Q for Galath's Roost players and GMs [Archive] - Wizards Community

Q for Galath's Roost players and GMs [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thysl
07-22-03, 10:48 PM Olare!

I'm starting a new 3.5 game in the realms and am starting with 'the Raiders of Galath's Roost' by Skip Williams, published in Dungeon #87.
The question I have for those that haved played and/or Gm'ed this adventure is about the character hooks used. The adventure gives a few that are ok but it seems that I need to give them a reason to explore these ruins even after a clue points to the hill behind the keep. I'm worried that the characters won't see any immediate threat to the area, a threat to continue the investigation past a foray into an obviously abandoned ruin.
What did you as players or DMs experience with this adventure? Did any of the 'character hooks' work? did you, as a player, feel any real peril or need to continue through the portal to the Zhent base beyond?
Any other observations about this adventure are greatly appreciated!
Thanks!!:D
Zardnaar
07-23-03, 02:30 AM Leave a note lieing around or false map saying XYZ item is in the Zhent Keep,
Herr Doktor
07-23-03, 03:20 AM I started this adventure with a Shieldmeet competition in Essembra, which is relatively close to Galath's Roost.

There the party heard about the trouble with the drow, as well as a legend about Galath the bandit lords incredible treasure. The PCs were fresh to the adventuring bit and were eager to make a name for themselves, as well as a few coins. So it worked out well.

They loved the pseudo dragon scene. ;)
tauster
07-23-03, 03:48 AM thysl: something personal generally serves best as adventure- hook. try to link the ruin or the events there with one of your pc!

i skimmed through the adventure some time ago, but i don´t remember the details...

some quick ideas:

- a friend/relative is the familie´s black sheep and joined the drow/zenth´s there, your pc´s are to bring him/her back
- friend/relative was kidnapped and brought to the roost
- the pc have a fight with bandits who flee to the roost
- a noninvolved 3rd party (merchant, harper-agent, xyz...) does not know the roost´s reputation and choses to meet the pc there (secrecy, you know? it´s just damn theatrical to meet in the night with ruins around. :D )
- the pc overhear a two npc (there´s a zenthish agent in essembra afaik...) making an appointment and decide to be there too

maybe some of that hooks work for you...
Dargoth
07-23-03, 05:04 AM Thysl: You might want to read this

Note: The post is long

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57758

Its what Im doing with my campaign, which will start with Raiders of Galaths roost
Thysl
07-24-03, 05:16 AM Allright!
Thanks for all the great ideas... some of them are sparking but I also want to take down some of my ideas for after this adventure, sadly I'm dead tired right now and am on the way to bed!
Keep 'em coming!
:embarrass
Thysl
07-24-03, 03:38 PM So What I'm planning on doing is biting one of the ideas that Tuaster gave (a friend/relative is abducted by the Zhents). Since they are starting the campaign with 'Galath's Roost' I will utilize a tried and true adventuring party opener: a couple months ago you where hired by Ibrahim Rivenstone, a dwarven trader from the village of Glen, to guard his last shipment out of Sembia before the autumn weather sets in. I can pour on the charm while playing the friendly, worldly dwarf gentleman and after a few beginner combats - I'll have two complete newbies and another guy with limited experience - the PCs will love Ibrahim; too bad he dies.
So Ibrahim dies on the road from a over-exertion but, with his last breath, makes the PCs promise to finish the trip to Glen and deliver the shipment to his beloved daughter and secretary Rebahka Rivenstone. When the players arrive at Glen, crestfallen, with their employers dead body in tow they recieve even more dire news: Rebahka left for Ashabenford a month ago and has yet to return. The local constabulary and the Riders of Mistledale have scoured the area and have seen neither hide nore hair of the lady-dwarf. To make matters worse Rebahka is pregnant with Ibrahim's grand child and will be due in one months time!

So, sufficient drama? I will encourage the players make good aligned PCs so the hook will be nearly undeniable (especially if my veteran player makes the Paladin he's been talking about), but I'm ready to change to Zardnaar's hook at a moments alignment chan- I mean whim. :D

Comments are always welcome, even if they're just to call me a wanker!:cool:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thysl 07-22-03, 10:48 PM	Olare! I'm starting a new 3.5 game in the realms and am starting with 'the Raiders of Galath's Roost' by Skip Williams, published in Dungeon #87. The question I have for those that haved played and/or Gm'ed this adventure is about the character hooks used. The adventure gives a few that are ok but it seems that I need to give them a reason to explore these ruins even after a clue points to the hill behind the keep. I'm worried that the characters won't see any immediate threat to the area, a threat to continue the investigation past a foray into an obviously abandoned ruin. What did you as players or DMs experience with this adventure? Did any of the 'character hooks' work? did you, as a player, feel any real peril or need to continue through the portal to the Zhent base beyond? Any other observations about this adventure are greatly appreciated! Thanks!!:D
Zardnaar 07-23-03, 02:30 AM	Leave a note lieing around or false map saying XYZ item is in the Zhent Keep,
Herr Doktor 07-23-03, 03:20 AM	I started this adventure with a Shieldmeet competition in Essembra, which is relatively close to Galath's Roost. There the party heard about the trouble with the drow, as well as a legend about Galath the bandit lords incredible treasure. The PCs were fresh to the adventuring bit and were eager to make a name for themselves, as well as a few coins. So it worked out well. They loved the pseudo dragon scene. ;)
tauster 07-23-03, 03:48 AM	thysl: something personal generally serves best as adventure- hook. try to link the ruin or the events there with one of your pc! i skimmed through the adventure some time ago, but i don´t remember the details... some quick ideas: - a friend/relative is the familie´s black sheep and joined the drow/zenth´s there, your pc´s are to bring him/her back - friend/relative was kidnapped and brought to the roost - the pc have a fight with bandits who flee to the roost - a noninvolved 3rd party (merchant, harper-agent, xyz...) does not know the roost´s reputation and choses to meet the pc there (secrecy, you know? it´s just damn theatrical to meet in the night with ruins around. :D ) - the pc overhear a two npc (there´s a zenthish agent in essembra afaik...) making an appointment and decide to be there too maybe some of that hooks work for you...
Dargoth 07-23-03, 05:04 AM	Thysl: You might want to read this Note: The post is long http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57758 Its what Im doing with my campaign, which will start with Raiders of Galaths roost
Thysl 07-24-03, 05:16 AM	Allright! Thanks for all the great ideas... some of them are sparking but I also want to take down some of my ideas for after this adventure, sadly I'm dead tired right now and am on the way to bed! Keep 'em coming! :embarrass
Thysl 07-24-03, 03:38 PM	So What I'm planning on doing is biting one of the ideas that Tuaster gave (a friend/relative is abducted by the Zhents). Since they are starting the campaign with 'Galath's Roost' I will utilize a tried and true adventuring party opener: a couple months ago you where hired by Ibrahim Rivenstone, a dwarven trader from the village of Glen, to guard his last shipment out of Sembia before the autumn weather sets in. I can pour on the charm while playing the friendly, worldly dwarf gentleman and after a few beginner combats - I'll have two complete newbies and another guy with limited experience - the PCs will love Ibrahim; too bad he dies. So Ibrahim dies on the road from a over-exertion but, with his last breath, makes the PCs promise to finish the trip to Glen and deliver the shipment to his beloved daughter and secretary Rebahka Rivenstone. When the players arrive at Glen, crestfallen, with their employers dead body in tow they recieve even more dire news: Rebahka left for Ashabenford a month ago and has yet to return. The local constabulary and the Riders of Mistledale have scoured the area and have seen neither hide nore hair of the lady-dwarf. To make matters worse Rebahka is pregnant with Ibrahim's grand child and will be due in one months time! So, sufficient drama? I will encourage the players make good aligned PCs so the hook will be nearly undeniable (especially if my veteran player makes the Paladin he's been talking about), but I'm ready to change to Zardnaar's hook at a moments alignment chan- I mean whim. :D Comments are always welcome, even if they're just to call me a wanker!:cool: