Another request for Epic tier help - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zuzuangel Nov 01, 2011 12:18:07	There are a couple other threads out there asking for advice on epic tier. I thought about asking for help on one of those threads, but I didn't want to hijack them. The game I’ve been running for the last 2+ years is just getting to the end of paragon tier and I’m having trouble coming up with ideas for adventures in the epic tier. What I traditionally did for most adventures was go through the monster books and come across a handful of monsters that I though looked cool and construct an adventure around them. However, the selection in the epic tier is pretty thin. Campaign background Show In their first adventure the party opened a “Pandora’s box” freeing an evil demigod. (Apparently the big red button that said, “do not press” was irresistible) Off and on the party has been fighting cultists of this demigod and have discovered that the ruler of a nearby kingdom is a devotee of this demigod and plans to take over the world in his name. The climax of the paragon tier will be the defeat of this king. The Paladin is a follower of Bahamut and the climax of heroic tier was a test of trials for him to join the knightly order run by an ancient silver dragon. He received an artifact sword that was prophesied would save the world (that being the climax of paragon tier). The Cleric joined the game at the end of the heroic tier. He is on a quest to recover an ancient artifact called Pelor’s Shine stolen from his lands. This artifact protected the land from evil. Through paragon tier hints have been dropped that similar artifacts from other gods have gone missing, including artifacts from evil gods. The Ranger came from a tribe of elves that was betrayed and sold into slavery. In the paragon tier he discovered their whereabouts and mounted a rescue mission into the underdark to free those that remained. He is disillusioned with the gods and feels that their unwillingness to help mortals like his tribe is unfair. He desires to rise to godhood himself and show them how it to do it the right way. The other players haven’t been very forthcoming in terms of story, but claim to be happy to be along for the ride. I’ve been working on building some storylines for them
#2 Neejix Nov 02, 2011 1:01:47	Anything going on in the planes? If you haven't had many forays into them before epic, then epic tier may be a good time to add planar connections. What does this evil demigod's rise to power entail for the world? I would make sure that question is answered. Does he take over the world? Part of the world? Destroy the world? Once you answer that then you can start thinking about who his allies might be and who his enemies might be. The general advice I give to help spur thought is: Epic tier should focus on events that impact on a scale of nations, planes, or worlds. Your players are very powerful and very likely the only heroes that powerful in the world. Their enemies will be equally as powerful and organized and will likely have entire nations on their side as well. Since you mentioned the defeat of a king that supports this demigod, it sounds like the demigod will need to up the ante. Maybe he/she plans to destroy the kingdom the heroes support or protect. Does the death of the king mean the end of the threat from the kingdom that follows the evil demigod? Or by cutting off one head did the party inadvertently create even more enemies?
#3 TheForgottenCommand Nov 02, 2011 20:26:01	Hey, You are correct in that the selection of epic creatures is relatively thin compared to heroic and paragon. But that can be changed easily. Go back through the monster manuels and vault and search for creatures and concepts that you like, and then customize them and increase thier level in the monster builder that your d&d insider account has. Some adventure ideas... The leader of a fabled monastic brotherhood asks the party to venture into the elemental chaos and climb the Mountain of Keluk, a firey mountain that must be scaled through caverns rather than the molten surface. near the peak is the abandoned monestary of a githzerai clan that protected (ancient relic, forgotten secret, or similar goes here). They vanished centuries ago. possible explinations: they have been enslaved by an obbseeive elder brain that leads a mind flayer cabal and who has been cracking the old seals of many years; they needed to fortify a githzerai outpost guarding a portal to the normal world, and left behind both contraptions and spirits that teast the integrity of those who enter; the monestary is naught but a crater of boiling magma after they imprisoned a lesser primordial that managed to lossen his chains and is now nearly free... A house of efreet have sized up (name of city here) as a sizable trophy and accomplishment. they are gathering an army of both elementals and mercenaries ranging from githyanki to rakshasas. The town asks for aid. Better yet, the town is morrally grey, and the party feels inclined to help the efreets with thier seige to bring down this "wretched hive of scum and villany". A connection between the world and the shadowfell has developed, and has brought a stream of undead souls with it. The souls and the connection are tainting the land, possessing the travelers, and drawing attention from necromancers and priests alike. A temple hires the party to stitch the connection shut by preforming a ritual in three key places with this MacGuffin. Bonus points if the connection drops a necropolis of furious and confused sorrowsworn or is the handiwork of a night walker bringing vengenace. Hope this helps
#4 zuzuangel Nov 03, 2011 9:14:52	Hope this helps Yes, thanks. This is exactly the thing I needed. Most of the campaign up to now has been based on politics, secret organizations and commando assault sort of raids. My primary struggle has been coming up with ideas for adventures that are bigger and more "epic". I like the suggestions, and it has gotten me thinking of some interesting locales and missions.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

zuzuangel

Nov 01, 2011 12:18:07

There are a couple other threads out there asking for advice on epic tier. I thought about asking for help on one of those threads, but I didn't want to hijack them.

The game I’ve been running for the last 2+ years is just getting to the end of paragon tier and I’m having trouble coming up with ideas for adventures in the epic tier.

What I traditionally did for most adventures was go through the monster books and come across a handful of monsters that I though looked cool and construct an adventure around them. However, the selection in the epic tier is pretty thin.

Campaign background

Show

In their first adventure the party opened a “Pandora’s box” freeing an evil demigod. (Apparently the big red button that said, “do not press” was irresistible)

Off and on the party has been fighting cultists of this demigod and have discovered that the ruler of a nearby kingdom is a devotee of this demigod and plans to take over the world in his name. The climax of the paragon tier will be the defeat of this king.

The Paladin is a follower of Bahamut and the climax of heroic tier was a test of trials for him to join the knightly order run by an ancient silver dragon. He received an artifact sword that was prophesied would save the world (that being the climax of paragon tier).

The Cleric joined the game at the end of the heroic tier. He is on a quest to recover an ancient artifact called Pelor’s Shine stolen from his lands. This artifact protected the land from evil. Through paragon tier hints have been dropped that similar artifacts from other gods have gone missing, including artifacts from evil gods.

The Ranger came from a tribe of elves that was betrayed and sold into slavery. In the paragon tier he discovered their whereabouts and mounted a rescue mission into the underdark to free those that remained. He is disillusioned with the gods and feels that their unwillingness to help mortals like his tribe is unfair. He desires to rise to godhood himself and show them how it to do it the right way.

The other players haven’t been very forthcoming in terms of story, but claim to be happy to be along for the ride. I’ve been working on building some storylines for them

Neejix

Nov 02, 2011 1:01:47

Anything going on in the planes? If you haven't had many forays into them before epic, then epic tier may be a good time to add planar connections.

What does this evil demigod's rise to power entail for the world? I would make sure that question is answered. Does he take over the world? Part of the world? Destroy the world? Once you answer that then you can start thinking about who his allies might be and who his enemies might be.

The general advice I give to help spur thought is: Epic tier should focus on events that impact on a scale of nations, planes, or worlds. Your players are very powerful and very likely the only heroes that powerful in the world. Their enemies will be equally as powerful and organized and will likely have entire nations on their side as well.

Since you mentioned the defeat of a king that supports this demigod, it sounds like the demigod will need to up the ante. Maybe he/she plans to destroy the kingdom the heroes support or protect. Does the death of the king mean the end of the threat from the kingdom that follows the evil demigod? Or by cutting off one head did the party inadvertently create even more enemies?

TheForgottenCommand

Nov 02, 2011 20:26:01

Hey,

You are correct in that the selection of epic creatures is relatively thin compared to heroic and paragon. But that can be changed easily. Go back through the monster manuels and vault and search for creatures and concepts that you like, and then customize them and increase thier level in the monster builder that your d&d insider account has.

Some adventure ideas...

The leader of a fabled monastic brotherhood asks the party to venture into the elemental chaos and climb the Mountain of Keluk, a firey mountain that must be scaled through caverns rather than the molten surface. near the peak is the abandoned monestary of a githzerai clan that protected (ancient relic, forgotten secret, or similar goes here). They vanished centuries ago. possible explinations: they have been enslaved by an obbseeive elder brain that leads a mind flayer cabal and who has been cracking the old seals of many years; they needed to fortify a githzerai outpost guarding a portal to the normal world, and left behind both contraptions and spirits that teast the integrity of those who enter; the monestary is naught but a crater of boiling magma after they imprisoned a lesser primordial that managed to lossen his chains and is now nearly free...

A house of efreet have sized up (name of city here) as a sizable trophy and accomplishment. they are gathering an army of both elementals and mercenaries ranging from githyanki to rakshasas. The town asks for aid. Better yet, the town is morrally grey, and the party feels inclined to help the efreets with thier seige to bring down this "wretched hive of scum and villany".

A connection between the world and the shadowfell has developed, and has brought a stream of undead souls with it. The souls and the connection are tainting the land, possessing the travelers, and drawing attention from necromancers and priests alike. A temple hires the party to stitch the connection shut by preforming a ritual in three key places with this MacGuffin. Bonus points if the connection drops a necropolis of furious and confused sorrowsworn or is the handiwork of a night walker bringing vengenace.

Hope this helps

zuzuangel

Nov 03, 2011 9:14:52

Hope this helps

Yes, thanks. This is exactly the thing I needed. Most of the campaign up to now has been based on politics, secret organizations and commando assault sort of raids. My primary struggle has been coming up with ideas for adventures that are bigger and more "epic". I like the suggestions, and it has gotten me thinking of some interesting locales and missions.