Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 sakurazukamori Sep 01, 2008 10:45:38	Hey, I've finally been convinced to run my first 3.5 game EVER and I'm basically clueless on what to do. I'm excited about it but at the same time I don't want to get criticized by my players who are almost all 10+ year players. I was thinking about sending them to Xen'drik but need help on the specifics. Thanx a lot all!
#2 need_a_life Sep 01, 2008 17:13:15	Well, if you're saying 10+, I'm guessing that means they're all fairly young? In that case, I'd suggest not playing up the noir so much, but increasing the pulp level to near-nauseating levels. Dragons and so on make excellent opponents. Secrets of Xen'drik would obviously help a lot. Otherwise, here's a basic idea: The PCs are hired to find an Eldritch Device, that has been causing undead to spawn spontaneously from corpses all over Stormreach (Note: possibility for encounters with zombies and wights and so on, giving the PCs a chance to get used to their abilities). Diviners have figured out that the device causing all this havok is in the hands of the Sulatar tribe (fireworshipping Drow) who live in the Xen'drik jungle. The PCs now have to find their way through the wilderness (Note: possibly add in a guide they need to protect. Expert 2 or something like that) fighting weird creatures underway (it is Xen'drik after all) until they make their way to the tribe. Underway they begin encountering Drow, who use hit-and-run techniques and poison to tip the scale of the fight. Set up a tough encounter here. The PCs should be able to win if they play smart [If they lose, they're captured and tied up and later given the chance to fight for their freedom], but the fights outcome should be up in the air. After that, they can destroy the eldritch device (and old artifact made during the Age of Giants). Just a basic idea, of course.
#3 sakurazukamori Sep 01, 2008 18:20:35	Thank you for the awsome advice! ^.^ I'll take that into account when I start trying to plan this monster. I especially like bringing in the Drow. Also, I didn't mean that they were all 10years old but that they had all been playing D&D for more that 10 years each.
#4 jello_ninja Sep 01, 2008 18:26:32	Need a life i like your idea undead are always fun if a bit overused anyway... From my experience running games keeping the party interested at all times is key. Try not to have to much down (thumbing through books and the such) take notes on what monsters, places, magic stuff, and NPCs you will be using. Notes dont have to be to detailed they just need to be enough for you things like names, HP, attack and damage, things of interest at places, and when and where you will fight these monsters. Also random encounters are a good way to surprise the party the charts for those are on DMG page# 78 for dungeon and 95 for wilderness. Just always keep in mind that simple doesnt mean bad, just try to stay incharhge the hole time dont let the game run you. Goodluck and have fun:D
#5 johnkretzer Sep 01, 2008 22:13:34	Hey, I've finally been convinced to run my first 3.5 game EVER and I'm basically clueless on what to do. I'm excited about it but at the same time I don't want to get criticized by my players who are almost all 10+ year players. I was thinking about sending them to Xen'drik but need help on the specifics. Thanx a lot all! My suggestion is to relax and not to worry about it. With such a experienced group you could almost let them run it by themselves with just some small hooks put out by you. Also except any constructive critizim they give you and learn from it. That is how we learn. That is how I learned. Though I don't know about your group of players to know if they can give constructive critizism.
#6 need_a_life Sep 02, 2008 7:18:28	Oh, if they've played for over 10 years rather than being 10 years, I'd like to suggest trying to run the new Pathfinder series; Second Shadow. It's set in a city much like Stormreach and hooks the PCs in with a simple elegance.
#7 kobald_shepered Sep 02, 2008 10:18:39	Oh the fun I remember when i first started playing. The first games i recomend running should be one shot adventures not huge epic campaigns. Simple ideas work best, standard dungeon crawls in Xen' drik can be anything at all. The best ones I think are the ruins of giant cities, underground drow hang outs, maybe and outpost for the emerald claw . Anything can happen in xen drik and i mean anything, as far as im concerned xendrik is more unstable than the mournland. Keep that in mind when you run your first game and just let your mind run with it. P.S. the jello ninja was right about using notes it has always help me peace out and may the shepered always guide you
#8 Dargurd Sep 02, 2008 13:14:48	I often find starting them in the middle of a fight is a great way to get the game going - obviously dont wipe them all out as you want the game to grow with the players ! Perhaps they have travelled to Xen'Drik (this could be done as a vocal intro) where they have made their way to the ancient cyclopean ruins of Ty'Nak Dal. After a brief rest they had slowly made their way inside only to be ambushed by several lizard like creatures who hurled rocks at them - start the game at this point. Just an idea. And finally some advice - relax, get yourself a cup of coffee, some munchies, roll the dice and above all HAVE FUN.
#9 kobald_shepered Sep 03, 2008 11:15:16	Hey again did you by chance read Keith Bakers Dreaming Dark trilogy it has a good bucnh of stuff in xendrik. Another good example of xendrik is the dark forest in the dragonlance novels (the one with all the undead). Just use that creep factor things like you always feel like your being watched, breaking branchs and creaking trees like something is following you, and dont forget about wild life regular creatures can be just as scary as monsters if used right. Plus I read that monkeys are making weapons now so, monkeys with clubs and spears could be bad for the party. Another good thing to consider is that your party isnt the only adventuring party fights with other groups of explorers could be an exciting change from the standard monster battles, just a thought. Also consider reading up on jungles as an entity a jungle alone can kill someone with things like bugs, snakes, natural pit falls, quick sand, giant man eating plants (there are plants big enough to eat monkeys just use your imagineation), all kinds of fungus. Just think about everything and you can have the party in trouble before the even fight the bad guys. P.S. please pst what the party his (classes and levels) and i might have an adventure in mind.
#10 sakurazukamori Sep 03, 2008 20:17:31	Since it's my very first game my husband want me to do a test run with just him playing a 5th level factotum... As far as the dreaming dark series my husband has it, I haven't gotten around to reading them yet but thanks a lot!!
#11 kobald_shepered Sep 09, 2008 12:56:30	Sorry i havnt posted in a while little one but i have been argueing with my publisher who is a big jer who wants to much money. Anyway one fifth level factotum it should be a fairly easy game to run. That class is hard to have in a game because they can prepare for anything with enough money. Just remember what i said in my lasyt post and everything should be fine all you need is some simple jungles hazards to make him waste resources before the bi fights in your game. If he can still servive then you have a guy that really knows his **** and should create settings not play them. Well goodluck and I hope it goes well for you.
#12 Alter_Boy Sep 09, 2008 13:09:34	If you're just starting out, I'd suggest making the first six sessions 1-shots, episodes that start and conclude in one session.