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New Campaign for me!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
durskut
Jun 08, 2010 18:21:38 Hello fellow fans,

I have recently moved to an area with some friends. Naturally, I'm looking to get a game going. The group is pretty gathered up as far as who's in it, but they haven't decided what they're going to play.

My idea which I had before this was to run a hyper open game where the PCs could openly explore the world any way they wanted. Since all my games have taken place in the south, I've decided to open up Fairhaven as the start point of the game. I intend to bombard them with so many plot hooks (some of them directly conflicting with each other) that they'll have to only pursue ones which they are interested in. This is the key, I want to encourage my PCs to choose their own adventure.

I ask you, oh forumites, to throw me some ideas on plot hooks I may tempt PCs of any class, race, or region of origin with. I will be most grateful!
#2
qaplawjw
Jun 09, 2010 4:06:32 Well, I'm not extraordinarily creative, but (inspired by the Kaius thread) some of your PCs might be working for or against Aurala, Kaius, Krozen, etc. (Maybe different PCs have different patrons? That might get confusing, but the intrigue could be fun.) Then, at some point, they have to decide whether that leader's goals are in the best interests of Khorvaire as a whole, or whatever nation they are loyal to. For example, (staying in Aundair) Aurala and many of her advisors are determined to restart the Last War. This might be a good idea or not, depending on how you spin it. So, do the PCs agree with this decision? If not, what actions will they take to stop her? Whose aid will they enlist?
#3
JohnLynch
Jun 10, 2010 7:00:30 A town on the eastern border has been quarantined as House Jorasco attempts to find a cure for a disease that has suddenly enveloped the town. Rumours circulate that this may be a preemptive strike from the Children of Winter.
#4
naturax
Jun 10, 2010 9:51:44 Rumour has it that one of the Dimensional Seals from the Eldeen Reaches has been stolen and is being currently stored somewhere in Fairhaven. It is going to get transported shortly, so there is a limited amount of time for the PCs to find it. Who has taken it, and why? What are the PCs going to do with it when they get it?
#5
Ogiwan
Jun 10, 2010 19:44:56 I'm curious. What do you mean by a "hyper-open" game? Sandbox taken to the extreme? If so, that might knock out most of the long-arc stories we could come up with. Are you just looking for the spark that gets the party together?
#6
durskut
Jun 11, 2010 8:21:28 @ Ogiwan: You have it pretty right. My last couple games have floundered with PCs who didn't feel they had a direct connection to the story. Granted, the PCs in this group have been RPing a lot longer, but I still want to stick to my solution of "If they pick the adventure, they're more likely to be invested in it." This means I'm trying to create a number of plot hook type adventures which they can take or leave.

@ Naturax: I totally had a vision of they PCs pulling the Train Job from Firefly while reading your post.

@ JohnLynch: Good one, especially since I'm the worst at coming up with nature related hooks.

@ Qaplawjw: That's a bit bigger than what I'm looking for. Though, out of that post I could pull a "Call to Arms" adventure about a border skirmish with Thrane. After the PCs fight off the Thranes they can come face to face with hate filled Aundairians, setting the stage for some of the points you make in a later adventure.

#7
JohnLynch
Jun 12, 2010 23:08:21
@ JohnLynch: Good one, especially since I'm the worst at coming up with nature related hooks.

No worries. I ran this one myself for my players and they seemed to enjoy it (although when I said eastern, I meant Aundair's border with the Eldeen Reaches. I always get east and west mixed up).

This means I'm trying to create a number of plot hook type adventures which they can take or leave.

I put out hooks in a variety of ways. One way I do it is to have the local newspaper write news reports about stuff my players are likely to be interested in, so they then investigate. For example I had towns surrounding the Mournlands start disappearing one by one. When a Thrane town disappeared my players took up the hook immediately (I've got a Thranish Noble Silver Flame Cleric).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 durskut Jun 08, 2010 18:21:38	Hello fellow fans, I have recently moved to an area with some friends. Naturally, I'm looking to get a game going. The group is pretty gathered up as far as who's in it, but they haven't decided what they're going to play. My idea which I had before this was to run a hyper open game where the PCs could openly explore the world any way they wanted. Since all my games have taken place in the south, I've decided to open up Fairhaven as the start point of the game. I intend to bombard them with so many plot hooks (some of them directly conflicting with each other) that they'll have to only pursue ones which they are interested in. This is the key, I want to encourage my PCs to choose their own adventure. I ask you, oh forumites, to throw me some ideas on plot hooks I may tempt PCs of any class, race, or region of origin with. I will be most grateful!
#2 qaplawjw Jun 09, 2010 4:06:32	Well, I'm not extraordinarily creative, but (inspired by the Kaius thread) some of your PCs might be working for or against Aurala, Kaius, Krozen, etc. (Maybe different PCs have different patrons? That might get confusing, but the intrigue could be fun.) Then, at some point, they have to decide whether that leader's goals are in the best interests of Khorvaire as a whole, or whatever nation they are loyal to. For example, (staying in Aundair) Aurala and many of her advisors are determined to restart the Last War. This might be a good idea or not, depending on how you spin it. So, do the PCs agree with this decision? If not, what actions will they take to stop her? Whose aid will they enlist?
#3 JohnLynch Jun 10, 2010 7:00:30	A town on the eastern border has been quarantined as House Jorasco attempts to find a cure for a disease that has suddenly enveloped the town. Rumours circulate that this may be a preemptive strike from the Children of Winter.
#4 naturax Jun 10, 2010 9:51:44	Rumour has it that one of the Dimensional Seals from the Eldeen Reaches has been stolen and is being currently stored somewhere in Fairhaven. It is going to get transported shortly, so there is a limited amount of time for the PCs to find it. Who has taken it, and why? What are the PCs going to do with it when they get it?
#5 Ogiwan Jun 10, 2010 19:44:56	I'm curious. What do you mean by a "hyper-open" game? Sandbox taken to the extreme? If so, that might knock out most of the long-arc stories we could come up with. Are you just looking for the spark that gets the party together?
#6 durskut Jun 11, 2010 8:21:28	@ Ogiwan: You have it pretty right. My last couple games have floundered with PCs who didn't feel they had a direct connection to the story. Granted, the PCs in this group have been RPing a lot longer, but I still want to stick to my solution of "If they pick the adventure, they're more likely to be invested in it." This means I'm trying to create a number of plot hook type adventures which they can take or leave. @ Naturax: I totally had a vision of they PCs pulling the Train Job from Firefly while reading your post. @ JohnLynch: Good one, especially since I'm the worst at coming up with nature related hooks. @ Qaplawjw: That's a bit bigger than what I'm looking for. Though, out of that post I could pull a "Call to Arms" adventure about a border skirmish with Thrane. After the PCs fight off the Thranes they can come face to face with hate filled Aundairians, setting the stage for some of the points you make in a later adventure.
#7 JohnLynch Jun 12, 2010 23:08:21	@ JohnLynch: Good one, especially since I'm the worst at coming up with nature related hooks. No worries. I ran this one myself for my players and they seemed to enjoy it (although when I said eastern, I meant Aundair's border with the Eldeen Reaches. I always get east and west mixed up). This means I'm trying to create a number of plot hook type adventures which they can take or leave. I put out hooks in a variety of ways. One way I do it is to have the local newspaper write news reports about stuff my players are likely to be interested in, so they then investigate. For example I had towns surrounding the Mournlands start disappearing one by one. When a Thrane town disappeared my players took up the hook immediately (I've got a Thranish Noble Silver Flame Cleric).