Alrighty.... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alrighty.... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
rulerofDarkness
02-21-08, 09:27 PM I am a relativly inexperinced DM. By "Inexperinced" I mean none of my camgins got off the ground. I ran a few sessions and my player lost intrest (Note to self NEVER play D&D with my brother again).

I'm trying to get a group togather of my friends or if I get REALLY desperate..my parents. I even played a camgin alone once....yeah that really didn't go to well.....I had to cuss at myself for my "fudged" dice rolls :P .

Basicly, I need an idea for a adventure and quick. Anything will do. Just keep in mind the players will at 1st level.
Mooncalf
02-21-08, 09:40 PM Well, I can't help you with getting a group together, which I think is the major issue here, but a few adventure ideas? Sure.

-The party has found clues/a map leading to an old tomb. They meet wild animals and maybe bandits along the way, as well as critters/guardians in the tomb.

-Party braves The Black Forest, rumored to be haunted and populated by nasty creatures. Plenty of opportunities for all sorts of fun, like haunted towers, monster-infested caves, and evil wizards concocting their fell plans.

-The town is constantly attacked by orcs, goblins and bandits. Someone has to break through the nasties outside to get a message to the nearby garrison. Along the way, clues suggest some outside person is orchestrating the whole mess to either gain political power in the area, complete a dark ritual, or find an artifact. The party needs to break up the dark alliance threatening town, and find out who is behind it all.
Mooncalf
02-21-08, 09:40 PM Well, I can't help you with getting a group together, which I think is the major issue here, but a few adventure ideas? Sure.

-The party has found clues/a map leading to an old tomb. They meet wild animals and maybe bandits along the way, as well as critters/guardians in the tomb.

-Party braves The Black Forest, rumored to be haunted and populated by nasty creatures. Plenty of opportunities for all sorts of fun, like haunted towers, monster-infested caves, and evil wizards concocting their fell plans.

-The town is constantly attacked by orcs, goblins and bandits. Someone has to break through the nasties outside to get a message to the nearby garrison. Along the way, clues suggest some outside person is orchestrating the whole mess to either gain political power in the area, complete a dark ritual, or find an artifact. The party needs to break up the dark alliance threatening town, and find out who is behind it all.
White_Wizard
02-22-08, 01:10 PM As Mooncalf said, we cannot help you get a gaming group, but as for ideas, hey they're free! ;)

Avoid the classic cliché of the tavern with the mysterious guy hiring PCs: it's really overused and everyone can bet that the mysterious guy is the villain luring PCs into a trap (and one may ask why bother: if he is the Big Bad Evil Guy, so powerful that armies tremble in his presence, why going to annoy a group of 1st level PCs? Moreover: why doesn't he kill them immediately, instead of allowing them to level up and being able to kick his a$$ at the end of the campaign?)

So, good adventure ideas (well, I'll just give you some ideas: you judge wether they are good or not ;) ).

- City guard attempts to arrest the PCs for a crime they didn't commit. They avoid capture/break free and discover the true culprit.

- The PCs are travelling in the wilderness when a storm forces them to try and find shelter in a ruined castle, but the castle is cursed and they discover they cannot escape from the point they used to enter: every exit appears to be sealed (try and trap them somewhere inside, so that they cannot simply choose to "climb on the castle's walls"). They have to find another way out, fighting the undead minions that live (obviously this is metaphoric ;) ) within the ruins of the castle.

- Military authority tries to make the PCs join the army to fight in an ongoing war (choose if it is a defensive war or offensive, kepping in mind that this will probably affect a lot the PCs' reactions). This may come out in different ways, depending on players' choices: they may want to join the army or they may refuse that (in this case the authority may try to force them to do it). This can become pretty much intense as it gives players an authority figure to fight against (and they may like it a lot).
Captain_Madrick
02-22-08, 01:16 PM I like to start with one player already having a map or mysterious item that they know nothing about, and one other player does. Or they need to investigate it, and this opens a hook for them.

If they're at level one, maybe have a really small encounter (like an ambushing party of gnolls) have a bigger plot hook. Maybe they have a mysterious item on them...something seemingly very powerful, or something very recognizable (a specific king's crown), but something gnolls shouldn't have on them...

This saves the whole "hired to adventure" start, and lets the PCs feel like they're choosing their own adventures...
Dunsel
02-22-08, 04:11 PM One of the PCs, doesn't matter which one, stumbles upon an old book while cleaning in the attic. Yes, you start out cleaning the attic. This sets up the reason to adventure. He has never met his father and his mother is very tight-lipped about the details. The book turns out to be an adventuring journal! The author is unknown.

All you have to do is create a journal. You don't have to create too many pages. Most can be garbage and/or ruined by the passage of time. I would write them on brown colored paper and then mess them up. You know, stomp on them, crumple them up, pour coffee on them, burn a couple, etc. to make them look aged. The journal has a map and directions to a local cave in a hidden valley. There are traps and a few monsters.

Draw the caves and label the rooms. Decide on the monsters and traps.

Edit: Now that I think about it, this sounds like the Goonies!
rulerofDarkness
02-24-08, 05:55 PM K, My mom has joined the campgin, She's going to be playing a CG Yuan-Ti Pureblood 1st-level druid. My dad will creating his Character after dinner.
DarkflameX
02-24-08, 07:57 PM maybe if things dont work out try setting up an online campaign. im sure you could find plenty of people on these boards
rulerofDarkness
02-24-08, 08:16 PM maybe if things dont work out try setting up an online campaign. im sure you could find plenty of people on these boards

I'll keep that in mind.
metalmayhem80110
02-24-08, 08:18 PM Maybe if you can't DM, you shouldn't try it... It sounds like nobody is having fun, so let somebody else try DM'ing for a change... Maybe they can actually do a decent job.
rulerofDarkness
02-24-08, 08:23 PM Maybe if you can't DM, you shouldn't try it... It sounds like nobody is having fun, so let somebody else try DM'ing for a change... Maybe they can actually do a decent job.

Reread the text of the first post.
Clem-Da-Squig
02-24-08, 08:46 PM Maybe if you can't DM, you shouldn't try it... It sounds like nobody is having fun, so let somebody else try DM'ing for a change... Maybe they can actually do a decent job.

Maybe if you can't post nice, you shouldn't post at all?
rulerofDarkness
02-24-08, 09:23 PM Maybe if you can't post nice, you shouldn't post at all?

THANK YOU!!

have a cookie:cookie:
Etarnon
02-25-08, 03:06 AM I'm curious as to why players lose interest?

I mean if the ylose interest, it might be your style, and no adventure is gonna cure that. Could that be the root of the problem?

Tossing you an adventure seems to be a band aid.

what's the real core of the problem as to .. what do players say, what are your adventures like.

I say teach the OP to fish, don't throw him one.
rulerofDarkness
02-25-08, 12:15 PM I'm curious as to why players lose interest?

I mean if the ylose interest, it might be your style, and no adventure is gonna cure that. Could that be the root of the problem?

Tossing you an adventure seems to be a band aid.

what's the real core of the problem as to .. what do players say, what are your adventures like.

I say teach the OP to fish, don't throw him one.

He lost intrest because he wanted to play his new videogame. He never rejoined the campgin.

Oh and if you teach a DM to fish, he'll sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
Escef
02-25-08, 02:56 PM http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4arch/hook

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20030530b

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/mw

Good luck.
Grod_The_Giant
02-25-08, 03:06 PM I might suggest trying to start at a slightly higher level (say, level 5 or 6). This adds a bit more complexity, true, but usually not too much, and, in my mind at least, this is where classes start getting interesting. Druid gets wildshape, casters get third level spells (fifreball! SWEET!), paladins get their mount, and so on. Spellcasters don't run out of spells after one fight, but they also aren't gods. You don't die after one good hit. You can start introducing magical items. Plots more interesting then "clearing out a kobold warren" are possible. I started my first campaign at 6th.

Oh, and if you want to try an online campaign, I'm interested (though I still have to stick to a high-school schedule). I'm a DM who wants to try playing, so I could also give you a hand with plot hooks and such.
Etarnon
02-25-08, 07:58 PM He lost intrest because he wanted to play his new videogame. He never rejoined the campgin.

Good luck, maybe someone else can help you.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
rulerofDarkness 02-21-08, 09:27 PM	I am a relativly inexperinced DM. By "Inexperinced" I mean none of my camgins got off the ground. I ran a few sessions and my player lost intrest (Note to self NEVER play D&D with my brother again). I'm trying to get a group togather of my friends or if I get REALLY desperate..my parents. I even played a camgin alone once....yeah that really didn't go to well.....I had to cuss at myself for my "fudged" dice rolls :P . Basicly, I need an idea for a adventure and quick. Anything will do. Just keep in mind the players will at 1st level.
Mooncalf 02-21-08, 09:40 PM	Well, I can't help you with getting a group together, which I think is the major issue here, but a few adventure ideas? Sure. -The party has found clues/a map leading to an old tomb. They meet wild animals and maybe bandits along the way, as well as critters/guardians in the tomb. -Party braves The Black Forest, rumored to be haunted and populated by nasty creatures. Plenty of opportunities for all sorts of fun, like haunted towers, monster-infested caves, and evil wizards concocting their fell plans. -The town is constantly attacked by orcs, goblins and bandits. Someone has to break through the nasties outside to get a message to the nearby garrison. Along the way, clues suggest some outside person is orchestrating the whole mess to either gain political power in the area, complete a dark ritual, or find an artifact. The party needs to break up the dark alliance threatening town, and find out who is behind it all.
Mooncalf 02-21-08, 09:40 PM	Well, I can't help you with getting a group together, which I think is the major issue here, but a few adventure ideas? Sure. -The party has found clues/a map leading to an old tomb. They meet wild animals and maybe bandits along the way, as well as critters/guardians in the tomb. -Party braves The Black Forest, rumored to be haunted and populated by nasty creatures. Plenty of opportunities for all sorts of fun, like haunted towers, monster-infested caves, and evil wizards concocting their fell plans. -The town is constantly attacked by orcs, goblins and bandits. Someone has to break through the nasties outside to get a message to the nearby garrison. Along the way, clues suggest some outside person is orchestrating the whole mess to either gain political power in the area, complete a dark ritual, or find an artifact. The party needs to break up the dark alliance threatening town, and find out who is behind it all.
White_Wizard 02-22-08, 01:10 PM	As Mooncalf said, we cannot help you get a gaming group, but as for ideas, hey they're free! ;) Avoid the classic cliché of the tavern with the mysterious guy hiring PCs: it's really overused and everyone can bet that the mysterious guy is the villain luring PCs into a trap (and one may ask why bother: if he is the Big Bad Evil Guy, so powerful that armies tremble in his presence, why going to annoy a group of 1st level PCs? Moreover: why doesn't he kill them immediately, instead of allowing them to level up and being able to kick his a$$ at the end of the campaign?) So, good adventure ideas (well, I'll just give you some ideas: you judge wether they are good or not ;) ). - City guard attempts to arrest the PCs for a crime they didn't commit. They avoid capture/break free and discover the true culprit. - The PCs are travelling in the wilderness when a storm forces them to try and find shelter in a ruined castle, but the castle is cursed and they discover they cannot escape from the point they used to enter: every exit appears to be sealed (try and trap them somewhere inside, so that they cannot simply choose to "climb on the castle's walls"). They have to find another way out, fighting the undead minions that live (obviously this is metaphoric ;) ) within the ruins of the castle. - Military authority tries to make the PCs join the army to fight in an ongoing war (choose if it is a defensive war or offensive, kepping in mind that this will probably affect a lot the PCs' reactions). This may come out in different ways, depending on players' choices: they may want to join the army or they may refuse that (in this case the authority may try to force them to do it). This can become pretty much intense as it gives players an authority figure to fight against (and they may like it a lot).
Captain_Madrick 02-22-08, 01:16 PM	I like to start with one player already having a map or mysterious item that they know nothing about, and one other player does. Or they need to investigate it, and this opens a hook for them. If they're at level one, maybe have a really small encounter (like an ambushing party of gnolls) have a bigger plot hook. Maybe they have a mysterious item on them...something seemingly very powerful, or something very recognizable (a specific king's crown), but something gnolls shouldn't have on them... This saves the whole "hired to adventure" start, and lets the PCs feel like they're choosing their own adventures...
Dunsel 02-22-08, 04:11 PM	One of the PCs, doesn't matter which one, stumbles upon an old book while cleaning in the attic. Yes, you start out cleaning the attic. This sets up the reason to adventure. He has never met his father and his mother is very tight-lipped about the details. The book turns out to be an adventuring journal! The author is unknown. All you have to do is create a journal. You don't have to create too many pages. Most can be garbage and/or ruined by the passage of time. I would write them on brown colored paper and then mess them up. You know, stomp on them, crumple them up, pour coffee on them, burn a couple, etc. to make them look aged. The journal has a map and directions to a local cave in a hidden valley. There are traps and a few monsters. Draw the caves and label the rooms. Decide on the monsters and traps. Edit: Now that I think about it, this sounds like the Goonies!
rulerofDarkness 02-24-08, 05:55 PM	K, My mom has joined the campgin, She's going to be playing a CG Yuan-Ti Pureblood 1st-level druid. My dad will creating his Character after dinner.
DarkflameX 02-24-08, 07:57 PM	maybe if things dont work out try setting up an online campaign. im sure you could find plenty of people on these boards
rulerofDarkness 02-24-08, 08:16 PM	maybe if things dont work out try setting up an online campaign. im sure you could find plenty of people on these boards I'll keep that in mind.
metalmayhem80110 02-24-08, 08:18 PM	Maybe if you can't DM, you shouldn't try it... It sounds like nobody is having fun, so let somebody else try DM'ing for a change... Maybe they can actually do a decent job.
rulerofDarkness 02-24-08, 08:23 PM	Maybe if you can't DM, you shouldn't try it... It sounds like nobody is having fun, so let somebody else try DM'ing for a change... Maybe they can actually do a decent job. Reread the text of the first post.
Clem-Da-Squig 02-24-08, 08:46 PM	Maybe if you can't DM, you shouldn't try it... It sounds like nobody is having fun, so let somebody else try DM'ing for a change... Maybe they can actually do a decent job. Maybe if you can't post nice, you shouldn't post at all?
rulerofDarkness 02-24-08, 09:23 PM	Maybe if you can't post nice, you shouldn't post at all? THANK YOU!! have a cookie:cookie:
Etarnon 02-25-08, 03:06 AM	I'm curious as to why players lose interest? I mean if the ylose interest, it might be your style, and no adventure is gonna cure that. Could that be the root of the problem? Tossing you an adventure seems to be a band aid. what's the real core of the problem as to .. what do players say, what are your adventures like. I say teach the OP to fish, don't throw him one.
rulerofDarkness 02-25-08, 12:15 PM	I'm curious as to why players lose interest? I mean if the ylose interest, it might be your style, and no adventure is gonna cure that. Could that be the root of the problem? Tossing you an adventure seems to be a band aid. what's the real core of the problem as to .. what do players say, what are your adventures like. I say teach the OP to fish, don't throw him one. He lost intrest because he wanted to play his new videogame. He never rejoined the campgin. Oh and if you teach a DM to fish, he'll sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
Escef 02-25-08, 02:56 PM	http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4arch/hook http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20030530b http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/mw Good luck.
Grod_The_Giant 02-25-08, 03:06 PM	I might suggest trying to start at a slightly higher level (say, level 5 or 6). This adds a bit more complexity, true, but usually not too much, and, in my mind at least, this is where classes start getting interesting. Druid gets wildshape, casters get third level spells (fifreball! SWEET!), paladins get their mount, and so on. Spellcasters don't run out of spells after one fight, but they also aren't gods. You don't die after one good hit. You can start introducing magical items. Plots more interesting then "clearing out a kobold warren" are possible. I started my first campaign at 6th. Oh, and if you want to try an online campaign, I'm interested (though I still have to stick to a high-school schedule). I'm a DM who wants to try playing, so I could also give you a hand with plot hooks and such.
Etarnon 02-25-08, 07:58 PM	He lost intrest because he wanted to play his new videogame. He never rejoined the campgin. Good luck, maybe someone else can help you.