Campaign Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Campaign Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
emereck
07-10-05, 10:52 PM Hi! I'm starting an FR campaign set in the Dales and I would like some advice...

*The overall plot of the campaign is that the House Jaelre drow of Cormanthor are about to unleash a massive spell on the Dalelands (from Mysth Drannor) and the PC's stumble upon it and must try to stop it.
*They might get some help from Elminster if he's not too busy.
*There would be some unrelated adventures thrown in such as the PC's undertaking some test at some Abbey (the Golden Sheaf .... or maybe the Sword)
*This campaign should take the PC's from level one to ten, and I want it to be fairly difiicult and have an epic feel.

*It would start out in Peldan's Helm. In the first adventure, at a tavern (called "The Man With Fire in His Hands") a man asks him to deliver an important message to Haresk Mallorn in Ashabenford. On the way there, they are ambushed by a drow raiding party who captures them and takes them prisoner into the forest.

I know that the drow are pretty powerful for 1st-level PCs but they won't kill them, only use them as sacrifices in the spell I mentioned above.

My question is, should I make the PCs escape by their own means, or get help from an outside source? And what drow tactics would drow use to take prisoners? If anyone has any ideas on how I should run this campaign, they would be greatly appreciated as I haven't worked out all the details.
Zevox
07-10-05, 11:09 PM Drow taking prisoners? Sneak attack them with hand-crossbows using darts containing a paralyzing poison, of course. That would be the most common tactic I could think of. Alternatively, a Cleric or Wizard may use sleep-inducing, paralyzing, or other such spells to knock them out (again, in a sneak attack - Drow love those).

Just as a personal opinion, I'd keep Elminster's involvement to a minimum (or nonexistant). At levels 1-10, they could easily end up using him as a crutch (first level adventurers meet 1,000+ year-old level 35 (CR 39) Archmage known for aiding adventurers and handing out magical paraphenilia just to spread magic around - yeah, not the best idea), plus any items he'd be likely to give would probably be a bit powerful for thier level.

Zevox
Berzerker_prime
07-11-05, 12:15 AM I'd agree to keeping the Elminster involvment to a minimum. He's such a giant in Realms lore and yes, he has his fingers in a whole lotta things. But that also means that he probably knows people who he knows for certain could get the job done. It's unlikely he would employ a group of relatively untested adventurers. Not only that, but as someone who does a whole lot more playing than she does GMing, I can tell you that having an NPC swoop in and save the day is kind of a drag. The idea is to make the PCs the stars of the show, not have them following around the big-shots.

Personally, I would look for another NPC for your PCs to recieve help from. Elminster has the potential to be so overpowering that your PCs could be left in the dust.

As for the Drow, I second everything Zevox said. I would only add the suggestion that they use some form of darkness and silence spells as well. Lots of fun to be had with those.

And for the issue of pitting the first level PCs against Drow, I'd say it's doable. But you should give some thought as to why the PCs are stumbling across them. Is this some peripheral part of the Drow plot that a group of inexperienced lackies have been entrusted with? Did someone make some massive mistake somewhere? Did events beyond anyone's control, weather perhaps, mess up their plans and allow the PCs to stumble across them? This might go a long way to defining what kind of characters your PCs' enemies are and might give them a clue how to fight them when the time comes.

Just some thoughts from a player's perspective.

Berz.
LichSathas
07-11-05, 12:48 PM 1st level PC's getting captured by a drow party is completely doable and I'd go as far as to say that even if all the drow themselves were still first level (unlikely) they would capture the pc's without too much trouble because of superior tactics and gear. Sleep poison on darts from hiding is of course the most likely tactic. I would save darkness in case the pc's get lucky on some rolls and the drow need to disorganize them. Or you use initially use darkness as the party travels together and the drow pick them off one by one as they stumble out of the darkness (almost a guaranteed surprised and flat flooted opportunity).

As for escaping you can prepare a few ways for it to happen. If the pc's were hard to take down for some reason or another then I would just let them try and do it themselves. Most likely though they'll be easy pickings for drow so have some low level drow be left to guard them while the higher level leaders go off to prepare whatever leaving the new guys to guard the PC's. It just so happens that the pc's bindings aren't as strong as first suspected and there you go. Just be sure to leave a way for the PC's to get loose and not be completely without any sort of escape and that in terms of numbers the pc's overwhelm the drow (remember the drow think they are bound pretty good why would they leave a whole force to guard a few bound up surface adventurer's). If you wanna make them sweat keep the higher level drow there and use a non-Elminster npc to help them but still make it a difficult fight, heck even so far as the npc dying or becoming wounded in the fight so the PC's see they can't really rely on a 'crutch NPC'. That also has the potential to create an npc that 'owes them one' if they save him in his own rescue attempt.

Just my thoughts.

Sathas
emereck
07-11-05, 10:09 PM *These drow should definitely be way too high level for the PCs to kill, but I wanted them to be obviously overpowered so that the escape is more exciting (and appreciated).
*I liked Sathas's idea about the escape.
*As to why these drow are attacking the PCs, it would just be the fact that they planned to ambush the next non-drow party coming up the Moonsea Ride.
*About Elminster, I'll probably make it as if he doesn't ofer them much help, but I wanted some wise, high-level NPC to give them some advice.

Thanks.
Tidrec
07-11-05, 10:21 PM I'd heed the warnings about getting Elminster involved. I made the mistake of getting Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun involved with my PCs in a Waterdeep campaign, strictly on an advisory level. But they CONSTANTLY went to him before making a move. It became intolerable in a hurry, so I had to have him take off to parts unknown for the remainder of the campaign (as I recall, the Phaerimm decided to go amok at that time).

The capture scenario has to be handled with a lot of sensitivity. Players tend to get a bit miffed when their characters are subjected to situations beyond their ability to control. Some may decide they'd rather fight to the death than allow themselves to be captured.

You mentioned that the PCs were to be used as sacrifices for the big spell. Is the spell going to be cast immediately, or are the drow hording sacrifices in preparation for the casting? Assuming the drow have been planning this for some time, it seems unlikely a group of novice adventurers would be able to thwart such a grand scheme.
emereck
07-12-05, 09:49 PM House Jaelre has been planning it for some time, but only the higher-level officials know all the details. Also, they are hoarding sacrifices. The idea in this campaign would be that the PCs cannot stop the drow at first, but after several smaller adventures and indirect confrontations with the drow, they will eventually have enough experience to take down this devious operation. Also, I'm trying to come up with a good villain and some interesting NPCs to get in the PCs way.

*Note: the drow party that captures the PCs will not give them a chance to fight ot the death they'll use superior tactics to take them out in a few rounds.
*Note: Okay, so I won't put Elminster into this one :D I'll save that for *much* later.
Gutcheck Hammerfall
07-13-05, 02:49 PM First, leave Elminster out of it. He has bigger fish to fry. If you really really thought you needed to bring a big NPC in, creat an NPC harper scout or if you must use someone famous, the Bard of Shadowdale herself. But I don't recommend this.

Furthermore, there are some storytelling intricacies to workout here. Why are the drow waiting in the forest at this time? Exactly when the PCs come. How long have they been there?

To solve this, I recommend having the man that told the PC's to deliver the message be working for the Drow. Have a captain of the drow, when speaking to the PCs say something like "Thankfully our pawn came through with his promise of four souls for sacrafice. Remind me to kill him mercifuly, somewhat at least..."

It can really get your players going.

This sounds doable, but you'll have to stay on the ball.
emereck
07-14-05, 11:19 PM So far, I have written the encounter at the Peldan's Helm tavern, an encounter table for Moonsea Ride, and have done some preliminary work on the drow ambush. I would like to keep the man who gives the PCs the message actually a good guy to set the current mood of Mistledale--I want the PCs to feel a sense of urgency in the Dales caused by the oncoming pressure of the Cormanthor drow. I've also decided to get rid of involvement with high level NPCs all together ("the PCs should be the stars"). If anyone has any descriptions, scenarios, or other stuff, if you post it, I could contribute some of your ideas into the campaign.
I'm also thinking of incorporating a side-quest in which the PCs must pass a test at the Abbey of the Golden Sheaf to earn some new item or acquire some extra skill-points, or something.
I'm also wondering how to resolve the matter of what the PCs do after they escape. They'll be lost in the woods at first, but once they figure out where they are, they'll have to choose where to go from there.
*When I've finisfed the first draft of the initial chapter of the campaign, I'll post it for your review.
dragonheart
07-15-05, 08:42 AM if you must use someone famous, the Bard of Shadowdale herself.
I was thinking of suggesting this myself but really all the arguments that apply to Elminster apply to her too. IF you want a recognizable NPC why not one of the knights of Myth Drannor? they are less than epic level and recognized as being busy so they won't be around all the time. They are also constantly in and out of Cormanthor and just the sort of folk that might stumble on the prisoners and aide them in getting free then go on their way.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
emereck 07-10-05, 10:52 PM	Hi! I'm starting an FR campaign set in the Dales and I would like some advice... The overall plot of the campaign is that the House Jaelre drow of Cormanthor are about to unleash a massive spell on the Dalelands (from Mysth Drannor) and the PC's stumble upon it and must try to stop it. They might get some help from Elminster if he's not too busy. There would be some unrelated adventures thrown in such as the PC's undertaking some test at some Abbey (the Golden Sheaf .... or maybe the Sword) This campaign should take the PC's from level one to ten, and I want it to be fairly difiicult and have an epic feel. *It would start out in Peldan's Helm. In the first adventure, at a tavern (called "The Man With Fire in His Hands") a man asks him to deliver an important message to Haresk Mallorn in Ashabenford. On the way there, they are ambushed by a drow raiding party who captures them and takes them prisoner into the forest. I know that the drow are pretty powerful for 1st-level PCs but they won't kill them, only use them as sacrifices in the spell I mentioned above. My question is, should I make the PCs escape by their own means, or get help from an outside source? And what drow tactics would drow use to take prisoners? If anyone has any ideas on how I should run this campaign, they would be greatly appreciated as I haven't worked out all the details.
Zevox 07-10-05, 11:09 PM	Drow taking prisoners? Sneak attack them with hand-crossbows using darts containing a paralyzing poison, of course. That would be the most common tactic I could think of. Alternatively, a Cleric or Wizard may use sleep-inducing, paralyzing, or other such spells to knock them out (again, in a sneak attack - Drow love those). Just as a personal opinion, I'd keep Elminster's involvement to a minimum (or nonexistant). At levels 1-10, they could easily end up using him as a crutch (first level adventurers meet 1,000+ year-old level 35 (CR 39) Archmage known for aiding adventurers and handing out magical paraphenilia just to spread magic around - yeah, not the best idea), plus any items he'd be likely to give would probably be a bit powerful for thier level. Zevox
Berzerker_prime 07-11-05, 12:15 AM	I'd agree to keeping the Elminster involvment to a minimum. He's such a giant in Realms lore and yes, he has his fingers in a whole lotta things. But that also means that he probably knows people who he knows for certain could get the job done. It's unlikely he would employ a group of relatively untested adventurers. Not only that, but as someone who does a whole lot more playing than she does GMing, I can tell you that having an NPC swoop in and save the day is kind of a drag. The idea is to make the PCs the stars of the show, not have them following around the big-shots. Personally, I would look for another NPC for your PCs to recieve help from. Elminster has the potential to be so overpowering that your PCs could be left in the dust. As for the Drow, I second everything Zevox said. I would only add the suggestion that they use some form of darkness and silence spells as well. Lots of fun to be had with those. And for the issue of pitting the first level PCs against Drow, I'd say it's doable. But you should give some thought as to why the PCs are stumbling across them. Is this some peripheral part of the Drow plot that a group of inexperienced lackies have been entrusted with? Did someone make some massive mistake somewhere? Did events beyond anyone's control, weather perhaps, mess up their plans and allow the PCs to stumble across them? This might go a long way to defining what kind of characters your PCs' enemies are and might give them a clue how to fight them when the time comes. Just some thoughts from a player's perspective. Berz.
LichSathas 07-11-05, 12:48 PM	1st level PC's getting captured by a drow party is completely doable and I'd go as far as to say that even if all the drow themselves were still first level (unlikely) they would capture the pc's without too much trouble because of superior tactics and gear. Sleep poison on darts from hiding is of course the most likely tactic. I would save darkness in case the pc's get lucky on some rolls and the drow need to disorganize them. Or you use initially use darkness as the party travels together and the drow pick them off one by one as they stumble out of the darkness (almost a guaranteed surprised and flat flooted opportunity). As for escaping you can prepare a few ways for it to happen. If the pc's were hard to take down for some reason or another then I would just let them try and do it themselves. Most likely though they'll be easy pickings for drow so have some low level drow be left to guard them while the higher level leaders go off to prepare whatever leaving the new guys to guard the PC's. It just so happens that the pc's bindings aren't as strong as first suspected and there you go. Just be sure to leave a way for the PC's to get loose and not be completely without any sort of escape and that in terms of numbers the pc's overwhelm the drow (remember the drow think they are bound pretty good why would they leave a whole force to guard a few bound up surface adventurer's). If you wanna make them sweat keep the higher level drow there and use a non-Elminster npc to help them but still make it a difficult fight, heck even so far as the npc dying or becoming wounded in the fight so the PC's see they can't really rely on a 'crutch NPC'. That also has the potential to create an npc that 'owes them one' if they save him in his own rescue attempt. Just my thoughts. Sathas
emereck 07-11-05, 10:09 PM	These drow should definitely be way too high level for the PCs to kill, but I wanted them to be obviously overpowered so that the escape is more exciting (and appreciated). I liked Sathas's idea about the escape. As to why these drow are attacking the PCs, it would just be the fact that they planned to ambush the next non-drow party coming up the Moonsea Ride. About Elminster, I'll probably make it as if he doesn't ofer them much help, but I wanted some wise, high-level NPC to give them some advice. Thanks.
Tidrec 07-11-05, 10:21 PM	I'd heed the warnings about getting Elminster involved. I made the mistake of getting Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun involved with my PCs in a Waterdeep campaign, strictly on an advisory level. But they CONSTANTLY went to him before making a move. It became intolerable in a hurry, so I had to have him take off to parts unknown for the remainder of the campaign (as I recall, the Phaerimm decided to go amok at that time). The capture scenario has to be handled with a lot of sensitivity. Players tend to get a bit miffed when their characters are subjected to situations beyond their ability to control. Some may decide they'd rather fight to the death than allow themselves to be captured. You mentioned that the PCs were to be used as sacrifices for the big spell. Is the spell going to be cast immediately, or are the drow hording sacrifices in preparation for the casting? Assuming the drow have been planning this for some time, it seems unlikely a group of novice adventurers would be able to thwart such a grand scheme.
emereck 07-12-05, 09:49 PM	House Jaelre has been planning it for some time, but only the higher-level officials know all the details. Also, they are hoarding sacrifices. The idea in this campaign would be that the PCs cannot stop the drow at first, but after several smaller adventures and indirect confrontations with the drow, they will eventually have enough experience to take down this devious operation. Also, I'm trying to come up with a good villain and some interesting NPCs to get in the PCs way. Note: the drow party that captures the PCs will not give them a chance to fight ot the death they'll use superior tactics to take them out in a few rounds. Note: Okay, so I won't put Elminster into this one :D I'll save that for much later.
Gutcheck Hammerfall 07-13-05, 02:49 PM	First, leave Elminster out of it. He has bigger fish to fry. If you really really thought you needed to bring a big NPC in, creat an NPC harper scout or if you must use someone famous, the Bard of Shadowdale herself. But I don't recommend this. Furthermore, there are some storytelling intricacies to workout here. Why are the drow waiting in the forest at this time? Exactly when the PCs come. How long have they been there? To solve this, I recommend having the man that told the PC's to deliver the message be working for the Drow. Have a captain of the drow, when speaking to the PCs say something like "Thankfully our pawn came through with his promise of four souls for sacrafice. Remind me to kill him mercifuly, somewhat at least..." It can really get your players going. This sounds doable, but you'll have to stay on the ball.
emereck 07-14-05, 11:19 PM	So far, I have written the encounter at the Peldan's Helm tavern, an encounter table for Moonsea Ride, and have done some preliminary work on the drow ambush. I would like to keep the man who gives the PCs the message actually a good guy to set the current mood of Mistledale--I want the PCs to feel a sense of urgency in the Dales caused by the oncoming pressure of the Cormanthor drow. I've also decided to get rid of involvement with high level NPCs all together ("the PCs should be the stars"). If anyone has any descriptions, scenarios, or other stuff, if you post it, I could contribute some of your ideas into the campaign. I'm also thinking of incorporating a side-quest in which the PCs must pass a test at the Abbey of the Golden Sheaf to earn some new item or acquire some extra skill-points, or something. I'm also wondering how to resolve the matter of what the PCs do after they escape. They'll be lost in the woods at first, but once they figure out where they are, they'll have to choose where to go from there. *When I've finisfed the first draft of the initial chapter of the campaign, I'll post it for your review.
dragonheart 07-15-05, 08:42 AM	if you must use someone famous, the Bard of Shadowdale herself. I was thinking of suggesting this myself but really all the arguments that apply to Elminster apply to her too. IF you want a recognizable NPC why not one of the knights of Myth Drannor? they are less than epic level and recognized as being busy so they won't be around all the time. They are also constantly in and out of Cormanthor and just the sort of folk that might stumble on the prisoners and aide them in getting free then go on their way.