Republic
1 clerk
2 grooms
2 cooks
1 armorer
2 maids
wife of one of the councillors
10 guards + 1 leader (2nd level guardsmen plus one 3rd level sergeant and a 4th level officer in command)

the envoys I have thought of sending would be:
1 aristocrat, member of the Council
1 aristocrat/fighter, a member of the war council
1 mage (who is venerable and not really up to adventuring anymore but still hearty enough to travel)
1 psion (more of an advisor to the group than anything--this npc is sometimes friend sometimes foil to the pcs)

Then the pc group and their followers.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GoriceXII 04-08-07, 03:05 AM	My players told me they'd love to adventure in lands emulating that of north Africa/Morocco/Middle East. I've come up with some ideas on that but since they have proven in the past to be lousy at actually showing any idea of what they want to do and start getting lethargic without context I was thinking of having this happen: as part of the course of the war they are sent to accompany an ambassador or ambassadorial party as bodyguards/troubleshooters etc and that that is the context in which they are adventuring. I kind of like the idea but I'd be appreciate of any experience people might share or ideas others might have about this. I'd also like some idea on what this embassy would be like--how many people would go, what kind of other classes would be included, etc.
alecthemad 04-08-07, 08:53 AM	The old Al Qadim setting might be useful to you. I am sure you can find it cheap on e-bay or on PDF download from one of the sites that does that sort of thing. This site (http://www.al-qadim.com/people.htmlhttp://www.al-qadim.com/people.html) give a primer on it. For historical reference you might try dropping the ambassador bit and doing a defeat the pirates thing similar to Jefferson and the Barbary Coast pirates.
Pfisiar 04-08-07, 08:56 AM	My players told me they'd love to adventure in lands emulating that of north Africa/Morocco/Middle East. I've come up with some ideas on that but since they have proven in the past to be lousy at actually showing any idea of what they want to do and start getting lethargic without context I was thinking of having this happen: as part of the course of the war they are sent to accompany an ambassador or ambassadorial party as bodyguards/troubleshooters etc and that that is the context in which they are adventuring. I kind of like the idea but I'd be appreciate of any experience people might share or ideas others might have about this. I'd also like some idea on what this embassy would be like--how many people would go, what kind of other classes would be included, etc. An ambassador party would like have several men of noble birth, a wizard or two, a bard for entertainment, and several slaves of both genders. If this is a decedant society, you can increase the number of slaves and items carried in this little caravan of sorts.
Imatash 04-08-07, 10:04 AM	An ambassador party would like have several men of noble birth, a wizard or two, a bard for entertainment, and several slaves of both genders. If this is a decedant society, you can increase the number of slaves and items carried in this little caravan of sorts. Good list and add in something commercial like Merchants and/or if war is something have a fighter to evaluate the armed might of those nations either as an ally or perhaps an opponent. When they are there they could be approached to help solve or get involved in local politics or economic ventures.
GoriceXII 04-08-07, 08:11 PM	Hm...I'd probably go with servants since slavery is outlawed in the Republic of New Edom but that makes sense. The pc party by the way should be ideally 6-7th level by the time I do this. I was thinking of not having a high level wizard accompany them unless someone thinks I could work that without it giving the pcs too much backup? I was also thinking that perhaps this party contains three to four patricians with one of them at least with a good but rather normal military background. I might have an adventure along the way involving the ship, since they will probably have to hire a foreign ship as their own country doesn't build very good ones yet. BTW that is one of the underlying parts of the mission: having the foreigners build them the start of a navy in exchange for...what the foreigners might want. I also want a kind of Marco Polo feel to it in which the embassy is visiting different cities and places to establish contacts and trade. Does this seem feasible?
GoriceXII 04-09-07, 04:41 AM	What I've come up with for the list anyway is: 4 members of the Great Council of the Republic 1 clerk 2 grooms 2 cooks 1 armorer 2 maids wife of one of the councillors 10 guards + 1 leader (2nd level guardsmen plus one 3rd level sergeant and a 4th level officer in command) the envoys I have thought of sending would be: 1 aristocrat, member of the Council 1 aristocrat/fighter, a member of the war council 1 mage (who is venerable and not really up to adventuring anymore but still hearty enough to travel) 1 psion (more of an advisor to the group than anything--this npc is sometimes friend sometimes foil to the pcs) Then the pc group and their followers.