Suggest stuff for the Easy Campaign

[theredrobedwizard]

There is a country called Thay ruled by evil, red-robe-wearing wizards.

Why aren't there ever any countries ruled by benevolent, Lawful Good, red-robe-wearing wizards? Just because *I'm* evil doesn't mean that we all are.

As a side note, make an Oriental area, but have it more like Mongolia/Northern China than Japan. Horse Archers galloping across the Steppes is just a fun image.

Also, steal the Color Coded Mages idea from Dragonlance: Good = White, Neutral = Red, Evil = Black. Or, maybe color coded by Specialty; White = Abjuration, Green = Conjuration, Light Blue = Divination, Dark Blue = Illusion, Red = Evocation, Purple = Enchantment, Black = Necromancy, Gold = Transmutation.

-TRRW

 

[Ry]

As a side note, make an Oriental area, but have it more like Mongolia/Northern China than Japan. Horse Archers galloping across the Steppes is just a fun image.

Hey, and conveniently enough there's a Dragon mag article about the Hordelands in FR that fits the bill. With the sound of yoink, the land was forged.

 

[rounser]

as accessible and easy to learn as possible for the players.

I'm recommending this a lot lately, but Thunder Rift fits this bill to a tee. The history amounts to some very cliche D&D tropes...but then, if you didn't like cliche D&D tropes, you probably wouldn't be playing D&D.

• The dwarves and elves had a war called the Rift War, which was interrupted by humanoid incursions and predictably led to them banding together.
• The fighter and wizard academies also had a war, sword versus wand. It left an artificial swamp and the ruined headquarters of both groups (Wizardspire and the Fighters Academy keep). There are also thief and cleric organisations.
• A group of four heroes (one from each OD&D race) banded together, called the Quadrial. They've since retired or perished and are being replaced, leaving a power vacuum ripe to be filled by the PCs.
• Elves, dwarves, halflings and humans alike continue to have problems with humanoids, the black knight and his keep to the south, and a red dragon named Scorch.

There's only two towns (Kleine and Torlynn), a city (Melinir), a dwarven hold (Hearthhome), the Black Knight's Keep and unmarked villages (added to taste as needed) to deal with as population centres, so the setting is very easy to get to know, and to develop. The only question mark over the setting is what pantheon to use - there's none suggested, so the PHB pantheon would be as good a choice as any (if keeping it simple is a priority).

 

[Ry]

Sigh... I'd so buy Thunder Rift, but I've really hit my annual limit for gaming products in the first 3 months of 2007.

I think Selune's going to be our Moon Goddess. Just looking at her name people think "moon goddess" and the Tears of Selune are great adventure locations.

 

[rounser]

Sigh... I'd so buy Thunder Rift, but I've really hit my annual limit for gaming products in the first 3 months of 2007.

Fair enough. It's only $4 for the pdf though, mind you.
http://paizo.com/store/downloads/wizardsOfTheCoast/classicDAndD/adventures/v5748btpy7my3

 

[kibbitz]

The fighter and wizard academies also had a war, sword versus wand. It left an artificial swamp and the ruined headquarters of both groups (Wizardspire and the Fighters Academy keep)..

Actually, this got me wondering, I assume Thunder Rift is standard D&D3.5? I'm just puzzled how the fighters managed to fight the wizards to, well, I guess that would be a stalemate? I can imagine certain possibilities, but do they explain it in the setting?

 

[Ry]

Thunder Rift is D&D from the time where there was D&D and Advanced D&D and then Advanced D&D 2nd Edition.

Further complicating my choices is the fact I just found Burok Torn, Mithril, Secrets and Societies, and Vigil Watch at a game store for $1 each.

 

[Nightfall]

Ryn,

Of the two cities, Mithril tends to be more enjoyable to people. Burok Torn just has too many dwarves. (But it does have drendali aka dark elves.) (note I said DARK elves, not drow. Different species.) Which Vigil Watch did you see for a $1? If it was Warrens, that's fine but Vigil Watch: Assatthi is way cooler.

 

[arscott]

Monks and other oriental elements aren't from some far-off land to the east. They're from the moon.

 

[arscott]

Also, for a non-god version of Tiamat (and Bahamut), check the Manual of the Planes.