Help for a new DM! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help for a new DM! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rinna
12-08-04, 04:03 PM Anyone from my group - No reading this! Shoo!

Ok, looks like I'm finally going to start DMing my Eberron campaign this Saturday and I'm really excited about it. I've actually got stuff! Amazing!

Well, almost. What I have is a bit of story the PC's are supposed to get involved with, but I need a way for them all to get involved. I've got something for two of the three, but the last one is eluding me.

The campaign is starting in Sharn, and the adventure will be about a theft of an item. An artifact, to be precise, from Xen'drik. This artifact is stolen out of a wealthy collector's home.

As for the PC's, two of them will be coming into the city together. They've been picked up by an elderly farmer on his way to market and was kind enoug to give them both a ride. Neither of these characters will have any forms of ID, due to varying reasons, and I plan to give them a little trouble with this, but nothing major.

Once in Sharn, the theives have concocted an elaborate plan, involving finding a patsy to lay blame to their crime. Enter the two PC's. They look a bit young and naive, and they have a letter sent to them about a promise of an intreguing job opportunity for them, at the location of the hiest.

I'm hoping they'll take the bait, but I have a few other ways to get them involved as well, including an attempted kiddnapping of one of them (it won't go well for the kiddnappers).

My problem is the third character. She's an Elan, a fairly recent Elan, and lives in Sharn where a group of Elan have an smalll investigative practice (to give them a legitamate business). I have stuff for her for later, but I'm having trouble bringing her into the party. After reading some of the posts on Elan in Eberron, I liked the idea that Elan have a bit of Quori in them, that perhaps the kalashtar have made these Elan to help them with the Dreaming Dark, using humans who developed psionic powers and wanted to help the kalashtar. So I thought I might have her have a dream, essentially from the Quori (using what little hold it has on her), telling her to be at a certain place at a certain time. That this was her destiny...or something.

I realize this kind of thing sounds a bit like leading the player by the hand and my alternative was to perhaps do something where one of the Boromar clan comes and asks if they'd see about looking into this new group of theives who've come into the city, and into their territory (not necessarily saying he was from the Boromar clan, nor saying what this group actually does). This would hopefully lead her to the place of the robbery.

A final alternative, was that they'd heard of a strange person coming into the city (one of the PC's is a fey creature from another world, a fey creature I've determined does not live in Eberron), and they want her to check it out. This would put her in contact with the other PCs.

Anyway, I wanted some feedback as to whether any of these ideas sounded plausible. I wanted to make sure I had something for everyone to do to make sure everyone is including in the session. Any possitive criticism would be appreciated. Thanks.

Rinna
Save-vs-DM
12-08-04, 04:17 PM They all sound plausible to me. It sounds like you have things well in hand, really. One alternative thing might be to give one of those other two players some psionic item that they don't know is psionic, and sort of have the Elan home in on it.

Cheers,
SvD
Rinna
12-08-04, 11:39 PM Thanks, I tend to second-guess myself and it's always good to have a second opinion.

Rinna
LazarusX
12-09-04, 05:04 AM I'd agree with SvD. You look to be competent and fair enough to use one of your solutions justly. Go with your gut.
Rinna
12-09-04, 10:55 AM It's nice to know other people have faith in me. (lol) It makes me feel better. Wish me luck!

Rinna
Kid SixXx
12-09-04, 11:16 AM Must chime in with SvD.

If you're a n00b DM, the plot surely doesn't show it, as that is as tight of a first narrative as I've ever seen.

Hope the session is fun. We'll be expecting post-session notes!
Rinna
12-09-04, 11:31 AM Of course! I'll take any opportunity to talk about gaming.

Rinna
elfinn3
12-09-04, 11:53 AM Whatever you decide on, do it with confidence. Know that you have made a good decision and stick to the spirit of it. As a player, the one thing that always makes me question a person's ability to DM a good adventure is if I pick up on some uncertainty in their mind about their decisions or story. All of your ideas sound good to me, so whatever you pick, do it all the way!!!
DolArrah
12-09-04, 09:05 PM You were LEAD in the Ebberon Campain Log (very long) right? I think the DM was BOk something, right? So, now you are DMing. Good luck, although I am sure you will do well.
Gurv
12-09-04, 09:40 PM It looks like you have things well in hand. Don't try to make things too airtight, or else you won't have any room to improvise when the players do something unexpected. And they will...oh yes, they will.

You didn't mention what the thieves are up to. Is there something you have in mind, or is it inconsequential to the plot? If you haven't decided, another hook for the elan character would be to have it be a psionic item. Or something relating to the quori in some other way.

Judging from your description of the Boromar clan, I'd guess you're using Sharn: CoT? Have you considered using the fact that House Deneith is a seething pit of Inspired corruption? Elan or kalashtar, any psionic characters in Sharn are going to have to be very, very careful not to run afoul of them.
THE_VESPER
12-09-04, 11:20 PM There's a first time for everything, and being a new DM is definitely one of those roles that would fit you nicely.It's time for you to get your feet wet so to speak. And based from your storyline, I think you'll do a great job DMing (making a good story is sign of a truly good DM). I say, you go for what you think is right for your campaign, then you will have no problem having your players come back for more. :D

You were LEAD in the Ebberon Campain Log (very long) right? I think the DM was BOk something, right? So, now you are DMing. Good luck, although I am sure you will do well.

the_vesper says:"I play LEAD in BOK2's Ebberon Campaign."

LEAD says:"Hey Rinna! Is there any possibility that you could include me in your campaign?" ;)
Rinna
12-10-04, 12:36 PM the_vesper says:"I play LEAD in BOK2's Ebberon Campaign."

What he said.

LEAD says:"Hey Rinna! Is there any possibility that you could include me in your campaign?" ;)

Who wouldn't want that cuddly metal man in their group? I'm sure I could find away. After all, my character's an artificer, I'm sure they'd get along great.

You didn't mention what the thieves are up to. Is there something you have in mind, or is it inconsequential to the plot?

Actually, I do. The theives are working for a Thranish noble, a man the Elan has run into in the past, who is also responsible for her sister's death. This noble is in turn working, currently unawares, for a Lord of Dust. It's he that wants this artifact...which I still have no idea what it does, I just know it's only part of a greater whole. The campaign is going to center around piecing the artifact together and trying to keep it out of the hands of the factions that want it for themselves. The theives are mostly a one-shot deal. They were only recently hired, they're not on the guy's payroll or anything, and they know little of the underbelly of Sharn...which is why they don't know enough stay out of the way of the Boromar clan. As for the halflings, I'd thought of this plot before I got the Sharn book, and didn't know about the crime families, but now that I have it, I thought thowing them into the mix would make things interesting.

Rinna
BOK2
12-10-04, 06:04 PM Your plots and ideas sounds good to me, I agree with Gurv you should leave room to improvise just incase your players try something you did not expec.

Hope you post what happens durring your sessions and congratulations in advance on a great campaign :)
Rinna
12-16-04, 06:46 PM My first session went well. Yeah, me! You can read about it if you'd like on this thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=352491). Thanks for all your advice!

Rinna

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rinna 12-08-04, 04:03 PM	Anyone from my group - No reading this! Shoo! Ok, looks like I'm finally going to start DMing my Eberron campaign this Saturday and I'm really excited about it. I've actually got stuff! Amazing! Well, almost. What I have is a bit of story the PC's are supposed to get involved with, but I need a way for them all to get involved. I've got something for two of the three, but the last one is eluding me. The campaign is starting in Sharn, and the adventure will be about a theft of an item. An artifact, to be precise, from Xen'drik. This artifact is stolen out of a wealthy collector's home. As for the PC's, two of them will be coming into the city together. They've been picked up by an elderly farmer on his way to market and was kind enoug to give them both a ride. Neither of these characters will have any forms of ID, due to varying reasons, and I plan to give them a little trouble with this, but nothing major. Once in Sharn, the theives have concocted an elaborate plan, involving finding a patsy to lay blame to their crime. Enter the two PC's. They look a bit young and naive, and they have a letter sent to them about a promise of an intreguing job opportunity for them, at the location of the hiest. I'm hoping they'll take the bait, but I have a few other ways to get them involved as well, including an attempted kiddnapping of one of them (it won't go well for the kiddnappers). My problem is the third character. She's an Elan, a fairly recent Elan, and lives in Sharn where a group of Elan have an smalll investigative practice (to give them a legitamate business). I have stuff for her for later, but I'm having trouble bringing her into the party. After reading some of the posts on Elan in Eberron, I liked the idea that Elan have a bit of Quori in them, that perhaps the kalashtar have made these Elan to help them with the Dreaming Dark, using humans who developed psionic powers and wanted to help the kalashtar. So I thought I might have her have a dream, essentially from the Quori (using what little hold it has on her), telling her to be at a certain place at a certain time. That this was her destiny...or something. I realize this kind of thing sounds a bit like leading the player by the hand and my alternative was to perhaps do something where one of the Boromar clan comes and asks if they'd see about looking into this new group of theives who've come into the city, and into their territory (not necessarily saying he was from the Boromar clan, nor saying what this group actually does). This would hopefully lead her to the place of the robbery. A final alternative, was that they'd heard of a strange person coming into the city (one of the PC's is a fey creature from another world, a fey creature I've determined does not live in Eberron), and they want her to check it out. This would put her in contact with the other PCs. Anyway, I wanted some feedback as to whether any of these ideas sounded plausible. I wanted to make sure I had something for everyone to do to make sure everyone is including in the session. Any possitive criticism would be appreciated. Thanks. Rinna
Save-vs-DM 12-08-04, 04:17 PM	They all sound plausible to me. It sounds like you have things well in hand, really. One alternative thing might be to give one of those other two players some psionic item that they don't know is psionic, and sort of have the Elan home in on it. Cheers, SvD
Rinna 12-08-04, 11:39 PM	Thanks, I tend to second-guess myself and it's always good to have a second opinion. Rinna
LazarusX 12-09-04, 05:04 AM	I'd agree with SvD. You look to be competent and fair enough to use one of your solutions justly. Go with your gut.
Rinna 12-09-04, 10:55 AM	It's nice to know other people have faith in me. (lol) It makes me feel better. Wish me luck! Rinna
Kid SixXx 12-09-04, 11:16 AM	Must chime in with SvD. If you're a n00b DM, the plot surely doesn't show it, as that is as tight of a first narrative as I've ever seen. Hope the session is fun. We'll be expecting post-session notes!
Rinna 12-09-04, 11:31 AM	Of course! I'll take any opportunity to talk about gaming. Rinna
elfinn3 12-09-04, 11:53 AM	Whatever you decide on, do it with confidence. Know that you have made a good decision and stick to the spirit of it. As a player, the one thing that always makes me question a person's ability to DM a good adventure is if I pick up on some uncertainty in their mind about their decisions or story. All of your ideas sound good to me, so whatever you pick, do it all the way!!!
DolArrah 12-09-04, 09:05 PM	You were LEAD in the Ebberon Campain Log (very long) right? I think the DM was BOk something, right? So, now you are DMing. Good luck, although I am sure you will do well.
Gurv 12-09-04, 09:40 PM	It looks like you have things well in hand. Don't try to make things too airtight, or else you won't have any room to improvise when the players do something unexpected. And they will...oh yes, they will. You didn't mention what the thieves are up to. Is there something you have in mind, or is it inconsequential to the plot? If you haven't decided, another hook for the elan character would be to have it be a psionic item. Or something relating to the quori in some other way. Judging from your description of the Boromar clan, I'd guess you're using Sharn: CoT? Have you considered using the fact that House Deneith is a seething pit of Inspired corruption? Elan or kalashtar, any psionic characters in Sharn are going to have to be very, very careful not to run afoul of them.
THE_VESPER 12-09-04, 11:20 PM	There's a first time for everything, and being a new DM is definitely one of those roles that would fit you nicely.It's time for you to get your feet wet so to speak. And based from your storyline, I think you'll do a great job DMing (making a good story is sign of a truly good DM). I say, you go for what you think is right for your campaign, then you will have no problem having your players come back for more. :D You were LEAD in the Ebberon Campain Log (very long) right? I think the DM was BOk something, right? So, now you are DMing. Good luck, although I am sure you will do well. the_vesper says:"I play LEAD in BOK2's Ebberon Campaign." LEAD says:"Hey Rinna! Is there any possibility that you could include me in your campaign?" ;)
Rinna 12-10-04, 12:36 PM	the_vesper says:"I play LEAD in BOK2's Ebberon Campaign." What he said. LEAD says:"Hey Rinna! Is there any possibility that you could include me in your campaign?" ;) Who wouldn't want that cuddly metal man in their group? I'm sure I could find away. After all, my character's an artificer, I'm sure they'd get along great. You didn't mention what the thieves are up to. Is there something you have in mind, or is it inconsequential to the plot? Actually, I do. The theives are working for a Thranish noble, a man the Elan has run into in the past, who is also responsible for her sister's death. This noble is in turn working, currently unawares, for a Lord of Dust. It's he that wants this artifact...which I still have no idea what it does, I just know it's only part of a greater whole. The campaign is going to center around piecing the artifact together and trying to keep it out of the hands of the factions that want it for themselves. The theives are mostly a one-shot deal. They were only recently hired, they're not on the guy's payroll or anything, and they know little of the underbelly of Sharn...which is why they don't know enough stay out of the way of the Boromar clan. As for the halflings, I'd thought of this plot before I got the Sharn book, and didn't know about the crime families, but now that I have it, I thought thowing them into the mix would make things interesting. Rinna
BOK2 12-10-04, 06:04 PM	Your plots and ideas sounds good to me, I agree with Gurv you should leave room to improvise just incase your players try something you did not expec. Hope you post what happens durring your sessions and congratulations in advance on a great campaign :)
Rinna 12-16-04, 06:46 PM	My first session went well. Yeah, me! You can read about it if you'd like on this thread (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=352491). Thanks for all your advice! Rinna