Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jaiadrottsingr May 06, 2009 21:10:32
#2 uberwoot May 08, 2009 7:50:01	Traditionally speaking, the answer would have to be "a barroom brawl." :P Now that I've gotten that out of the way... I haven't given it much thought, but the first thing that occurred to me was a jailbreak, particularly from a dungeon that specializes in exotic inmates. The characters could have been incarcerated for legitimate reasons (several of your characters' descriptions suggested such) or otherwise (but don't try to overdo the "unjustly imprisoned" cliche); throw in a few disposable, colorful NPCs to participate in the escape (and either die, part company with the group, or turn coat before the finale) and you've got an adventure starter. I like this because it offers built-in follow-up quests: finding out why you were imprisoned, finding out what happened to another inmate (family member or friend), working against the (corrupt) regime that jailed you, etc. It does smell a bit of overuse, though- maybe that's because of all the movies this is used in. To add another twist, perhaps you could make the escape occur during a prison caravan through hostile territory. Overpowering the guards is only the first challenge- surviving a journey across a desert, glacier, cavern complex, or other inhospitable terrain is another immediate adventure (and limited supplies can create interesting stress with surviving NPCs). /Woot
#3 the_shaman May 09, 2009 13:18:34	The first campaign I was in - which was generic but was later retconned to FR - started with us meeting at a caravan, then went to a tavern and well, asked if there was any work to be done. It actually worked well enough. In general, if you think the party doesn't have a good motivation to work together on its own (it could be they knew each other already so it was natural to work together if a joining of forces was necessary) it is best that the DM somehow forces them to cooperate through a crisis - they are attacked, imprisoned, or otherwise put in a situation where the alternative to working together is either death or something just as bad.
#4 jopustopin May 09, 2009 23:23:51	First of all, the halfling cleric of Talos pretty much has to change his alignment, has to hide his faith, or has to go. Talos is UNIVERSALLY DESPISED. Alignment aside, everyone hates that god. However let's say he's hiding his faith. What faith is he going to act like he is a worshipper of? If I were him I would switch my alignment to CN and take a level of barbarian first. He simply does not obviously have to be CE. Why would anyone play a npc class, they are not fun to play or if it IS fun to play, it would simply be at least as fun to play a different PC class (i.e. if it's only fun because of the background and roleplaying aspect then the class simply doesn't matter; as such you should obviously always pick a PC class) As a DM i simply would not allow anyone to play a warrior; there is already a gimped martial class, it's called the fighter. A level 1 Yaun-Ti Warrior would be Effectively a level 7 character. Storyline: Jail Break is a really good one or you all served in the same unit for some war. Why are you traveling together? What common goal could possibly unite all of you? Geas is a good idea; who would cast that spell on all of you though? Maybe all of you were gladiators of They and escaped somehow. All of you belonging to the same slave holder and have been friends for years. or all of you awoke with amnesia. or You all are part of a mercenary guild that operates out of [insert city]. One of you is the leader of the guild. The rest are in it for profit. I really think you should consider the ex-gladiators of they. How else can you explain a drow and a yaun-ti? Get some hats of disguises. I'm not familiar with what class you are playing (the soldier?) what is it like? Your party looks to be lacking in the hit points department. If the halfling really wants to play a crazed cleric of Talos have him look at the Crusader class. It is much more fitting for the description of Talos and it would help out your party balance a lot. (also it would be a lot more fun to play)