New DM seeks advise

[Nalfien]

Nalfien here, you may remember me from such educational films as "Lead Paint: Delicious But Deadly," and "Here Comes the Metric System!"



I’m a newer DM (and experienced player) that has only DMed one campaign that fell short due to player losses (they are soooo fragile.) I’m planning on DMing a new campaign with Fantasy Grounds (www.fantasygrounds.com) with a few folks from that live campaign. DMing over the PC will work much better for us.



I’d like to use the D&D 3.5 rules (since I know them pretty well) but instead of using a high magic setting like Forgotten Realms like I did last time, I would like more of a Ravenloft feel.



My largest two problems with the actual Ravenloft setting is that I don’t have the cash to go buy all the sourcebooks and familiarize myself with all the rules and setting. My second problem is that I do NOT know my history. I’m not saying that fat football coach in high school was right about how much I needed him to teach my boring stuff about world history and geography… but it would have been useful here and there. From what I see in Ravenloft, I might have to know a lot about history and how its been affected by the red death. See http://www.kargatane.com/ for more info.





Anyways, I’m writing this not only to get your opinions on what this new DM should do, but also to type it out so I know what I want. Umm… that was more a note to myself, sorry. In other words, I’m thinking out loud here.



I’d like a setting that uses; the D&D rules, magic that is rare and dangerous, a horror feel with lots of undead, relic like guns, a holy God vs. Satan and his minions theme, and as many monsters from the monster manual that I can.



It’s hard to imagine orcs and goblins along with that, but I’d like to fit them in somehow. Although I’d like guns to be available, I want them to be used only rarely. Bows, crossbows, swords and maces should still be the norm, but a rifle and handgun with rare bullets and gunpowder should be in the mix.



I’m starting the characters out at level one. Can anyone give me some direction? Perhaps we could do a little brainstorming together for the first quest? I find the hardest part about getting a campaign started is getting the characters together.



Maybe they could all be tested individually for entry into a secret society. “If I knew I was taking a test I would have tried harder.” Then once they are all in, I could start sending them on missions. (Wow, that sounds sooo original I think I should patent it! No one steal my idea!!!!!)



Ok, help me… please?



Thanks,

Nalfien

 

[Mark]

Weren't you in the film strip, "Locker Room Towel Fight: The Blinding of Larry Driscoll"? You were one of the first to speak out against horseplay, no?


And didn't you post...

"Nalfien here, you may remember me from such educational films as "Lead Paint: Delicious But Deadly," and "Here Comes the Metric System!"

I’m a newer DM (and experienced player) that has only DMed one campaign that fell short due to player losses (they are soooo fragile.) I’m planning on DMing a new campaign with Fantasy Grounds ( http://www.fantasygrounds.com/ ) with a few folks from that live campaign. DMing over the PC will work much better for us.

I’d like to use the D&D 3.5 rules (since I know them pretty well) but instead of using a high magic setting like Forgotten Realms like I did last time, I would like more of a Ravenloft feel.

My largest two problems with the actual Ravenloft setting is that I don’t have the cash to go buy all the sourcebooks and familiarize myself with all the rules and setting. My second problem is that I do NOT know my history. I’m not saying that fat football coach in high school was right about how much I needed him to teach my boring stuff about world history and geography… but it would have been useful here and there. From what I see in Ravenloft, I might have to know a lot about history and how its been affected by the red death. See http://www.kargatane.com/ for more info.

Anyways, I’m writing this not only to get your opinions on what this new DM should do, but also to type it out so I know what I want. Umm… that was more a note to myself, sorry. In other words, I’m thinking out loud here.

I’d like a setting that uses; the D&D rules, magic that is rare and dangerous, a horror feel with lots of undead, relic like guns, a holy God vs. Satan and his minions theme, and as many monsters from the monster manual that I can.

It’s hard to imagine orcs and goblins along with that, but I’d like to fit them in somehow. Although I’d like guns to be available, I want them to be used only rarely. Bows, crossbows, swords and maces should still be the norm, but a rifle and handgun with rare bullets and gunpowder should be in the mix.

I’m starting the characters out at level one. Can anyone give me some direction? Perhaps we could do a little brainstorming together for the first quest? I find the hardest part about getting a campaign started is getting the characters together.

Maybe they could all be tested individually for entry into a secret society. “If I knew I was taking a test I would have tried harder.” Then once they are all in, I could start sending them on missions. (Wow, that sounds sooo original I think I should patent it! No one steal my idea!!!!!)

Ok, help me… please?

Thanks,

Nalfien"?

I thought so...

 

[Joël of the FoS]

You will finds many info on Ravenloft in the site I work for - see my sig

Hope it will help you.

Joël

 

[Saeviomagy]

First... nalfien please drop the unusual font and colour. While I can read it ok (although it is just a tad small...), others may not be able to. I think that's what Mark was alluding to.

Next: If you are talking about the red death affecting history, then you're actually talking about a game called "Masque of the red death", not ravenloft. Bear that in mind - ravenloft is actually raw D&D more-or-less, but with some wierd magical effects to explain why noone knows about monsters, why everyone seems to distrust outsiders, and why monsters never run out of victims. Masque of the red death sounds more like what you are after.

Next up: There is in fact an RPGA sanctioned campaign of Masque of the red death called living death - as an ongoing campaign, you can download and run THEIR adventures, which means that you need to know a little less about history, because the work is done for you. Additionally, they have a campaign book which tells you how to modify D&D3.5 to match the campaign. It also has some useful things, like how money works and how much stuff costs... I would strongly suggest you download their campaign rulebook.

Another possibility would be to get a hold of d20 modern (and if price is an issue, get the SRD version of it here). The d20 modern RPG involves guns, has more generic sorts of heroes, and has less magic. The earliest you can become a wizard for instance is 6th level - it's an advanced class (like a prestige class).Unfortunately to get the descriptions of the FX (ie - psionics and magic) classes, you need to buy the rulebook

 

[der_kluge]

I suspect you can find lots of information on the kargatane site regarding Ravenloft, and it's all free, so feel free to steal as much as you want. You could probably also buy Ravenloft off eBay fairly inexpensively.

That said, the DMG has rules for guns. Even laser pistols last I checked. So, you already have all those rules.

 

[Wraith Form]

Something you really need to look into purchasing is Fantasy Flight Games' Darkness & Dread. It's got all of what you're looking for rules/crunch-wise, but it'll require your own fertile mind to supply a setting. It's good stuff, trust me.

Another product (well, products) you might want to look into is the Iron Kingdoms--their player's guide and setting book are both out currently. They meet a few of your requirements: rare guns, many monsters, and a highly detailed setting without 37 books, just two.

You might also get away with grabbing the Ravenloft DM's guide 3.5 to get the "Renaissance level tech" feel of horror DMing and apply it's advice to the above setting.

Just a suggestion--I feel your pain.

 

[Mark]

First... nalfien please drop the unusual font and colour. While I can read it ok (although it is just a tad small...), others may not be able to. I think that's what Mark was alluding to.

I just cleaned it up so I could read it. Then I figured I might as well enable others, too.