D&D 5E How often do you tell your PCs about other adventurers?

Quartz

Hero

• Jun 22, 2017

• #1

Inspired by this thread, of course.

How often do you tell your PCs about other adventuring groups - of all power levels? Does it vary by level?

 

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Warmaster Horus

Explorer

• Jun 22, 2017

• #2

When it's appropriate to the story.

 

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Draegn

Explorer

• Jun 22, 2017

• #3

I start my players with a list of problems that various people have. They choose who they want to help. When they return they learn that the problems they ignored for the time have either been solved, remain the same, gotten worse or resolved on their own. If a farmer has problems with wolves the players can hunt the wolves, however, if they ignore it someone else might kill or tame the wolves, they find there are more wolves than before, or the wolves have left because their is nothing left for them to eat.

 

Istbor

Dances with Gnolls

• Jun 22, 2017

• #4

Rarely ever unless needed.

Meaning, if they ask NPCs about other adventurers, or it is meaningful to the story.

 

Ralif Redhammer

Legend

• Jun 22, 2017

• #5

It depends, but I generally only rarely have other adventuring parties intrude on their story – they are supposed to be the focus of the campaign. I will throw in references to other adventuring parties, though, sometimes referencing my other groups or past campaigns. I want the world to feel dynamic, that they’re not adventuring in a vacuum, without taking the spotlight away from them.

If a group gets a too murderhobo-y, a super-good group or a super-evil group will often show up as a foil, though.

 

GlassJaw

Hero

• Jun 22, 2017

• #6

Some context:

Adventurers in my default "world" are rare across the board.
Cities are also rare.
The land is dotted with villages and towns and people generally try to eke out a meager life and band together for safety. However, just under the surface and outside the village gates, all sorts of weird stuff is going on.

Because of this, if the PCs roll into a town and the townsfolk mention others adventurers, that's kind of a big deal. They may talk about famous adventuring groups that spent time in a region or heroes that did great deeds long ago. Townsfolk are typically wary and distrustful of adventurers but once their trust is gained, they will embrace the idea of adventurers in their town (well most people anyway).

I want the PCs to be the "stars" of the campaign and be very cautious of other adventuring groups.

 

S

S'mon

Legend

• Jun 22, 2017

• #7

Pretty rare.

Golarion - basically only if it comes up in the published adventure.

Wilderlands - occasionally, there are 2 known mid-level groups active in the campaign area. I don't count low level types.

 

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lowkey13

Guest

• Jun 22, 2017

• #8

*Deleted by user*

 

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TheNoremac42

Explorer

• Jun 22, 2017

• #9

The Heroes of the Realm in my world were kidnapped by a race of shapeshifters. The PCs are currently trying to rescue them.

 

C

Caliban

Rules Monkey

• Jun 22, 2017

• #10

I spend the first 30 minutes of every session telling them about what the other, cooler, adventuring groups are accomplishing. Sometimes with illustrations and a power point presentation.

Everyone needs a little incentive to improve themselves.