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Players starting backgrounds/hooks

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
diggles
Apr 23, 2010 8:11:43 So I'm going to be a first time GM when Darksun comes out. I've been pondering backgrounds and hooks as to why my players would be in the city Tyr. Have I left out any major good ones?

Freedom Fighter
They heard about the rebellion against the sorc-king here and came to join the fight. They've been in the city since

Refugee/Escaped Slave/Hunted Magic user
They have fled other more brutal towns to come to the 'free city' to try and build a new life

Mercenaries
Most of the other city states are corrupt and staff their own forces, while Tyr has a blooming economy of free lance mercs

Merchant
Similar to the mercenary. Less draconian laws encourage a blooming market and trade

Sage/Zealot/Prophet/Academic
They have been sent or coming to Tyr to learn some sort of knowledge, perhaps seeking out a new master to study under

Nomad/Thief
Tyr isnt as such a brutal city state compared to those run by the sorc-kings. Thieves dont get hung for petty crimes. With the blooming economy there are more pockets to pick.

Savior
They have come to find out the status of a friend/family member/spouse/mentor. Perhaps they were taken by slavers from a different town and possibly brought to Tyr. (Yes there is still underground slaver activity near the city)
#2
phoenix_m
Apr 23, 2010 8:40:39 Well Tyr does still have the only working iron mine around, kind of falls under the merchant background above but still worthy of note.
#3
Band2
Apr 23, 2010 9:19:32 Do you not want them to have started in Tyr? They could have been slaves recently freed.

Another possiblity, they are agents from another sorcerer-king, probably Hamanu, sent as spies to Tyr.

They could be from a tribe in the wastes, that perished. They are the only survivors and have come to the city because they can no longer survive in the wastes. Maybe the tribe's watering hole dried up.
#4
cerebus10
Apr 23, 2010 11:55:26 Ruined merchant is always cool, a buissnessman who had his riches taken from him or livestock/slaves eaten or otherwise lost all of his/her wealth and is looking to make is big once again.

You could always have the classic amnesia cliche. The player wandered into the city from the desert with no idea how they got there or who they are.

#5
diggles
Apr 23, 2010 14:21:43
Ruined merchant is always cool, a buissnessman who had his riches taken from him or livestock/slaves eaten or otherwise lost all of his/her wealth and is looking to make is big once again.

You could always have the classic amnesia cliche. The player wandered into the city from the desert with no idea how they got there or who they are.

Lol amnesia nice...but sounds like too much effort from me to work it into story! I was thinking of ways of tieing some of the hooks together. I do like the angle of losing livestock, as that fits the DS feel.

Like a nomad/thief comes to the city and then robs from the struggling merchant or mercenary.

The savior needs goods from merchant or mercenary/freedom fighter help.

The escaped slave is being hunted and asks the savior for help.
#6
big_goon
Apr 23, 2010 14:43:09 Why does Tyr have a booming economy? Why is Tyr less corrupt? Why is being a "free city" good?

If that's the way you'd like to swing things, "with freedom and democracy comes prosperity and peace", go ahead.

But... and maybe this is too much work... the removal of cheap labour and the decapitation of a leader that has held the throne for all memory in addition to the fact that Tyr has suffered financially in recent years because of Kalak's obsession to push off revenue into his pet project: the Zuggurat... this probably means that the city-state's life is hanging by a thread.

I'd just like to point out that the South US had many many years of economic hardship thrust upon them at the resolution of the civil war. Reconstruction was anything but a happy time for the south.

Just think of the saturation on the labour, mercenary and military markets. Slaves have virtually no skills besides their body: which probably means they'll be flooding the labour markets to make money for themselves.

Merchants, finding themselves in a warzone and a government that has just stripped them of cheap labour would probably choose to leave the city - taking as much wealth (and slaves) and their merchant guards with them.

The Templars find themselves without spells or support. They are probably scared for their lives if they ever choose to leave the Army combines. Suddenly the city has no police force, no firemen (which is important in a dry climate!!!). Petty crimes are probably dealt by individuals: the strong survive and their opinions is the law. Gang violence is probably at its worst! And individual theives, when caught, and probably dealt with by mobs.

The truth is that the city is probably facing huge financial, agricultural and resources deficits. It'll be a dog-eats-dog kinda place.

Of course, this presents some neat potential backgrounds for heros: Mages of the Veilled alliance (or defilers...) are finally free to practice their arts without reprocutions (thanks to Sadira); Slaves hired by the Council to protect the Iron Mines from any number of greedy enemies of the state; Members of a roving band of bandits that choose to take advantage of the instability and pillage unprotected merchants fleeing the city; Elves wishing to cash in big selling food and tools at inflated prices; Tyr Templars trying to find a new life without their King;
#7
diggles
Apr 23, 2010 21:23:51 Very Good points, but there has been enough time passed which is why Tyr's economy IS now booming. They have already endured this rebuilding phase and now the entire city prospers from the iron industry. Freedom in a society means competition. Compare the US to Soviet Union. When you have a draconian grip on the economy prices are fixed and there is no competition. In a free market people must compete, better ways of doing things are a nautral side effect.

I see a free and open society finding better ways of doing things then relying on slave labor. Tinkerers and magic users combine to make semi-automated features. Blue collar workers making an honest living produces much more results than an overworked slave.

This is not to say this play is utopia by any means. There is still much crime, although less violent crime, corruption in the government, political manuevering etc. But compared to the harsh ditactorships of the other sorc-king city states, Tyr is a nice place.
#8
el_ahrairah
Jun 17, 2010 23:30:44
You could always have the classic amnesia cliche. The player wandered into the city from the desert with no idea how they got there or who they are.

I'm going to emulate the 'Azure Bonds' Forgotten Realms novel to a degree, PCs wake with faded memory, all have identical bizarre tattoos on their arms (crimson, instead of azure I think), branded with glyphs of the parties involved in their creation.
#9
RalofTyr
Jun 22, 2010 1:18:10 Every PC came from somebody; they all had a mother / father, friends etc.
#10
Jacek
Jun 22, 2010 12:08:28
So I'm going to be a first time GM when Darksun comes out. I've been pondering backgrounds and hooks as to why my players would be in the city Tyr. Have I left out any major good ones?

Sage/Zealot/Prophet/Academic
They have been sent or coming to Tyr to learn some sort of knowledge, perhaps seeking out a new master to study under

This gave me an idea a templar, like finding a path to become a Zealot for a SK.

nice

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 diggles Apr 23, 2010 8:11:43	So I'm going to be a first time GM when Darksun comes out. I've been pondering backgrounds and hooks as to why my players would be in the city Tyr. Have I left out any major good ones? Freedom Fighter They heard about the rebellion against the sorc-king here and came to join the fight. They've been in the city since Refugee/Escaped Slave/Hunted Magic user They have fled other more brutal towns to come to the 'free city' to try and build a new life Mercenaries Most of the other city states are corrupt and staff their own forces, while Tyr has a blooming economy of free lance mercs Merchant Similar to the mercenary. Less draconian laws encourage a blooming market and trade Sage/Zealot/Prophet/Academic They have been sent or coming to Tyr to learn some sort of knowledge, perhaps seeking out a new master to study under Nomad/Thief Tyr isnt as such a brutal city state compared to those run by the sorc-kings. Thieves dont get hung for petty crimes. With the blooming economy there are more pockets to pick. Savior They have come to find out the status of a friend/family member/spouse/mentor. Perhaps they were taken by slavers from a different town and possibly brought to Tyr. (Yes there is still underground slaver activity near the city)
#2 phoenix_m Apr 23, 2010 8:40:39	Well Tyr does still have the only working iron mine around, kind of falls under the merchant background above but still worthy of note.
#3 Band2 Apr 23, 2010 9:19:32	Do you not want them to have started in Tyr? They could have been slaves recently freed. Another possiblity, they are agents from another sorcerer-king, probably Hamanu, sent as spies to Tyr. They could be from a tribe in the wastes, that perished. They are the only survivors and have come to the city because they can no longer survive in the wastes. Maybe the tribe's watering hole dried up.
#4 cerebus10 Apr 23, 2010 11:55:26	Ruined merchant is always cool, a buissnessman who had his riches taken from him or livestock/slaves eaten or otherwise lost all of his/her wealth and is looking to make is big once again. You could always have the classic amnesia cliche. The player wandered into the city from the desert with no idea how they got there or who they are.
#5 diggles Apr 23, 2010 14:21:43	Ruined merchant is always cool, a buissnessman who had his riches taken from him or livestock/slaves eaten or otherwise lost all of his/her wealth and is looking to make is big once again. You could always have the classic amnesia cliche. The player wandered into the city from the desert with no idea how they got there or who they are. Lol amnesia nice...but sounds like too much effort from me to work it into story! I was thinking of ways of tieing some of the hooks together. I do like the angle of losing livestock, as that fits the DS feel. Like a nomad/thief comes to the city and then robs from the struggling merchant or mercenary. The savior needs goods from merchant or mercenary/freedom fighter help. The escaped slave is being hunted and asks the savior for help.
#6 big_goon Apr 23, 2010 14:43:09	Why does Tyr have a booming economy? Why is Tyr less corrupt? Why is being a "free city" good? If that's the way you'd like to swing things, "with freedom and democracy comes prosperity and peace", go ahead. But... and maybe this is too much work... the removal of cheap labour and the decapitation of a leader that has held the throne for all memory in addition to the fact that Tyr has suffered financially in recent years because of Kalak's obsession to push off revenue into his pet project: the Zuggurat... this probably means that the city-state's life is hanging by a thread. I'd just like to point out that the South US had many many years of economic hardship thrust upon them at the resolution of the civil war. Reconstruction was anything but a happy time for the south. Just think of the saturation on the labour, mercenary and military markets. Slaves have virtually no skills besides their body: which probably means they'll be flooding the labour markets to make money for themselves. Merchants, finding themselves in a warzone and a government that has just stripped them of cheap labour would probably choose to leave the city - taking as much wealth (and slaves) and their merchant guards with them. The Templars find themselves without spells or support. They are probably scared for their lives if they ever choose to leave the Army combines. Suddenly the city has no police force, no firemen (which is important in a dry climate!!!). Petty crimes are probably dealt by individuals: the strong survive and their opinions is the law. Gang violence is probably at its worst! And individual theives, when caught, and probably dealt with by mobs. The truth is that the city is probably facing huge financial, agricultural and resources deficits. It'll be a dog-eats-dog kinda place. Of course, this presents some neat potential backgrounds for heros: Mages of the Veilled alliance (or defilers...) are finally free to practice their arts without reprocutions (thanks to Sadira); Slaves hired by the Council to protect the Iron Mines from any number of greedy enemies of the state; Members of a roving band of bandits that choose to take advantage of the instability and pillage unprotected merchants fleeing the city; Elves wishing to cash in big selling food and tools at inflated prices; Tyr Templars trying to find a new life without their King;
#7 diggles Apr 23, 2010 21:23:51	Very Good points, but there has been enough time passed which is why Tyr's economy IS now booming. They have already endured this rebuilding phase and now the entire city prospers from the iron industry. Freedom in a society means competition. Compare the US to Soviet Union. When you have a draconian grip on the economy prices are fixed and there is no competition. In a free market people must compete, better ways of doing things are a nautral side effect. I see a free and open society finding better ways of doing things then relying on slave labor. Tinkerers and magic users combine to make semi-automated features. Blue collar workers making an honest living produces much more results than an overworked slave. This is not to say this play is utopia by any means. There is still much crime, although less violent crime, corruption in the government, political manuevering etc. But compared to the harsh ditactorships of the other sorc-king city states, Tyr is a nice place.
#8 el_ahrairah Jun 17, 2010 23:30:44	You could always have the classic amnesia cliche. The player wandered into the city from the desert with no idea how they got there or who they are. I'm going to emulate the 'Azure Bonds' Forgotten Realms novel to a degree, PCs wake with faded memory, all have identical bizarre tattoos on their arms (crimson, instead of azure I think), branded with glyphs of the parties involved in their creation.
#9 RalofTyr Jun 22, 2010 1:18:10	Every PC came from somebody; they all had a mother / father, friends etc.
#10 Jacek Jun 22, 2010 12:08:28	So I'm going to be a first time GM when Darksun comes out. I've been pondering backgrounds and hooks as to why my players would be in the city Tyr. Have I left out any major good ones? Sage/Zealot/Prophet/Academic They have been sent or coming to Tyr to learn some sort of knowledge, perhaps seeking out a new master to study under This gave me an idea a templar, like finding a path to become a Zealot for a SK. nice