Advice for a military academy setting... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Advice for a military academy setting... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mercurius
09-14-04, 05:18 PM Very soon, I'll be starting a campaign with a cast of characters who are all attending a prestigious military academy. The plan is that the training they receive in the academy will cover them through at least level three, and that while some of the time they'll be performing assignments for their professors in the academy, at other times they'll be free to wander around the city and do their own thing.

The only problem is that I'm not exactly sure what kind of adventures to run for them at this point. I can think of some things to have going on around town that the PCs may or may not get involved in, but I'm not sure what to do about the academy and its training proper. This is the first time I've tried to run a game that was localized to a specific place, and while there's some structure to the academy, and thus some freedom in integrating the PCs into the adventure hooks, I'm not sure what kind of hooks to use.

So I'm asking you, my fellow DMs, to help me out if you could. Any experience or ideas you might have regarding this stumbling block would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
krichaiushii
09-14-04, 07:29 PM Elaborate and potentially fatal obstacle courses, that of course involve combat and lots of combat-based skill checks.

The PCs stumble across a conspiracy being hatched within the halls of the academy by a few (not all) instructors against the current ruling party.

The PCs stumble across a crime - while ignoring curfew. Someone else is falsely accused of the crime. The PCs can clear this person and bring justice to the true perpetrators, but must incriminate their own lesser violation(s) to do so.

A combat arena where tactics are "trained" and "tested".

An extended stay out of doors to test "survival skills".

More generally speaking, have lots of rules set up for the conduct of academy students (often called cadets). Consult the web pages of West Point (http://www.usma.edu/Class/1999/GradSpeech99.asp), Sandhurst (http://www.atra.mod.uk/Atra/RMAS/history/history5.htm), and/or the Citadel (http://citadel.edu/) for examples.
psionichamster
09-14-04, 07:35 PM also keep in mind, most military academies have very strict castes, hierarchies, what have you..

how couldn't they, the military is basically all about hierarchy...

for some really good examples of the above stuff, and more than i could possibly tell you, read

Ender's Game (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=ender%27s+game&userid=Dz5XfA0Arx)...it's all about this kid Ender who ends up going to military school on an asteroid/space station place...(i know the premise sounds like it won't work for DnD, but give it a try)

plus, i GUARANTEE you will steal all KINDS of stuff for your adventures from it, not just the training portions, either....

enjoy,
the hamster
Rian Lightblade
09-14-04, 07:52 PM Well in a Star Trek campaign I once ran. All the PCs started out a first year Cadets. The Adventures took place during the summer term, when the cadets are assigned to Starships or Starbases. The purpose of the Summer Term Internships was to allow the cadets hands on experience in their chosen fields.

The first summer they were assigned to a small starbase. Where each cadet was able to up a few skills thanks to the two they had adventures.

In the first adventure they were assigned as aides to and group of federation delegates. During a return trip from a diplomatic conference. Their runabout hit a subspace distortion and crashed on a nearby planet. The cadets and the delegates were the only survivors. The cadets had to keep the delegates safe, and find away to get off the planet

In the second adventure. During the course of their duties the cadets uncovered a plot by a group of raiders to use the station to set meeting to sell illegal goods. The raiders learned the cadets were on to them and threaten to blow the entire station if they reported it. The cadets had to work, with out attracting the attention of the raiders or the station personal to catch the raiders before the deal went down.

Each player wrote out their PCs second year at the academy as a short story 3 to 6 pages for extra xp.

So that's how I've done it . I hope this suggested format helps.
krichaiushii
09-14-04, 08:02 PM Ender's Game is an excellent recommendation. Here (http://hometown.aol.com/hostaacprofryk/endergame.html) is a site all about teaching it and the lessons learned.

Depending on the nature of the academy, you might have to restrict races and perhaps classes for the campaign - at least until the PCs leave the academy. After all, schools that focus on one or two subjects (character classes) seem more academy-like than a more typical university, where multiple courses of study (character classes) are offered.
TheDoomBringer
09-14-04, 10:14 PM You might want to emphasize military discipline, since it is an academy. Instead of glossing over their classes, have a few that stick out, important lessons on whatever. You can have martial arts training against fellow students, just modify the combat system a bit (use subdual I would say, or use a "touch" system like fencing)
CapnSwashbuckler
09-15-04, 12:43 AM You might want to consider plots involving conflict between different groups. That could include:

Special cliques (as with a lot of ROTC programs: Scabbard and Whatever v. Pershing Rifles v. Ranger Force, all trying to look the most prestigious)

Students who want to be there v. students who don't (the students whose parents put them there so they'd learn some discipline and shape up)

upper-level cadets who believe in hazing v. those who don't.

You could also consider introducing a recurring villain for later use as a fellow cadet.
Board_Rider
09-15-04, 12:44 AM If the characters are level 3 then I would think that they are somewhat prestigious in the academy. Not everyone can be a lvl3 something. SO say if you want to go outside the city you can have them work with the town millitia to confront a threat to show that the towns tax dollars are well spent. Or you can have rival academies come in to challenge the party that everyone keeps talking about...
Malavus
09-15-04, 04:22 AM Some of these posts are spot on suggestions.

my addition: The rivalry already suggested by some could be made even more interesting if the characters had difficulties with spoiled, rich kids in the area. People it is not politically expediant to irritate. Like the Mayor's son, for example. Perhaps they find out the he is involved in something illicit, and they have a couple options: Turn him in or use it as leverage (blackmail) later when they need a favor from dear old Dad?
krichaiushii
09-15-04, 06:25 AM In some real families, there is an unwritten rule that the children WILL attend the same academy or university as dear old dad. Said children may not be happy with the choice, so are deliberately sabotaging events and such to spite Dad (a senior officer, perhaps, or the mayor).

Others may be blindingly incompetent, yet socially promoted. Or better yet, able to purchase their commissions. A class system could easily develop in the academy. No pun intended.
Mercurius
09-22-04, 06:01 PM It's been far too long since I had the opportunity to come back. I want to thank you all for the suggestions. I'll see what I can make of them, and maybe I'll let you know how the first session goes this weekend.
Mercurius
09-22-04, 06:06 PM Sorry about the doublepost. Comp told me that the page hadn't be connected, but it looks like it lied. :embarrass
evilgenius
09-22-04, 07:27 PM I second Malavus' point.

One small encounter for your military academy;

Locals in town usually dislike the cadets at military academys. They get drunk and cause trouble when in town while on weekend leaves.

How about a bar brawl? Then disciplinary action? What about an ongoing rivalry between the locals and the military folks. Most cities usually have some rogue style "punks" who'll be a match for low level fighters & rangers.

If the cadets get the upper hand in a brawl, have the toughs retreat to lick their wounds, and plan a revenge. Perhaps planting contraband in the character's barracks to get some in trouble - detained cadets without leave don't compete for the attention of women in the tavern...

Or, expelled cadets could be a good recruiting opportunity for the thieves guild. Perhaps the ringleader was a failed or expelled cadet himself (the dark secret nobody knows, and the ringleader's true weakness). If the PCs figure out his identity (hey, wasn't that guy in the class portrait of 04?), they'll be able to gain the upper hand again...

Just some thoughts. Ask anyone who lives near Sandhurst in the UK, Kingston in Canada, or near any US mil academy. Townies are just like that...

L8er
evilgenius
Elrana
09-22-04, 08:08 PM How about the PCs being framed by the rivals and expelled. It then becomes their task to expose the plot and thus get themselves exonerated and reinstated as cadets. Perhaps this could happen just prior to graduation with passing out parade being the deadline by which they have to be able to bring evidence to the fore and expose the real culprits. A little drama always goes down well in a game and the culprits forcing a final face off at the passing out parade, in public and in front of all the town's dignitaries certainly counts as drama in my book!

:)
Sucineri
09-22-04, 09:47 PM Sweet Jebus..this stuff is brilliant! I will have to steal all this for my own campaign which I am gonna begin soon for my friend. :)
WWAD
09-22-04, 11:54 PM check this thread for some ideas.

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=2938727#post2938727

The war college is set in FR but the courses should provide some ideas for adventure, especially the higher level "masters" courses.
Kruxx06
09-23-04, 01:18 PM A few years ago I had played in a campain where my wizards went to an acadamy. We didn't really rp the acadamy part, however after rising to lvl 3 through the acadamy I was strapped with a HUGE dept. (Student loans and whatnot). So, alot of the roleplaying centered around the group trying to find ways to pay off the debt.

Things you could do is perhaps have then take "interships" serving with the city guard, or perhaps with the local army.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mercurius 09-14-04, 05:18 PM	Very soon, I'll be starting a campaign with a cast of characters who are all attending a prestigious military academy. The plan is that the training they receive in the academy will cover them through at least level three, and that while some of the time they'll be performing assignments for their professors in the academy, at other times they'll be free to wander around the city and do their own thing. The only problem is that I'm not exactly sure what kind of adventures to run for them at this point. I can think of some things to have going on around town that the PCs may or may not get involved in, but I'm not sure what to do about the academy and its training proper. This is the first time I've tried to run a game that was localized to a specific place, and while there's some structure to the academy, and thus some freedom in integrating the PCs into the adventure hooks, I'm not sure what kind of hooks to use. So I'm asking you, my fellow DMs, to help me out if you could. Any experience or ideas you might have regarding this stumbling block would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
krichaiushii 09-14-04, 07:29 PM	Elaborate and potentially fatal obstacle courses, that of course involve combat and lots of combat-based skill checks. The PCs stumble across a conspiracy being hatched within the halls of the academy by a few (not all) instructors against the current ruling party. The PCs stumble across a crime - while ignoring curfew. Someone else is falsely accused of the crime. The PCs can clear this person and bring justice to the true perpetrators, but must incriminate their own lesser violation(s) to do so. A combat arena where tactics are "trained" and "tested". An extended stay out of doors to test "survival skills". More generally speaking, have lots of rules set up for the conduct of academy students (often called cadets). Consult the web pages of West Point (http://www.usma.edu/Class/1999/GradSpeech99.asp), Sandhurst (http://www.atra.mod.uk/Atra/RMAS/history/history5.htm), and/or the Citadel (http://citadel.edu/) for examples.
psionichamster 09-14-04, 07:35 PM	also keep in mind, most military academies have very strict castes, hierarchies, what have you.. how couldn't they, the military is basically all about hierarchy... for some really good examples of the above stuff, and more than i could possibly tell you, read Ender's Game (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=ender%27s+game&userid=Dz5XfA0Arx)...it's all about this kid Ender who ends up going to military school on an asteroid/space station place...(i know the premise sounds like it won't work for DnD, but give it a try) plus, i GUARANTEE you will steal all KINDS of stuff for your adventures from it, not just the training portions, either.... enjoy, the hamster
Rian Lightblade 09-14-04, 07:52 PM	Well in a Star Trek campaign I once ran. All the PCs started out a first year Cadets. The Adventures took place during the summer term, when the cadets are assigned to Starships or Starbases. The purpose of the Summer Term Internships was to allow the cadets hands on experience in their chosen fields. The first summer they were assigned to a small starbase. Where each cadet was able to up a few skills thanks to the two they had adventures. In the first adventure they were assigned as aides to and group of federation delegates. During a return trip from a diplomatic conference. Their runabout hit a subspace distortion and crashed on a nearby planet. The cadets and the delegates were the only survivors. The cadets had to keep the delegates safe, and find away to get off the planet In the second adventure. During the course of their duties the cadets uncovered a plot by a group of raiders to use the station to set meeting to sell illegal goods. The raiders learned the cadets were on to them and threaten to blow the entire station if they reported it. The cadets had to work, with out attracting the attention of the raiders or the station personal to catch the raiders before the deal went down. Each player wrote out their PCs second year at the academy as a short story 3 to 6 pages for extra xp. So that's how I've done it . I hope this suggested format helps.
krichaiushii 09-14-04, 08:02 PM	Ender's Game is an excellent recommendation. Here (http://hometown.aol.com/hostaacprofryk/endergame.html) is a site all about teaching it and the lessons learned. Depending on the nature of the academy, you might have to restrict races and perhaps classes for the campaign - at least until the PCs leave the academy. After all, schools that focus on one or two subjects (character classes) seem more academy-like than a more typical university, where multiple courses of study (character classes) are offered.
TheDoomBringer 09-14-04, 10:14 PM	You might want to emphasize military discipline, since it is an academy. Instead of glossing over their classes, have a few that stick out, important lessons on whatever. You can have martial arts training against fellow students, just modify the combat system a bit (use subdual I would say, or use a "touch" system like fencing)
CapnSwashbuckler 09-15-04, 12:43 AM	You might want to consider plots involving conflict between different groups. That could include: Special cliques (as with a lot of ROTC programs: Scabbard and Whatever v. Pershing Rifles v. Ranger Force, all trying to look the most prestigious) Students who want to be there v. students who don't (the students whose parents put them there so they'd learn some discipline and shape up) upper-level cadets who believe in hazing v. those who don't. You could also consider introducing a recurring villain for later use as a fellow cadet.
Board_Rider 09-15-04, 12:44 AM	If the characters are level 3 then I would think that they are somewhat prestigious in the academy. Not everyone can be a lvl3 something. SO say if you want to go outside the city you can have them work with the town millitia to confront a threat to show that the towns tax dollars are well spent. Or you can have rival academies come in to challenge the party that everyone keeps talking about...
Malavus 09-15-04, 04:22 AM	Some of these posts are spot on suggestions. my addition: The rivalry already suggested by some could be made even more interesting if the characters had difficulties with spoiled, rich kids in the area. People it is not politically expediant to irritate. Like the Mayor's son, for example. Perhaps they find out the he is involved in something illicit, and they have a couple options: Turn him in or use it as leverage (blackmail) later when they need a favor from dear old Dad?
krichaiushii 09-15-04, 06:25 AM	In some real families, there is an unwritten rule that the children WILL attend the same academy or university as dear old dad. Said children may not be happy with the choice, so are deliberately sabotaging events and such to spite Dad (a senior officer, perhaps, or the mayor). Others may be blindingly incompetent, yet socially promoted. Or better yet, able to purchase their commissions. A class system could easily develop in the academy. No pun intended.
Mercurius 09-22-04, 06:01 PM	It's been far too long since I had the opportunity to come back. I want to thank you all for the suggestions. I'll see what I can make of them, and maybe I'll let you know how the first session goes this weekend.
Mercurius 09-22-04, 06:06 PM	Sorry about the doublepost. Comp told me that the page hadn't be connected, but it looks like it lied. :embarrass
evilgenius 09-22-04, 07:27 PM	I second Malavus' point. One small encounter for your military academy; Locals in town usually dislike the cadets at military academys. They get drunk and cause trouble when in town while on weekend leaves. How about a bar brawl? Then disciplinary action? What about an ongoing rivalry between the locals and the military folks. Most cities usually have some rogue style "punks" who'll be a match for low level fighters & rangers. If the cadets get the upper hand in a brawl, have the toughs retreat to lick their wounds, and plan a revenge. Perhaps planting contraband in the character's barracks to get some in trouble - detained cadets without leave don't compete for the attention of women in the tavern... Or, expelled cadets could be a good recruiting opportunity for the thieves guild. Perhaps the ringleader was a failed or expelled cadet himself (the dark secret nobody knows, and the ringleader's true weakness). If the PCs figure out his identity (hey, wasn't that guy in the class portrait of 04?), they'll be able to gain the upper hand again... Just some thoughts. Ask anyone who lives near Sandhurst in the UK, Kingston in Canada, or near any US mil academy. Townies are just like that... L8er evilgenius
Elrana 09-22-04, 08:08 PM	How about the PCs being framed by the rivals and expelled. It then becomes their task to expose the plot and thus get themselves exonerated and reinstated as cadets. Perhaps this could happen just prior to graduation with passing out parade being the deadline by which they have to be able to bring evidence to the fore and expose the real culprits. A little drama always goes down well in a game and the culprits forcing a final face off at the passing out parade, in public and in front of all the town's dignitaries certainly counts as drama in my book! :)
Sucineri 09-22-04, 09:47 PM	Sweet Jebus..this stuff is brilliant! I will have to steal all this for my own campaign which I am gonna begin soon for my friend. :)
WWAD 09-22-04, 11:54 PM	check this thread for some ideas. http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=2938727#post2938727 The war college is set in FR but the courses should provide some ideas for adventure, especially the higher level "masters" courses.
Kruxx06 09-23-04, 01:18 PM	A few years ago I had played in a campain where my wizards went to an acadamy. We didn't really rp the acadamy part, however after rising to lvl 3 through the acadamy I was strapped with a HUGE dept. (Student loans and whatnot). So, alot of the roleplaying centered around the group trying to find ways to pay off the debt. Things you could do is perhaps have then take "interships" serving with the city guard, or perhaps with the local army.