While my players are playing through the Lost Mines of Phandelver it seems there is new interest to create their own thieves guild in the absence of the Redbrands.
As a DM, how does that start? What is required of players/characters. This is not setting/campaign/edition specific. But I'm wondering just how the players should go about it.
They've got the will, but what exactly is the way?
Any advice and help is much appreciated.
The first thing you do is hammer out what the players have in mind in further detail. What does it mean to them to have a thieves' guild?
From there, you can work with them to set up goals to achieve before they are fully established. Some examples might be setting up a hierarchy, a base of operations, acquiring operating capital, and bringing on personnel. Then, like any other situation, the DM puts obstacles in the way of achieving those goals for the players to overcome. That might be an established thieves' guild stepping into the vacuum, residents of Phandalin trying to block the acquisition of property by non-residents, deadly dungeons needing to be explored to get cash, and sifting loyal personnel from Zhentarim agents who actually work for Halia.
Then play to find out what happens.
iserith wrote:
Again, this is something I'd work with my players on. What kind of information do THEY think there is? Who might pay for that kind of information? I'd offer ideas of my own, but ultimately, this is their baby. I'd want to facilitate their ideas, then drop obstacles in between the PCs and their goals. Halia's likely to be an obstacle, even if she's an ally, in my view.
It's really going to come down to what the players have in mind when they say they want to establish a thieves' guild. Until that is nailed down, it's all speculation as to what to do next. Do any of the characters have the Criminal background? If so, have you worked out with that player who their criminal contact is?
iserith wrote:
No problem. I really advise DMs to look at the background features and ask their players about them. Use what they give you.
I find it's not really a matter of reactions going all one way. If the players are setting goals for themselves, your reaction as a DM is to put obstacles in the way of those goals. Taking on some goals (say, quests) may be a reaction to something you put in front of the players. What they do in the face of your obstacles is just another reaction. It's a give and take. Just because you have a location and quests and NPCs pursuing goals doesn't necessarily mean they're only reacting to you. It goes both ways, so I wouldn't worry about it. 