Critique this Campaign Idea [Archive] - Wizards Community

Critique this Campaign Idea [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DwarvinJedi
11-06-04, 09:05 PM So, This thread is for people to post Campaign ideas/outlines/etc. and other people to critique it and maybe use it either directly or for inspiration,

mine:
The Feuding Houses:
Since the invention of the Airship House Orien and House Lyrandar have been competing in the business of transportation and delivery, but House Lyrandar has been losing, due to the expensive nature and limited ability of their airships, but, since the Mourning the easiest and safest way to and from the ends of the continents is the Airship.
House Orien needs to:
1. try and rebuild the destroyed rail lines through the Mournlands, and
2. Make sure Lyrandar doesn't get its' paws on any Airship secrets that might be lurking in Xen'Drik
House Lyrandar needs to:
1. See if there are any secrets to Elemental Binding or Airship design, etc., in Xen'Drik, and
2. Make sure House Orien cannot complete the rail line through the Mournlands.
Now both #2's must be done in secret, or else it might spark another House War, here is where the PCs step in, Which side will they choose?
so, how do you like it, and any campaign ideas that you would like to share?
RatFlail OF DOOM!!!!
11-07-04, 04:16 PM HOUSE OF LYRANDAR RULES, i like the ideal consider it stolen *my pcs love airships*
RatFlail OF DOOM!!!!
11-07-04, 04:17 PM Maybe house of orien is trying to steal some information on binding elementals to make thier suffering caravan buisness a success
xcorvis
11-08-04, 10:46 AM Nifty idea. A couple things to note:

House Lyrandar has a lot more ocean going ships than airships. It's where they make the vast majority of their money. Most folks can't affoard an airship, but they can affoard the lightning rail or a regular ship/elemental galleon. House Orien is far less concerned about Lyrandar airships because of few ships, small cargo holds and very high expense (to use airships). By comparison, Lyrandar's shipping fleet is huge. I'd bet it's the largest "navy" on the continent. On the other hand, Orien does not want Lyrandar to start mass-producing airships.

House Lyrandar is at an advantage right now because they are the only group that can go from the east half of the continent to the west. The Mournland is likely to stay blocked up (honestly, would you take a train thru THAT?), but Lyrandar would be concerned about Thrane-Karnath relations: if they fix the bridge, House Orien will be able to ship across the continent again. I'm sure they don't want to restart the war, but if they can keep that bridge down, they have a strong advantage.

If it came right down to it, Orien might try to cut off some shipping routes by getting pirates (or sahaugin, or a kraken...) to start up in the area.

BTW, I'd bet money that your PCs will gravitate to Lyrandar - airships are just too cool to pass up.

One further thought - house Orien could be looking for an alternate fast-travel technology that they can control. Maybe some kind of low-flying barge or "hovercraft", or maybe even some kind of teleportation gateway. With a teleport gate, even if they only had one pair on alternate ends of the continents, it would cut travel time and costs by such a signifigant margin that Orien would probably be able to truly dominate long-range trade.
DwarvinJedi
11-08-04, 04:11 PM Thanks
helzapoppn
11-08-04, 04:36 PM xcorvis has plenty of good points to modify your idea.

Going further, think about transportation modes in general. House Lyrandar has the elite methods of travel by sea and air, but House Orien dominates land-based transport. All across Khorvaire they cooperate even as they compete. Orien caravans bring goods from farming villages and small forgeholds to the major ports, where the goods are loaded onto Lyrandar elemental galleons and carried to another port, where a differnt Orien-sponsored caravan or lightning rail cargo car waits to haul some of those goods to their ultimate destination.

It would take A LOT to break that cozy relationship and set these two Houses on a violent collision course. Intrigue, certainly. one-upsmanship, yep. Small acts of sabotage, sure -- and a party of unaffiliated adventurers is just the thing for that. But open war...not now, not with memories still fresh of how bad the Last War was for Business (if you're Orien or Lyrandar, the last thing you want is a return to closed borders, letters of marque, piracy and banditry).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DwarvinJedi 11-06-04, 09:05 PM	So, This thread is for people to post Campaign ideas/outlines/etc. and other people to critique it and maybe use it either directly or for inspiration, mine: The Feuding Houses: Since the invention of the Airship House Orien and House Lyrandar have been competing in the business of transportation and delivery, but House Lyrandar has been losing, due to the expensive nature and limited ability of their airships, but, since the Mourning the easiest and safest way to and from the ends of the continents is the Airship. House Orien needs to: 1. try and rebuild the destroyed rail lines through the Mournlands, and 2. Make sure Lyrandar doesn't get its' paws on any Airship secrets that might be lurking in Xen'Drik House Lyrandar needs to: 1. See if there are any secrets to Elemental Binding or Airship design, etc., in Xen'Drik, and 2. Make sure House Orien cannot complete the rail line through the Mournlands. Now both #2's must be done in secret, or else it might spark another House War, here is where the PCs step in, Which side will they choose? so, how do you like it, and any campaign ideas that you would like to share?
RatFlail OF DOOM!!!! 11-07-04, 04:16 PM	HOUSE OF LYRANDAR RULES, i like the ideal consider it stolen my pcs love airships
RatFlail OF DOOM!!!! 11-07-04, 04:17 PM	Maybe house of orien is trying to steal some information on binding elementals to make thier suffering caravan buisness a success
xcorvis 11-08-04, 10:46 AM	Nifty idea. A couple things to note: House Lyrandar has a lot more ocean going ships than airships. It's where they make the vast majority of their money. Most folks can't affoard an airship, but they can affoard the lightning rail or a regular ship/elemental galleon. House Orien is far less concerned about Lyrandar airships because of few ships, small cargo holds and very high expense (to use airships). By comparison, Lyrandar's shipping fleet is huge. I'd bet it's the largest "navy" on the continent. On the other hand, Orien does not want Lyrandar to start mass-producing airships. House Lyrandar is at an advantage right now because they are the only group that can go from the east half of the continent to the west. The Mournland is likely to stay blocked up (honestly, would you take a train thru THAT?), but Lyrandar would be concerned about Thrane-Karnath relations: if they fix the bridge, House Orien will be able to ship across the continent again. I'm sure they don't want to restart the war, but if they can keep that bridge down, they have a strong advantage. If it came right down to it, Orien might try to cut off some shipping routes by getting pirates (or sahaugin, or a kraken...) to start up in the area. BTW, I'd bet money that your PCs will gravitate to Lyrandar - airships are just too cool to pass up. One further thought - house Orien could be looking for an alternate fast-travel technology that they can control. Maybe some kind of low-flying barge or "hovercraft", or maybe even some kind of teleportation gateway. With a teleport gate, even if they only had one pair on alternate ends of the continents, it would cut travel time and costs by such a signifigant margin that Orien would probably be able to truly dominate long-range trade.
DwarvinJedi 11-08-04, 04:11 PM	Thanks
helzapoppn 11-08-04, 04:36 PM	xcorvis has plenty of good points to modify your idea. Going further, think about transportation modes in general. House Lyrandar has the elite methods of travel by sea and air, but House Orien dominates land-based transport. All across Khorvaire they cooperate even as they compete. Orien caravans bring goods from farming villages and small forgeholds to the major ports, where the goods are loaded onto Lyrandar elemental galleons and carried to another port, where a differnt Orien-sponsored caravan or lightning rail cargo car waits to haul some of those goods to their ultimate destination. It would take A LOT to break that cozy relationship and set these two Houses on a violent collision course. Intrigue, certainly. one-upsmanship, yep. Small acts of sabotage, sure -- and a party of unaffiliated adventurers is just the thing for that. But open war...not now, not with memories still fresh of how bad the Last War was for Business (if you're Orien or Lyrandar, the last thing you want is a return to closed borders, letters of marque, piracy and banditry).