Running My First Eberron Campaign: Help With Plot - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Running My First Eberron Campaign: Help With Plot

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
seanyb47
Jan 30, 2010 12:03:00 This is my first Eberron campaign, and I want it to focus on as much of the world as possible without overwhelming my players with campaign details. My players are all experienced 4e players, but this is also their first time in Eberron. I have required the Eberron PHB for each of them, and they have been actively reading and asking questions, so I want to really make a fun and dynamic Eberron campaign: Help...

My focus right now is to run a Mourning campaign--discovery and possible cleansing.
I also really wanted to incorporate organizations such as the Dragonmarked Houses, Order of the Emerald Claw, and Lords of Dust into the world--as well as the Prophecy.

The problem is that my party consists of all fringe characters for the most part, including:

(D) Shifter Longtooth Shield Fighter (Ex-Aundair Soldier that deserted to aid the Eldeen Reaches claim to independence).
(C) Dwarf Wrathful Invoker (Wielder of the Silver Flame, traveling adventurer).
(L) Gnome Bard of House Sivs (Sworn to discover the meaning of the prophecy).
(S) Warforged Barbarian (no memory of his past. Lives in Breland now, seeks meaning of his past before his gnome friend in House Sive found him and repaired him).
(S) Human 2-Wep Ranger (from the demon wastes--mercenary for hire).

Any suggestions on good campaign ideas that could focus on a party like this?
#2
Talae
Jan 30, 2010 13:14:22 I had a hodge-podge group for my last campaign and connected them with an airship that went all over Khorvaire doing missions of varying levels of gray area in ethics, and also varying means of funds. I eventually connected it to a modified version of the Eye of the Lich Queen (3.5 adventure).

My reasoning for the storyline was that we had many players coming and going and therefore needed a reason to thematically include a large variety of races and classes in the party at a moments notice.
#3
AvonRekaes
Jan 30, 2010 16:25:18 I almost always get hodge-podge characters, since I don't impose a party theme on any of my players when I start a game. Usually players managed to work out pairings or groups within the party that have been together already (Like your warforged and Sivis gnome. Your Demon Wastes ranger and Shifter ex-patriot might also know each other, since the Eldeen Reaches is the first place the ranger would have to have traveled when leaving the Demon Wastes.)

Then I take the first session or two taking time doing little vignettes with each individual or group of PCs. These all lead up to a combat encounter against a common foe. (This can be as obvious as a giant monster like a hydra that the party needs to defeat for mutual survival, or as subtle as a mysterious stranger attacking all of them for unknown reasons). The end result is that all the individuals of the party now have a common enemy, and usually a good enough excuse to ally together and form a party.

From there, I develop story arcs for each character. For your Ranger, for instance, I'd make a story involving the Gash'kala hunting him down for escaping he Labyrinth while agents of the Lords of Dust are also trying to use him for some end.

For your Warforged, I'd have agents of the Lord of Blades after him. The reason why is hidden in his forgotten memories, and he'll need the party's help to uncover the secret, also discovering a much bigger conspiracy involving the Lord of Blades and the Prophecy, which will pique the Gnome's interest as well.

The idea is to forge a party in the fires of a common enemy for the first few levels or so, and then slowly introduce their individual stories so that the rest of the party is interested in helping their friend. Also, don't hold back on the stakes. If the party is made up of heroes, they'll all be interested in stopping the Lord of Blads from altering the Prophecy to bring forth a future where the world is barren of all life except for the mechanized variety, not just the Warforged PC (who finds out he's the key to this "warforged paradise" becoming a reality, for some reason.)

It'll also help you explore a pretty large breadth of the campaign setting, since each PC will unwittingly bring their own corner of it to the forfront of the campaign you run.
#4
Gilo
Jan 30, 2010 22:33:48 How about a starting hook in which the Gnome (with his friend/bodyguard the Warforged) travel around Khorvaire creating a kind of a map-guide-book of locations where the Draconic Prophecy has manifested on the land (texts in cave walls, old ruins etc) or maybe they are renewing an old Sivis map-book written by another Sivis explorer.

They Gnome and Warforged have just arrived to the Eldeen Reaches to meet with the Human (and the Shifter) as he is going to guide them into such a location inside the Demon Wastes.

The Dwarf Invoker is also joining this little expedition, his interest relate to the fact that this Demon Wastes site is worshiped by an orc tribe which reference the Binding Flame (Kalak Shash).

#5
alttprules
Jan 31, 2010 14:27:20 I had my hodgepodge group create something their characters are running from, and they end up sneaking onto the lightning rail, and meeting each other and basically saving each other's lives
#6
archion
May 02, 2010 12:52:27
I see no actual problems with such a party.The campaign flows smoother when the party is comprised to what the players want to play rather than whats expected.Some ideas as what to do with such a party is to create approximately two differing hooks for each character,and then creating a third and final hook in which draws the characters inward with some action of a common foe.The mourning and draconic prophecy work well together since both remain mysterious and unknown,easily leaving a larger framework for the DM.As for the order of the emerald claw which originates from karrnath,they can be in direct opposition with the dragonmarked houses,as both conspire to aquire the services of the characters.This brings in some darker themes that can serve or hinder the characters depending how it is to unfold.As for the lords of dust,(not a pleasant group anyways)they could be plottng te aquisition of an ancient eldritch machine in the depths of khyber.This eldritch machine can be linked to the order of the emerald claw and dragonmarked houses in which they conspire.Also the machine can be connected with the events of the mourning
and the prophecy.This is just an idea which can be tied together as a whole.
just trying t help.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 seanyb47 Jan 30, 2010 12:03:00	This is my first Eberron campaign, and I want it to focus on as much of the world as possible without overwhelming my players with campaign details. My players are all experienced 4e players, but this is also their first time in Eberron. I have required the Eberron PHB for each of them, and they have been actively reading and asking questions, so I want to really make a fun and dynamic Eberron campaign: Help... My focus right now is to run a Mourning campaign--discovery and possible cleansing. I also really wanted to incorporate organizations such as the Dragonmarked Houses, Order of the Emerald Claw, and Lords of Dust into the world--as well as the Prophecy. The problem is that my party consists of all fringe characters for the most part, including: (D) Shifter Longtooth Shield Fighter (Ex-Aundair Soldier that deserted to aid the Eldeen Reaches claim to independence). (C) Dwarf Wrathful Invoker (Wielder of the Silver Flame, traveling adventurer). (L) Gnome Bard of House Sivs (Sworn to discover the meaning of the prophecy). (S) Warforged Barbarian (no memory of his past. Lives in Breland now, seeks meaning of his past before his gnome friend in House Sive found him and repaired him). (S) Human 2-Wep Ranger (from the demon wastes--mercenary for hire). Any suggestions on good campaign ideas that could focus on a party like this?
#2 Talae Jan 30, 2010 13:14:22	I had a hodge-podge group for my last campaign and connected them with an airship that went all over Khorvaire doing missions of varying levels of gray area in ethics, and also varying means of funds. I eventually connected it to a modified version of the Eye of the Lich Queen (3.5 adventure). My reasoning for the storyline was that we had many players coming and going and therefore needed a reason to thematically include a large variety of races and classes in the party at a moments notice.
#3 AvonRekaes Jan 30, 2010 16:25:18	I almost always get hodge-podge characters, since I don't impose a party theme on any of my players when I start a game. Usually players managed to work out pairings or groups within the party that have been together already (Like your warforged and Sivis gnome. Your Demon Wastes ranger and Shifter ex-patriot might also know each other, since the Eldeen Reaches is the first place the ranger would have to have traveled when leaving the Demon Wastes.) Then I take the first session or two taking time doing little vignettes with each individual or group of PCs. These all lead up to a combat encounter against a common foe. (This can be as obvious as a giant monster like a hydra that the party needs to defeat for mutual survival, or as subtle as a mysterious stranger attacking all of them for unknown reasons). The end result is that all the individuals of the party now have a common enemy, and usually a good enough excuse to ally together and form a party. From there, I develop story arcs for each character. For your Ranger, for instance, I'd make a story involving the Gash'kala hunting him down for escaping he Labyrinth while agents of the Lords of Dust are also trying to use him for some end. For your Warforged, I'd have agents of the Lord of Blades after him. The reason why is hidden in his forgotten memories, and he'll need the party's help to uncover the secret, also discovering a much bigger conspiracy involving the Lord of Blades and the Prophecy, which will pique the Gnome's interest as well. The idea is to forge a party in the fires of a common enemy for the first few levels or so, and then slowly introduce their individual stories so that the rest of the party is interested in helping their friend. Also, don't hold back on the stakes. If the party is made up of heroes, they'll all be interested in stopping the Lord of Blads from altering the Prophecy to bring forth a future where the world is barren of all life except for the mechanized variety, not just the Warforged PC (who finds out he's the key to this "warforged paradise" becoming a reality, for some reason.) It'll also help you explore a pretty large breadth of the campaign setting, since each PC will unwittingly bring their own corner of it to the forfront of the campaign you run.
#4 Gilo Jan 30, 2010 22:33:48	How about a starting hook in which the Gnome (with his friend/bodyguard the Warforged) travel around Khorvaire creating a kind of a map-guide-book of locations where the Draconic Prophecy has manifested on the land (texts in cave walls, old ruins etc) or maybe they are renewing an old Sivis map-book written by another Sivis explorer. They Gnome and Warforged have just arrived to the Eldeen Reaches to meet with the Human (and the Shifter) as he is going to guide them into such a location inside the Demon Wastes. The Dwarf Invoker is also joining this little expedition, his interest relate to the fact that this Demon Wastes site is worshiped by an orc tribe which reference the Binding Flame (Kalak Shash).
#5 alttprules Jan 31, 2010 14:27:20	I had my hodgepodge group create something their characters are running from, and they end up sneaking onto the lightning rail, and meeting each other and basically saving each other's lives
#6 archion May 02, 2010 12:52:27	I see no actual problems with such a party.The campaign flows smoother when the party is comprised to what the players want to play rather than whats expected.Some ideas as what to do with such a party is to create approximately two differing hooks for each character,and then creating a third and final hook in which draws the characters inward with some action of a common foe.The mourning and draconic prophecy work well together since both remain mysterious and unknown,easily leaving a larger framework for the DM.As for the order of the emerald claw which originates from karrnath,they can be in direct opposition with the dragonmarked houses,as both conspire to aquire the services of the characters.This brings in some darker themes that can serve or hinder the characters depending how it is to unfold.As for the lords of dust,(not a pleasant group anyways)they could be plottng te aquisition of an ancient eldritch machine in the depths of khyber.This eldritch machine can be linked to the order of the emerald claw and dragonmarked houses in which they conspire.Also the machine can be connected with the events of the mourning and the prophecy.This is just an idea which can be tied together as a whole. just trying t help.