Set-Up: We killed a small group at night near the Bandit kingdom we are using as a base town. We found a Bandit license on the dead bodies that was by the bandit Warlord but wasn't assigned to anybody. We took it back to the Guild house and was assigned a small free town near the bandit kings lands and that hasn't been paying for "protection". We were told that anything goes as long as it doesn't come back to him (the lord). So we found a small cave and almost got whipped by a dire wolf I found on line.
My wife's plan is now to start attacking trade caravans that are leaving the town to the west. I have some other ideas but can't just tell her because I'm the DM. So I thought maybe some of you could post some ideas on here of things to do in this type of setting. I would like to do some info gathering first and she has already hinted at this being what was planned after we settle in for a while and get to know the town. We have decided to where black garb outfits during the bandit raids and getting some help from ether slaves or talking to the local orc tribe or Hireling from the Bandit Lords(will cost allot more).
So just some ideas on bandit stuff. The town is small maybe 200-300 people and is just a stop over for furs and herbs before leaving for the 2 months it takes to get to the main city in the lands to the west. Also has a small harbor for river boats coming down stream. Thanks ahead of time.
The town is small maybe 200-300 people and is just a stop over for furs and herbs before leaving for the 2 months it takes to get to the main city in the lands to the west. Also has a small harbor for river boats coming down stream. Thanks ahead of time.
Dear god its a Trade hub...short of the influx of bountyhunters and bandits who think you should be paying their boss a lot more, I suggest you pay attention to your geography. Depending on the resources available up river, your little town could become a major pointon the trade road.
If there is timber up river (you can become a source of dyes, and Wagon Parts (wheels, ect.); charcoal can be used in smelters). Your town sounds small but it has potential - especially if it becomes a trade port for 'stolen goods'.
SETTLEMENT DEVELOPMENT
Settlements can appear anywhere. But in doing so, they will adhere to certain rules. So first off, let’s look at why our settlement is in this location. There are four reasons: Resource Proximity, Environmental Transition, Connectivity of Routes, or Defensible Position.
A. Location of Settlements
...Resource Proximity…
1. Mineral
2. Agricultural Land
3. Building Material
4. Labour
5. Water
6. Wind
...Environmental Transition…
7. Forest-Tundra
8. Ocean-Coast
9. Desert-Plain
10. Foothills-Mountains
11. Lake-Lakeside
... Connectivity of Routes…
12. River Crossing/ Crossroads
13. River Branch/Fork in Road
14. Stop Over/Rest Stop
...Defensible Position…
15. D'yke/Sea Wall
16. Mound
17. Hill
18. Mountain
19. River bend
20. Gorge/Pass
Ex. The community of Umbrij sits on the river Avon where it meets the Trade Road. Our Community falls under a category 12 location (River Crossing/Crossroads). The River connects Timber up river and the Capital down river. The Trade Road on the other hand extends east and west.
B. Function of Settlements
1. Market - (Description: Centre of exchange for Local Goods; Prerequisite: Resource (Agricultural Land/Labour)).
2. Industrial - (Description: Conversion of Raw Materials to Mfg. Goods; Prerequisite: Resource (Minerals/Labour/Water/Wind); Network (Road/River)).
3. Commercial - (Description: Trade and Finance; Prerequisite: Node, Nexus (Road/River)).
4. Mining - (Description: Extraction of Minerals; Prerequisite: Network (River/Road), Resource (Mineral/Labour)).
5. Administrative - (Description: Capital City or Local Administration centre; Prerequisite: Node or Nexus (River/Road)).
6. Cultural/Education - (Description: Universities/Schools/Colleges; Prerequisite: Network, Nexus, Node (River/Road)).
7. Ecclesiastical - (Description: Religious Centre frequented by Pilgrims; Prerequisite: Network, Nexus, Node (River/Road)).
8. Primary Residence – (Description: Castles, Keeps, Citadels, Estates; Prerequisite: Any Location).
9. Resorts – (Description: Tranquil Resort/rest stop; Prerequisite: Coast, Hill, Network (Road/River)).
10. Port – (Description: Place of Cargo/Passenger Transfer between land and water or river and sea; Prerequisite: Environmental Transition (Coast); Pit-stop, node, nexus (River/road); Defensible Position (Lakeside)).
11. Residential - Description: Located away from other functions to provide cheap or healthy residential surroundings; prerequisite: Network, node, nexus (Road/river)).
12. Dispersed – (Description: Freeholds, Independent Farmers, Ranches; Prerequisite: Exploitable Resource (Agricultural Land), Defensible Position (Mound)).
Ex - In this case Umbrij is a Category 9 Function (Residential - the location is selected for its fewer toxins in the drinking water and air) and sits across the river from Ashwash: a Category 2 Function (industrial - Charcoal Production for the Capital down river using Timber from upriver).
-Another idea could be that you are encroaching on other bandits' "territory" and they begin to threaten or attack you because you're taking their profits. They could even wait until you rob a merchant, then rob you so not only are you the culprit in the merchants eyes, you also have nothing to show for it.
-The bandit lord could have a subordinate who causes trouble because somewhere down the line one of his bandit cohorts doesn't like new competition.
-A powerful creature (dragon, giant, rakshasa, etc.) could have been on the receiving end of the goods you're plundering and send a slew of minions after you.
I hope these help spark imagination
So unless I was unclear I hope this will be more clear although I will take ideas on the DMing side. I need ideas for players to use being bandits? Thanks again.
Also I plan to make some NPC goodies to come and try to strighten things out at about 5th-7th level. One of the dragon kingdoms comes at about 13th-15th.
Note: If the party setup will help it is warforge/battlerager and Elf/ranger (great bow/doubleshot/two weapon fighter)
You could do stuff like blackmail, raiding caravans, starting a guild with protection rackets, murder on demand, but it all mostly matters what they run into... and a bandit's life isn't really all that interesting, probably. It's just a lot of day-in-day-out extortion and trade cart raiding.
Nobody has any ideas on things players can do as bandits? WOW?
- Dodge Bounty Hunters
- Loot Caravans
- Abduct 13 yearold princesses off to marry hundred year old barons.
You have to have a license to be a bandit?
No not really. The bandit lord has "connections" with other kingdoms that let him smooth things over for a price if what you do comes backto bite you. Kind of like insurance and if things come missing he handle the bandits that the other kingdoms want dealt with for a price or can found stolen goods that they may want back. The license is to lets him know if what is going on needs dealt with ($$$) or dealt with (
).Given how dangerous the average D&D world is, it is guaranteed that the town and the caravans aren't just sitting there unprotected. Once she attacks and/or captures one or two caravans, she should expect to be hunted down fairly aggressively.
She should also start recruiting because obviously one character isn't going to be very successful at attacking caravans etc.
I have ran/been in some bandit campaigns.....stop wasting your time with caravans....find a juicy bank to hit. ;) If your feeling really flamboyant...get a fast ship....find a crew...hit the seas with a plan to plunder.
You can't get much more evil than stealing a baby!
First time posting here, some time lurker.
im Dutch and not very good at spelling so i'll appologise for my horrid mistakes in language.
to formulate your question.
Small start up activities for a bandit with the intention of taking over a village which has the potential of growing quite a bit.
I believe the bandit should get more information.
- what kind of laws are there
- who enforces the law, is there any protection (protectors)
- how far do these laws reach or the length the enforces will go to enforce them.
- along with laws is the way the village is ruled / led etc.
I think this is some basic information that should be obtained by the bandit so she/you can operate in the grey area's of the law (the low profile / none punisheble activities)
Village
for example if its a hunting, herbalistic, trade port and taking into account the village has about 250~ people living in it.
You could have the village be ruled by a group (not even yet a council) of people whom the villagers values for there contribution to the village.
Lets say one of the best hunters, a renown (village status) trader, a wise old man (relatively speaking) and someone that had the bright idea he or she is fit to lead this village into its upcoming new golden age (dm decided how succesfull or actually quallified he or she is for this purpose).
These people would loosely decide on issues the village had, when they had them. (im thinking they try to convince eachother and the villagers that their option would be best)
Laws
the laws are just borrowed ideals from other kingdoms or lands, the unspoken rules. dont kill, steal etc.
Enforcers
Uhmm, 250~ villagers, some minor important people. I would say the merchants would have the best means of protecting themselfs and thus enforcing the rules / laws. Followed by the hunters for the simple fact they know how to handle a bow and treat lightly (sneak / ambush).
Lets presume the village has 15 to 25 able (villagers with combat affinity) warriors. They would side whith the ''council member'' whomever convinced them most.
Supposing the above this doesnt give them alot of resources to do much more then regulate the village i'd think.
Bandit actions
now for actions the bandit could take, thats the point we want to get to.
- High influence
Side with and influence one of the ''council members'', this could be done by blackmail, threatening etc. Would perhaps be abit far fetched for a starting
bandit.
- Disguise
The bandit knows she/he is a bandit but the rest doesnt.
abit of pretending to know or forsee something can be quite profitable.
And ofcourse making sure it actually does happen.
- Shaking people down
The huners and traders would come to mind here.
These two groups are outside of the village at some point.
Make them sufficiently convinced (scared) of the fact accidents might happen in their line of work without the right preperation (paying you for example *cough* donating to the patron of the roads)
- Gaining minor immumities
Well if you are going to be a bandit, at least try to get a ''get out of jail'' ticket.
Allso if you aim to take over the village, get the villagers (some at least) on your side.
Give aid to some in need (publicly), rescue a hunter that left wounded after a hunting trip (or kill him and explain you found him dead but you slew the beast and stil get celebrated), etc.
This will give you some breathing space for your banditry actions.
- Murder
I dont think this helps alot with the intention of taking over the village at some point seeing there are only 250 or so villagers. this'll have a huge impact socially, unless its done out of sight and mind (ofcourse without any possible connection to you).
But still not to be presued that quickly seeing you might kill someone that could become valueble to you in the long run.
- Corruption
Hmmm.. this one will be a tough and fun one, not to mention the most profitable (points of view differ).
Again you need to survey the village before you find likely targets for this.
But when you get one or a few, blackmail, influence and all that comes right your way (in the ''good'' sense of things ofcourse).
Example, lend some coin to a villager that wants to buy something (house,inventory, flock of animals, bow, pouches etc) and make a deal out of it. '' I;ll lend you X amount, however i'll be wanting X back'' further down the line you make it impossible for the poor villager to furfill his end of the deal and demand (insinuate) he could furfill the deal with a favor or somesuch.
Making a stop here
could go on but got another thing to work on, wonder if this helps you ace. but got myself fired up for continueing to build up one of my own project towns. hehe.
Good luck with the bandit solo campain ;)