I've been playing with an idea of running a long campaign in the FR setting. At this point there is no experience at all in this world, but it offers a lot of interesting possibilities when browsing through the FR Campaign Guide. The adventures which I currently plan on running are:
1. The Kobold Hall lvl 1 [completed just recently]
2. The Shadowfell Keep lvl 1-4
3. Sons of Gruumsh lvl 4-6
4. Red Hand of Doom lvl 6-10
5. and beyond still open for ideas, but was thinking about the Paragon adventures Troll Haunt Warrens and the Spider Queen. Or attempt a conversion of the Spiderqueen from 3.5. I'd really like to add some underdark Drow adventure with a black/shadow dragon in it somewhere.
With the help of the Shadowfell conversion guide to the FR setting it was easy to place it in Cormyr/Thunderpeaks. I've placed the Kobold Hall at the outskirts of the Kings Forrest-Arabel. Sons of Gruumsh will be a little bit further to the north east (as per original adventure) following through to the RHOD which I'll place in the area of Pamarra-Narfell-Dunwood and is gathering its forces there. Just before they'll start moving east and join with the orcs for a big sweep through Toril mwahahah.
To me it sounds logical since the adventurers will explore further from where they started. They will get deeper into the story which will have a dragon story in the background. However I might need to add a small quest/adventure as the PC's travel through the Dalelands to the Sons of Gruumsh adventure.
A white dragon at the Kobold Hall, Shar cultists trying to release an ancient and powerfull shadowdragon at the keep, aspect of Tiamat with RHOD. And I'm looking for ways to keep dragons involved until a big final using the Draconomicon.
With some inspiration from other community made conversion guides I thought about making the goblinoids in the Shadowkeep capture and trade slaves with orc tribes...instead of a hobgoblins tribe. This to get some connection with the Sons of Gruumsh adventure. But it still feels somewhat far fetched due to the distance of locations. They can use slaves to re-build their temple and more local orc tribes could bring the slaves as gifts as they travel to Xul Jarak. The hob goblins do this on their own accord since Kalarel does not wish to assist the Rhod and only follows Shar and not Tiamat.
There is a half-orc in the group which grew up among orcs instead of humans. He can have a connection with one of the orc tribes in the North that gather under the Gruumsh boys. It would also be interesting to have the female orc oracle/priest spell scarred making her that much dangerous and interesting. Since more and more orcs are migrating north/east to gather up there will be less and less random attacks on traveling adventurers. This might cause some suspicion as well.
The dwarf rogue was tricked, during the intro, into stealing a metal working recipe which has ended up in the hands of a RHOD figure using that to arm his troops. The dwarf doesn't know the contact was an RHOD operative, but is busy redeeming herself in the eyes of her community...assisting to stop the army is the least she could do when she learns about this. And the RHOD is trying to use the orcs to gather and fight with combined effort later on. But how do I play out the Dwarf? I'm planning to throw occasional assasins on her path, but have no idea how to have her figure out that the RHOD has a connection to her. And how could I connect the orcs with RHOD? Depending how the SoG adventure goes there will be orcs appearing in the RHOD along side hob goblins, dragonborn etc.
I'm currently not sure if I should involve a few orcs here and there during the Shadowkeep adventure. It is possible to add the side trek of missing people from Winterhaven and that the PCs need to rescue them, but find them guarded by some orcs as those people get transported. Or stick with the original and use the Hob Goblins as transporters to orc tribes. But Kalarel might get annoyed when he notices some of his troops are missing from time to time.
The leader of the adventuring party is trying to find an old "buddy". A dragonborn from a previous group he was a part of. This dragonborn betrayed his friends and led them in an ambush getting them all killed. But Vicross was badly wounded and got out as another friend sacrificed himself for the escape. Now Vicross wants to find this Dragonborn to get answers and possible a more vicious form of revenge. It is possible to tie in this dragonborn as a part of the RHOD adventure...or possible use in the Paragorn tier? I have no adventure ideas for after the Heroic tier, but would like to use the dragon in the background. Perhaps have a secret cult of dragons operating under order of a certain dragon to wreck havoc in the world. That the Dragonborn was involved with followers of Shar finding out about the dragon and Shadowfell keep as well as tricking the RHOD with a fake aspect of Tiamat. I don't know. But I would appreciate help with thinking out plots and such.
That is the big outline...Some feedback and ideas to make the campaign more interesting are welcome. The group is a decent mix of RP/Combat and pretty casual in play. Not to heavy on either aspect of the game so don't expect perfect build for battle.
I'll also keep this thread in case there are some conversion questions. Since Sons of Gruumsh needs to be done from the ground. I've done most, but am still thinking about treasure placement, re-working a trap etc.
Current group consists of:
1. Vicross Serpenthelm - Male Human Fighter (depending how his inner troubles evolve he might add Paladin)
2. Magen Nalnore - Female Dwarf Rogue (will probably go the assassin road)
3. Mel Ur Genilly - Male Halfling Cleric
4. Skarbez Sharmorfang - Male Half-orc Barbarian (which will go bravura warlord soon)
5. Xarba - Warforged Wizard
Journal of the Lost Serpent
Author: Vicross Serpenthelm
I've also added a word file with all my Sons of Gruumsh conversion done so far. It is far from done and first attempt. Some feedback on that is welcome as well.
1. The Kobold Hall lvl 1 [completed just recently]
2. The Shadowfell Keep lvl 1-4
3. Sons of Gruumsh lvl 4-6
4. Red Hand of Doom lvl 6-10
5. and beyond still open for ideas, but was thinking about the Paragon adventures Troll Haunt Warrens and the Spider Queen. Or attempt a conversion of the Spiderqueen from 3.5. I'd really like to add some underdark Drow adventure with a black/shadow dragon in it somewhere.
With the help of the Shadowfell conversion guide to the FR setting it was easy to place it in Cormyr/Thunderpeaks. I've placed the Kobold Hall at the outskirts of the Kings Forrest-Arabel. Sons of Gruumsh will be a little bit further to the north east (as per original adventure) following through to the RHOD which I'll place in the area of Pamarra-Narfell-Dunwood and is gathering its forces there. Just before they'll start moving east and join with the orcs for a big sweep through Toril mwahahah.
To me it sounds logical since the adventurers will explore further from where they started. They will get deeper into the story which will have a dragon story in the background. However I might need to add a small quest/adventure as the PC's travel through the Dalelands to the Sons of Gruumsh adventure.
A white dragon at the Kobold Hall, Shar cultists trying to release an ancient and powerfull shadowdragon at the keep, aspect of Tiamat with RHOD. And I'm looking for ways to keep dragons involved until a big final using the Draconomicon.
With some inspiration from other community made conversion guides I thought about making the goblinoids in the Shadowkeep capture and trade slaves with orc tribes...instead of a hobgoblins tribe. This to get some connection with the Sons of Gruumsh adventure. But it still feels somewhat far fetched due to the distance of locations. They can use slaves to re-build their temple and more local orc tribes could bring the slaves as gifts as they travel to Xul Jarak. The hob goblins do this on their own accord since Kalarel does not wish to assist the Rhod and only follows Shar and not Tiamat.
There is a half-orc in the group which grew up among orcs instead of humans. He can have a connection with one of the orc tribes in the North that gather under the Gruumsh boys. It would also be interesting to have the female orc oracle/priest spell scarred making her that much dangerous and interesting. Since more and more orcs are migrating north/east to gather up there will be less and less random attacks on traveling adventurers. This might cause some suspicion as well.
The dwarf rogue was tricked, during the intro, into stealing a metal working recipe which has ended up in the hands of a RHOD figure using that to arm his troops. The dwarf doesn't know the contact was an RHOD operative, but is busy redeeming herself in the eyes of her community...assisting to stop the army is the least she could do when she learns about this. And the RHOD is trying to use the orcs to gather and fight with combined effort later on. But how do I play out the Dwarf? I'm planning to throw occasional assasins on her path, but have no idea how to have her figure out that the RHOD has a connection to her. And how could I connect the orcs with RHOD? Depending how the SoG adventure goes there will be orcs appearing in the RHOD along side hob goblins, dragonborn etc.
I'm currently not sure if I should involve a few orcs here and there during the Shadowkeep adventure. It is possible to add the side trek of missing people from Winterhaven and that the PCs need to rescue them, but find them guarded by some orcs as those people get transported. Or stick with the original and use the Hob Goblins as transporters to orc tribes. But Kalarel might get annoyed when he notices some of his troops are missing from time to time.
The leader of the adventuring party is trying to find an old "buddy". A dragonborn from a previous group he was a part of. This dragonborn betrayed his friends and led them in an ambush getting them all killed. But Vicross was badly wounded and got out as another friend sacrificed himself for the escape. Now Vicross wants to find this Dragonborn to get answers and possible a more vicious form of revenge. It is possible to tie in this dragonborn as a part of the RHOD adventure...or possible use in the Paragorn tier? I have no adventure ideas for after the Heroic tier, but would like to use the dragon in the background. Perhaps have a secret cult of dragons operating under order of a certain dragon to wreck havoc in the world. That the Dragonborn was involved with followers of Shar finding out about the dragon and Shadowfell keep as well as tricking the RHOD with a fake aspect of Tiamat. I don't know. But I would appreciate help with thinking out plots and such.
That is the big outline...Some feedback and ideas to make the campaign more interesting are welcome. The group is a decent mix of RP/Combat and pretty casual in play. Not to heavy on either aspect of the game so don't expect perfect build for battle.
I'll also keep this thread in case there are some conversion questions. Since Sons of Gruumsh needs to be done from the ground. I've done most, but am still thinking about treasure placement, re-working a trap etc.
Current group consists of:
1. Vicross Serpenthelm - Male Human Fighter (depending how his inner troubles evolve he might add Paladin)
2. Magen Nalnore - Female Dwarf Rogue (will probably go the assassin road)
3. Mel Ur Genilly - Male Halfling Cleric
4. Skarbez Sharmorfang - Male Half-orc Barbarian (which will go bravura warlord soon)
5. Xarba - Warforged Wizard
Journal of the Lost Serpent
Author: Vicross Serpenthelm
I've also added a word file with all my Sons of Gruumsh conversion done so far. It is far from done and first attempt. Some feedback on that is welcome as well.
