Epic Adventures- How Often?

[Bront]

An epic plot doesn't require epic level players. Personaly, epic is the idea, level is inconcequential if done right.

 

[WizarDru]

How often can truly epic adventure hooks (i.e. for adventures suitable for epic-level pcs) drop in your campaign without the sense of 'realism' being spoiled?

Please discuss.

If you've planned for them in advance and set things in motion, every week. That's how it works in my game, at least. The players are currently on their way to the Tomb of Horrors to confront Acerak the Demi-Lich, in hopes of finding one of the three keys to the prison that holds dread Tharizdun, with the goal of denying it to the bad-guys and then securing the lock. To find it's location, they had to negotiate with a demi-god and took on the task of defeating a bunch of powerful monsters to secure that information. Last adventure they traveled to the Far Realms to rescue the oldest living dragon from captivity by a demon prince, and they brought back an ancient near-deity level being with them.

Most of these had set-ups that go back a couple of years, at least, but took a long time to reach some fruition. They knew about the theorparts (the three keys) as far back as fourth level...but now, at 25th level, they've still only secured one...because they've had to contend with warring demon princes, shadow cult members, ultra-powerful half-insane relatives of the PCs and a Githyanki invasion.

It doesn't take a lot to slip in Epic level plot hooks...especially if you've laid the groundwork previously.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Depends on your use of the word 'epic'

If, by epic you mean characters over 20th level. Then almost every session with these characters ought to be 'epic'.

If by epic you means as in 'this movie was an Epic motion picture', then yeah, overkill can sneak in. But in takes a lot.

In my campaign, my PC's have gone through 3-4 Epic plotlines in the 2 years I've been running the campaign. Overkill has yet to sink in (there are a few other 'epic' plots the PC's have heard about, one involving a flight of dragons, but they haven't investigated).

Overkill manily come with existing settings where the publisher needs to put out products on a regular basis. The most obvious is the Forgotten Realms. Where, if you pay attention to every novel & sourcebook that comes out; all of Toril narrowly avoids COMPLETE DESTRUCTION by the FORCES OF EVIL, once a week (sort of like SG-1 or Star Trek).

In my games, it's running multiple games & trying to keep the sperate over-plots seperate.

 

[Lumberjack]

epic caracters

i am starting an epic game and im level 7 of blackguard and my race is astral deva i ve got an AC 50 and two +5speed evil bane short swords and im wondering what i should chose in minour artifacts 3 of em actually so hmm even if this isn't what this post was started on anybody care to give me ideas??

 

[CRGreathouse]

i am starting an epic game and im level 7 of blackguard and my race is astral deva i ve got an AC 50 and two +5speed evil bane short swords and im wondering what i should chose in minour artifacts 3 of em actually so hmm even if this isn't what this post was started on anybody care to give me ideas??

An astral deva blackguard?

Your character has issues.

 

[Joshua Randall]

I think you could make good use of the "one thing leads to another" technique for Epic plots.

So the PCs finally defeat Acererak. Well, what happens to all those souls that were released? Perhaps they create a backlog on one of the Planes, and the PCs have to intervene -- because the backlog is preventing any mortal creature from dying.

While preventing this catastrophe, the PCs run afoul of a cabal of non-evil but desparate wizards who like not being able to die and would prefer to keep the status quo. The wizards decide to conjure forth some kick-ass monster that gets out of control and goes on a rampage.

Meanwhile, Acererak's dad (I believe a balor?), finally freed after a long imprisonment, returns to the Abyss where he plays a crucial role in upsetting the delicate balance-of-power in some sort of demonic struggle. Events spiral out of control, with various demon princes employing so many daemons (yugoloths) that the celestials decide to get involved. Pretty soon entire planets are being shattered by the awesome might of immortal armies, and the PCs' homeworld is in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But if the PCs stick their noses into this fight, won't they piss off the gods themselves? Nothin' like having Heironeous decide to adminster an ass-whuppin' personal-like.

You get the idea. Think big! Epic level play is inherently grandiose.