Well, I'm running a Waterdeep Campaign soon. The plot revolved around the Crown of Horns, and the revival of the god Myrkul. I have some general ideas, but I've only written a long term campaign once before, and would like some input or ideas anyone can throw at me. I'm mostly worried about pacing, keeping things interesting from the beginning to the end.
Start: Group is hired to help with missing persons case. Turns out local gang was selling slaves to Skullport Yuan-Ti for information.
Mid: Group has to find the Yuan-Ti Nhyris D'Hothek, who once wore the crown himself, and hopefully extract information from him. But he has been captured by his uncle, and will soon be killed if the PC's don't hurry. This leads them to the sewers, where they have to deal with the horrors that lie their. Apparently the church of Bane is trying to help resurrect the dead god so that they can reform their alliance and try to rule Faerun.
Late: The group not only has to deal with the reviving church of Myrkul and Bane; but chaos ensues when the church of Cyris gets word, leading to conflict between the three factions. At last, the PC's have to stop the resurrection of the God through the crown (either fighting Myrkul/getting or destroying the crown first/etc.)
I'm unsure if the followers of Bhaal could get involved as well, I'm a bit worried the game might just turn into one long wild-goose chase though; I think that could probably be alleviated by not introducing the actual crown until late in the game. Any ideas?
-Canon states the Myrkul doesn't necessarily want to become a deity once more. He finds that freedom he has in the Crown of Horns liberating. That said, perhaps it is Myrkul's sentience itself that "hires" the Church of Bhaal, to assassinate the Church of Bane, that is attempting to bring Myrkul back. Adding the PCs and the Church of Cyric into the mix certainly will create some strange bedfellows. The PCs will be aiding the Church of Bhaal, and the Church of Cyric fighting the Church of Bane. Could make for some awkwardness. ;)
-To further muddy the waters, who's side are the worshippers of Myrkul going to be taking?
-Well, to add an interesting angle...
-Canon states the Myrkul doesn't necessarily want to become a deity once more. He finds that freedom he has in the Crown of Horns liberating. That said, perhaps it is Myrkul's sentience itself that "hires" the Church of Bhaal, to assassinate the Church of Bane, that is attempting to bring Myrkul back. Adding the PCs and the Church of Cyric into the mix certainly will create some strange bedfellows. The PCs will be aiding the Church of Bhaal, and the Church of Cyric fighting the Church of Bane. Could make for some awkwardness. ;)
-To further muddy the waters, who's side are the worshippers of Myrkul going to be taking?
This entirely depends on whether one lives in the land of almighty Canon, or whether one games in their own world.
Why isn't it perfectly valid to say that his version of Myrkul wants to re-ascend and resume his rightful place? An entity that's had the expansiveness of a god's consciousness - reduced to an "item" consciousness - and we're supposed to believe the "canon" that he's happy with this new state of affairs? Sure, I buy that. Not. Especially not when we consider that his motivation for becoming a god in the first place was because he continually sought greater and greater power for himself.
This is the problem with Canon lawyers. It's like the pre-eminence of canon "over-rides" the creativity and cleverness of a DM in their own campaign world, and they're more than willing to make posts continuously telling people this kind of thing. Rude, really.
Why isn't it perfectly valid to say that his version of Myrkul wants to re-ascend and resume his rightful place?
This is the problem with Canon lawyers. It's like the pre-eminence of canon "over-rides" the creativity and cleverness of a DM in their own campaign world, and they're more than willing to make posts continuously telling people this kind of thing. Rude, really.
-Did I once say that what the poster is proposing is implausible, and that he/she should cease?
-Did I once say that what the poster is proposing is implausible, and that he/she should cease?
Drumming out and discussing Canon implies it, oh mighty "Lord".
Drumming out and discussing Canon implies it, oh mighty "Lord".
-You'd do best to maybe read a little closer, then. Unlike your contibutions to the thread thus far, I was providing the OP with some additional ideas, as per his/her request.
-You'd do best to maybe read a little closer, then. Unlike your contibutions to the thread thus far, I was providing the OP with some additional ideas, as per his/her request.
Actually, I suggested that in addition to the desires of Myrkul's old clergy, Myrkul himself might have a strong (and non-canon!) desire to re-ascend.
Canon can suck it.
Regardless, I'm more looking for ideas for adventures than vast campaign re-imagining at this point.
And yes, that could make the campaign all the more interesting.
Canon can suck it.
If the designers have absolutely NO respect for it, why should we?
Regardless, I'm more looking for ideas for adventures than vast campaign re-imagining at this point.
And as far as realms plots for Waterdeep - something is being 'smuggled in', and one of the Lord's Agents has heard about it, and they hire your group to investigate the info, not wanting any 'official investigation that may tip their hand (perhaps their is an informant, and figuring out who that is becomes part of the plot).
Then, you can use whatever organization you want (Twisted Rune, Kraken, Zhents, Thay, etc...) and have the item(s) either be hidden within something in an old warehouse (kind cliché, but it still works), or coming up through the sewers (in which case you get to involve the ever-fun Wererats).
You can have the whole thing be mercantile (Rundeen), cult/religious (Amalgamation), Arcane (Host Tower), or power-based (The Unseen), and can have any of the 'goodly' groups hiring your party or getting involved (The Lords, Harpers, Moonstars, etc), or you can throw in a 'neutral' and have him/her play both sides of the fence (Craulnober).
Million ways to go in waterdeep. ;)
Waterdeep Herald
This is my approach to Waterdeep, and has been for years. I create a variety of plot threads. I'm not interested in ploting too far in advance... in the beginning I'm happy to wing the entire first session and see what develops.
Using the newspaper there are a variety of plot threads here to follow up on, and I'm not just talking about the headlines either. How does the Herald get its stories? And how do they print so many copies? Why is the Dragon's Head Tavern advertising "the best Zzar" when it is the Guild of distillars that make it?
"Let visit the Blushing Mermaid!":D Who is this Balthorr fellow anyway?
And there is one direct tie-in. There was an assasination attempt on the half orc Dasheen after the games on High Harvest Tide, by an unknown halflin female... is the one found dead on $lut street the same? What about the "Blue Alley?" .... and so on.
The point being, that what happens is up to the players, not me. I have yet to develop an "overiding story arc" primarily because I don't know what the players are interesting in doing yet.
I enjoy letting thing "develop on their own". IMHO it makes things seem more like they are alive. All those plot threads will "parallel develop" regardless of what the players do, and that may affect them later... or not, but planning to far in advance can lead to problems. 1) with players feeling like they are being "railroaded" and 2) DM boredom. its not good to know too far in advance whats going to happen.
Its very exciting developing the ultimate villian for your game, but it is important to realize that it is as much the players as it is yours.
:D
Its very exciting developing the ultimate villian for your game, but it is important to realize that it is as much the players as it is yours.
:D
-It is. The most important thing to remember, I think, is to remember, when the final conflict happens, that this isn't "the DM vs. the PCs". It's the PCs vs. the BBEG.