I can’t believe it’s been 2 weeks since I’ve worked on the new setting. BAD DM. Bad.
I think we’re to the point now where we can actually start putting together an outline for our first adventure. I’m somewhat limited here because, well, I’m going to be running Lenryn as a 4E game (most likely. Did you hear the trepidation there? I’m slipping in my conviction that 4E will be good enough to switch. But, we’ll save that for another time.)
If writing everything you have so far hasn’t inspired you to write an adventure yet, go back and re-read it all. I’m certain that you will find something that jumps out at you.
For me, it is this figure of the Monty Fingers, the tiefling who is organizing a resistance against the eladrin elites. I like this guy, and I think I can develop him into a thoroughly interesting recurring character. So, let’s see if I can, today, put together some background for the first adventure using Monty Fingers:
Monty Fingers has, recently, begun recruiting members of his resistance organization in Halvinguard. His most influential recruit is, to date, Arsaen, the captain of the town guard. Arsaen has become disillusioned of late, realizing that it is unlikely that he will ever advance his station, regardless of how much he sucks up to the Eladrin in control of Halvinguard. In fact, Arsaen actually sought out Monty Fingers, and has been performing covert operations for some time.
On the advice of Monty Fingers, Arsaen has recently stolen the RING OF DESTINY from the Quessa T’alel. This ring is thought to hold extreme magical powers, and maintains some form of connection with other Eladrin bigwigs througout Lenryn. Not suspecting Arsaen , Quessa T’alel has assigned him to find the ring and bring in the perpetrators, dead or alive.
Unfortunately for the party, Arsaen intends to frame them for the theft. To do so, he will have to accomplish three tasks:
1) Plant the ring on one of the party members;
2) Get one of the party members to demonstrate sympathy for Monty Fingers and his motives;
3) Through the use of a memory-altering potion, transfer his memory of the theft to one of the party members.
To complicate matters, the party has previously come to the aid of Arsaen. Arsaenhas a trusted reputation in Halvinguard, and it is not likely that he will soon be suspect.
Arsaen calls the party in on the premise that they are to clear out a farm outside of town that has been overrun by goblins. The farm is half a day’s ride away. It is while the party is gone from town that he will commit his crimes.
Upon arriving at the Farmhouse, the party will realized that it is empty and abandoned, and probably has been for years. There is some sort of pestilence here such that nothing will grow within a square mile. In fact, this pestilence is such that, should the party spend more than 2 hours here, they will have some sort of negative effect (to be determined once 4E core rules are released!)
Investigating the farmhouse thoroughly provides access to several location encounters:
The attic – old diseased woman, speaks only in rhyme, smells of decay
The cellar – slaughtered animals (1 week fresh) perhaps people? Evidence of cultic activity of some sort.
The barn – Rats or some other appropriate feral creature. This creature will have a natural immunity to the pestilence, and will be the party’s only hope of a cure – consuming the animal raw.
Field – formerly growing, now dead. Closer inspection shows that the ground is not covered in dirt at all, but some sort of living material. The dirt itself seems to be moving.
Upon returning to Halvinguard, there will be several event-based encounters. I’ll be leaving these for another day, but it is worth thinking about something here:
On purpose, I’m combining some of the big adventure models. I have a linear beginning (PCs have to get out of town for it to work at all). I have location-based encounters at the farmhouse; and I’m using event-based encounters on return. See how I did that?
Truth is that my group and I really enjoy all three models. I like the control that comes with linear and the momentum that comes with event-based. Location-based encounters probably make the least sense to me as a DM, but they do have their uses. The above use is a great example.
What about all of you? What model or models to you prefer and use?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I use linear and location-based, mostly. I think the only time I’ve used event-based is when I’m incorporating a published module.
If I had to pick, I’d say I most enjoy event-based games, at least when things are going correctly. I get a kick out of knowing that stuff is going on that affects the PCs without them knowing it. Is that wrong?
I’ve got a great group of players, really. Most of the time, they just wanna play, and aren’t worried about all of these sorts of details.