Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 RCNovak Jul 14, 2015 10:05:10	*Spoilers Ahead for Tyranny of the Dragon Campaign* So, I'm DMing for a group of friends and I have a mixed-bag of players with some experience, to little experience, to none at all. So far the game has been running smoothly... but two of the players who joined late (and in particular, one) are brand-new and are still trying to grasp the game and what it really means. Although they are enjoying themselves and the story, I don't really feel like they are invested in the narrative and I believe it's partly my fault, seeing as they came in after I did most of the brainstorming for the party before we started. I feel like I have everyone involved in the plot in a cool and unique way, and I just want all the players to have equal moments to shine and have their moment(s). The party (and their hooks) go like this... 1. Tiefling Vengeance Paladin of Hoar, a member of the Order of the Gauntlet. Was raised by Ontharr Frume after her village was destroyed, so Ontharr took her in as her squire. He tried to get her to follow Tyr/Torm/Helm (the Triad), but revenge was in her heart and she couldn't relate to their conventional style of "justice". To help her complete her training, he introduced her to another deity recognized but not often worshipped by the Gauntlet... Hoar. They've been seperated for a few years now, but when they meet it will be a happy reunion. 2. Half-Elf Valor Bard, Folk Hero background. Grew up dreaming of becoming a hero, listening to old tales of saviors and swordsmen. When he actually repelled a hostile takeover of his hometown, he got his first taste of heroic victory and decided he needed to pursue it in the world. This means he had to leave behind his childhood best friend and true love, Talis... who eventually joins the cult as Talis the White. He was on his way to visit her before the Greenrest was attacked, and has been desperately searching for her. It'll be a big surprise when he finds out what she's become. 3. Forest Gnome Wild Magic Sorcerer. Has been having awful cataclysmic visions of the end times, and has been trying to find out what it means. Little does he know those arent dreams, but visions of his past life. He was once an ancient Copper Dragon in service to Bahamut who was slain by a war with Tiamat in ages past. He has a mysterious Dragonmark, but not idea what it means. When it gets his 9th level Spell, he'll be gaining "Shapechange" (despite it not typically being on the Sorc list) and the ability to assume his old form. 4. Halfling Rogue, Urchin Background. Was an orphan on the streets of Greenrest, so this attack on his home is incredibly personal. He was actually away on "business" before the attack hit, and he was riding back in on the caravan when he saw it aflame and attacked by the dragon. His motivation practically writes itself as he mets characters from the town he might have seen before whislt living there, and trying to protect them. 5. Human Knowledge Cleric of Oghma, Scholar background with the optional Dragon Scholar feature. Studied for years with the Monks of Candlekeep, with a particular interest in dragons and draconic lore. Although she never traveled with Leosin, she is familair with his name and his accomplishments, might have studied under him for a time, and will recognize his name when he is introduced to the story for the rescue. One of the newer players, but I feel like this will service her well enough. 6. That brings us to my last player, a Wood Elf Hunter-Ranger. Right now she really loves combat and killing things, but thats kind of as far as her character development goes. I'd love to give her more to work with. I thought about introducing her as a sort of Dragon-Slayer (one of her favored enemies is Dragons...), but beyond that she has little motivation to be in the party. I was thinking as a Ranger maybe I could tie her storyline in with the Emerlad Enclave and their business with trying to maintain order and balance in the world (Tiamat would definitetly toss that up); but reading through the adventure books I havent seen an NPC representative of the faction or their interests. Any help fleshing her out would be greatly appreciated... I want her first experience with D&D to be really awersome and involved!
#2 BRJN Jul 14, 2015 15:03:06	The opening chapter of Rise of Tiamat has NPC leaders for all the factions.   While Rangers like to think they are self-sufficient, they are actually kidding themselves.  Ever see a ranger make himself a new pair of boots?  (Pick something everyday that she doesn't have Tool Proficiency for, replace 'boots').  They need a healthy society and economy doing its thing quietly in the background.  Then the Cult shows up and trashes whole towns, taking everything not nailed down.  NOBODY is worrying about making boots any more, they are building walls and things - and chopping down whole forests to get the lumber for it, too. To get her own life back to normal, she has to find and stop these chaos-causers.  Tracking a few down personally would be a good thing, too.
#3 RCNovak Jul 14, 2015 16:05:25	BRJN wrote:
#4 BRJN Jul 18, 2015 16:06:59	Personis Dramatae * Remallia Haventree, Harper and noble of Waterdeep.  Good luck trying to kill her, though - the previous attempt got her husband, a Masked Lord of Waterdeep, instead - and turned an irate City of Waterdeep into an alerted and fortifying war camp. * Ontharr Frume, Order of the Gauntlet * Delaan Winterhound, Emerald Enclave * Lady Laeral Silverhand of Waterdeep, who has done almost everything there is to do in the upper power circles of Waterdeep * Lord Dagult Neverember, Open Lord of Waterdeep and Lord Protector of Neverwinter * Connerad Brawnanvil, ambassador for dwarven fortress Mithral Hall * Marshall Ulder Ravengard, head of the city of Balders Gate's mercenary police / army * King Melandrach of the Misty Forest, also leader for High Forest elves. * Taern "Thunderspells" Hornblade, High mage of Silverymoon * Sir Isteval, Duke of Daggerford, Purple Dragon Knight of Cormyr, retired adventurer, dragonslayer   Note that all the lords and ladies and heads of state are probably out of reach for a typical assassin.  In that case, target their household servants, friends, allies, anybody who visits them "on important business".   Jamna Gleamsilver is a secret member of the Zhentarim, introduced during the caravan chapter of HotDQ.  Have her track down / locate the Cult's treasure caravan for an agent PC to follow, then depart on important business elsewhere.   Also note that Darkhold, the main Zhent base in all Western Faerun, is not far from the Well of Dragons, the Cult's primary base in all the world.  If the Cult is gathering an army at the Well, where do you suppose it might first be employed?