Campaign Idea - The Postman Cometh!

[Tonguez]

The news here had a story about the revamp of the India Postal Service (snailmail for those of us that have forgotten what written letters look like) and it showed a lone Postman who everyday walks 25 milesacross the desert, barefoot to deliver mail to isolated tribesmen. He must then read the letter to them (because most such tribesman are illiterate) before wandering back out into the desert for the next delivery.

So anyway I thought cool - I wonder what we could come up with if a whole campaign was built around PCs as postal workers traipsing through hostile wilderness for the express purpose of delivering mail to barbarian tribesman, and brooding dark wizard towers!

So any ideas on what such a campaign could explore?

 

[Henry]

Actually, a friend of mine once created a "Postman" class (basing him off of the Paladin, of all things) whose holy duty was to run the post on time.

I could see a "Postman" campaign, especially in a post-apocalyptic setting, mirroring some of the ideas in the novel (or heck, from the movie, too!) But I could also see a D&D campaign where level gain was tied specifically to delivery of packages. Hey, you want to be 3rd level? GET MOVING!!!

 

[der_kluge]

I could see this being interesting for about 2 levels. And then I'd get bored with it. The problem is, all the adventures would be spoon-fed to the players. This might make a good convention game, though.

 

[der_kluge]

I could see this being interesting for about 2 levels. And then I'd get bored with it. The problem is, all the adventures would be spoon-fed to the players. This might make a good convention game, though.

In fact, this might make a great convention game now that I think about. Imagine it - the PCs are hired to deliver mail to some remote outpost, and amidst a war with demihumans, or something. They fight tooth and limb to cut through enemy lines, hiding away during the night on a cliff side overlooking Mordor, or something equally horrific, and then trek through a desert to deliver this piece of mail. And when they get there, the villagers ask them to read it to them. So, they do, and find out that it's junk mail!

 

[Stormborn]

Oh there are several ways to go with this:

Sci-fi: Our continuing mission: to boldy deliver these packages where no human has gone before.
High-magic: "Sigil Delivery Service, package for a Misteeeer... Orcas is it?"
Time-travel: When it absolutely positvely has to be there yesterday.
Low magic: Neither Malestrom or Frostfell nor Orcs nor Litch King shall stay these adventuring couriers from their appointed rounds.

Actually I have played in campaigns where at least one adventure was the delivery of a letter into a hostile situation.

 

[WmRAllen67]

The "Imperial Post" was an element of Juliette McKenna's novels (Thief's Gamble, Swordsman's Oath et al...)

I could see it running similar to the pony express of the American West-- long rides through the wilderness, isolated trading posts where you can get fresh horses, savage tribes of humanoids to outrun, &c &c

Perhaps there's a "diligence" service as well, carrying passengers and mail along the King's Highway, avoiding the highwaymen and bandits, &c &c

(The more I write the more it seems like a "wild west with a fantasy flair" theme...)

 

[Macbeth]

Actually, I think this might work well as a semi-longterm game, especially if the PCs move up in the world to be running the post. Read Terry Pratchett's Going Postal, and you'll have a campaign outline right there.

 

[eris404]

I think this is a great idea, actually. It could be much more flexible than just telling the players where to go next to deliver the next package and leading them by the nose to the next adventure. They might decide to work as spies for a rebellion (using their courier job as a cover to smuggle other messages) or to investigate something interesting while resting in a strange place after the delivery is made, etc. It gets a little difficult to justify after a certain point (would you really hire an 18th level wizard as a delivery boy?), but the campaign focus could always morph into something else.

edit: What's really neat is that this could be adapted to a lot of different styles of play: war epic, political intrigue, exploration, travelling heroes who help out the little folks and move on.

 

[Crothian]

I could see this being interesting for about 2 levels. And then I'd get bored with it. The problem is, all the adventures would be spoon-fed to the players. This might make a good convention game, though.

Aren't adventures spoon feed to PCs? Go into ther local taverns hear about rumors of dungeosns and go explore them. This gives the PCs a better reason to be together instead of meet in a bar. It attaches them to an organization that can be used to pull thier strings and to give them potential allies. I think it would work well.

 

[eris404]

Aren't adventures spoon feed to PCs? Go into ther local taverns hear about rumors of dungeosns and go explore them. This gives the PCs a better reason to be together instead of meet in a bar. It attaches them to an organization that can be used to pull thier strings and to give them potential allies. I think it would work well.

Also, if done well, it could give them resources like NPC contacts in different areas, maybe small items like healing potions, etc.

Can you tell I'm really digging this idea?