D20 Modern Plot Development

[MrFaust]

Hey all, I am no stranger to these forums though I only had joined them a few days ago but I am been following threads for quite a number of years. Anyhow I am working on a massive D20 Modern campaign and I am having some trouble not only building the plot but filling the "fantasy world" where the players will inhabit. This would be my first run as a Modern Game Master (mind you I have 15 years under my belt with Fantasy)

First let me give you what I have thus far to better help you, help me. The campaign will take place in a world very much like our own (wither or not it will be earth per say I have yet to decide) the world will be full of mystery and the unknown (again much like our own but the things that go bump in the night really do bump.. and possibly kill you) I am also planing on using psionics.

As for the plot or direction I would like to go with it, I enjoy running epic sized campaigns (lasting years if able) with a large story ark that all comes to a climax in the end (what good DM wouldn't). I am thinking of a campaign full of conspiracy, strange science, unknown horrors and the like. Anyhow I picked out a number of Organizations to fill the world with (well at least ones that matter) that I'll list below as well as a large amount of personalities (that I wont bother listing all of them due to the sheer size). All in all I am having trouble putting it all together into something that will grip the players imagination and keep em coming back for more.

(some are straight taken out of the guide i may change later)
Organizations
The Illuminati (what good conspiracy is with out these guys)
Global Network News (filling our heads with false info and trash)
Draco Industries (Worlds most powerful Evil Corp)
Onimako Consulting (A Gentleman with his finger on the pulse of finance)
SPECTRE (A Terrorist Organization much like Dr. Evils)
Department 7 (A Fringe/ X-Files like group)
The Mafia (gangsters)
Dogtown (a major gang)
Pleiadions (Aliens)
Amgen Pharmaceuticals (think Umbrella Corp)
Cult of Skaro (a cult lead by a psionic)

As for the peoples who live in the world I have just about everyone you can think of. Serial Killers, Politicians, Celebrities, Scienctists, Lawers, Feds, Police, Gangsters, Civilians, CEO's, ect. ect. I have no problem creating mass amount of content its tying it all together.

Any Help Would Be Great

 

[ajanders]

OK, start with your characters.
What do they care about in the world?
How can you threaten it?
What do they need?
What obstacles might be in their way?


Otherwise, start with a plot.
Build a villain.
What does he want?
How will he go about getting it?
Who will be most affected by his plans?

How's that for a start?

 

[MrFaust]

so building a plot for modern is just about the same as a fantasy game? In fantasy i usally have a major baddie or two and base the story ark off of their doings while all the rest is filler (such as side quests a smaller arks). Think that would work out?

 

[Khairn]

Unlike fantasy where "killing the monster and taking their stuff" is a tried and true incentive for adventurers, I've always felt that characters (and players) in modern games needed a common theme to help them stay on focus and help me with plot hooks.

So who are the characters? Trained specialists or everyday schmo's caught in events beyond their imagination?

How are they brought together? A secret benefactor with a hidden agenda, a gov't agency looking to protect the unsuspecting public, or maybe simple happenstance?

How do they live when they aren't fighting the good fight? How do they make their money? Do they have family that they protect by hiding their clandestine missions, or are they all orphans?

Once you have the basics of the party, and what ties them together, my advice (for what its worth) is have the first 3 or 4 challenges lead (through clues or direct link) to each other. I've found that for gamers who have only played fantasy, this type of linked adventures will reinforce the investigative, social and chase elements that are often a key element in modern games.

I hope that helps.

 

[TheClone]

I guess the key point is the catch the players motivation. If they belong to an organization (deparment 7?), it's easy. They do mostly as they are told. But you have to do all the pacing, because they tend to be less active then, I think. If they are not part of an org, you have to hook them. Each PC needs some allegiance or something else that ties him to the story. Maybe a missed relative, an occult talent, that draws him in naturally...

There is an interesting radio play, but I don't know whether it's available in English, too. It is available in German though. It's named "Gabriel Burns". That might be an inspiration source.

Soem possible links between your organizations:

• The gang is kidnapping homeless people to sell them for occult experiments to umbr... erm... Amgen Pharma.
• Some neat rituals of the terrorists as act of terror with support of the evil corp(s)
• Some spies of evil corps try to spy on/destroy Department 7
• The mafia is spreading some occult stuff as drugs or so among the masses. Maybe using the public as lab rats.

Is that the direction you wanted? I may have some more ideas, but now I have no time left. I'll return later to this thread.

 

[ajanders]

so building a plot for modern is just about the same as a fantasy game? In fantasy i usally have a major baddie or two and base the story ark off of their doings while all the rest is filler (such as side quests a smaller arks). Think that would work out?

Pretty much, yes.

Look at the people who wrote serial fiction in the '30's and television screenwriters today. Their goal is the same as any D&D campaign writer: create entertaining experiences that make people come back week after week for five years or more.

Look for Lester Dent's master fiction plot online: try some books on television writing. I won't suggest any of those here, there are real TV writers who would mock me and my dog for my amateur suggestions. But a good library will have a few and Amazon quite a lot.

My last thought is that there's a lot of available material for D20 modern: everything for D20 modern, everything for D&D 3.0 and 3.5, everything for CoC d20, and everything for d20 Future. You might just want to look at that mass of stuff and just chip away everything that doesn't look like your campaign.