Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sir Elton 08-27-05, 09:39 PM	Hi. I'm going to post my Eberron T.V. type Campaign Series Bible here on the boards. I'm doing this because . . . les'se . . I'd like to. :) It will be cool. I'm working it up right now. But the campaign is about Eberron, so I'm going with a traveler -- exile type story. I think you'll like it. Although I cannot guarantee that everyone will like it. Some of you might not like it and state it here. Some of you will think it's super cool. :) Well anyway, my friend suggested doing a series after working my tail off doing a free fansub with a beautiful front, and having it rejected by Necromancer Games three times for all the editing I did with it. :( (I feel like buying Conan Properties International, LLC. :mad: ). The series I decided to do is a series of Eberron adventures done in the TV style and format. The series is about Eberron itself, so one or two of the PCs has to be from another world. Like Earth, Faerun, Krynn, or even Mars. So, without further Adieu, lets get started.
Sir Elton 08-27-05, 10:15 PM	EBERRON Formula: One, more, or all of the Player Characters is a dimensional exile (presumeably from Earth), and now he and his companions are trying to find a way to get home. Theme: The World of Eberron is a strange, mysterious, magnificient, wonderful place! Will Eberron cast a deadly spell on our heroes and they won't ever want to leave? Or will they go home? Genre: Pulp Fantasy Tone: Mixed (Action, Drama, Romance) A couple of folks (High School students?) from another world are transported to Eberron, most specifically -- Sharn, the City of Towers -- through a trick of magic. They find their new environment to be strange and particularly unsettling. They manuever through the world to look for a way of getting home. While wandering the world, they become embroiled in the Events of Khorvaire, meet new friends, and make some enemies. At the end of the Campaign, both Eberron and the PCs will never be the same.
Sir Elton 08-27-05, 10:47 PM	I know all of you have copies of Eberron and Monster Manual III. But the production design part allows me to designate a space where the PCs will be spending much of their time. A permanent set, much like the Magic Shop on Buffy or the Masaki house on Tenchi Muyo!; needs to be described. However, here is the bit of Art I plan on showing the players: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/eb_gallery/82096.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/eb_gallery/82143.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/roe_gallery/88203.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/roe_gallery/88215.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/sharn_gallery/84560.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/sharn_gallery/84563.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/sharn_gallery/84571.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/sharn_gallery/84570.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/sharn_gallery/84574.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/sharn_gallery/84585.jpg
Charles Phipps 08-28-05, 12:13 AM	I congradulate you Sir Eliot on a fine collection of images and an interesting campaign premise. It'll be interesting how all the various PCs react in the Narnia like environment to things. Are you going to handle this episodically with a season finale?
Sir Elton 08-28-05, 12:21 AM	I congradulate you Sir Eliot on a fine collection of images and an interesting campaign premise. It'll be interesting how all the various PCs react in the Narnia like environment to things. Are you going to handle this episodically with a season finale? Depends on the players *on* how it's actually handled. (Grammarians might cringe at that sentence). If Eberron casts it's deadly spell of Seduction or if the PCs fail in the goal for some other reason (using the Changegate to go back home?); then a spin off campaign series might be in order with a different focus: Idea, Character, or Event; but not Milieu. But yes, a Season Finale. I can produce an episode chart [same as an book outline], but it's all up in the air unless somebody actually plays through it. :) I'll post the Episode Chart later, with pre-gens to show what the outline looks like. And yes to the answer of the first part of your question. It's going to be handled Episodic. Although each Episode is like a chapter in a book. Meaning that all the episodes will be linked together. :D
Tek 08-28-05, 12:25 AM	Agreed with Charles. I wasen't exactly sure what you meant by 'TV' episodes, but now that I've read the basic premise, I must say the whole Narnia spin on things is definetly an intriguing campaign to persue. I know I've thought about it openly with my players, and we considered it as a cool idea, something to keep warm on the backburner. Good luck!
Sir Elton 08-28-05, 09:58 AM	This time, pictures from the Five Nations book. http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/5n_gallery/89984.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/5n_gallery/90024.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/5n_gallery/90014.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/5n_gallery/89992.jpg Permanent Sets At the start of the Campaign, the player characters are at an unassuming High School, like East High in Salt Lake City, or Park City High in Park City (both are in Utah). http://pchs.pcschools.us/images/pcsd05/pic3/IMG_0002.JPG http://www.parkcityinfo.com/images/t3_img_wildflowers.jpg When they get to Sharn, they have to crash somewhere. I was thinking of the Kalashtar Enclave, the Residence of a minor government official, somebody's Magic Shop, or a Wizard's residence. So much to decide. So little time. :D I've decided on the a residence of a minor Government Official. The Official has her own tower (she's a minor government official?). I don't have Sharn: City of Towers (but now that I have a new job, it's on the radar. Hopefully :) ) but I decided that the city council is called the Council of the Twelve: and it's made up of twelve councilors that discuss things. The official is named: Donia d'Cannith. She represents the House of Cannith in the Council of the Twelve (I realize that there is a core Eberron product that might contradict my campaign. I don't care, it's my campaign. :) ) Donia d'Cannith is a Courtier rather than an Aristocrat, to reflect her duties in the Council of the Twelve. I'll have more on her later. :) Donia's Tower is close to the tower of House Cannith. Close enough that she can see it outside her window. Her residence is a penthouse on top of the tower, and the PCs occupy smaller apartments below her. While donia has her own air yacht, the PCs have access to one as well. Donia's penthouse is opulent. It has small sculptures carved from teak, stained glass oval mirrors, a luxurious lion couch, and long tasseled curtains. The whole inside is colored creme white, except for color patterns here and there to break up the monotony. Her great room has tan carpets and a rug made of damask. Her bedroom is colored in blue, with blue carpets. Her bedsheets are blue. Her wardrobe usually has expensive (noble) outfits. She has a great many magical prosaic devices for being favored in House Cannith. These give her a lot of time. She also has a few servants on the payroll. :) The PC's Apartments Below Donia's penthouse are the PCs' Apartments. They are also furnished with good and beautiful things. These are up to the PCs to describe (they get to furnish their own apartments, nontheless.) The PCs spend much of their time in the level's great room. It's a nice room, with big windows all around it, so that the light of the Sun may stream in and brighten the place. Here is where the inhabitants of the tower stay and socialize. There is even a few restuarants in the tower for the inhabitants to enjoy.
Sir Elton 08-28-05, 10:13 PM	Creating Characters The PCs may create D20 Modern characters if they want to be from Earth. :) Such d20 Modern characters may have at least 2 levels to reflect being in High School. The PCs may create characters based on stereotypes: the Jock, the Problem Child, the Princess, the Sultry, etc. While adventuring in Eberron, I will use a rule called Replacement Levels. This means that while learning a D&D class, the Player Characters can replace their d20 modern base class level abilities with a D&D class ability. Skills from the modern world aren't replaced, as well as any talents or feats from a particular Modern Class, but it reflects how they are adapting to their new environment. :) Next: 4 sample Pre-Gens and the Episode Chart. :king:
Sir Elton 08-28-05, 10:20 PM	Agreed with Charles. I wasen't exactly sure what you meant by 'TV' episodes, but now that I've read the basic premise, I must say the whole Narnia spin on things is definetly an intriguing campaign to persue. I know I've thought about it openly with my players, and we considered it as a cool idea, something to keep warm on the backburner. Good luck! Ah, thanks. Just remember that not only Narnia, but James Clavel's Shogun follows this exact same structure. :D
Sir Elton 08-30-05, 11:17 AM	There are a total of 4 PCs that are pre-generated to show how the Campaign functions. They are Jason, Diana, Edmund, and Coach Conrad. Jason male human teenager smart hero 2 Jason is a well adjusted student at Park City High School. He is only sixteen years old, but he still has a boyish, naive way about him. He is also one of the popular kids and everyone likes him. Jason is on the swim team, and he enjoys it a lot. In fact, his family owns their own indoor swimming pool so Jason goes swimming there and practices his laps. In fact, he is favored for the Olympic Tryouts for the 2008 Games. He is also very smart, and is taking classes in Calculus this year. He's mastered trignometry, geometry, and algebra. He's not a moron, but he isn't all that geeky either. In fact, the most geeky thing he does in his off time is play Dungeons and Dragons. Interestingly enough, his favorite campaign world is Eberron. He is the Dungeon Master, and he recently ran a campaign based on the Olympics. Everyone of his players enjoyed the campaign very much. Multi-class Options: When getting to Eberron, Jason would be like a child in Hershey's Chocolate Plant in Hershey, Pennsylvania. His high intelligence (18) will net him being a Wizard or a Psion. Jason does not have any engineering talents and will mostly suck at being an Artificer. Diana Female human teenager Charismatic Hero 2 Diana is a snob. Because she is born into a prominent business family, she thinks she is better than everyone else. Her clique of friends are also snobs and exclusive. When they get together, it's like a Valley School Girl clique. Everyone talks fast and talks critically of others; especially people who look or act creepy. Despite her snobbery, Diana is gorgeous. Either her attitude towards others is fairly hidden well, or her natural beauty exeeds her inner beauty. Or maybe she is changing and is beginning to mature a little. Whatever the cause, Diana has a crush on Jason -- Jason's body, that is. She often wonders what it will be like to hold and touch his strong, firm, supple, beautiful body. Yep, Diana can sit there and gaze at Jason's body when Jason is in his uniform ("speedos") all day. Multi-Class Options: When in Eberron, Diana would probably have a natural proclivity to either become a Paladin of Love (Freedom) or a Courtier. She might also become a sorcerer or a bard. Edmund Smart Hero 1/Dedicated Hero 1 Edmund is one of Jason's players. He is also sixteen and in Jason's class. Edmund is a little unsure of himself and is a magnet for bullies. Edmund is a true Geek, he likes computers and likes to tinker with machines and build things. He is also astigmatic and has to wear glasses. Edmund is skinnier than Jason and he typically dresses differently. He is also clever and has a hidden confidence and thirst for knowledge. Edmund is highly creative and Artistically inclined. He is also studying Calculus, but is a little more advanced; he's going to college to study his Calculus (Analytical). Still, he is an emotional teenager and enjoys playing anything when he can. Edmund and Jason are best friends, and they watch out for each other. Multi-class options: Because of his strong intuitive talents with Machines, Coach Conrad male human adult Strong Hero 2/Dedicated Hero 3/Martial Artist 1 Coach Conrad is a waste of life. He's an alcholic and a smoker. He goes to work unshaven and uncombed and in smelly gym clothes because he has inward pain. He acts this way because the love of his life was killed in an Automobile Accident and he blames himself for it. He is also virginal; he tries to control his powerful sex drive by drowning it in alcohol (he's one of those people who, after he's been with someone, has an uncontrollable sex drive afterwords). Coach Conrad is very highly sexed, and highly repressed. Thus, he's depressed. The role of Coach Conrad in respect to the other three characters is that of the Guardian. Coach Conrad is their teacher, and thus when he goes to Eberron with them, he sees it as his duty to teach his students. Multi-Class options: Coach Conrad is in his late thirties. His patterns are set due to his belief that he can't learn new things. So he'd probably advance as a dedicated hero and monk without replacing his levels. NPCS There are some important PCs in the Campaign. Donia d’Cannith [Female human Courtier 5 (see Rokugan). ] Donia is a member of the Council of the Twelve, the city council that advises the Lord Mayor of Sharn. She takes her duties seriously. In fact, she has too. She has an unruly, selfish teenaged sister who won’t accept responsibility and wants to make her adolescence unending. Donia is, in fact, preparing to be married. She is engaged to be married to a charismatic man named Galen. She’s doing it because it’s all arranged by her family within House Cannith. Galen seems to be loving, and seems to cherish her, and often speaks of the marriage. Donia doesn’t seem to return his affections; but she does seem to value his opinion and advice. When the PCs showed up, however, Donia felt that something unusual might happen and immediately started to associate with them. Galen [Tsucora Quori Spirit/10th level Inspired Psion (Telepath) vessel] Gelan is readying to be married to Donia, his intended. He’s doing it all on pretense because he is a Riedran spy. Worse than that, he’s an Inspired Highlord; a former leader among the Reidran Inspired who still commands respect among them. He appears to be perfectly human; he maintains this disguise by mass hypnotizing everyone. Galen’s true motives are to sit on the City Council as a part of the city government of Sharn. Thus, he can pave the way to turn Sharn inside out and prepare for future order and domination by himself. Galen really wants to turn Sharn into his private little kingdom; but he currently spies for Reidra and the leaders of his home nation. He’s actually disenfranchised from his position because his personal ambitions endangered the goals of all Inspired (his particular Quori spirit has become drunk with personal power). Alyssa d’Phiarlan [Female Khorvairian elf wizard 5/Artificer 2] Alyssa is disappointed that every one of her childhood friends are getting married except her. She receives a communiqué about one of her friends getting married, and she fumes. This is simply because she thinks everyone is getting a piece of the beefcake and she thinks she deserves a piece. Alyssa is a talented Artificer and a Wizard. She is currently working on magical inventions that do strange and prosaic things. She was a lecturer on the History of Magic at Morgrave University; but she was kicked. Her current emotional state has resulted in some interesting magical inventions that always seem to blow up when somebody tries to examine them (she’s unconsciously binding fire elementals to many of her works). She once invented a miniature fire elemental oven (similar to a microwave oven) and that blew up in the face of one of Sharn’s aristocracy. That aristocrat also blew up and told Alyssa that she’d better study on how to bind water elementals to things. Alyssa was hurt, so she yelled at him. However, despite these set backs, she works in the private sector and semi-private being contracted by House Cannith, who buys little of the patents for her inventions. She also carries a lesser Mark of Shadow on her back. One of her vices is a Swedish Massage, which she tries to get every other afternoon. When Allyssa meets the PCs and Coach Conrad introduces himself, she will become ecstatic that he is a government employee and has a stable career as a teacher and molder of young minds. She will also become undeniably infatuated with him and immediately attach herself to the party as she will try to make Conrad into her husband (She is very insecure about keeping a piece of the Beefcake). She might share the role of Guardian with him, and teach Jason wizardry and Edmund artifice. Sir Predain the Pure [male dreamsight shifter paladin of the Silver Flame 3] Predain is a paladin, but he is a Romantic Knight, not a Chivalrous one. Predain the “pure” is only called that because he seems pure. He keeps up the Pure part because of false pretenses. He actually goes around trying to woo the ladies of the Aristocracy of Sharn; just like a knight out of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. In fact, among the ladies of the Aristocracy of Sharn, he has a reputation as a great lover. Some ladies are taken with the dreamsight Don Juan. Some throw their roses and handkerchiefs to him; and he catches them. Others try to get themselves in distress so that the handsome knight will come to rescue them. And still others actually get to kiss him. Sir Predain does this because his one true love, the Lady Elaine, committed suicide because of rumors of infidelity. This is untrue, Sir Predain was faithful to his Love as any man could be. It’s just that his enemies learned of his shifter nature and used it against him by setting him up with a harlot from the Redfire district. Despite the infidelity against his dead wife now, Sir Predain does not consummate any relationship with any of his paramours. He is too reminded of his dead wife. The reputation spreads because of jealous husbands often try to duel him; often with intricate rapier swordplay. Often, Sir Predain wins the duel and is about to run his opponent through when the wife pleads mercy; Predain often grants it. Predain is often admired by many. Including shifters. He is also unusual since he belongs to the Church of the Silver Flame, a church notorious for witch hunting lycanthropes. The Church in Sharn doesn’t seem to care; they seem to encourage his flamboyant nature. He still is a paladin despite his Romantic entanglements, and will still receive spells. I'll post the Episode Outline when I get back.
Sir Elton 08-30-05, 09:23 PM	EBERRON Episode Outline It is time for the Eberron Episode Outline. First Night: The Night of Transport Pilot: The PCs are transported to Eberron, or more specifically the City of Towers, by walking through some ruins found in the Basement of Park City High School. The PCs meet Donia and her Fiance, Galen. Second Night: Stuck in Eberron Ensemble: Faced with the prospect of staying in Eberron, Donia suggests that the Exiles (the PCs) go to Aundaire. She also suggests that they meet Allyssa, an elven Wizard. Allyssa is getting more and more disappointed in not being able to bag a husband, so when she meets Coach Conrad, she thinks she has it made and embraces him. Third Night: The Kalashtar Enclave Focus: PC #1 (Jason): The Exiles go to the Kalashtar Enclave, and Jason is attracted to a particular young kalashtar woman because he can hear her singing (her song has the same type of melodies as that of the Invid Flower of Life song from Robotech). Fourth Night: The Pure and Shifting Knight Focus: PC #2 (Diana): Diana encounters Predain the Pure, after he jumps from the Balcony of a lady friend. He thanks Diana for rescuing him and throws her a rose. Fifth Night: On the Way to Aundaire Continuity: The Exiles board Allyssa's flying yacht (with a bound fire elemental!) and they go to Aundaire. Allyssa is having them meet the Twelve. The Twelve thinks their story is preposterious: although they do note that the Exiles are wearing strange clothes. Sixth Night: The Girl of the Kalashtar Focus: PC #1 (Jason): The Exiles return to Sharn, trying to figure out a plan of what to do next. Allyssa mentions something about the great druid in the Eldeen Marches. Jason slips away back to the Kalashtar Enclave, hoping to meet Karanashtai once again, just to hear her singing. Seventh Night: A Time of Trouble Ensemble: Galen fears the Exiles. They might get in the way of his plans. So he found the perfect tool: an abused teenager signs a pact with the Demons of Shavarath in order to gain the power of Sorcery. Galen then hypnotically suggests that the teen go after the Exiles to test her new power. Eighth Night: A New Student Focus: PC #3 (Edmund): Edmund is accepted into Morgrave University, basically on the premise that they are shocked that the Exile has such a strong talent for making machines -- and he isn't of House Cannith. Edmund starts his training as an Artificer at the University, and has an edge over the other students because he can already understand Analytical Calculus. Ninth Night: The Eldeen Marches Ensemble, sans Edmund: While Edmund is studying in Morgrave University, the Exiles make a flight to the Eldeen Marches to speak to the Gatekeepers about the Change Gate. Galen goes into his headquarters and plans his next move. Finding that the Exiles may destabilize his plans, he sends an Inspired Assassin after them. Tenth Night: Conrad's Quest Focus: PC #4 (Coach Conrad): Allyssa was captured by the Assassin, after Diana had wounded her with an arrow. Coach Conrad decides that this is something he must do, rescue the fawning Allyssa; after much prodding from Jason and Diana. Eleventh Night: A Knightly Reunion Focus: PC #2 (Diana): Diana is separated from the other Exiles and encounters five awful abberations in the Eldeen Marches known as Gibberlings. Sir Predain the Pure just happens to show up and trounce the foes. Twenty-Fifth Night: The Inspired Attacks Continuity: The Exiles have reached the Change Gate, and joined by Edmund, they also face an Inspired Psychic Warrior. Galen sent this Psychic Warrior to destroy the Exiles. The Psychic Warrior kills many of their guards, and then faces Jason, who manifests a mindblade. Meanwhile, a Dark Druid causes many eruptions of lava from Khyber around the Change Gate. Twenty-Sixth Night: The Battle for the Change Gate Series Finale: The Inspired Psychic Warrior and Jason the Soulknife gets into a battle of swordplay, among many rivers of lava. The others watch as the two vault over the lava flows. Edmund repairs his Warforged companion, While Coach Conrad is wailing on the Dark Druid using his Martial Arts. Sir Predain and Diana go in to support the Coach. Finally, the battle among the lava flow has come to a head. Jason gains the high ground, and while the Inspired vaults up to attack him, Jason severs his legs with his mindblade and the Inspired falls into the river of lava and his body catches on fire. Meanwhile, Coach Conrad defeats the Dark Druid, who falls into the lava and explodes. As they all turn, they watch in horror as a giant wave of lava surges over the Change Gate, burying it in granitic lava, never to be seen again.
Charles Phipps 08-30-05, 09:58 PM	I salute a well crafted campaign. I especially like the Romantic Knight Shifter and I honestly may actually use said character in my own games if you don't mind. The Quori ambassador gone mad with power is an equally interesting concept as well as the Elven woman who remains an imature high schooler. Weirdly, I'm reminded of Lubeck from Masters of the Universe when I read your campaign. I like the bittersweet ending to the story though. Much like Samurai Jack, there might be another gateway out there...somewhere. It's also possible they may find out who placed those runes in their world to begin with.
Sir Elton 08-30-05, 11:59 PM	Charles, I haven't posted the first adventure yet, nor it's outline. :w00t: And I still have to finish the other nights. :) But thanks. I'm thinking of setting up an alternative pilot as well.
Charles Phipps 08-31-05, 12:15 AM	Well the huge Episode Guide Outline sort of says everything doesn't it?
Sir Elton 08-31-05, 12:18 AM	Yes. :) And no. But you've presented some interesting ideas for a spin-off. :D
6FootGnome 08-31-05, 02:09 PM	Looks good, just make sure you don't railroad your pcs. If the coach is a pc, why does he have more levels? Isn't that a little unfair?
Sir Elton 08-31-05, 02:21 PM	Looks good, just make sure you don't railroad your pcs. I don't think I'll be railroading my players for anything. The outline and adventure outlines are there to get my ideas down. There are certain things about T.V. you can't replicate in a game. In a T.V. type campaign, the players control the pacing and their characters. If the coach is a pc, why does he have more levels? Isn't that a little unfair? Do you think starting out someone who has years of experience along the road of life as a first level PC a little unfair? ;) Of course it's unfair, but he's in his late thirties relative to the rest. That, at least, grants him the right to start out at 5th level in relation to everyone else. Don't you think?