Campaign too boring?

[Corsair]

Perhaps. I guess when it's described as a "family" I am thinking of a much smaller group. If its more like the bloodlines of the Dragonmarked houses in Eberron, then I could see people not knowing they were members of the "family". However you'd still be forced to learn from other "family members" so you'd come under their influence (unless you include sorcerers).

Or perhaps sorcerers aren't members of the bloodline at all, just abberant developments in evolution? (if you take this approach though, you may wish to tweak the sorcerer class... actually heck, the sorcerer class needs tweaking regardless!)

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I like the "Family" idea. I can just imagine wizards addressing each other as "cousin" because they actually are cousins, though vastly removed. Part of the reason I like it is because of the dragon, though. I've always been a huge fan of treating the various monsters in the MM as unique. Only one dragon, only one beholder, etc. It just makes everything seem more fantastical to me.

One point that kind of raised alarm bells for me, though, was this line:

The adventures will center on a newly knighted squire...

As a player, I can accept another PC being more useful than mine in a specific area. Everyone has their bailiwick.

But I would be wary of joining a campaign where one character is the focal point of the campaign's action. I don't like my character to be secondary to what's happening in the game. So unless I was the newly knighted squire (and the other players, unlike myself, were okay with me being the center of the story,) this would be a serious problem for me.

 

[Sado]

I'm intrigued. Sounds like fun. Any plans for a pbp, hmm?

It would be fun to play a foppish dandy aristocrat, I think. Don't get too many opportunities for that.

 

[DongShenYin]

But I would be wary of joining a campaign where one character is the focal point of the campaign's action. I don't like my character to be secondary to what's happening in the game. So unless I was the newly knighted squire (and the other players, unlike myself, were okay with me being the center of the story,) this would be a serious problem for me.

There's "and his companions" at the other end of that sentence, but I see where you're coming from. Whether or not the steward is a PC is one of the things I'm debating. One, it's a fantastic role to play if the player is up to it. Two, I'd like to do the betrothal storyline; that not only makes for great RPing but also makes sense--otherwise, why would the domain have been without someone to run it? (Unless they meet the previous steward and do an exchange of keys) Three, the other PCs don't have to owe duty to him necessarily, but to THEIR lords if they're not knights (priest to his church, bard to his guild, etc). The steward can have a squire, but other knights would have a duty to his father and would probably be more experienced than he is. On the other hand, I can see where a bad player can take advantage of this role and try to boss everyone around. Also, it's usually considered bad if the entire campaign centers around one person. Its even worse if that person dies. If he does end up an NPC, I'd emphasize his courtly skills more and make him sorta incompetent in the field, leaving the bulk of the work to the PCs. Hmm... Any ideas?

 

[DongShenYin]

p.s. How do I get rid of the "@Juno.com" on my name? I don't see a link to "change name" in My Account

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I like it!

But, I'm running something very similar at the moment:

My players are all members or associates of an order of knights. They were sent to install a 'rightful heir' into a town neighbouring their country. As it stands, they've just deposed the previous lord (a half-hobgoblin blackguard) and are busy settling themselves in.

Hobgoblin raiders occupy the area to the west of them.

Their nobleman is courting a noblewoman who also has a claim to the area and was forced to marry to the hobgoblin...

They're fighting the sinister druid (Blighter) who controls the forest surrounding the domain.

Now that's uncanny. Think we may have been channeling something similar?


After talking it through with the players, I went for an NPC nobleman. This has worked out well for me. Lysander is fun to run. I made him with a forceful personality and dashing looks but hedonistic, impulsive and not very gifted in the way of brains...

He tends to do some odd things if left alone too long: He judged the prisoners in the dungeon (badly!). Decided to throw a celebratory feast for all the townsfolk (The PCs liked this one). Got drunk and shouted abuse at the leading merchant (They sympathised). Is about to blow a good chunk of the treasury on an engagement ring for his wife to be... (They're not going to be happy!).

Makes a nice foil for the players to deal with.

 

[hong]

As long as there's monsters to smite for great justice, I'm in.

 

[DongShenYin]

One of the things I'm having trouble deciding is the religion. Since two vastly different cultures on opposite ends of the globe developed a feual system (western europe and eastern japan respectively) I don't feel bound to create a "christian" based religion. On the other hand, I'm not too sure WHAT religion to make. Multiple gods appeal to me in terms of diversity and choice, but I'm new to GMing and I don't know how to juggle the different churches. Unless they're like Greek gods and are all related somehow? I'm not sure what "tone" to take with the world either (upbeat--good will triumph over evil, serious--good may win this time but the war continues, or just moderate--balance good and evil within yourself). And yes, I'm revealing my prejudices with the words "good" and "evil".

 

[Mystery Man]

Sounds fun.

And nothing says "SPAM ME!" like your email for a user name.

 

[DongShenYin]

*sigh* And I can't seem to PM any Admins to help, either. Hello, any Admin out there? Help please.