Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Khaelieth Aug 05, 2008 7:10:11	After pulling a TPK on the adventurers, they all decided to roll new characters. I'm currently thinking of running it around 1366, kicking off in Tilverton with some classic orc smashing, but I've given the orcs death pigs (not inspired by Warhammer, actually by an MMO called Darkfall), large boars with the war beast template from MMII, so they've got cavalry. I'm going to run the Doom of Daggerdale, followed by the Sword of Daggerdale modules updated to 3.5, but changed Elminster and Lhaeo for Vangy and Caladnei, with them being rewarded for helping Randal Morn with lands in Tilverton, towards the Stonelands. After this, I'm going to reintroduce the Fire Knives (covertly), who're trying to regain Tilverton, the Rogues of Tilverton (whom one of the characters is a member of), and the Tilverton Slasher (Jack the Ripper), a Cormyrian noble whose actions are being covered up by the Purple Dragons to prevent Tilverton grumbling about being "under the heel of Azoun." I might even introduce the Zhentarim, but used them a lot the last few campaigns, so the adventurers aren't too keen on them. Naturally, if the characters decide to do something else, I'll have to adapt. Does anyone have any input on how to improve the campaign?
#2 lord_karsus Aug 05, 2008 12:47:29	-Well, what, exactly, are you looking to improve upon? And, what is the party composition?
#3 Khaelieth Aug 06, 2008 3:22:05	Basically if anyone saw any flaws or had any ideas. The party's still being made, one wants to be a thief (Rogue without sneak attack, but additional rogue feats) who also might be a Rogue of Tilverton, the two others are currently keen on either fighter or barbarian. Might have one additional player as well.
#4 lord_karsus Aug 06, 2008 13:30:08	-Well, if you are going to have a thief in the party, there's a convenient way to introduce the Fire Knives, like you were looking to do. If he doesn't have any mentions of them in his history, perhaps at some point in the adventure, they try to court him, he spurns them, and thus, they are now enemies of the PCs.
#5 merrikcale Aug 06, 2008 22:24:40	Are you starting at 1st level? Perhaps the rogue PCs could get caught up in a type of gang war between the Fire Knives and their guild
#6 Khaelieth Aug 07, 2008 3:27:16	Aye, first level. Was thinking something along those lines.
#7 goblin_pride Aug 07, 2008 6:44:26	Basically if anyone saw any flaws or had any ideas. Just a brief thought. If the party hasn't been made yet, how can you plan out the course of their adventures already? Unless you've given them a bit of direction in their character creation, you may end up with a party that doesn't fit your plans at all. I know I may be in the minority, but I love watching the DM sweat when me and the rest of the reprobates I game with completely derail his adventures. Sure it's a bit on the cruel side but we tend to loathe published stuff and it's a riot when a DM gets off the beaten track and wings it.
#8 Khaelieth Aug 07, 2008 7:30:59	Just a brief thought. If the party hasn't been made yet, how can you plan out the course of their adventures already? Unless you've given them a bit of direction in their character creation, you may end up with a party that doesn't fit your plans at all. I know I may be in the minority, but I love watching the DM sweat when me and the rest of the reprobates I game with completely derail his adventures. Sure it's a bit on the cruel side but we tend to loathe published stuff and it's a riot when a DM gets off the beaten track and wings it. Basically, they told me roughly what they wanted to do. This includes wanting to become Baron(s) of the Stonelands, one wants to be possessed (don't ask me why, he just wants to RP sometimes going bonkers), they specifically requested orcs for nostalgic reasons, more RP than hack n' slash, and they wanted Cormyr/Dalelands. Essentially: 1 - Explore, orcs (More complex than this, but yah) 2 - Doom of Daggerdale on behest of family 3 - Return to Tilverton, explore, more orcs (This is where trouble might arise, but they will probably head back to Tilverton) 4 - As the War Wizards have heard of them knowing Daggerdale, Vangy sends someone known to Dagger Falls to help locate Randal, as it's not in Cormyr's best interest that Daggerdale remains under Zhent occupation. As rewards they get free lands in the Stonelands/West of Tilverton. And this is only planned out for max level 3. They can still do exactly what they want; if they don't want to free Daggerdale, Daggerdale will remain under Zhentilar control. And before you can say "Schnell," there'll be Zhentarim agents en masse in Tilverton, fomenting rebellion.
#9 Mr_Miscellany Aug 09, 2008 15:28:14	Khaelieth, Your adventure plans sound awesome. I never got to play any of the Daggerdale adventures, but I wish I could! I really like the idea of the Tilverton Slasher! Do you plan on casting Tilverton in a darker light through this guy? Maybe borrowing from the look and feel of the movie In Hell a bit?
#10 markustay63 Aug 09, 2008 19:27:22	I never got to run the Dales adventures either (was planning to in my last game, but the PCs never made it that far). I like the idea of making Tilverton a bit 'darker' (then I don't feel so bad about it blowing up). Maybe you can give it an edgy 'Tombstone' frontier-town kind of feel. Thinking maybe you should throw a twist in based around the slasher storyline (maybe one of the murders was really a copycat - to cover a political assassination or somesuch). Good call with the Fire Knives - I can see one (or even several) guilds trying to make in-roads into Cormyr through Tilverton. You may even want to make the Fire Knives Sembian Merchants (their 'day job') so they have a cover - nothing like a group of Sembians to have all the locals nervous. Anyhow - you got me thinking - I need to flesh out Gwarch (I was hoping to turn it into a DDi article... oh well). Thats the little trading post run by Goblins (around the 1366 timeframe your in) that eventually grows into a town of 'monster types' (and your usually human/demi-human bottom-feeders). Considering your guy's going to be the Baron of the Stonelands, he's either going to have to work with the Teearac Goblins or wipe-out that budding settlement (which has just as much going on underground as above). And then there are the Zhents, who have been solidifying their own hold on the Stonelands, since the Shades cut off their more northern trade-route. ;) One last thing that I only came across last night - the Orcs in the Fallen Lands have cavalry - they ride Dire Ostriches (I kid you not). Don't know if that useful to you, but I found it funny as hell. :D
#11 Khaelieth Aug 12, 2008 6:32:44	I really like the idea of the Tilverton Slasher! Do you plan on casting Tilverton in a darker light through this guy? Maybe borrowing from the look and feel of the movie In Hell a bit? Yeah, was thinking of using some stuff from From Hell, but been more looking into the real story. I generally cast Faerûn as a bit more hopeless and dark, trying to make a mix of Middle Earth (Darkness rising), Ravenloft (Asylums, overwhelming odds) and drawing on Lovecraft's (Horrors and Dagon) works as well. Essentially, there's a Cormyrian noble, not quite decided which family, who's murdering people for kicks, but the Purple Dragons don't dare take him down, as the Tilvertars would be pretty annoyed with a Cormyrian killing them, therefore making it easier for the Zhentarim, who are currently bordering on Tilverton due to holding Dagger Falls, to foment a rebellion. So the Purple Dragons find a Zhentarim to blame, and therefore allowing the noble to continue killing. It's still a bit sketchy, does anyone have any ideas to improve it, as I'm not that pleased with it. I don't really like using "because he's insane" as motivation. Where's Gwarch mentioned in canon, MT? Going to have an orc version of Conan being one of the main enemies. Never knew they had dire ostriches! That would be hilarious!
#12 Khaelieth Aug 14, 2008 2:25:33	Right, two players are sorted out: A wizard who's the bastard son of Azoun IV and a Cormaeril. He's a member of the Fire Knives, unknown to the others. A thief who's a member of the Thieves of Tilverton, who've got a bone to pick with the Fire Knives.
#13 merrikcale Aug 17, 2008 22:11:33	Right, two players are sorted out: A wizard who's the bastard son of Azoun IV and a Cormaeril. He's a member of the Fire Knives, unknown to the others. A thief who's a member of the Thieves of Tilverton, who've got a bone to pick with the Fire Knives. thats an interesting group