Campaign Help

sorry if I posted this in the wrong area if I did tell me witch location would be most proper and why that way if I run into a similar situation I know the correct place to post.

I am planning on running my first campaign. I have played in 4 other campaign's me and my other friends just started recently taking turns running campaigns and now it is my turn. We are using version 3.5. I was wanting some advice any kind would be of help including if you think it may be to complacted for a newbie.

Round:1 My plan was to start out the party at level 1 and slowly drag them into a conflict between two nations filed with plot deception and assassinations. The campaign starts off with high tensions and rumors of war then a prince is assassinated starting the war,first as small conflicts and growing ever larger.

Round:2 After much bloodshed one side will emerge victorious (if the party plays their cards right a peaceful negation). How ever both sides will be the loser as the entire war will have been orchestrated by an unseen hand. A powerfull lich who has been sowing animosity amongst the two kingdoms for centuries and now his plan for domnation will soon come to fruition. As with each war thay wage his army's of the undead grow ever larger.

The things that will make this campaign more unusual are that this lich specialised in the manufacture of constructs as well as necromancy. During his life before he made golems to sell (more accurately rent) for a living and practiced combining that with his secret for necromancy during the night. And one day the famous golem maker dissaperd.

I was wondering if the xp cost of making constructs would be a problem for a lich.
Also I have been working on a creature who is the best of both constructs and undead although that may be a topic for another form.

One last thing was planning on making a room with a high level darkness spell cast with permanence. Inside the room is a teleport circle witch transports the victims into a room with a symbol of death set to go off apon a living creature entering the room. Also the room is filled with undead and constructs. Although by finding the hidden door the party can skip the teleport circle but not the room meaning if the party gets sloppy thay can still trigger it.

Sorry for any poor spelling typing on a phone was never my speciality. I have more ideas but I do not wish to bombard you with to many things at once.

Please give advice in any way you see fit.

First thing that comes to mind: make the Lich originally an Artificer (Eberron base class, and I think there's a Prestige Class with the same options somewhere as well)

They get the ability to destroy magic items and gain some XP from that to go into a crafting pool, that they can then use to craft other items.

You could even introduce it as some sort of custom-made feat early in the campaign for spellcasters in the party that like crafting but are afraid of the XP costs.

Stepping beside the question for a moment:
Are you planning to count the Undead and Constructs as part of the Liches challenge rating (similar to summoned monsters)? Or are you planning to use the Undead and Constructs as seperate encounter challenges?
In the latter case: having a good explanation for the Undead and Constructs is nice, but 'winging' it is sufficient: the Lich has made both, where he got the XP from is irrelevant.

Well some generic advice....the best way to make the PCs do what you want at low levels, is to offer them gp reward...later other rewards

When your PCs destroy your plot, don't worry just take your time to remake it. Also you shouldn't plan to far...you will have to adapt anywayz.

If you don't want the PCs to find the liches hideout the easiest way is to not design it.

Also, follow gp per encounter and NPC gear tables as close as you can. Remember, when fighting as one NPC you should consume things...potions...scrolls..wands...whatever. If you don't, then you just gift gear to the PCs (and in that case just follow gp per encounter to see how much items the NPc should have)

Also...a bit railroadish, but it is common tactic to have jailed ppl to enlist in the war, in return for their freedom (or just common enough to make sense). You can't jail the PCs, but maybe the *major or whatever* send them as spies undercover to see which of the prisoners could join the war...then the *mayor or whatever* dies, and the PCs are left without knowing that he died, waiting in the prison to be released. The new *mayor or whatever* just enlists anyone in the prison. Or maybe the PCs are prisoned in one nation...(make sure to abuse them in there) and then, when they are moved from that jail to an other, are freed from the other nations raiding party. If you feel evil, have the good characters to be the ones undercover, and the evil characters to be in the high security side of the jail. Also, abuse only the evil ones. That way good aligned characters will be against one nation and the others against the other.

If you JAIL THE PCS make sure it will be in less than a session until they get out...because they will try to escape for sure, unless you give them something to do in there which can give them reward. Plus its not fun to be jailed.

Herzog said:

First thing that comes to mind: make the Lich originally an Artificer (Eberron base class, and I think there's a Prestige Class with the same options somewhere as well)

They get the ability to destroy magic items and gain some XP from that to go into a crafting pool, that they can then use to craft other items.

You could even introduce it as some sort of custom-made feat early in the campaign for spellcasters in the party that like crafting but are afraid of the XP costs.

Stepping beside the question for a moment:
Are you planning to count the Undead and Constructs as part of the Liches challenge rating (similar to summoned monsters)? Or are you planning to use the Undead and Constructs as seperate encounter challenges?
In the latter case: having a good explanation for the Undead and Constructs is nice, but 'winging' it is sufficient: the Lich has made both, where he got the XP from is irrelevant.

Click to expand...

I count each individuals CR separate but then add up for a total CR of the combined monsters. How ever as long as the party dose not try heading strait to the heart of his layer if faced with overwhelming odds I will make sure thay have some help. And after all something like this is likely to draw the attention if the enables.

Some general tips:
how fast do you think the PC's will level? Adjust your campaign idea's accordingly. If it takes 2 to 3 sessions per level (reasonably standard) then don't throw to many 'the king calls you for this' or 'the evil lich of mass destruction does that' in the players faces at the first 20 sessions or so. The reason I say this is because it is a common trap that even more experienced DM's fall for often (including myself ) that you have an awesome idea for a campaign but the best/coolest elements are higher lvl things. They shouldn't and can't be used at lower lvls and if you start at lvl one it could take easely a year of regularly playing until the PC's hit the lvl your ideas are intended for. Either make sure you are prepared to wait that long, lvl your pc's quicker or adapt the campaign to low level.

As per your general campaign Idea: seems lot's of fun. reminds me of an arc in yafgc. Were lewie the lich tries to take over the world under order of his ancient godess. good times

anest1s said:

Well some generic advice....the best way to make the PCs do what you want at low levels, is to offer them gp reward...later other rewards

When your PCs destroy your plot, don't worry just take your time to remake it. Also you shouldn't plan to far...you will have to adapt anywayz.

If you don't want the PCs to find the liches hideout the easiest way is to not design it.

Also, follow gp per encounter and NPC gear tables as close as you can. Remember, when fighting as one NPC you should consume things...potions...scrolls..wands...whatever. If you don't, then you just gift gear to the PCs (and in that case just follow gp per encounter to see how much items the NPc should have)

Also...a bit railroadish, but it is common tactic to have jailed ppl to enlist in the war, in return for their freedom (or just common enough to make sense). You can't jail the PCs, but maybe the *major or whatever* send them as spies undercover to see which of the prisoners could join the war...then the *mayor or whatever* dies, and the PCs are left without knowing that he died, waiting in the prison to be released. The new *mayor or whatever* just enlists anyone in the prison. Or maybe the PCs are prisoned in one nation...(make sure to abuse them in there) and then, when they are moved from that jail to an other, are freed from the other nations raiding party. If you feel evil, have the good characters to be the ones undercover, and the evil characters to be in the high security side of the jail. Also, abuse only the evil ones. That way good aligned characters will be against one nation and the others against the other.

If you JAIL THE PCS make sure it will be in less than a session until they get out...because they will try to escape for sure, unless you give them something to do in there which can give them reward. Plus its not fun to be jailed.

Click to expand...

Very interesting idea about imprisoning the party I think one sides soldiers mistake the party as soldiers from the opposing side. And then as you said a raid frees them....

As far as not planning to far ahead I have major plot points planed such as the war and its certain end how ever I don't particularly care witch side wins or if thay come to a peaceful resolution because once the war of the kingdoms end the war of the undying begins.

And as far as location of the lair goes I have a few ideas but if the party stumbles across one if the locations I will make it a generic dungeon instead after all thay can't find all of my locations.

I am working on the build of the dungeon as long as I don't decide on certain location I will be fine.

And the equipment advice is simple yet sensible. I will certanly remember that and if worse came to worse war tends to cause inflation. after all don't want the party becoming rich from looting a battle field.

another question I thought of was I am debating abought having a corpse gather gather corpses at the will if the lich but I am not sure if a lich could make a corpse gather obay or if it would try to absorb the lich.

and I was thinking about having the lich put it porfatory or however that's spelled into a living vault after all the lich has a lot to worry abought angry army's the invariable and how many clerics who just hate undead.

anest1s said:

Well some generic advice....the best way to make the PCs do what you want at low levels, is to offer them gp reward...later other rewards

When your PCs destroy your plot, don't worry just take your time to remake it. Also you shouldn't plan to far...you will have to adapt anywayz.

If you don't want the PCs to find the liches hideout the easiest way is to not design it.

Also, follow gp per encounter and NPC gear tables as close as you can. Remember, when fighting as one NPC you should consume things...potions...scrolls..wands...whatever. If you don't, then you just gift gear to the PCs (and in that case just follow gp per encounter to see how much items the NPc should have)

Also...a bit railroadish, but it is common tactic to have jailed ppl to enlist in the war, in return for their freedom (or just common enough to make sense). You can't jail the PCs, but maybe the *major or whatever* send them as spies undercover to see which of the prisoners could join the war...then the *mayor or whatever* dies, and the PCs are left without knowing that he died, waiting in the prison to be released. The new *mayor or whatever* just enlists anyone in the prison. Or maybe the PCs are prisoned in one nation...(make sure to abuse them in there) and then, when they are moved from that jail to an other, are freed from the other nations raiding party. If you feel evil, have the good characters to be the ones undercover, and the evil characters to be in the high security side of the jail. Also, abuse only the evil ones. That way good aligned characters will be against one nation and the others against the other.

If you JAIL THE PCS make sure it will be in less than a session until they get out...because they will try to escape for sure, unless you give them something to do in there which can give them reward. Plus its not fun to be jailed.

Click to expand...

Very interesting idea about imprisoning the party I think one sides soldiers mistake the party as soldiers from the opposing side. And then as you said a raid frees them....

As far as not planning to far ahead I have major plot points planed such as the war and its certain end how ever I don't particularly care witch side wins or if thay come to a peaceful resolution because once the war of the kingdoms end the war of the undying begins.

And as far as location of the lair goes I have a few ideas but if the party stumbles across one if the locations I will make it a generic dungeon instead after all thay can't find all of my locations.

I am working on the build of the dungeon as long as I don't decide on certain location I will be fine.

And the equipment advice is simple yet sensible. I will certanly remember that and if worse came to worse war tends to cause inflation. after all don't want the party becoming rich from looting a battle field.

another question I thought of was I am debating abought having a corpse gather gather corpses at the will if the lich but I am not sure if a lich could make a corpse gather obay or if it would try to absorb the lich.

and I was thinking about having the lich put it porfatory or however that's spelled into a living vault after all the lich has a lot to worry abought angry army's the invariable and how many clerics who just hate undead.

Scud_Buster said:

and I was thinking about having the lich put it porfatory or however that's spelled into a living vault after all the lich has a lot to worry abought angry army's the invariable and how many clerics who just hate undead.

Click to expand...

The war will keep busy every church in both sides, since clerics need to enlist too

shadyizok said:

Some general tips:
how fast do you think the PC's will level? Adjust your campaign idea's accordingly. If it takes 2 to 3 sessions per level (reasonably standard) then don't throw to many 'the king calls you for this' or 'the evil lich of mass destruction does that' in the players faces at the first 20 sessions or so. The reason I say this is because it is a common trap that even more experienced DM's fall for often (including myself ) that you have an awesome idea for a campaign but the best/coolest elements are higher lvl things. They shouldn't and can't be used at lower lvls and if you start at lvl one it could take easely a year of regularly playing until the PC's hit the lvl your ideas are intended for. Either make sure you are prepared to wait that long, lvl your pc's quicker or adapt the campaign to low level.

As per your general campaign Idea: seems lot's of fun. reminds me of an arc in yafgc. Were lewie the lich tries to take over the world under order of his ancient godess. good times

Click to expand...

I read a synopsis of that campaign in fact that helped inspire me although before that I was thinking of s powfull wizard creating an army of constructs. Two good ideas do why not use them both. And assuming the players decide to join a side thay will always receive a quest from someone who out ranks them but not overly so I will make sure of that thanks to your advice. And the lich is patient he is going to wait for the end of the war to strike and if some major event happens in the war it takes time for word to travel so by the time the party finds out it is probly already over unless I decide I don't want it to be.besides The last guys campaign was smash the door stile so I want a littel more plot on this one.

Actually it was a different campaign I read but thay are still very similar. The one I read came from a campaign book.

anest1s said:

The war will keep busy every church in both sides, since clerics need to enlist too

Click to expand...

That is trew how ever I may not have made this clear but the lich will wait till the wars end to strike. Because by his logic both sides will be weekend and right after the war is over both sides guard will be down. How ever I think I will have him miss the fact that the war is also likely to increase the inevitables presents in the plane. After all its a murats job to hunt down those like the lich. And when both sides learn that it was the lich who orchestrated ever major war over the past few centuries I would say both sides will want a price of him.