I need help with this campaign... (DM)

[Eldron]

So, we're playing 3.5e D&D, although that is pretty much irrelevant, as this portion of the campaign is pretty much role-playing based.

Here's the situation: It is a 2 person game (so one PC), he is currently a 14th level druid/fighter gestalt. He is also king of a powerful nation. He is trying to raise an army and unite the known lands against an evil god who is building an army to destroy the world. The problem is, his people hate him, he's spending all of his gold, he has made multiple powerful enemies (one of which was his main way of raising an army), he's on the brink of war with another smaller nation off the coast of the mainland, he is getting nowhere with uniting the other nations, and a few failed sense motive checks later, and his chief adviser is plotting to overthrow him as king.

I want to help him out, cause right now he is on track to failing miserably, but I don't see what I can do. Any thoughts?

 

[kitcik]

So, we're playing 3.5e D&D, although that is pretty much irrelevant, as this portion of the campaign is pretty much role-playing based.

Here's the situation: It is a 2 person game (so one PC), he is currently a 14th level druid/fighter gestalt. He is also king of a powerful nation. He is trying to raise an army and unite the known lands against an evil god who is building an army to destroy the world. The problem is, his people hate him, he's spending all of his gold, he has made multiple powerful enemies (one of which was his main way of raising an army), he's on the brink of war with another smaller nation off the coast of the mainland, he is getting nowhere with uniting the other nations, and a few failed sense motive checks later, and his chief adviser is plotting to overthrow him as king.

I want to help him out, cause right now he is on track to failing miserably, but I don't see what I can do. Any thoughts?

Give him a Merlin NPC. Powerful, loyal mage advisor shows up.

 

[anest1s]

A devil/demon offers a bit of free help, telling him about his advisers' plots...then he tells him that there are much more he doesn't know about and he is destined to fail.

Except...if he wants to trade.

Alternative: The fiend had a deal with the enemy, and now claims that he refuses to pay up- so he will help our hero just to get paid. In fact, by making the hero to use questionable tactics ''for the greater good'' the fiend will claim his soul. No matter who wins, the fiend will get 2 souls one now, one later.

Edit: Well, here are some ideas about what the fiend would do (if devil make them a bit more lawful-ish, if demon a bit more chaotic-ish)

1. The problem is, his people hate him,
2. he's spending all of his gold,
3. he has made multiple powerful enemies (one of which was his main way of raising an army),
4. he's on the brink of war with another smaller nation off the coast of the mainland,
5. he is getting nowhere with uniting the other nations,
6. and a few failed sense motive checks later, and his chief adviser is plotting to overthrow him as king.

1. He needs a scapegoat to explain himself to his ppl. For example he can make his adviser to look like he stole lots of gold from the kingdom and gave it away to the kingdoms biggest enemy. Then he can say that his adviser hired an assassin on him. Even better, have an assassin to try to assassinate someone loved by the ppl and fail, and then with the help of the devil/demon it could be proved that his scapegoat was behind the assassination attempt. He can then say he was fooled by him and he is sorry. And that he won't fail his ppl again by allowing traitors. And root out all his political enemies as traitors.

2. He needs to either get the support of the ppl, or find a way to get money, or blame someone else.

4. Have them realize that their common enemy is greater than him. Or have their leader/s assassinated and replaced by doppelgangers under your command.

5. Create a raiding party with trusted allies, and have them raid other nations. In a way that everyone thinks its their greater enemy that did the raids. Start dividing your enemies land, and tell other nations that if they help, ''x'' part of enemies land will become theirs.

Edit2: For every problem you should give him more than one fiendish options...all equally evil. Because if you don't, it will feel like railroading/telling him what to do. You should also make cleat that he doesn't have to do what the fiend tells him...but always imply that the fiend knows things he doesn't know.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Is your player in this situation because of some failed dice rolls, or because he's playing foolishly?

One answer says it's not his fault that he's gotten into this, the other answer says he has.

Myself, I'd have sympathy for thei first and therefore try to excercise DM powers to gently steer things to a managable challenge. In the second case, if he's making the decisions that run him out of the kingdom, then I'd play the game in that direction.

Besides, how cool could a campaign be with the plot concept of an exhiled king, now without anything but the clothes on his back and the sword in his hand, banished from his kingdom, in a foreign land, trying to regain his honor, first for himself, than to return to his kingdom one day?

Losing the Kingdom could simply be the start of another adventure!

 

[jefgorbach]

An NPC Adventuring party arrives bearing news of someone attempting to raise an evil army to conquer the surrounding kingdoms, including his (sound familiar). Several of his neighbors have pledged their support, including his now-powerful enemy; who has agreed to put aside their grievances on the strength of the group’s evidence – provided he makes a good-faith gesture: they want his chief advisor for a variety of war-crimes.

Unrelated, one of the evil-one’s demonic advisors appears explaining he arranged for the evil-one’s initial rise to power fully expecting the forces of Good to end the threat prematurely as always so he could collect the evil-one’s soul for his Master. Since the evil-one’s ultimate success would not only prevent this, but also eliminate what has proven to be a very lucrative market for the demons, unexpectedly finds himself offering the location of a deceased dragon’s hoard containing a one-shot plot-device capable of ruining the evil-one’s plot and sufficient wealth to offset the PC kingdom’s immediate debts. (Presumably replenishing the nation’s coffers plus the Victory will restore his people’s faith in him).

Of course even though the demon’s offer is valid and without direct spiritual consequences, it opens the possibility someone in Court secretly witnesses the event and thus a hook to defending his honor and/or reclaiming his throne. Perhaps a personal quest to locate Divine assistance willing to speak on his behalf to the nation’s religious leaders?

 

[Greenfield]

He needs to fake his own death. Or perhaps, arrange to die for real, then get re-incarnated. A Limited Wish should ensure that he comes back as some acceptable race. New face, new body, new lease on life (you always come back as a young adult of your new form, so this is the path of immortality. It just happens to meander along the shored of the river Styx. )

"By royal decree, the true King shall be known by one means and one means only. He must be able to open the royal puzzle box and claim the crown stored therein!"

Of course, having designed the box, he'll be the first one capable of opening it.

It costs him a level, but gives him a fresh start, in terms of his reputation.