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Campaign idea, need some help

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
jastra_of_the_clawed_hand
Mar 20, 2006 2:12:17 I had the following idea but I think it needs some more fleshing out to do and maybe you could add some detail or give me some tips and suggestions. I am mostly faithful to the books, though I am ignoring one small passage in one of the books.

The characters are all inhabitants of a small village in Verbrek. The oldest of them has a family and a daughter who one day mysteriously vanishes. It is said she wandered into the forests alone. The father and a few other people from the village (the players characters) as well as one of the newly arrived men from another village - he has fallen in love with the girl - set out to look for her and bring her back.
Basically, the campaign i supposed to be a long search for her through a few domains with a few sidequests here and there ending with a big showdown in castle Ravenloft. The girl is in fact a reincarnation of Tatyana ( as I have said I am ignoring the sourcebooks here) and is mysteriously called to Barovia. Fun fact: The young man who fell in love with her is a reincarnation of Sergei ( I ruled that the dark powers have arranged events to torment Strahd further). I also want her to be kidnapped during the course of the adventures by foces sent by Azalin because he has found out about the reincarnation cycle and wishes to reasearch and exploit this connection to finally settle his score with a certain barovian count. And then there are the mists which can drop the chars of wherever I want to...

What do you think? Is that viable as a campaign idea? If not, why not/what shoudl I change? If yes, what can I add to make it more exiciting/scary etc.?
#2
Mortepierre
Mar 20, 2006 3:08:11 It's as good an idea as any, methink.

I would probably have picked Tepest as the starting domain though. They will have a tough time justifying most character classes in Verbrek (apart from Barbarian and Ranger, that is). Plus, they'll already have been exposed to some of the most scary predators of the Core.

Tepest strikes me as a better choice. With the whole "the fey are out to get us!", "goblins are creepy monsters!", and "burn the witch!" thing going on, you've got your work cut out for you in terms of motivation for the PC.

Girl disappeared? The fey took her! (can lead to a first scenario pitting the players against goblins)

Arcane spellcaster? Get out of village before the inquisition closes on him/her (and thus volunteers for the rescue mission)

Divine spellcaster? Must have one in the team to make sure the PC are protected from "evil" influences!

Plus, as "bumpkins" from a rural domain, they'll be awed when exposed to the "civilization" of other domains. Heck, even one of the stone-walled cities of Barovia would look like a marvel of technology to them.
#3
dwarfpcfan
Mar 22, 2006 12:45:09 I agree with Mortepierre on that one. Tepest is much more suitable, Verbrek is simply too violent and confining for that story. The werewolves keep travel to the domain to a trickle, the people are fearful and supperstitious in a way that would prompt them to avoid fighting angering the werewolves ( who would easily kill them anyway). I've found tepest to be one of the best starting domains in the core. Verbrek is better for mid level games and finally, Darkon is quite suitable for late game.

In an other note, your Sergei character could have a little fun getting lost in far out domains ( Nidala) as the dark powers seek to test him in order for him to be ready to face Strad. He could become a Paladin of the Morninglord or something like that. For a more sinister twist, Azalin's meddlings could actually achieve something for once, break the reencarnation cycle once and for all, find a loop hole in the process to exploit in order to further his own ends ( maybe find a way to finally come back to life and destroy his curse) ( of course the dark powers are ready and a suitable new curse is already being created to keep him trapped)

Or... this could be one of the triggers for the time of unparralled darkness, Azalin's shemes could cause another apocalyptic event that could bring the core to his knees and the pcs are the only one that can stop it ( being the heroes of the story after all)...

just my thoughts anyway...
Long live Ravenloft :D :D :D !!!
#4
darkor
Apr 02, 2006 12:32:56 The idea is great! I love it. The idea of Sergei being back to torment his good old brother, that's good! ;)

The part with Azalin is also good, but since he hates Strahd so bad, I don,t see why he would stop the cycle But one thing is, he could have come to the thinking of: "It all begin with Barovia, so it will all end with it as well." That would explain why he could be after Tatyana.

So there's my idea: If the PCs can keep Tatyana alive, and she can finaly wed with Segei (one thing the DPs won't let happen so easily) one part of the curse of Barovia could lift. The other part could be the destruction of the count. If the PCs can't keep little Tat' alive, Strahd could get her, finaly having her closer then never before but just then she dies (why not accidently killed by a stupid Kargatan or a Keeper of the Black Feather?). But the PCs should believe that Strahd's the one who did it (an easy reason is: She did wanted to mary him) and want to aveng her death. This could be a good fight (Time to pay up Strahd!)

It is up to you to find what suits your campain best. Good luck!

And like the other said... LONG LIVE TO RAVENLOFT!!!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jastra_of_the_clawed_hand Mar 20, 2006 2:12:17	I had the following idea but I think it needs some more fleshing out to do and maybe you could add some detail or give me some tips and suggestions. I am mostly faithful to the books, though I am ignoring one small passage in one of the books. The characters are all inhabitants of a small village in Verbrek. The oldest of them has a family and a daughter who one day mysteriously vanishes. It is said she wandered into the forests alone. The father and a few other people from the village (the players characters) as well as one of the newly arrived men from another village - he has fallen in love with the girl - set out to look for her and bring her back. Basically, the campaign i supposed to be a long search for her through a few domains with a few sidequests here and there ending with a big showdown in castle Ravenloft. The girl is in fact a reincarnation of Tatyana ( as I have said I am ignoring the sourcebooks here) and is mysteriously called to Barovia. Fun fact: The young man who fell in love with her is a reincarnation of Sergei ( I ruled that the dark powers have arranged events to torment Strahd further). I also want her to be kidnapped during the course of the adventures by foces sent by Azalin because he has found out about the reincarnation cycle and wishes to reasearch and exploit this connection to finally settle his score with a certain barovian count. And then there are the mists which can drop the chars of wherever I want to... What do you think? Is that viable as a campaign idea? If not, why not/what shoudl I change? If yes, what can I add to make it more exiciting/scary etc.?
#2 Mortepierre Mar 20, 2006 3:08:11	It's as good an idea as any, methink. I would probably have picked Tepest as the starting domain though. They will have a tough time justifying most character classes in Verbrek (apart from Barbarian and Ranger, that is). Plus, they'll already have been exposed to some of the most scary predators of the Core. Tepest strikes me as a better choice. With the whole "the fey are out to get us!", "goblins are creepy monsters!", and "burn the witch!" thing going on, you've got your work cut out for you in terms of motivation for the PC. Girl disappeared? The fey took her! (can lead to a first scenario pitting the players against goblins) Arcane spellcaster? Get out of village before the inquisition closes on him/her (and thus volunteers for the rescue mission) Divine spellcaster? Must have one in the team to make sure the PC are protected from "evil" influences! Plus, as "bumpkins" from a rural domain, they'll be awed when exposed to the "civilization" of other domains. Heck, even one of the stone-walled cities of Barovia would look like a marvel of technology to them.
#3 dwarfpcfan Mar 22, 2006 12:45:09	I agree with Mortepierre on that one. Tepest is much more suitable, Verbrek is simply too violent and confining for that story. The werewolves keep travel to the domain to a trickle, the people are fearful and supperstitious in a way that would prompt them to avoid fighting angering the werewolves ( who would easily kill them anyway). I've found tepest to be one of the best starting domains in the core. Verbrek is better for mid level games and finally, Darkon is quite suitable for late game. In an other note, your Sergei character could have a little fun getting lost in far out domains ( Nidala) as the dark powers seek to test him in order for him to be ready to face Strad. He could become a Paladin of the Morninglord or something like that. For a more sinister twist, Azalin's meddlings could actually achieve something for once, break the reencarnation cycle once and for all, find a loop hole in the process to exploit in order to further his own ends ( maybe find a way to finally come back to life and destroy his curse) ( of course the dark powers are ready and a suitable new curse is already being created to keep him trapped) Or... this could be one of the triggers for the time of unparralled darkness, Azalin's shemes could cause another apocalyptic event that could bring the core to his knees and the pcs are the only one that can stop it ( being the heroes of the story after all)... just my thoughts anyway... Long live Ravenloft :D :D :D !!!
#4 darkor Apr 02, 2006 12:32:56	The idea is great! I love it. The idea of Sergei being back to torment his good old brother, that's good! ;) The part with Azalin is also good, but since he hates Strahd so bad, I don,t see why he would stop the cycle But one thing is, he could have come to the thinking of: "It all begin with Barovia, so it will all end with it as well." That would explain why he could be after Tatyana. So there's my idea: If the PCs can keep Tatyana alive, and she can finaly wed with Segei (one thing the DPs won't let happen so easily) one part of the curse of Barovia could lift. The other part could be the destruction of the count. If the PCs can't keep little Tat' alive, Strahd could get her, finaly having her closer then never before but just then she dies (why not accidently killed by a stupid Kargatan or a Keeper of the Black Feather?). But the PCs should believe that Strahd's the one who did it (an easy reason is: She did wanted to mary him) and want to aveng her death. This could be a good fight (Time to pay up Strahd!) It is up to you to find what suits your campain best. Good luck! And like the other said... LONG LIVE TO RAVENLOFT!!!