Picking the right evil overlord...

[Aristotle]

This would've been a blog post, but I think my chances of getting a response are still higher here in the forums for now. That or I just don't write very compelling blog posts.

I may be overthinking things a bit, but I'm working out a rough outline for my first full 4e campaign. I'm trying to choose the right climactic encounter, that will drive many other encounters right down through the first adventure. My choices right now are Orcus and Zehir. I've got plausible stories for both.

I made a list of monsters I could use through the levels for each, and both lists are interesting. The dark, mostly unexplored, continent I'm running this campaign on borrows a lot from south america and africa and would make sense as a homeland for the many serpents of Zehir. I've certainly never run a campaign where the players have to take on a god directly (although it might be a cliche) so it would be a new concept for my group. That said the list of followers for Orcus is really compelling with all of those cool undead and demons. It just seems iconicly evil. I've got stats for Orcus (which may make him too obvious a choice), but it'll be a couple of years before I need actual stats for either.

Two great possibilities. One campaign for the next ~2.5 years. No pressure.

 

[Rechan]

Oooh. I would like to see your notes for Zehir.

Regardless, nothing stops you from using both. You have your Main Campaign Plot, and the other can be side ventures. Although the PCs might be a little tired of dealing with Cultists/evil priests/god followers.

As far as Zehir is concerned, remember that it's not just "Snakes and poison and owww". As the god of Assassins, more organized, civilized people might be appropriate.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

One thing I'd like to see is an adventure or campaign that is a little more complicated then "these are the bad guys, kill them, before they kill you."
There should be multiple groups, some good, some evil, some in-between and they should all be in a kind of conflict, but also have the chance to work together if handled wisely...

Maybe I should report back when I ever get this done in real play...

But Rechans idea to use both might be a good start...

 

[Aristotle]

Well.. I have a couple of subplots already. One involves a dragon. A really old dragon. Either Orcus stole an artifact from the dragon and has left the local mortals to blame, or Zehir is trying to subvert Tiamat and gain a following among dragons. Not sure how this puts the dragon in the heroes' way yet, unless Zehir succeeds.

The other, less tied in, subplot is an invasion of the primary city of the campaign. I was originally thinking drow, but now I'm thinking aberrations (possibly with some drow cohorts). I don't know that this will connect to the main plot in any way more than the leaders of the invading force recognizing an opportunity to strike while the local heroes are off dealing with other problems.

I'll play around with the levels and see if I can squeeze another plot in.

Good point about Zehir having followers other than the various scaled races. Including a cult or an organization of assassins is high up on my list of neat ideas to work in.

 

[Rechan]

I love lurkers. I don't know why, but they're just nice and sexy. Check out the Dark Ones, the Shadar-kai, the Bugbear strangler, The Halfling Prowler and a few other humanoid lurkers.

I started imagining a reason why all those lurkers might be encountered in the same encounter, or at least together. And an organization of assassins, or a hit squad for something or other, fits. Because it's the most likely situation why all those varied species would be working in concert.

Besides, it might be a bit of a surprise, being jumped by a bugbear and getting schivved by a halfling at the same time.

 

[Doug McCrae]

How about Orcus, masquerading as Zehir?

 

[pogminky]

I think an ancient dracolich would make a nice BBEG - maybe one who's aiming at demigod status and is taking worshippers away from Zehir - if you want some evil in fighting.

 

[Aristotle]

I'm still messing with the levels. I really like the idea of having Orcus and Zehir in conflict, and my heroes and their homeland caught in the middle. I think I can still get my aberration invasion in without needing to tie it into anything specifically.

I'm not sure how my ancient and powerful dragon fits yet, but I feel I really need an iconic powerful dragon, and I've spent a lot of time on the history of dragons and dragonborn (and now 2 of my 4 players are playing dragonborn) so I want to see that portion of the setting fleshed out. I may scrap him as a unique plot line and just have him be a devoted follower, and champion of, Zehir. Dunno yet.

 

[Terwox]

You could have your unique dragon keep his plot line, and be a renegade follower of Zehir -- that is, the dragon followed the lizard god until they grew too powerful, and then abandoned him. Orcus may be trying to court the dragon as well, although dracolichdom is not all that pleasing to everyone. Just an idea.

If it doesn't fit -- What is your dragon's current plot you'd be tossing out?