D&D 5E (2014) Starting a HotDQ Campaign... need advice

[Blorn]

Hey, I'm new to 5e... but I finally have some guys that are willing to play... I'm excited!
I've been reading the SlyFlourish advice (thanks) and Merric's (thanks) to make this a great adventure.

So, to make this quick, I'm going to start the characters with an introductory adventure/combat, what-not...

Things I want to accomplish with the introductory adventure:
1. Introduce characters to each other.
2. Give the players a reason to go to Greenest.
3. I'd like to introduce the Blue Half-Dragon (can't remember his name Cyn-something) as an early protagonist, but somehow, not kill off the characters. Get them to start hating him.
4. Possibly introduce Mordanth (can't remember her name exactly either, sorry)
5. Give a reason as to why the Blue Dragon is motivated to attack Greenest... possibly by introducing the Blue Dragon talking to Cyn-something and/or Mordanth-something about having a blue dragon egg... maybe?...
6. Get characters up to level 2 so they have a better shot at living through Greenest.

Can anyone help me tie this stuff up?

Right now I have 3 characters, with a 4th on the way:
Fighter (Chaotic Good, human, took the feat to give him spells... magic initiate? wants to become an Eldritch Knight... His village was destroyed by the Dragon Cult, now studies about Dragons)
Bard (Charalatan, womanizer, possibly in trouble with the law and needs to leave where he is...)
Cleric (elf? hasn't finalized on this yet... the first level feat is awefully tempting, wants to be a buff and heal queen)
not sure what the 4th character is going to be, should I push the player towards a particular class?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mavrik6666]

Get the party to be wagons guard or some such on a trip to Greenest or closeby delivering. Give them a couple of small encounters, let them bond, see each others mettle, and that could put them a level or close to up

The half dragon could be leading a group to greenest, they could meet him on the road and he might ransack the wagon, take valuables but not kill anyone, party would be a day behind him as he marches to greenest... goo ditming

 

[Queer Venger]

Dont forget to use the Bonds in the appendix, they provide a good motivation/hooks for the characters to be part of this story. In my own campaing one of the Fighters used to serve on the Baldur's Gate city watch with Frulam Mondath, before she joined the Cult of the Dragon.

 

[pukunui]

I chose to have my group start already in Greenest and already at 3rd level. That's something you might want to consider.

Also, while I think your group could benefit from a heavy-hitter like a sorcerer or wizard, I would only mention that in passing to your fourth player. Don't push them into choosing something they don't actually want to play.


Feel free to have a look at my Tyranny of Dragons threads:

A Hoard To Remember: Tyranny of Dragons campaign log documents my group's experiences playing through the campaign (we're only up to Episode 4 ourselves).

My Tyranny of Dragons details all the additions, changes, and other tweaks I've made to the campaign as we've gone along.

 

[Blorn]

Getting there...

Yeah, the bonds are pretty cool. 1 guy's village has been destroyed by the cult. 1 guy is having the dreams. Another was saved by the 1/2 elf... not sure what the last guy is doing yet, but will find out soon. I think that the 4th guy is going with an elf wizard.

Here's what I have so far:
1. The party is part of a caravan company. They are hired to guard.
2. I'm going to have several months or so before the events in Greenest, the caravan traveling and attacked by the cult, though they may not know who it is. One of the wagons that was being guarded by an elite group somehow gets stolen by the blue half/dragon. I'll put enough minions in between the party and the wagon to hopefully hold them off long enough for them to cross a bridge that the cult destroys, blocking the party from pursuit.
3. In the mysterious wagon was a blue dragon egg (it belongs to the blue dragon that will be attacking Greenest later... this is his motivation... the cult has his egg... later the party can make a deal with him to stop attacking should they promise to return his egg).
4. The party can find out that the wagon had a dragon egg in it if they succeed in some investigation stuff.
5. I might have Mordanth (what-ever her name is) a one of the elite guards... actually a spy/traitor... but while the party is in the caravan, they might get to know her (the bard, remember, is a womanizer... hmm).

Ok, it's starting to flesh out in my head. Any other advice/ideas?

 

[Blorn]

Feel free to have a look at my Tyranny of Dragons threads:

A Hoard To Remember: Tyranny of Dragons campaign log documents my group's experiences playing through the campaign (we're only up to Episode 4 ourselves).

My Tyranny of Dragons details all the additions, changes, and other tweaks I've made to the campaign as we've gone along.

I will definitely be reading this. Thanks!

 

[Blorn]

Get the party to be wagons guard or some such on a trip to Greenest or closeby delivering. Give them a couple of small encounters, let them bond, see each others mettle, and that could put them a level or close to up

The half dragon could be leading a group to greenest, they could meet him on the road and he might ransack the wagon, take valuables but not kill anyone, party would be a day behind him as he marches to greenest... goo ditming

I like this... but I'm thinking of a caravan where the party is not the only members to give reasons for rescues should they become necessary. (see my post above)... Later, when they are on their way to Greenest, it will be a smaller caravan where they are pretty much the only guards, making it so that they are Greenest's only hope.