Bourne Identity style campaign - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Bourne Identity style campaign

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
hannibal_mago_barca
Jun 30, 2010 22:03:17 So I'm thinking about starting a campaign Bourne Identity style, starting the characters off amnesiac and with a force after them. I also like the idea of them working for the bad guys before going amnesiac. I'm pretty sure i wanna start low paragon high heroic...

So, since this will be my first adventure not from a book (even though i've done some serious conversion work) I need some help.

Who would make a good organization for the players to have worked for? The nations work but I'd prefer something more enveloping. What caused their amnesia? Spells? Alchemy gone wrong?

What would a first adventure look like?

Thanks for the help
#2
smeej
Jun 30, 2010 23:24:45 In regards to their amnesia, I think this would be an interesting chance to employ some of the Thief of Legend epic destiny fluff. Wizards introduced the ED this month and it involves being able to steal anything, even intangible things like love and memory. They could have been working for such a character when the need arose to dispose of them (they got too nosy / had a change of heart / learned something) and steal their knowledge.

After stealing their memories, the thief is unable or unwilling to finish them off, so they survive. The beginning of the campaign can be them waking up right after having their memories stolen and having the thief's minions already trying to track the heroes down to finish the job.

The thief could then be anyone and even become somewhat allied with the heroes if he still needs something from them. This sets up a good betrayal as well as some fun Darth Revan style revelations.

The characters memories can then even become an objective in the campaign, as the thief makes them tangible and holds onto them.
#3
Madfox11
Jul 01, 2010 5:24:05 Make very sure your players agree with your setup beforehand. Don't hesitate to provide some spoilers either. In my experience very few players like it when the DM messes with the backgrounds of their characters unless discussed beforehand. It is even more important if you want them to turn into heroes. It also prevents the obvious groans you will get, because while it can be a fun concept, it is a bit cliche ;)
#4
hannibal_mago_barca
Jul 01, 2010 11:28:53 They players will know ahead of time. I've also considered having it be a mix of players between 2 factions... still up in the air about the factions though.
#5
DBrigner
Jul 06, 2010 11:25:15 This is a cool idea but a tricky one. Many Green or "Power" players go with Amnesia just because it's easier to have no responsibilities. Be on the look out for players that are willing to exploit this (i.e. remind them that their morality is not based on their memories, that it's what they know inherantly to be right an wrong). Another great series to look at for ideas is the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic series. I wouldn't go as far as to turn one of you players into Revan, but maybe one did have some sort of "Unscrupulous Sidekick", etc.
#6
dharmatel
Jul 12, 2010 16:43:06 In an Eberron game I'm plaing in now we have a Revenant former-drow Assassin who lost his memories. He was on assignment in Cyre during the Mourning, reawoke as a Revenant.

In the campaign I ran last year, they were fighting a conspiracy of Illithids and Quori working together. At one point, the party was captured and awoke itemless in a "happy" village (thier minds had actually been trapped by the monsters powerful psionics.).
#7
m4kitsu
Jul 13, 2010 0:59:19
In the campaign I ran last year, they were fighting a conspiracy of Illithids and Quori working together. At one point, the party was captured and awoke itemless in a "happy" village (thier minds had actually been trapped by the monsters powerful psionics.).

...and the monster holding them there was represented by the just-ever-so-not-quite-right little girl in the playground at the center of the village, right? And the dog, never ignore the dog...

The Bourne-identity thing can be a lot of fun in a game, but I've only ever applied it to one PC in a party, never an entire group. I think it would be more difficult to do it with all of them. I imagine you might have to impel them toward common goals and altruism a bit (more than usual), since too many players will use amnesia as an excuse to run (even more) rampant.

@DBringer: Green players I'll let have it once for the sake of getting it out of their system. Anyone who I think is angling for an advantage with it I let go for a while -once they've proven the character's reputation, then I'll spring all the nastiness on them. I like it when I player tries to duck campaign involvement by doing this -because they just became the main character.

As an aside, I once had a player play the amnesia card knowing full well what I'd do with it -the result was a truely epic character arc, since she played along with me as much as I did her. Good times.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 hannibal_mago_barca Jun 30, 2010 22:03:17	So I'm thinking about starting a campaign Bourne Identity style, starting the characters off amnesiac and with a force after them. I also like the idea of them working for the bad guys before going amnesiac. I'm pretty sure i wanna start low paragon high heroic... So, since this will be my first adventure not from a book (even though i've done some serious conversion work) I need some help. Who would make a good organization for the players to have worked for? The nations work but I'd prefer something more enveloping. What caused their amnesia? Spells? Alchemy gone wrong? What would a first adventure look like? Thanks for the help
#2 smeej Jun 30, 2010 23:24:45	In regards to their amnesia, I think this would be an interesting chance to employ some of the Thief of Legend epic destiny fluff. Wizards introduced the ED this month and it involves being able to steal anything, even intangible things like love and memory. They could have been working for such a character when the need arose to dispose of them (they got too nosy / had a change of heart / learned something) and steal their knowledge. After stealing their memories, the thief is unable or unwilling to finish them off, so they survive. The beginning of the campaign can be them waking up right after having their memories stolen and having the thief's minions already trying to track the heroes down to finish the job. The thief could then be anyone and even become somewhat allied with the heroes if he still needs something from them. This sets up a good betrayal as well as some fun Darth Revan style revelations. The characters memories can then even become an objective in the campaign, as the thief makes them tangible and holds onto them.
#3 Madfox11 Jul 01, 2010 5:24:05	Make very sure your players agree with your setup beforehand. Don't hesitate to provide some spoilers either. In my experience very few players like it when the DM messes with the backgrounds of their characters unless discussed beforehand. It is even more important if you want them to turn into heroes. It also prevents the obvious groans you will get, because while it can be a fun concept, it is a bit cliche ;)
#4 hannibal_mago_barca Jul 01, 2010 11:28:53	They players will know ahead of time. I've also considered having it be a mix of players between 2 factions... still up in the air about the factions though.
#5 DBrigner Jul 06, 2010 11:25:15	This is a cool idea but a tricky one. Many Green or "Power" players go with Amnesia just because it's easier to have no responsibilities. Be on the look out for players that are willing to exploit this (i.e. remind them that their morality is not based on their memories, that it's what they know inherantly to be right an wrong). Another great series to look at for ideas is the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic series. I wouldn't go as far as to turn one of you players into Revan, but maybe one did have some sort of "Unscrupulous Sidekick", etc.
#6 dharmatel Jul 12, 2010 16:43:06	In an Eberron game I'm plaing in now we have a Revenant former-drow Assassin who lost his memories. He was on assignment in Cyre during the Mourning, reawoke as a Revenant. In the campaign I ran last year, they were fighting a conspiracy of Illithids and Quori working together. At one point, the party was captured and awoke itemless in a "happy" village (thier minds had actually been trapped by the monsters powerful psionics.).
#7 m4kitsu Jul 13, 2010 0:59:19	In the campaign I ran last year, they were fighting a conspiracy of Illithids and Quori working together. At one point, the party was captured and awoke itemless in a "happy" village (thier minds had actually been trapped by the monsters powerful psionics.). ...and the monster holding them there was represented by the just-ever-so-not-quite-right little girl in the playground at the center of the village, right? And the dog, never ignore the dog... The Bourne-identity thing can be a lot of fun in a game, but I've only ever applied it to one PC in a party, never an entire group. I think it would be more difficult to do it with all of them. I imagine you might have to impel them toward common goals and altruism a bit (more than usual), since too many players will use amnesia as an excuse to run (even more) rampant. @DBringer: Green players I'll let have it once for the sake of getting it out of their system. Anyone who I think is angling for an advantage with it I let go for a while -once they've proven the character's reputation, then I'll spring all the nastiness on them. I like it when I player tries to duck campaign involvement by doing this -because they just became the main character. As an aside, I once had a player play the amnesia card knowing full well what I'd do with it -the result was a truely epic character arc, since she played along with me as much as I did her. Good times.