Beginning Campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Beginning Campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Aramek
10-28-03, 06:35 PM I will be starting a Campaign of 4 1st levels.

I have most of the plot thought of, but what are some of your ideas?

I'd like to see what you fellow DMs do for story/combat ideas.

OTHER than the Orcs come looking for trouble.

Much thanks.
Damren
10-28-03, 08:17 PM It can really be all over the place as far as plot, setting, story & combat. Low CR creatures are not the only way to go. You can have town problems, political issues, missing children, a pyromaniac who burned down the church, river flooding, abandoned farms, strange lights over the woods.

I started one game with a massive forest fire. It drew the PCs like flies. They never figured out how it started, but had to deal with the challanges of all the creatures fleeing from it. It was stopped by druids using control weather, but the PCs only saw the rain and assumed out of sight aid. They ended up involved in a murder mystery involving those talking ape creatures I can't remember the name of (Dakko?).

Most stories start with elements of the location and work up from there unless you have something specific planned. If you just assume your part is together, you can start anyplace. If you want to stage a meeing, like the above mentioned forest fire, you might need to set-up something more specific (I try to make things a little memorable).

When my last, higher level, party reformed (a few old, a few new characters) it started in a library with a 'angel' crashing through a flaming gate. All the characters happened to be in various sections of the library at the time.

Did you have something specific in mind?
Aramek
10-28-03, 08:26 PM Nothing specfic, I just want some example situatons/encounters of low level people.

I havent played low level in a long time. So help me out with encounters.
Peter Bergholtz
10-28-03, 09:00 PM Why not start in a smaller area. Make up some minor caves, ruins, mountains etc. that could be used for small adventures. Then You build a village or some other settlement, an monastary or a castle. Make this the characters "base" and let them go wild in your new creation. If you then populate the settlement with NPC who have different agendas and all want to have help with an adventure or something equal. You are set to go.

These missions don´t have to include combat, it could easily be simple things like "take A to B." Some of the "missions" involve the mainplot others don´t.

Use random encountertables and all other tricks that makes the PCs feel that the world don´t resolve around them...

Anyhow this is how I usually start an lvl 1 Campaign. or Adventure. Good luck. :)
Peter Bergholtz
10-28-03, 09:06 PM Some lvl 1 adventure seeds...

Find a lost child in the wilderness.

Predators that are after some sheep or other lifestock.

Moonrats (MM2) that iniltrate a farmhouse in order to steal the grain.

A wounded animal - Boar or something like that that is terrorizing the farmers.

Rumors of a banditcave hidden among the hills. The Magistrate offers a reward.

Hrrmmh. I got more if need them.. :D
devinmdp
10-28-03, 10:24 PM My 1st level plots used in my current campaign:

1. A merchant house wants to corner a seasonal market. They smuggle ash rats into the city and are going to use them to burn rival warehouses to the ground. The plot is uncovered by the PCs, who must stop the plan.

2. PCs are hired by a wizard to get drops of fey blood for an experiment. They hear a tavern song about a Lady of Dunwood, who waits for her lover to return to her, who seems to be a fey. They head to Dunwood and find the Lady, a Dryad. She believes her lover was returning to her and was kidnapped by some kobolds. She will offer drops of her blood if the PCs rescue her beloved.

The above descriptions don't completely do the scenarios justice. You can find these and more on my website (see below).

Devin
Captain Obvious
10-28-03, 10:28 PM It would help if you'd provide some more information about your gaming group and their characters.

Are they predominantly sword swingers?
Spell-slingers?
Obsidianjaerc
10-28-03, 11:08 PM Well if you need adventure ideas here are a ton.

1001 Old Adventure Ideas (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44445)

most are either sutiable to 1st level or can be adapted and if none of those appealt o you here are a few more

1000 New Adventure Ideas (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51882)
Ack'noth Necrom
10-29-03, 12:34 AM 1) A rich noble/merchants child has been kidnapped by bandits/bugbears/goblins/etc for ransom and the rich guy looks to the PCs for help.

2) A strange string of murders is happening in X city. The authorities are offering a reward to anyone thats able to stop the murders or bring the person to justice.

3) X city has lost contact with a prison/insane asylum/hospital in the nearby mountains. After sending several squads of soldiers out that have not returened they are offering a reward to anyone able to find out what happened and bring back proof of it.

4) Someone in town is a werewolf!

5) For some reason the dead have been rising from the locals graveyard. The locals request the PCs assistance in putting their souls to rest.

6) The bandits of X woods have grown increasingly disruptive lately, the authorities have had no luck in finding their location so they offer a reward to anyone that has information leading to the bandits arrest.

7) the ghost of a long dead important person has risen for some reason. It haunts the area it liked best in life while terrorizing the people. The PCs are asked to help

Hmm thats all i got off the top of my head, but its a start.
WenElentara
10-29-03, 12:00 PM Originally posted by Aramek
I will be starting a Campaign of 4 1st levels.

I have most of the plot thought of, but what are some of your ideas?

I'd like to see what you fellow DMs do for story/combat ideas.

OTHER than the Orcs come looking for trouble.

Much thanks.

OK first off NONE us really can help you without some hint to YOUR PLOT. Where you wanting to go. What you want the players to do???
Find a sleeping Tarrasque and take a scale from it?????
Or go the the Liche Lord's Kingdom and tell him the the King sent you to tell him to surrendor .

LOL sorry that was mean. But really Give me a HINT to as what your plot is. Then you can get much more better Encounters to fit in with your Plot.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aramek 10-28-03, 06:35 PM	I will be starting a Campaign of 4 1st levels. I have most of the plot thought of, but what are some of your ideas? I'd like to see what you fellow DMs do for story/combat ideas. OTHER than the Orcs come looking for trouble. Much thanks.
Damren 10-28-03, 08:17 PM	It can really be all over the place as far as plot, setting, story & combat. Low CR creatures are not the only way to go. You can have town problems, political issues, missing children, a pyromaniac who burned down the church, river flooding, abandoned farms, strange lights over the woods. I started one game with a massive forest fire. It drew the PCs like flies. They never figured out how it started, but had to deal with the challanges of all the creatures fleeing from it. It was stopped by druids using control weather, but the PCs only saw the rain and assumed out of sight aid. They ended up involved in a murder mystery involving those talking ape creatures I can't remember the name of (Dakko?). Most stories start with elements of the location and work up from there unless you have something specific planned. If you just assume your part is together, you can start anyplace. If you want to stage a meeing, like the above mentioned forest fire, you might need to set-up something more specific (I try to make things a little memorable). When my last, higher level, party reformed (a few old, a few new characters) it started in a library with a 'angel' crashing through a flaming gate. All the characters happened to be in various sections of the library at the time. Did you have something specific in mind?
Aramek 10-28-03, 08:26 PM	Nothing specfic, I just want some example situatons/encounters of low level people. I havent played low level in a long time. So help me out with encounters.
Peter Bergholtz 10-28-03, 09:00 PM	Why not start in a smaller area. Make up some minor caves, ruins, mountains etc. that could be used for small adventures. Then You build a village or some other settlement, an monastary or a castle. Make this the characters "base" and let them go wild in your new creation. If you then populate the settlement with NPC who have different agendas and all want to have help with an adventure or something equal. You are set to go. These missions don´t have to include combat, it could easily be simple things like "take A to B." Some of the "missions" involve the mainplot others don´t. Use random encountertables and all other tricks that makes the PCs feel that the world don´t resolve around them... Anyhow this is how I usually start an lvl 1 Campaign. or Adventure. Good luck. :)
Peter Bergholtz 10-28-03, 09:06 PM	Some lvl 1 adventure seeds... Find a lost child in the wilderness. Predators that are after some sheep or other lifestock. Moonrats (MM2) that iniltrate a farmhouse in order to steal the grain. A wounded animal - Boar or something like that that is terrorizing the farmers. Rumors of a banditcave hidden among the hills. The Magistrate offers a reward. Hrrmmh. I got more if need them.. :D
devinmdp 10-28-03, 10:24 PM	My 1st level plots used in my current campaign: 1. A merchant house wants to corner a seasonal market. They smuggle ash rats into the city and are going to use them to burn rival warehouses to the ground. The plot is uncovered by the PCs, who must stop the plan. 2. PCs are hired by a wizard to get drops of fey blood for an experiment. They hear a tavern song about a Lady of Dunwood, who waits for her lover to return to her, who seems to be a fey. They head to Dunwood and find the Lady, a Dryad. She believes her lover was returning to her and was kidnapped by some kobolds. She will offer drops of her blood if the PCs rescue her beloved. The above descriptions don't completely do the scenarios justice. You can find these and more on my website (see below). Devin
Captain Obvious 10-28-03, 10:28 PM	It would help if you'd provide some more information about your gaming group and their characters. Are they predominantly sword swingers? Spell-slingers?
Obsidianjaerc 10-28-03, 11:08 PM	Well if you need adventure ideas here are a ton. 1001 Old Adventure Ideas (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44445) most are either sutiable to 1st level or can be adapted and if none of those appealt o you here are a few more 1000 New Adventure Ideas (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51882)
Ack'noth Necrom 10-29-03, 12:34 AM	1) A rich noble/merchants child has been kidnapped by bandits/bugbears/goblins/etc for ransom and the rich guy looks to the PCs for help. 2) A strange string of murders is happening in X city. The authorities are offering a reward to anyone thats able to stop the murders or bring the person to justice. 3) X city has lost contact with a prison/insane asylum/hospital in the nearby mountains. After sending several squads of soldiers out that have not returened they are offering a reward to anyone able to find out what happened and bring back proof of it. 4) Someone in town is a werewolf! 5) For some reason the dead have been rising from the locals graveyard. The locals request the PCs assistance in putting their souls to rest. 6) The bandits of X woods have grown increasingly disruptive lately, the authorities have had no luck in finding their location so they offer a reward to anyone that has information leading to the bandits arrest. 7) the ghost of a long dead important person has risen for some reason. It haunts the area it liked best in life while terrorizing the people. The PCs are asked to help Hmm thats all i got off the top of my head, but its a start.
WenElentara 10-29-03, 12:00 PM	Originally posted by Aramek I will be starting a Campaign of 4 1st levels. I have most of the plot thought of, but what are some of your ideas? I'd like to see what you fellow DMs do for story/combat ideas. OTHER than the Orcs come looking for trouble. Much thanks. OK first off NONE us really can help you without some hint to YOUR PLOT. Where you wanting to go. What you want the players to do??? Find a sleeping Tarrasque and take a scale from it????? Or go the the Liche Lord's Kingdom and tell him the the King sent you to tell him to surrendor . LOL sorry that was mean. But really Give me a HINT to as what your plot is. Then you can get much more better Encounters to fit in with your Plot.