Hi all, I am running a 3.5 campaign, and we have 2 sessions done, and I am acctually a first-time DM (shocking I know). So far my players think I am an excellent DM, and two of them are D&D veterans (impressive, aren't I?). My campaign takes place in Cormyr.
This is what is happening in my campaign:
The Zhents are building another keep in the Thunder Peaks.
Orcs are beginning to appear more and more.
Goblins and Orcs are beggining to tear each other apart.
The Orcs are the ones helping the Zhents build the fortress.
This is my group currently:
Level 2 Human Half-vampire Rouge
Level 3 Human Cleric of Helm :fight!:
Level 3 Human Dragonborn (the no LA template with wings) Sorcerror
Level 3 Human Warlock
Players who are going to play and have made there charecters:
Level 3 Gnome Bard (he likes to make things... he is from Lantan) :lightbulb
What happened so far:
The Half-vampire and Sorcerror met up with the Cleric in town after doing a fighting and mage contest (it is Shieldmeet). The town was attacked by orcs, lead by a mysterious elf. They helped defend the town, and they found out that there is a bounty on orcs and goblins in the area. So they leave and head to the King's Forest, and on the way they find an old crypt filled with undead. They nearly die and get rescued by a warlock, the warlock PC. Then they head off into the King's Forest and fight a bunch of goblins and orcs who were fighting eachother and they meet a band of elves.
Spoiler!
One of the elves, is acctually the leader of that orc raiding party that attacked the town, but the PCs don't know that.
3.5? and before or after spellplague. I'm assumeing before.
Befor Spellplague.
I think it's always a good idea to begin a new campaign on Shieldmeet, too.
Questions:
1) What are you planning to do with that nefarious elf? Is he perhaps a member of the Eldreth Veluuthra?
2) What other campaign plots/hooks do you have in mind? What you've described sounds like it would have been fun to play through.
3) Have you seen the Backdrop: Cormyr article from the online issue #365 of Dragon Magazine? The Cormyr map from that article is just about identical to Cormyr of the 3.5 era so far as the King's Wood is concerned.
Just an FYI if you're looking for town and location names to use in the King's Wood for your adventures.
Thank you for sharing your campaing with us!
Obviously they aren't traveling through Cormyr or sembia, so I would give them some sort of connection to the Cormanthor Drow - perhaps they are getting away with this because they are traveling underground for part of the journey?
Just some things to think about.
I also considered you giving the Zhents an airship - not a spelljammer, one of those 'blimp jobs' a'la Warcrat (or the cover of Shining South), but that would be too easy to spot, and also a nice target for all the dragons that live in the Thunderpeaks.
You did know the Thunderpeaks were infested with dragons, right? Along with dozens of other critters, like Orcs (which works to your advantage).
So far, though, it seems you got the FR flavor right (as Misc has already pointed out) with all the over-lapping plots. The players should never know everything that is going on - springing surprises on them is what the Realms are all about.
ROGUE.
;p
But why is the elf with the orcs?
Do not read if you are one of my players!
The elf works for the Zhentarim, and all the orc tribes are following the Zhents, aiding them in building the fortress. The Drow of Cormanthor are also secretly helping the Zhents. Goblins, however, oppose the Zhents, which is why the orcs are fighting the goblins.
But why is the elf with the orcs?
-He's evil, and opportunistic. And, anyway, sounds very much in character for an evil Elf. Use those inferior creatures as ends to a mean.
-He's evil, and opportunistic. And, anyway, sounds very much in character for an evil Elf. Use those inferior creatures as ends to a mean.
I was thinking much the same thing.
-Anyway, that kind of mentality is prevalent all throughout history. Battle captives were enslaved, seen as no longer Human because of it. In most cases, they were forced to do work that benefited the conquerors. During World War II, Hitler had the Jews thrown into work camps, in which they were tasked to do things to benefit the Fatherland. In Soviet Russia, Stalin threw thousands in similar work camps, where people were worked to death, doing tasks that would benefit the Motherland.
-Great minds think alike.
and so do you two. heh heh. burn!
kudos on your campaign ideas
Thank you:D
Perhaps they have been approached by Elves - being fellow 'forest dwellers' - who are using the Goblins much the same way the Zhents/Drow are using the Orcs - to chase all these 'intrusions' out of the Cormanthor?
Maybe not Elves... maybe a Dragon... or even an Ogre-Mage with plans of his own... I just think the Goblin-end of things needs to be given a little more depth as well.
The Eldreth Veluuthra wind up with a power-base in the nearby Hullack Forest in 4e, so you can perhaps tie some of your adventures to the lead-up of that occurrence.
Since this is 3e, throw in a Red Wizard and some Cult-of-the-Dragon crazies and you got yourself a party. :D
[i] like the idea of the Goblins oposing the Orcs (and Zhents), but I can't help but ask myself why?
Perhaps they have been approached by Elves - being fellow 'forest dwellers' - who are using the Goblins much the same way the Zhents/Drow are using the Orcs - to chase all these 'intrusions' out of the Cormanthor?
Maybe not Elves... maybe a Dragon... or even an Ogre-Mage with plans of his own... I just think the Goblin-end of things needs to be given a little more depth as well.
The Eldreth Veluuthra wind up with a power-base in the nearby Hullack Forest in 4e, so you can perhaps tie some of your adventures to the lead-up of that occurrence.
Since this is 3e, throw in a Red Wizard and some Cult-of-the-Dragon crazies and you got yourself a party. :D
The goblins oppose the Zhents because they are...
Do not read if you are one of my Players (Eric, that means you!)
Because the goblins are being led by a powerful warlord who wants to take over Cormyr himself, and the Zhents have the same goal, and the warlord doesn't wish to share power with the Zhentarim.
and so do you two. heh heh. burn!
-Are you attempting to insinuate that my greatness is nonexistent?
[i] like the idea of the Goblins oposing the Orcs (and Zhents), but I can't help but ask myself why?
-It can be as simple as something like territorial rights.
Goblins: "This woods belong to Garpak. Orcs no pay tribute to Garpak! Garpak destroy Orcs!"
-It can be as simple as something like territorial rights.
Goblins: "This woods belong to Garpak. Orcs no pay tribute to Garpak! Garpak destroy Orcs!"
Don't you just love the simple logic of the goblins?
By the way, the elves are enemies of the goblins.
My group, please DON'T read this...
The elf who led the orcs and is a member of the Zhents is aiding his two elven brothers and there elven group in destroying goblins because it fits the current needs of the Zhentarim (the goblins are in the way), and killing orcs so as not to arouse suspision from his fellow elves.
Don't you just love the simple logic of the goblins?
-Makes the world seem such a more black and white place.
Do not read if you are one of my players!!!
He is EVIL!!! EVIL!!!!!!!!
-Are you attempting to insinuate that my greatness is nonexistent?
umm...sorry Lord......please don't incinerate me. pretty please
umm...sorry Lord......please don't incinerate me. pretty please
-I wouldn't. I like you. You're a good guy. You're like the conscience of these boards...
-I wouldn't. I like you. You're a good guy. You're like the conscience of these boards...
we're all in very big trouble then
But thanks
But Airships are just so *kewl*. :P
Portals are nice and handy, but I think a tunnel-network might work better for the way this campaign is setup. A simple cave in the foothills in the southern forest leads deep into the mountains - that not only gives the DM a good reason to bring in any cave-dwellers (Orcs and Goblins), but also the Drow (who have an extensive tunnel-network thoughout this region of the Underdark/Cormanthor).
Plus, it gives tons of oportunities for dungeon-style sidequests.
Oh, and there is an entire city of undead dwarves under these mountains (Thunderholme).
we're all in very big trouble then
But thanks
-You're out unconscience, then? Our id! Yes, that's it!
Well, I did say Airships are too easy too spot, and make juicy targets for hungry dragons.
-Indeed, and navigating one in and/or around a mountain may be tricky.
Are there any suggestions on how the bard PC joins the group? Anyone?
-He has something they need, and he needs something they have? And, a friendship/rivalry/whatever forms after that, that causes him to stick around?
-You're out unconscience, then? Our id! Yes, that's it!
I'll take it
-Also, with airships, landing in and/or on mountains could pose a problem. I'll cite the new Mummy movie.
haven't seen it, any good?
haven't seen it, any good?
-I thought so, yes. Gave me a few ideas for my own D&D campaign, and I saw it in good company, so.
-I thought so, yes. Gave me a few ideas for my own D&D campaign, and I saw it in good company, so.
I watched it aswell, just tonight in fact.
-I thought so, yes. Gave me a few ideas for my own D&D campaign, and I saw it in good company, so.
Indeed.:D
I especially enjoyed the East Asian setting.
I'll have to check it out
How did I know the LK man was talking about you Rino?
You must have special powers or something!;) :P
I especially enjoyed the East Asian setting.
-Yeah. In my own game, they are finishing a fairly large story arc, and I wasn't fully sure what to do next, but now I'm definitely going to be sending back to the Oriental part of my campaign world. I'm thinking they are going to be, at first, tracking an illegal organization seeking to obtain an artifact of mass destruction, but eventually discovering that an pretender to the throne of the Emperor, kill hundreds of years ago, is back and up to his old habits, Tan Chin style.
You must have special powers or something!;) :P
-Must be. Merrik definitely has powers. Let's all hope he uses them for good, and not evil.
-Yeah. In my own game, they are finishing a fairly large story arc, and I wasn't fully sure what to do next, but now I'm definitely going to be sending back to the Oriental part of my campaign world. I'm thinking they are going to be, at first, tracking an illegal organization seeking to obtain an artifact of mass destruction, but eventually discovering that an pretender to the throne of the Emperor, kill hundreds of years ago, is back and up to his old habits, Tan Chin style.
Sounds neat, good luck with it.
--Must be. Merrik definitely has powers. Let's all hope he uses them for good, and not evil.
I use them for scoring with babes
I use them for scoring with babes
-Probably not a good idea, being married and all...
-Probably not a good idea, being married and all...
well, my wife's a babe