I'm planning on running my new campaign world within the next few weeks, and I'm making a dark, Gothic kingdom near where the PCs start. It's ruled over by a vampire lord(sound familiar?), and his minions have their own manses in the surrounding countryside. Does anybody think this is a good idea, I mean, it gives me a chance to do combos of good dungeoncrawling in places that are a combo of a living area and a deathtrap(the manses) and then I get to do my uber-dungeon(the Castle itself) that will change when the vampire lord resurrects(he's actually a demigod's avatar, I don't use the normal avatar rules, because this vampire god is too weak to project a proper "by the book" avatar, he projects avatars of varying strengths, so right now, he's using a fairly weak one since he scaled back it's power over the years to bring more power back to himself, since the vampire lord developed a reputation as a vicious ruler who'd kill anyone who tried to rise up against him, everyone in the kingdom just bears it as best they can). Basically, like I said, I get the good ol' fashioned dungeon crawl, as well as them being able to explore the country and the countryside, interact with people who literally haven't seen elves in hundreds of years(the vampire lord had his minions kill and drive out all the elves; he didn't want things that long lived around to plot against him since they're in theory able to plot for a hundred years or so), this oughta be good since 3 of the PCs created so far are elves(very combat intensive party; an elven ranger(not made as of yet, haven't decided between the woodsman from Wheel of Time, the PHB Ranger, or Monte Cook's Ranger variant for my campaign); an Elven Psychic Warrior; a Dwarven Fighter; a Human Bard; a Human Rogue; and an Elven Wizard) and the people in this country have no clue what they are. Also allows me to spring a lot of encounters on them in the countryside, and gives me a hook to bring the Players back time and again(the vampire lord's most trusted minions(an intelligent flesh golem, a vampire sorceress, the Grim Reaper, and a few others I can't think of right now) all resurrect along with him) as well as the fun of designing a new dungeon(the Castle changes form every time the lord returns) for them so they don't get too complacent.
So in closing, I know it's a roundabout way of asking, but is this just a stupid idea, or should I run with it? And can anybody recommend any resources for doing something like this? Thanks.
So in closing, I know it's a roundabout way of asking, but is this just a stupid idea, or should I run with it? And can anybody recommend any resources for doing something like this? Thanks.
In thick Scottish accent as the Dwarven Fighter):"Well now, we've gotta have a bitofa chat with this chap, don't we lads?" (Elven Psychic Warrior cracks his muscles and his neck, speaks in Irish):"Sure'n we do, man. Sure'n we do." (Both break out in an ad-lib song about how they'er gonna drag a vampire out into the daylight and knock back a beer as he burns to Final Death).
