Post/Author/DateTime	Post
_SIN_ 01-16-07, 07:42 PM	I'm starting a new game. I have been out of the Role Playing thing for about 10 years (marriage, kids, etc, etc). Anyway, I've recently purchased the 3.5 rules and Forgotten Realms as the setting. I have played in this setting before, along with Ravenloft, Dragonlance, Al-Qadim, Greyhawk, Spell Jammer & Dark Sun in the older 2nd edition rules. As a side note, I'd like to say how superior the new rules are over 2nd ed!! Especially combat! As I was saying, the group has just started getting back together (with a few new faces also), and I'm trying to put together a campaign, saga or chronicle involving the 'Rage of Dragons' that occurs every 1000 or so years. All player will start the game fresh, 1st level. I want them to eventually take part in either a mass culling of Faerunian Dragons BEFORE 'The Rage' starts, or to take part in the defence of the realms (Maybe somewhere like Waterdeep or Silverymoon, or other major city of relative importance). Or maybe even both. I intend to lead this group through a series of quests to 'ready' themselves for events to come in the next two decades. I want to try to keep the group together most of the time if possible, especially at low levels, going on a series of quests which all contribute to the success of the main objective - to become dragon slayers, so to speak. The role-call looks like this at the moment: (But more may join yet...) Female Half elven Fighter (who's style is that of a duelist) Male Human Paladin of Tyr Male Human Cleric of Tempus Female Human Rogue (Morally good assassin) Male Elven Wizard (complete with monkey familiar) What I'd like to know is this: The Rage of Dragons - How many dragons are there? And during the rage, are their attacks concerted, or do they do their own thing? What size packs do they attack in? 10's, 100's, 1000's???.... What sort of quests/items should the PC's be after? Fighters are easily enough catered for (Weapons & Armour), what about the rest of the party? (I was thinking that eventually they'd each have to create magical artifacts to arm themselves, but what would be good? - or where can I get more info on magical item creation? Suggestions please.... Anyone who feels they can contribute/help flesh out the plot-line, feel free! A series of mini-objectives is what I need most!! HELP! :confused:
Dark_Rhapsody 01-16-07, 07:54 PM	Well, truthfully, most of the other characters you desribed can easily be drawn into adventure. All of those classes need items, and magic accessories are always very nice :) I often play rogues or wizards, and I am always very happy when I find treasure. Also, you might want your players to set up personal goals for their characters. This gives you plenty of ideas for sidequests. I personally actually have never heard of "The Rage"...hmmmmm... It sounds like a very exciting idea by the way :). Maybe you might want to check out my ideas for the campaign I am DMing right now. It is in the "What's A DM To Do?" section of the boards, and it is called "Adventure Ideas (tell me what you think)". I am sorry if you think I am just trying to get people to help me. Truthfully, alot of people get inspiration from other people's work, so feel free to read and take inspiration. Oh, and welcome back to gaming :) P.S. You will have to scroll down a bit. The campaign plot/history is actually in one of the later posts. However, some info is in my other posts on my thread.
Lord Karsus 01-16-07, 08:13 PM	-The past FR year (DR 1373, the Year of the Rogue Dragons) just had a Rage. If you like reading, I suggest picking up the Year of the Rogue Dragons Trilogy, and/or Realms of the Dragons I and II. Both basically deal with Dragons, the Rage, it's causes, it's effects, and it's solution. I'd also advise you to pick up Dragons of Faerūn, which deals with...well, most things Dragon in the Forgotten Realms.
_SIN_ 01-16-07, 09:03 PM	I'm not overly bothered with the fact that there shouldn't be another rage for 1000 years. I think it's plausable to say that the 'time of troubles' has had a knock-on effect, causing unusually high dragon activity - and some sage or another (Elminster maybe?) believes another rage is A LOT closer than 1000 years away, and thus approaches the PC's to plant the seed of the campaign. I'd guessed that Dragons of Faerun would be a must - as to the novels, I love reading, but have tooo many books on the go at the moment, and have a small stack of 'books to read' after that!!
Dxzauvrinn 01-17-07, 12:46 AM	Dude, welcome back to the game. As Lord Karsus suggested, you pretty much NEED Dragons of Faerun and the Rogue Dragons trilogy contains a lot of the answers you're looking for. Instead of waiting for the next rage, just set yer campaign a few years before the recent rage. I mean, it just happened. The books for it came out in 2006.
ClobberinTime 01-17-07, 06:56 PM	I would go with the Draconomicon, which is a great source of Draconic material from PRCs, to Magic Items, etc.. Also it gives you sample Hoards and Stats for all of the Metallic and Chromatic dragons at all of the age categories (what can I say I am lazy, and find these things to be very very usefull) Honestly, I don't think you can use Dragons of Faerun without having the Draconomicon, there are just too many references to the stuff in that book to use DoF without it. The novels, well the novels are ok, if I were going to run this campaign I would probably dump the novels and make my PCs the heart of the story. With Dragons you can easily run a campaign up to 25th level, and have your PCs stop the rage themselves.
Lord Karsus 01-17-07, 11:34 PM	-Oh, the Draconomicon! I forgot!! -If you only buy one thing, but the Draconomicon. It has less FR, more general information, but the information is invaluable.
Demetrios 01-18-07, 02:51 AM	I can tell you that a dragon-centric campaign can be great fun. Although not set during an actual Rage, my current campaign is very centered around dragons (the big bads of the campaign are heavily recruiting them to their cause, along with lots of evil outsiders), and it makes for a much more interesting and exciting campaign compared to your run-of-the-mill, dragons-are-rarely-if-ever-seen games. Because dragon CRs are scaled so that they are tougher than other encounters of equal CRs (dragon CRs are set up with the assumption that the PCs have actually prepared ahead of time to meet the dragon), dragons encounters are always exciting and memorable, even if the party has already met a dozen or so. Plus it gives the storyline a great epic feel...
Derren S. 01-19-07, 09:04 AM	Because dragon CRs are scaled so that they are tougher than other encounters of equal CRs (dragon CRs are set up with the assumption that the PCs have actually prepared ahead of time to meet the dragon), dragons encounters are always exciting and memorable, even if the party has already met a dozen or so. Plus it gives the storyline a great epic feel... Except that because of all the anti-dragon feats, spells, PRCs and equipment which has been published dragon fights are now very easy.
Siridar 01-19-07, 10:08 AM	Races of the Dragons is one you might think of. why not have a dragonborne trying to stop the rage and be dealing with its controlling affects as storyline and you can play one at first level technically ;]
Lord Karsus 01-19-07, 06:38 PM	Races of the Dragons is one you might think of. why not have a dragonborne trying to stop the rage and be dealing with its controlling affects as storyline and you can play one at first level technically ;] -That's Eberron, right? If so, mixing different ideas from different settings (especially Eberron) might make things a bit difficult. Or, is that the generic book that "just recently" came out? If it's that one, then never mind, really.
MarkusTay63 01-19-07, 06:45 PM	I like Siridar's idea; with a Drogon-blooded PC you could have him 'feel' the rage coming on, and thus the goal of the party to spread the word/stop it. Two things - Either set the story to just before the last rage (which just happened), or have the cult of the Dragon screw something up just to bring it back (they do so love all those dragon corpses lying around after a good rage). Just a thought. Also, part of what your characters do might be to find good aligned (matalic) Dragons who might be willing to help, or at the very least wish to leave Faerun temporarily until the rage passes. Even a smart Chromatic might want to split knowing its coming. If I were you, I would also have the monkey familiar turn out to be a Dragon in disguise who is watching the characters either for another group, or has a vested interest in their actions himself. Greyhawk Dragons are famous for this; but if you don't want to use a planar traveling dragon then any Dragon with shape-change might do. I always try to build hooks into characters right from the beginning and then drop them on them when they least expect it (or when helpful). A final quest item might be an Orb of Dragonkind (or all twelve) that can be used to avert the disaster. Hope some of that helps.
ZolDarklock 01-21-07, 01:08 AM	the problem with the past raqge of dragons was it was part of FR's history, seem many DM cant run a world without following the exact present timeline, and any realistic changes to the world a PC could make if they played thru that time would be considered an act of treason for some reason... I found the best way to handle the realms is to search thru every accessory/module or whatever and replace every creature/bad guy killed off back to their place of origin, strip majority of the overly ridiculous chosen powers from the few who had them, let them survive by their own wits and powers for once, and then let your PC's loose upon the world, and for god's sake play the bad guys and creatures like they had more common sense than a rock PS - if the players make changes to world let them changes stand, and if the bad guys or creatures just happen to stomp the hell out of a good guy or chosen, let that stand also My PC's have adventured in the realms for decades, from day one, it was no longer a WotC realm, it was the PC's realm, I can't see how any FR game could possible resemble the present realms, unless the DM is one of those drag by the nose, and it is a crime to change the official timeline of things... and that aint gaming, that's just inviting your friends over to watch your DM show off the realms official timeline with his players as guest observers and for heavens sake, ignore the hell out of what some author wrote in a book, In my world Shimmergloom ate Drizzt's friends, Fzoul runs the most powerful group of independant bad guys, he wised up, and Eliminister surronds himself with powerfull allies to keep from losing his head, his meddeling ways has been stopped "he's been warned" Make the realms a brutally fair and honest place, not a WotC timeline following joke
_SIN_ 01-21-07, 12:05 PM	Firstly, thanks alot people. Your help has been invaluble. I like some of the ideas thrown about - though the Dragonkin character just would not work, if he 'felt' the rage and let the other PC's in on it, they'd see him as just another target!! lol. Like I said in an earlier post - I don't use the timeline. It's used as reference, nothing more. It does not constitute as Law in my realm. It's handy to use if you're sending an elvin character off to find an AAAAAAncient artifact, or like some - do the Time traveling adventures/campaigns. It also gives FR a little more depth. I'm surprised at the amount of people who are hardliners for the facts to be kept facts. I'm pretty sure it even says in the campaign setting to 'create your own world', not pussyfoot around what's going on in novels etc. I admit, my gaming group is a touch 'dysfunctional', which makes it soooo much fun to play, but if I were to even try to run it 'in-line' with the current FR timeline, my players would deliberatly go out of their way to screw with it a little. I agree completely with ZolDarklock, in that I find it hard to believe that people actually find it fun to sit and listen to the DM babble on about history all day (BTW - if you do run a game like this, please lend me your players for 1 game, I guarentee they won't come back after a proper 'fun' session!!) If that were the case with my games, the players would rebel (and probably spend the evening stringing me up!). I will stage another rage even though one's just happened. The 'Why's it happening?'... well that's a matter for the Gods. The 'What're we gonna do?'.... That's a matter for the characters... And realisticly, all that counts.
Lord Karsus 01-21-07, 07:55 PM	(BTW - if you do run a game like this, please lend me your players for 1 game, I guarentee they won't come back after a proper 'fun' session!!) -Come on, punk! Is that a challenge!? :P -Though it's not set in the Realms, I try to inject my campaigns with as much history as possible. Of course, since it is my setting, and my PCs are the only ones who might ever learn about it, I figure I might as well throw in as much lore as possible. It'd be a shame if only I knew all of the interesting events, and happenings...
_SIN_ 01-22-07, 09:24 AM	-Come on, punk! Is that a challenge!? :P HELL YEAH IT IS!! :ayyyy!: -Though it's not set in the Realms, I try to inject my campaigns with as much history as possible. Of course, since it is my setting, and my PCs are the only ones who might ever learn about it, I figure I might as well throw in as much lore as possible. It'd be a shame if only I knew all of the interesting events, and happenings... Don't get me wrong, I do use the history and lore of the lands, I just don't see the need to 'run in sync' with the novels etc. Who cares if this or that happened in the novels! For crying out loud, we're on the 3rd ed now. Just reading all 3 versions provides you with quite a lot of conflicting 'realm facts', so if a player starts up with his, "But in the novel", shut him up. Ask if his character KNOW'S Drizzt (or whom, what or where ever he's yapping about), if not, dock him some exp for using player knowledge, not Character knowledge!! After a while (When he's 3 levels lower than the rest of the 'Silent' party members) he'll stop all on his own accord!! I do what's needed to be done. I just find it amusing that sooo many people fail to read the PHB, DMG & FR:CS parts where it encourages to "Make the game your own"....
Lord Karsus 01-22-07, 07:04 PM	HELL YEAH IT IS!! :ayyyy!: -I'll meet you in the schoolyard. Me an' the boys...:incog: :incog: :incog: Don't get me wrong, I do use the history and lore of the lands, I just don't see the need to 'run in sync' with the novels etc. Who cares if this or that happened in the novels! -It's done for a few reasons. Firstly, that's what happens in the "official timeline". Secondly, it makes it a lot easier to buy future products when your version of the Realms matches their version, for the most part. For instance, if you ran a campaign where the PCs took over Thay, and made it a haven for Gnomes, a new sourcebook on Thay isn't really going to be useful to you.
MerrikCale 01-22-07, 09:01 PM	- For instance, if you ran a campaign where the PCs took over Thay, and made it a haven for Gnomes, how did you get my campaign notes, you ?&%!
MarkusTay63 01-22-07, 10:35 PM	Another nation falls victim to the Machievalian machinations of G.N.O.M.E. * *Grand Nentarches Of Malevolent Enterprises - a super-secret multi-spherical organization run by the Grand Nentarches, Nine Gnomish Illusionists of incredible power who are usually the ones pulling all the strings behind other local evil groups. Less then a handful of people know of the Nentarches; even they do not know who all they are.
Lord Karsus 01-23-07, 12:26 AM	how did you get my campaign notes, you ?&%! -The Illumina-er...The GNOME. I have a few contacts there.
_SIN_ 01-23-07, 08:39 AM	-It's done for a few reasons. Firstly, that's what happens in the "official timeline". Secondly, it makes it a lot easier to buy future products when your version of the Realms matches their version, for the most part. For instance, if you ran a campaign where the PCs took over Thay, and made it a haven for Gnomes, a new sourcebook on Thay isn't really going to be useful to you. True. But then again, does that mean as a DM that I have to prevent the PC's from conquering Thay by any means IF there was a source book on Thay in the pipeline? I think I said in an earlier post - The history can be used JUST as effectively as a reference. Just because ANOTHER rage has occured in my world shortly after the "official" one, shouldn't rock the boat too much, as far as the "official Timeline" goes. As for other major happenings in the novels - they can just be staggered in later (or more likely - taken the millions of miles that is faerun, rumors don't find the PC's immediately), thus giving the DM the option of "whilst you were doing..... This and that have taken place". Sure, there are limits - Sinking half the continent say - would make things ultra-messy, and very hard to DM. The bottom line is, all the stars of the novels are characters in their own right, and SHOULDN'T be the only persons able to 'alter' world history. Your players also have this right. The DM should ALWAYS remain in control of the game. If Thay was overthrown and made into a Gnomish haven, so what. IF a source book for Thay IS released (and you wanted to use it), have the Red Wizards teach your PC's a lesson. Make the Wizards come back wit a vengance - and enslave all those helpless gnomes!! Then use your newly aquired book. Bare in mind that Faerun is a highly magicked up place where pretty much ANYTHING is possible, so what your PC's have done - whether deliberate or not can probably be undone using magic. Failing that, if your campaign get messy or you just get stuck - pull the Dragonlance trick - travel back through time to when everything was rosy!!...
Lord Karsus 01-23-07, 10:44 AM	True. But then again, does that mean as a DM that I have to prevent the PC's from conquering Thay by any means IF there was a source book on Thay in the pipeline? -No, but that's how some people operate. They want to use every option from every book, so they leave things mostly as is, so they can do so.
_SIN_ 01-23-07, 11:16 AM	You said 'do so', sounds more like tip-toe. A game world where you can do aaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnything, as long as it has no consequence on the game world. Sound like greaaaaahhhhhhuuuuhhh...ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz zzzz...
Lord Karsus 01-23-07, 02:14 PM	Sound like greaaaaahhhhhhuuuuhhh...ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz zzzz... -I knew that Quickened Sleep spell would come in handy...:P