Advice on new Realms Campaign

[twobadcats]

Hi all,

I'm realtively new to this board so please be gentle.

I'm looking to start a new Realms campaign using 3.5. I have run a couple in the past - one in Toronto that went well until I had to move, and another in Halifax that was a big flop. After doing the "autopsy", the problem seemed to be that I had set it up with no distinct storyline (after these difficulties most of the group read Robin's Laws of Good GMing and we came to the conclusion that most group members have some degree of "Storyteller" in their attitude and so want a storyline, even if it means a little railroading...).

Anyway, I am now looking at starting a new campaign with some less experienced players...some I have gamed with before and some I have not. I'd like to start them in such a way as to not overwhelm people with details. Also, some players have read the novels and others haven't.

I have the whole 3rd edition FR line published to date. Based on that, I'm basically asking for some help brainstorming for some ideas to start (this is assuming the players are going to make a diverse group of the "you meet in a tavern variety"...not that I intend to have them do such a thing, just that I'm expecting that level of variety...if they come to me and decide they all want to play dwarves trying to liberate their ancestral clanhall, this job becomes much easier).

Right now the only firm character "concept" I've received is that one player wants to be a psychic warrior.

 

[JoeGKushner]

The Forgotten Realmis is a big place.

I keep about 6 plot lines floating in the air and let the players decide what their going to follow.

Right now their in the Moonsea region actually working for a noble who is striving to rebuild Phlan into a major city and cultural power in that region.

In the Great Gray Lands of Thar, the Kython (Earth Bound demons from BoVD) have awoken from ancient sleep.

A red wizard is also in those lands creating abonimations.

A monastary called the Bleak Fortress, where half-orc refugees are trained by dwarven monks, fights back all invasions of ogres and orcs.

Dragons have been seen in flights and many worry that another dragon flight will be happening soon.

Zhentil Keep continues to expand and build up their alliances. They and Hillsfar have clashed several times and the Citadel of the Raven recently came under siege but was repelled easily.

Cultists of some dark entity known as the Ebon Maw have been reported in many cities of the region and many prominent leaders have been given vastly powerful artifacts that are unknown to any, feeding the Ebon Maw.

So as noted, there are lots of things going on in my little neck of the woods. I can tie things together, rip them apart, have them be only rumours, etc...

Where are you setting the campaign?

What feeling are you going for?

What do you want to acheive with it?

 

[Wormwood]

I'm having a lot of success with my new Silver Marches/1,000 Orcs campaign.

[some spoilers below]


I'm using the backdrop of an impending invasion by King Obould Many-Arrows to motivate the party into defending the small town of Deadsnows (detailed in the Silver Marches accessory).

They are all natives of the North who came to Deadsnows for the current gold rush. After some preliminary adventures, they did the 'Orc Encampment' adventure (ibid), which I had modified to take place in a small ruined keep (from the free Base of Operations adventure). Currently they are 6th level and in control of Brightstone Keep---which they are working furiously to rebuild.

I've been hitting them with rumors of Obould uniting the disparate orc, troll and giant tribes in the area---and they know that unless action is taken, the entire North will soon be plunged into a bloody war on all fronts.

Using the Stronghold Builder's Guide, the party has been having a blast fixing up their new keep.

On the diplomatic front, they are working to get Deadsnows admitted into the League of the Silver Marches.

On the war front, the PCs are working around the clock acquiring arms and bolstering the Deadsnows militia. They are also launching guerrilla strikes against the local humanoid tribes in hopes of disrupting their ability to aid Obould's war.

The game started at first level and we're only at 6th now, but everyone is really having a good time. The feedback I've gotten from them suggests that they enjoy the hope that their actions will have a positive effect on external events---but they know that events will keep moving forward with or without their involvement.

And if you don;t mind a quick peek behind my screen: They are correct. Unless they manage to kill Obould before the first game session of March (very doubtful...but possible), the war will begin in earnest. But I have a table worked out that determines what the ripples party's actions will cause in the overall war (eg. If they convince the Frost Giants not to join the horde, X cities will be spared. If they manage to cripple the Tornskull tribe leadership, Citadel Adbar will not be bottled up and can send troops to defend Sundabar, etc.)

/long, rambling post of limited usefulness.

 

[Shazman]

I'm running a Realms campaign similar to Wormwood's. King Obould's invasion is looming in the background. It seems to be a popular theme in the Realms these days. They started in Mistledale with The Raider's of Galath's Roost adventure, and have just started the Forest of Blood adventure set in the Moonwood. Soon, they should be playing a major part in helping to defend the Silver Marches. A war is a great plot device. It creates a lot of things for PC's to do: taking out an enemy warlord, collecting artifacts to help stop the enemy or keep them out of his hands, being a special stike force to help turn the tide of the war, working to get aid from those not currently allied with their side, gathering intelligence etc.

 

[Mystery Man]

Off the top o me head....

Sometimes the best place to get adventure ideas is the "In the Realms" section of the monster descriptions in the Compendium. The "politics and power" section in the Silver Marches specifically the enemies and threats is a good place to start and get ideas. And believe it or not the Book of Vile Darkness.

You could always take a look at the Northern Journey campaign to run or get ideas from. Raiders of Galaths roost from Dungeon #87 has been mentioned, great for an opening to something bigger, it starts in the Dalelands.

There's always the rogue tanaruk, escaped from the High Forest trying to hatch some plot to drive the Treants out.

My players are currently in the Unapproachable East chasing down a nefarious lothario by the name of Craven and they may get a crack and the Rotting Man. Provided they survive their current situation.

Anyway, throw something out from any one of these or other suggestions and we can add to it if needed to get your campaign off the ground.

 

[gfunk]

Our campaign is based in the Dalelands/Moonsea/Cormyr region of Faerun. Check out the first post of my Story Hour to see the changes we have made. You may be interested in incorporating these into your campaign.

 

[Nightfall]

My last FR campaign was an experiment in Underdark/Damara/Bloodstone lands and bring Orcus to a whole new level in the Realms. That and of course having Orcus kill Kiaralesee along with Velshroon and becoming the ONLY god of Undead in the Realms. (He'll let Kelemvor off since he just deals in the dead.)

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Right now the only firm character "concept" I've received is that one player wants to be a psychic warrior.

That's a start. I think psychic powers are pretty rare in the Forgotten Realms - at least among humans. So to me, that means that the character (a) was trained by some super secret society that is one of the few groups that knows how to harness the powers of the mind, or (b) comes from a tainted bloodline (such as yuan-ti ancestry) and these powers come to him naturally.

Personally, I prefer option (b), since it allows for some nasty storylines, but some players might throw a hissy fit at this, even if you don't restrict their character's actions in any way...

But really, I think having to deal with the character's "relatives" is too good to pass up.


In general, I prefer creating a storyline to fit the character - so ask them again about the characters they want to create (race/class/alignment), and post them here. We'll see what we can come up with...

 

[Sanackranib]

the new group i've just joined/formed is going to be going through undermountian

 

[Nightfall]

Ugh! Undermountain! The only other place that makes you wish you were in Rappan Athuk.