Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kalithor 06-10-05, 07:27 PM	Alright, so I wanna use Heroes of Battle in my FR campaign. The chosen nations will be the Zhents and Cormyr (imagine that)... I'm starting my players off 4th level, but that's literally all the starting information I have yet. I have a lot of ideas for once the ball is rolling, but I'm hardpressed for a starting point. Here's what I'm working with so far. One character is going to be a LN-Hum-Psion (Telepath) who was wrongfully imprisoned by one of the haughty nobels of Immersea. Since he served his time, he has a grudge against Cormyr (leading him later to the Zhentarim Spy class), but at this point he could go either way. Another player wants to play a fighter/paladin (Torm), later using the Fist of Razial class (as applied to Torm). Now I want them to see the opening sequences of the war develop without gaining too many levels in the process. That way they can still get the experience of climbing the military ranks thru the campaign. I just can't think of a good way to build up to a war without it being so subtle that they get to 10th level before it all begins. Also, I'm hung up on the details of when the "war" would be Cormyr's problem, since there are lots of places serving as buffers between. Any thoughts on the Zhent army moving thru these territories? Like I said, I have ideas for the scenarios themselves, but I need some extra help pushing the ball down the hill. Thanks everybody.
BrianCritchley 06-10-05, 07:46 PM	well.. the zhents could manage to occupy the dales. then corymr would suddenly be caught inbetween the dales under zhent control and dark hold
Kalithor 06-10-05, 08:30 PM	One thing that I had thought would be neat would be to have the PCs at the Old Skull Inn and see an advance scouting unit to "telltale" a bigger force on the way. I also want to set it in late summer, with the Zhents picking off fur traders in an effort to raise prices or else freeze out the Cormyrians as winter sets in. Now, how do I get my typically knucleheaded PC's to convincingly enlist in such a war without it becoming the type of "you'll be killed anyway" sort of motivation? The other concern is one of my players is one of those overly logical types that limits everybody's creativity. If I were to do that, he would simply say, but Elminster would teleport back to the Dales and smoke um before it could turn to that. Thats one of the stickier details of the Realms. I want to start a war, but there are so many high powered NPCs policing the place, it just doesn't seem practical.
Mathas 06-10-05, 11:56 PM	Well even with high level NPC's patroling the lands, it is still possible to start a war. After all YOU are the DM and the book doesn't say that all those Powerful NPC's have to stay within there home regions. After all there are many things that could cause some of them to leave for a while. A couple of things to concider are a possible diplomatic mission for one of them, or even a covert incursion by apposing forces..after all..those Zhenty's have alies ya know. :D
SammasterT 06-11-05, 10:28 AM	The Zhentarim sponsored Tunlar, under the lead of Thaalimm Torchtower had a "war" with Cormyr around 1366 DR. Also, in my campaign Randal Morn of Daggerdale was ultiamtely killed by the Zhents, and this led to Cormyr rolling into the Dale and scrapping it out with the Zhents over control. While the other Dales resented Cormyr's apparent imperialism, Cormyr chided the Dales and said that if the Daels themselves had *ever* stood beside Daggerdale, or did anything other than sit back and mock the poor folk of Daggerdale, then Cormyr would not have to fight this war.