Help with my faerun campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help with my faerun campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SteveMcgovern
10-16-03, 07:30 PM I'm running a campaign in FR but i have to admit i don't exactly know what i'm doing. I've made up a large campaign arc but am absolutely sure it doesn't completely match up with the FR continuity. The arc is, in short, about Shar kidnapping Mystra with the help of Mask and the gods factioning off to join sides in the war. The players are working for a member of Khelben "Blackstaffs" harper faction(i don't remember the name offhand) but they don't know it yet. They are gathering the peices of an artifact called the crown of Mystra, which they don't know they're doing yet either, to help stave off the total loss of the weave to Shar. The shades have joined the church of Shar and have begun an invasion starting with a great wurm Shadow dragon (with a few surprises) attacking the Simbul. Eventually I want Elminster to go insane but be the last hope for FR and clean up a few of the gods (can you say Cyric vs. Bane to the Death). Velsharoon has joined Shar as she has been promised the portfiolio of magic when Mystra is destroyed. I figure this way i can work in a large scale invasion and keep the year of wild magic thing. The campaign i have worked out for next year involves Sammasters ascent to godhood.
Kuje31
10-16-03, 07:39 PM Not sure what else to add, seems as if you have a great plot line there........
SteveMcgovern
10-16-03, 07:43 PM the plot isn't what i was really worried about i just wanted to know how far off from the regular continuity i am and what else might be wrong (relationships between the gods and whatnot) I already know i screwed up when i sent the characters to Luskan before reading the second edition supplement i found for it. At least two of them should have been attacked on sight and the rest would have been seen as spys.
Kuje31
10-16-03, 07:49 PM Originally posted by SteveMcgovern
the plot isn't what i was really worried about i just wanted to know how far off from the regular continuity i am and what else might be wrong (relationships between the gods and whatnot) I already know i screwed up when i sent the characters to Luskan before reading the second edition supplement i found for it. At least two of them should have been attacked on sight and the rest would have been seen as spys.

Bah, if the "official" material conflicts with your info, then ignore the official material. I do all the time, my FR is not WOTC's FR, it's mine. As it says in the front of the FRCS, make the world your own, which is why Rule 0 exists also. (Even though I argue all the time on these boards from a Canon and Official standpoint. But my FR is no where near the same as WOTC's and even TSR's when TSR was printing material).

If you have a plausable reason why some thing like this is happening or why Luskan allowed to characters in then go with it and to me it looks as if you do have reasons why every thing is happening.

I see no holes in your campaign arc, since again every thing seems plausable and doesn't shatter my suspension of belief.
SteveMcgovern
10-16-03, 07:55 PM thanks:D
SteveMcgovern
10-23-03, 02:27 PM Instead of starting a new thread for this I could also use some help with another problem i'm having. In my campaign i plan on having a godswar brewing. They have already begun factioning off with Shar, Mask, Talona and Velsharoon(complicated) on one side and Selune, Mystra(but she is missing), Savras, and Azuth on the other. Gods like Shaundukal are easy to faction off to Selunes side and such but does anyone have any ideas on the other gods. I believe Bane would side with Shar as he has had alluiances with Mask before but would like anyones input on the entire thing.
Adrian Moonbow
10-24-03, 01:54 AM I believe most of the good gods would want to reinstate Mystra. ("What?! Can none of my priests cast any magic? What is Mystra up to now?")

I would be fun to see what Kelemvor would do in this situation (him being somewhat attached to Mystra...)

Good luck on letting your campaign survive, though.:angel:
Lashan
10-24-03, 06:08 AM Forget about the regular continuity! It's all about your game anyways. Make it the way you want. As soon as you start to detail something that isn't in an "official" book, you have become "non-official" anyways. Just have fun.
Lord_Anthrax
10-24-03, 10:58 AM Here's an interesting thought: what if Bane decided to help the good gods? I know, I know, Bane is a pompous egomaniacal bastitch..but he's not a complete idiot. He has had many, many experiences over the millennia with followers of Mystra, and knows just how potent they are. Plus, if Cyric decides to help Shar and co. then that just adds all the more incentive. Perhaps he pretends support at first, then betrays them and orders the Church of Bane/Zhentarim into action WITH the Moonstars and Harpers, not against them! Just imagine the look on Fzoul's face when Bane tells him what to do.

And if Bane can use this opportunity to knock Cyric down a few pegs, all the better.
Rick Day
10-24-03, 11:00 AM bane woulod probably stay out till the end and then try and grab as much as he could from weakend powers. he is opportunistic that way, and has a history of it.
Teluvor
10-24-03, 11:18 AM Originally posted by Rick Day
bane woulod probably stay out till the end and then try and grab as much as he could from weakend powers. he is opportunistic that way, and has a history of it.

Knowing Bane as a true opportunist, he'd probably do both: join with the good powers, then run off with as much as he can carry... :devil:
Lord_Anthrax
10-24-03, 01:11 PM Well, of course. This is Bane we're talking about. If he sees an opportunity to snatch back the rest of his power from Cyric, or any other little goodies from the deities, he'll take it.

I've always seen Bane as being like a comic-book supervillain. Given to grandiose schemes and posturing, nurses insane grudges against others, etc. etc. etc.
SteveMcgovern
10-24-03, 05:26 PM I've already planned for cyric to stay somewhat neutral in the war as neither side would take him(Mask isn't too happy with him, and the other side well.....) but i do intend to have plenty of confrontations such as Bane trying to get revenge on Cyric and lets just say not all the gods will survive the war.
Israfel666
10-26-03, 02:16 PM I think that it is not necessary for each and every god to pick a side. I was going to point out Cyric (who in his arrogance and distrust would not ally with other gods unless he badly needs it), but you already did that.
Here are a few more gods I can think of:

Talos - stay neutral and blow on the flame, if possible aiding the losing side in order to make the conflict last as long as possible. Godswar=destruction=happy Talos

Tempus - see above

Jergal - do you think it would be cool if Kelemvor, in love with Mystra, joined her cause, but his predecessor and "assistant" Jergal choosed the other faction? I think so.

Elemental gods - neutral as always

Oghma and Gond - side with Selune, they deeply hate Shar for their portfolio of secrets which conflicts with their creativity.

Helm - he's a protector and a guardian, he can't let the unjust kidnapping of Mystra go unpunished.
SteveMcgovern
10-26-03, 02:24 PM Thanks for all the help!

I was also trying to figure out how to create a grat devastation in the realms. I don't want another simple chaos like the time of troubles with wild magic running rampant and such but this is inevitable with mystra's disapearence. I want the shades to become a powerful force in later campaigns but also want there to be other major changes. I'm thinking about the ascencion of another god of magic, and a few others but can't decide what else to do to shake the campaign. Elminster will be driven mad and several other powerful figures will fall. Any ideas?
Israfel666
10-26-03, 03:04 PM Originally posted by SteveMcgovern
I was also trying to figure out how to create a grat devastation in the realms. I don't want another simple chaos like the time of troubles with wild magic running rampant and such but this is inevitable with mystra's disapearence.

If Shar took over Mystra's control of the Weave, there is no reason why magic should go wild.
Other paths to great destruction might be:
- some mess with the elemental planes, causing with regularity whirlwinds, earthquakes, inondations, and forest fires (each for 3 months/year... kind of like a warped idea of "seasons")
- big folk getting roused off? Hey, maybe that's good: what if giants and titans divided into two factions, each following one of the gods' factions, and started a racial war? I figure a giant-sized battle could do much havoc.

I want the shades to become a powerful force in later campaigns but also want there to be other major changes. I'm thinking about the ascencion of another god of magic, and a few others but can't decide what else to do to shake the campaign. Elminster will be driven mad and several other powerful figures will fall. Any ideas?

Major changes? Here's a few things I'd personally like:
- Take away the goody-goody Lords of Waterdeep. If they were all replaced by dopplegangers, the largest cities in the Realms could become a rather interesting place.
- Did you play Baldur's Gate II? The rise of a heir of Bhaal could have an important role, especially if it poses some contradictions, e.g. a good creature inheriting the portfolio of murder.
- It's past time the peace of Lantan ends and the island is taken over by a fundamentalist faction that organized a mechanical army to take over Faerun and replace magic with technology. Now that Shar has become the goddess of magic and therefore magic=evil, good people might become much more interested in what Gond has to offer.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SteveMcgovern 10-16-03, 07:30 PM	I'm running a campaign in FR but i have to admit i don't exactly know what i'm doing. I've made up a large campaign arc but am absolutely sure it doesn't completely match up with the FR continuity. The arc is, in short, about Shar kidnapping Mystra with the help of Mask and the gods factioning off to join sides in the war. The players are working for a member of Khelben "Blackstaffs" harper faction(i don't remember the name offhand) but they don't know it yet. They are gathering the peices of an artifact called the crown of Mystra, which they don't know they're doing yet either, to help stave off the total loss of the weave to Shar. The shades have joined the church of Shar and have begun an invasion starting with a great wurm Shadow dragon (with a few surprises) attacking the Simbul. Eventually I want Elminster to go insane but be the last hope for FR and clean up a few of the gods (can you say Cyric vs. Bane to the Death). Velsharoon has joined Shar as she has been promised the portfiolio of magic when Mystra is destroyed. I figure this way i can work in a large scale invasion and keep the year of wild magic thing. The campaign i have worked out for next year involves Sammasters ascent to godhood.
Kuje31 10-16-03, 07:39 PM	Not sure what else to add, seems as if you have a great plot line there........
SteveMcgovern 10-16-03, 07:43 PM	the plot isn't what i was really worried about i just wanted to know how far off from the regular continuity i am and what else might be wrong (relationships between the gods and whatnot) I already know i screwed up when i sent the characters to Luskan before reading the second edition supplement i found for it. At least two of them should have been attacked on sight and the rest would have been seen as spys.
Kuje31 10-16-03, 07:49 PM	Originally posted by SteveMcgovern the plot isn't what i was really worried about i just wanted to know how far off from the regular continuity i am and what else might be wrong (relationships between the gods and whatnot) I already know i screwed up when i sent the characters to Luskan before reading the second edition supplement i found for it. At least two of them should have been attacked on sight and the rest would have been seen as spys. Bah, if the "official" material conflicts with your info, then ignore the official material. I do all the time, my FR is not WOTC's FR, it's mine. As it says in the front of the FRCS, make the world your own, which is why Rule 0 exists also. (Even though I argue all the time on these boards from a Canon and Official standpoint. But my FR is no where near the same as WOTC's and even TSR's when TSR was printing material). If you have a plausable reason why some thing like this is happening or why Luskan allowed to characters in then go with it and to me it looks as if you do have reasons why every thing is happening. I see no holes in your campaign arc, since again every thing seems plausable and doesn't shatter my suspension of belief.
SteveMcgovern 10-16-03, 07:55 PM	thanks:D
SteveMcgovern 10-23-03, 02:27 PM	Instead of starting a new thread for this I could also use some help with another problem i'm having. In my campaign i plan on having a godswar brewing. They have already begun factioning off with Shar, Mask, Talona and Velsharoon(complicated) on one side and Selune, Mystra(but she is missing), Savras, and Azuth on the other. Gods like Shaundukal are easy to faction off to Selunes side and such but does anyone have any ideas on the other gods. I believe Bane would side with Shar as he has had alluiances with Mask before but would like anyones input on the entire thing.
Adrian Moonbow 10-24-03, 01:54 AM	I believe most of the good gods would want to reinstate Mystra. ("What?! Can none of my priests cast any magic? What is Mystra up to now?") I would be fun to see what Kelemvor would do in this situation (him being somewhat attached to Mystra...) Good luck on letting your campaign survive, though.:angel:
Lashan 10-24-03, 06:08 AM	Forget about the regular continuity! It's all about your game anyways. Make it the way you want. As soon as you start to detail something that isn't in an "official" book, you have become "non-official" anyways. Just have fun.
Lord_Anthrax 10-24-03, 10:58 AM	Here's an interesting thought: what if Bane decided to help the good gods? I know, I know, Bane is a pompous egomaniacal bastitch..but he's not a complete idiot. He has had many, many experiences over the millennia with followers of Mystra, and knows just how potent they are. Plus, if Cyric decides to help Shar and co. then that just adds all the more incentive. Perhaps he pretends support at first, then betrays them and orders the Church of Bane/Zhentarim into action WITH the Moonstars and Harpers, not against them! Just imagine the look on Fzoul's face when Bane tells him what to do. And if Bane can use this opportunity to knock Cyric down a few pegs, all the better.
Rick Day 10-24-03, 11:00 AM	bane woulod probably stay out till the end and then try and grab as much as he could from weakend powers. he is opportunistic that way, and has a history of it.
Teluvor 10-24-03, 11:18 AM	Originally posted by Rick Day bane woulod probably stay out till the end and then try and grab as much as he could from weakend powers. he is opportunistic that way, and has a history of it. Knowing Bane as a true opportunist, he'd probably do both: join with the good powers, then run off with as much as he can carry... :devil:
Lord_Anthrax 10-24-03, 01:11 PM	Well, of course. This is Bane we're talking about. If he sees an opportunity to snatch back the rest of his power from Cyric, or any other little goodies from the deities, he'll take it. I've always seen Bane as being like a comic-book supervillain. Given to grandiose schemes and posturing, nurses insane grudges against others, etc. etc. etc.
SteveMcgovern 10-24-03, 05:26 PM	I've already planned for cyric to stay somewhat neutral in the war as neither side would take him(Mask isn't too happy with him, and the other side well.....) but i do intend to have plenty of confrontations such as Bane trying to get revenge on Cyric and lets just say not all the gods will survive the war.
Israfel666 10-26-03, 02:16 PM	I think that it is not necessary for each and every god to pick a side. I was going to point out Cyric (who in his arrogance and distrust would not ally with other gods unless he badly needs it), but you already did that. Here are a few more gods I can think of: Talos - stay neutral and blow on the flame, if possible aiding the losing side in order to make the conflict last as long as possible. Godswar=destruction=happy Talos Tempus - see above Jergal - do you think it would be cool if Kelemvor, in love with Mystra, joined her cause, but his predecessor and "assistant" Jergal choosed the other faction? I think so. Elemental gods - neutral as always Oghma and Gond - side with Selune, they deeply hate Shar for their portfolio of secrets which conflicts with their creativity. Helm - he's a protector and a guardian, he can't let the unjust kidnapping of Mystra go unpunished.
SteveMcgovern 10-26-03, 02:24 PM	Thanks for all the help! I was also trying to figure out how to create a grat devastation in the realms. I don't want another simple chaos like the time of troubles with wild magic running rampant and such but this is inevitable with mystra's disapearence. I want the shades to become a powerful force in later campaigns but also want there to be other major changes. I'm thinking about the ascencion of another god of magic, and a few others but can't decide what else to do to shake the campaign. Elminster will be driven mad and several other powerful figures will fall. Any ideas?
Israfel666 10-26-03, 03:04 PM	Originally posted by SteveMcgovern I was also trying to figure out how to create a grat devastation in the realms. I don't want another simple chaos like the time of troubles with wild magic running rampant and such but this is inevitable with mystra's disapearence. If Shar took over Mystra's control of the Weave, there is no reason why magic should go wild. Other paths to great destruction might be: - some mess with the elemental planes, causing with regularity whirlwinds, earthquakes, inondations, and forest fires (each for 3 months/year... kind of like a warped idea of "seasons") - big folk getting roused off? Hey, maybe that's good: what if giants and titans divided into two factions, each following one of the gods' factions, and started a racial war? I figure a giant-sized battle could do much havoc. I want the shades to become a powerful force in later campaigns but also want there to be other major changes. I'm thinking about the ascencion of another god of magic, and a few others but can't decide what else to do to shake the campaign. Elminster will be driven mad and several other powerful figures will fall. Any ideas? Major changes? Here's a few things I'd personally like: - Take away the goody-goody Lords of Waterdeep. If they were all replaced by dopplegangers, the largest cities in the Realms could become a rather interesting place. - Did you play Baldur's Gate II? The rise of a heir of Bhaal could have an important role, especially if it poses some contradictions, e.g. a good creature inheriting the portfolio of murder. - It's past time the peace of Lantan ends and the island is taken over by a fundamentalist faction that organized a mechanical army to take over Faerun and replace magic with technology. Now that Shar has become the goddess of magic and therefore magic=evil, good people might become much more interested in what Gond has to offer.