Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FadeThen 01-02-08, 07:20 PM	Hello there- Fade here. I'm relatively new to DMing, and even D&D in general- I've not even been playing for half a year. I'm trying to get some new ideas for a campaign, because I have more fun running ones I make up instead of the bought ones. I currently have a good idea about a Bard Big Bag Evil Guy (BBEG) but I have no idea what to make him do to draw my player's attention. Any hints, tips and other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
Lord Obsidian 01-02-08, 07:42 PM	Lets see motivation for an evil bard.... Perhaps he is seeking a magical instrument that will allow him to do something terrible, and he attacks the local temple/library/whatever to find information on where it is. an example for the instrument would be something like The Harp of Discord, crafted of human bones and strung with hair from the god of death, when played the harp raises an army of undead under the controle of the one playing the harp. thats ust the first thing that came to mind. I'll post more if I think of any.
FadeThen 01-02-08, 08:02 PM	That's awesome! Now, how to build up 1st level characters to that...
EzraTwitch 01-02-08, 08:06 PM	What intrests your players? The approriate hook to draw in characters hinges on the intrests of the players.
FadeThen 01-02-08, 08:08 PM	My last and most successful campaign was one in which they played evil characters themselves, with one CN character who walked the line- they had the most fun manipulating the government and higherups for new loot and free bear/ale at the tavern. They love to joke and mess around- and I'm happy to have them do that.
sblaxman 01-02-08, 09:33 PM	Another would be have him be some kind of evil Pied-Piper, playing music and drawing local children away for some devious reason (cult/devil-pact). If you do the devil pact way, it could set up long term story too, if they do kill the BBB (big bad bard), then they might have a ****** all beatzu looking for them, maying sending other cultists from far reaches to get the party It's always nice to have a long term backup plan, if they get lucky and kill off your villian early, you need a plan to keep it going. With a background "greater evil" story, you can use it to build the tension as the players gain levels.... they aren't going to send their level 15 wizard after a bunch of low level adventurers that killed off their bard, maybe send a mid-level guy... that way you can always have a back up BBEG in the long run. Just don't over abuse it, you don't want them to go through BBEG on a regular basis, but it gives a long term plan
PenderGrass 01-03-08, 02:49 PM	Bard Big Bag Evil Guy Save a druid, choose plastic. ;) :P All kidding aside, think about what type of things your players like to do in-game. Treasure? Role-playing? What? Once you figure that out, gear the bard to disrupt, tantalize or just be the focus of their desires. :dragon: *****
Khan2000 01-03-08, 03:16 PM	Another would be have him be some kind of evil Pied-Piper, playing music and drawing local children away for some devious reason (cult/devil-pact). If you do the devil pact way, it could set up long term story too, if they do kill the BBB (big bad bard), then they might have a ****** all beatzu looking for them, maying sending other cultists from far reaches to get the party You could have him running a school for aspiring musicians, but it's actually a front for more insidious things, a la Lady Elizabeth Bathory.
Lord Obsidian 01-03-08, 03:49 PM	This jsut occured to me, an expansion on my original suggestion combined with the pied-piper and expanded plot ideas: The evil bard establishes a school for musicians in a promenant city, useing charm spells and illusions to draw in students. From the collection of students, he then charms a select few who show great promise as bard (i.ei exhibit magical potential) and lures them away to the vault (dungeon) where the Hap of Discord awaits. He plans to sacrific the students to unseal the vault and obtain the harp. Why does he want the harp? To prove to (insert suitably powerful NPC) that he is worthy of a place by his side. Meanwhile the unamed NPC is busy with his own evil plot. This set up gives you a good adventure to start the gme wich involves both roleplaying opportunity and combat opportunity, and allows you to continue the game after the bard is dead, without struggling to keep the bard's plans alive. Anyway these are just rough ideas that are poping into my head as I read the thread. :P If you'd like me to stop I will. :cool:
twiggyleaf 01-03-08, 09:56 PM	Fade Then I see where you are at! The inherent problem (in my book) is that you are being too impatient! If this is (as you state) a campaign, you should hold off the BBEG till alot later but Make sure there are alot of LBEGs (Lesser Bad Evil Guys) that the party deal with through several adventures, hearing more and more about the BBEG as they go along. Keep bringing up clues about this Dude, wherever the players go. Eventually, they will feel almost like they know the guy so that when they DO eventually meet him, they will have a fairly good idea about who they are up against and why! That's my humble opinion! [If it works for Hitchcock and Blyton, why not us?????]
FadeThen 01-03-08, 10:49 PM	These are all really good ideas! Than you so much, everyone. I think I've just about got everything fixed. I'll be using my BBEB as the last villain in the great campaign, with some minions to lead them to it and build their characters. Thank you all so much- you've saved my game.
sblaxman 01-04-08, 04:32 PM	Fade Then [If it works for Hitchcock and Blyton, why not us?????] A great comment, I love to look at film and literature for inspiration... not about plots, but about set up. Think of jaws, the shark is barely seen, though it's "felt" for a long time... or ANYTHING hitchcock... watch his movies and learn about suspense, and how to build up tension without revealing WHO the villain is. It takes practice, but don't worry, the learning is the fun