Building a Town [Archive] - Wizards Community

Building a Town [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lord Obsidian
12-28-06, 10:23 AM Alright, heres the story thus far. It all began several months ago (game time) when a small band of mercenaries wandered into the quiet village of Waybury. The four mercenaries, began to preform various tasks across the region, from clearing the roads of bandits, to stopping a drow plot to kidnap an aristocrates daughter, to defeating the terrible blue dragon that tried to conquer the kingdom.

Now the characters are very well known in the island kingdom they are on, and because of their triumph against the blue dragon (A truely epic battle that took place in and underground desert created by the dragons magic.) the king has proclaimed the now retired mercenaries, barons of the western region. Along with this title he has provided them with twenty soliders (all 1st lvl warriors), and a few dozen commoners for them to establish the capitol of their barony.

Which brings me to my question. What sort of things could occur dureing the founding of this town that would require the characters attention? For example, one idea I had, was to have a tribe of orcs or other nasty critter living near the area the characters intend to settle. This sets up the opportunity for them to try diplomacy, or to attack the tribe and drive them out.

By the way, the region is temperate with mountains in the north, a large forest to the south, and a river running down the middle. The characters plan to establish their town right at the central bend in the river, pretty much the middle of the region they will govern. There is also a small village of wild elves living in the forest, who may or may not like the humans moving so close to their home.

The party consist of four 10th level characters. A human fighter who really likes his longsword. A dwarven cleric of strength and luck. An elven rogue who is unriveled with the long bow (kinda robin hoodish), and a halfling wizard with a feline familiar.

So what ideas do you have?
Need_A_Life
12-28-06, 10:41 AM Maybe nothing.

To me it seems an ideal time to retire characters...

Then again...
- As the foundation of [castle/church/major building of note] was being built, it revealed a formerly buried passageway to [dungeon #7513].
- Some people believe that an upstart barony led by inexperienced travellers would be easy to take contol of. They send an infiltrator to manipulate the group.
- Merchants make aggressive negotiations for various rights in the area (aggressive, though NOT with a lightsaber!), forcing the group to "fight on the defensive" having to keep merchants interested but without getting ripped off in the process.
- Nobility decide that these upstart "heroes" need to declare allegience, seeing as how having loose cannons would upset the status quo.
- Assassins are killing people, seemingly at random. It wouldn't be that much of a problem if it wasn't because it has created factions in the town, each blaming the others for the killings. Meanwhile, whoever hired the assassin watches with glee as the town crumbles...

Just off the top of my head
Misfit815
12-28-06, 10:58 AM And most importantly, hit 'em with all of these at once.
BlueBlazer
12-28-06, 01:44 PM I like the Passage To Dungeon idea. I also think you should put in a nearby hostile force (mountain orcs) AND an unfriendly force (maybe the elf village doesn't Take Kindly to intruders, or, better still, change the village into a Tribe of Wild Elves... something that calls for diplomacy rather than head-smashin').

You could also have a rude, boorish NPC show up, some hunter/trapper type. Make him a complete berk, make him boast, give him a belt full of scalps (maybe goblin or something), have him tell obviously exaggerated tales. Then have him spread rumors about running into frost giants or cave trolls... which is the truth (there are frost giants/cave trolls but the PCs probably won't believe him...).

Once the town is established, have a group of obnoxious adventurers show up and act, well, like obnoxious adventurers (picking fights in the bar, insulting guards, generally acting like your party probably did when they visited towns).

Have some noble (the king's son/daughter/niece/etc.) show up, requiring the PCs to roll out the red carpet, wine and dine, and generally pamper this hoity-toity NPC.

Have someone catch a talking fish, one that gives wise (if cryptic) advice. This won't go anywhere or lead to any adventures or anything... it is (literally) a Red Herring.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord Obsidian 12-28-06, 10:23 AM	Alright, heres the story thus far. It all began several months ago (game time) when a small band of mercenaries wandered into the quiet village of Waybury. The four mercenaries, began to preform various tasks across the region, from clearing the roads of bandits, to stopping a drow plot to kidnap an aristocrates daughter, to defeating the terrible blue dragon that tried to conquer the kingdom. Now the characters are very well known in the island kingdom they are on, and because of their triumph against the blue dragon (A truely epic battle that took place in and underground desert created by the dragons magic.) the king has proclaimed the now retired mercenaries, barons of the western region. Along with this title he has provided them with twenty soliders (all 1st lvl warriors), and a few dozen commoners for them to establish the capitol of their barony. Which brings me to my question. What sort of things could occur dureing the founding of this town that would require the characters attention? For example, one idea I had, was to have a tribe of orcs or other nasty critter living near the area the characters intend to settle. This sets up the opportunity for them to try diplomacy, or to attack the tribe and drive them out. By the way, the region is temperate with mountains in the north, a large forest to the south, and a river running down the middle. The characters plan to establish their town right at the central bend in the river, pretty much the middle of the region they will govern. There is also a small village of wild elves living in the forest, who may or may not like the humans moving so close to their home. The party consist of four 10th level characters. A human fighter who really likes his longsword. A dwarven cleric of strength and luck. An elven rogue who is unriveled with the long bow (kinda robin hoodish), and a halfling wizard with a feline familiar. So what ideas do you have?
Need_A_Life 12-28-06, 10:41 AM	Maybe nothing. To me it seems an ideal time to retire characters... Then again... - As the foundation of [castle/church/major building of note] was being built, it revealed a formerly buried passageway to [dungeon #7513]. - Some people believe that an upstart barony led by inexperienced travellers would be easy to take contol of. They send an infiltrator to manipulate the group. - Merchants make aggressive negotiations for various rights in the area (aggressive, though NOT with a lightsaber!), forcing the group to "fight on the defensive" having to keep merchants interested but without getting ripped off in the process. - Nobility decide that these upstart "heroes" need to declare allegience, seeing as how having loose cannons would upset the status quo. - Assassins are killing people, seemingly at random. It wouldn't be that much of a problem if it wasn't because it has created factions in the town, each blaming the others for the killings. Meanwhile, whoever hired the assassin watches with glee as the town crumbles... Just off the top of my head
Misfit815 12-28-06, 10:58 AM	And most importantly, hit 'em with all of these at once.
BlueBlazer 12-28-06, 01:44 PM	I like the Passage To Dungeon idea. I also think you should put in a nearby hostile force (mountain orcs) AND an unfriendly force (maybe the elf village doesn't Take Kindly to intruders, or, better still, change the village into a Tribe of Wild Elves... something that calls for diplomacy rather than head-smashin'). You could also have a rude, boorish NPC show up, some hunter/trapper type. Make him a complete berk, make him boast, give him a belt full of scalps (maybe goblin or something), have him tell obviously exaggerated tales. Then have him spread rumors about running into frost giants or cave trolls... which is the truth (there are frost giants/cave trolls but the PCs probably won't believe him...). Once the town is established, have a group of obnoxious adventurers show up and act, well, like obnoxious adventurers (picking fights in the bar, insulting guards, generally acting like your party probably did when they visited towns). Have some noble (the king's son/daughter/niece/etc.) show up, requiring the PCs to roll out the red carpet, wine and dine, and generally pamper this hoity-toity NPC. Have someone catch a talking fish, one that gives wise (if cryptic) advice. This won't go anywhere or lead to any adventures or anything... it is (literally) a Red Herring.