What do you tell a new player about DL? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What do you tell a new player about DL?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Mar 08, 2004 1:21:10 Subject say's it all. Or was suppposed too. In the current group I play with there is atleast 2 players that know absolutely nothing about DL. I think it is only right that they know some information. I also am debating if I should keep it to only what there characters would know.

Here is a current list of what I think they should know before starting:

1)Wizards of High Sorcery, 2)Solamnic Knights (lack of paladins), 3)General History without going into great depth and 4)Races that are new to them or different than other settings.

So is there anything you would recommend I add to this list? Almost forgot to say reason I ask is the campaign is going to start soon hence why I should tell or not tell them some info on DL. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
#2
sweetmeats
Mar 08, 2004 8:54:14 1. What the world is. Places of note and guide to what they would know of the history.

2. Races and that includes Draconians and/or Dragon Spawn.

3. Orders. Give them a rough guide to the Orders of High Sorcery, different Knight Orders, The Legion of Steel, and any others that exist in your game.

4. Gods.
#3
frostdawn
Mar 08, 2004 12:18:00 I ran into this myself. Here are the things I let them know about before starting.

- different races (aside from the dragonspawn, which are all but unknown to the general populace of Krynn, and I relegate more as monsters than a true race)- races are those available as player characters from the campaign setting.

- very brief overview of the world history. (sketchy details, like major players in history, major event outcomes, how it affected the people, etc etc)

- pantheon of the gods

- how magic works (WoHS, Mystics, Druids, Sorcerers, Clerics, etc)

The one area I allowed a little more detail was dealing with what area/city they came from originally. They choose what race they wanted to be, I provided some locations for them to be from appropriate to their race and general character concept, they choose which area they want to be from, then I might share a little info about that area that they would most likely know about. I'm sort of going on the premise that for the most part, the world definitely knows about the Dragon Overlords (at some point or other, they were bound to see a monstously HUGE dragon, or perhaps they are being taxed more in the name of an overlord, or there were operatives that worked for an overlord, etc) Not everyone knows that some of them are dead, much less which ones. (they might notice that operatives aren't seen very much, or that the lands are starting to change again, but they might not know that is because an overlord is dead) Little things like that.

Elves showing up in different towns starts rumors, but unless the characters have direct involvement with elves or are elves, they most likely won't know too much about why the elves are fleeing their homelands.

They might know about the status of Paladine and Takhisis though. Clerics will definitely know. (their constellations are missing from the sky, wide spread rumors about Paladine walking the world as a mortal elf, rumors of Tak's death, etc etc.

Things to consider: the general populace doesn't have anything like CNN or the History channel, so they should be left in the dark for the most part. Details should be appropriate if it ties into a character concept, history or character class.
#4
b4real
Mar 08, 2004 12:26:03 * Information about their homelands in detail

* Large events that have occurred. Only those that the general population of Ansalon would know about.

* Race information and which races they can and cannot play(For instance I do not allow Irda in my campaigns. They are just too detached from the rest of the world to really make an impact on the campaign is how I feel. Plus I already have a player that is a horrible role player and playing an aloof Irda is all I need for him to do to drive me over the wall.)

* Class information(I let the other players know what classes have already been created so that the group can be as diverse as possible.)

* Their personal background in the Dragonlance campaign(I also allow pre-game journals which I give an extra amount of XP for since it helps them to get into character).

~B4Real
#5
talinthas
Mar 08, 2004 12:33:39 remember though, if you try to get too detailed, Dragonlance quickly becomes Boringlance, as i learned while teaching my newbies about the setting =)

Just give them enough to base a character on, and let them learn the setting as they go.
#6
b4real
Mar 08, 2004 12:48:08 The thing that would need to be cut short is the history of Krynn being that it is very detailed and loooooong as heck. What I do is introduce the history of the lands as they journey through them. That is if they would know about the land that they are travelling through.

~B4Real
#7
Nived
Mar 08, 2004 13:42:23 I try and give them the abridged version, but tell them things as they come up. For instance, even through I had no Kender in the party I had everyone roll a knowledge check when they encountered Kelwick in the Silvan Key adventure just to see if their characters knew what an afflicted Kender was.

Though they've all been glancing through my DLCS there's only one player I know for sure knows what they are OOC...

This might be a bad example because none of them rolled over 10... That's after modifiers.

Thankfully one of the players finally asked him later in the story "What's the matter with you? You look frightened." Thus Kelwick related the events of "Spirit of the Wind" to the party, all in character.

Characters wouldn't know everything... so handle it as it comes up... now all the characters know what aflicted Kender are and learned it within the story.
#8
b4real
Mar 08, 2004 13:47:05
Thus Kelwick related the events of "Spirit of the Wind" to the party, all in character.

I have no idea what this is(Spirit of the Wind. I know what an afflicted kender is.) . Can you inform me ? Also, does the afflicted kender always have to look scared ?

~B4Real
#9
Nived
Mar 08, 2004 14:01:02 No they don't always look scared... but well they had Kel scout out Pegrin's camp and this was after the fighting started... and he looked a little frightened since they were outnumbered at that point....

"Spirit of the Wind" is a novel in the Bridges of Time series following the Chaos War and dealing with Dragons of a New Age.

This is the book that tells of Malystryx, the red dragon overlord's razing of Kendermore. The event that caused the afflicted Kender to be.

Spoilers
*
**
***
****
*****
******
*******
********

Malys starts warping the land around Kendermore the plantlife becomes blighted and dies, fruit looks healthy but tastes like ash. Malys commandered an Ogre army and turned them on the Kender and started a systematic gennocide. Kronn Thistleknot, son of Kronin Thistleknot, and his sister Catt travel to Solace to lay their fathers remains at the Tomb of the Last heroes (Kronin was leader of the Kender in Kendermore durring the War of the Lance and defeated one of the Dragon Highlords). While there Riverwind happened to be visiting Caramon, Kronn asks them for help, Riverwind agrees to come and help them defend their homeland. By the time they get back the only city standing is Kendermore proper, all the surrounding towns and villages have been destroyed, and all the Kender in Kendermore had become Afflicted. With some skillful planning Kronn and Riverwind plan the destruction of the Ogre army, a mass exodus of the Kender, and attack Malys home... where they find an egg... Maly's decided to be a mommy. Riverwind destroys the egg and stays behind to face the Overlord's wrath to give the Kender time to flee. This is Riverwind's last story if you catch my meaning
#10
lugnut71
Mar 09, 2004 11:18:54 The best thing to tell them. Don't call minotaurs cow.
#11
dragontooth
Mar 11, 2004 7:50:03
Originally posted by lugnut71
The best thing to tell them. Don't call minotaurs cow.

LMAO are say "Got Milk?"

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Mar 08, 2004 1:21:10	Subject say's it all. Or was suppposed too. In the current group I play with there is atleast 2 players that know absolutely nothing about DL. I think it is only right that they know some information. I also am debating if I should keep it to only what there characters would know. Here is a current list of what I think they should know before starting: 1)Wizards of High Sorcery, 2)Solamnic Knights (lack of paladins), 3)General History without going into great depth and 4)Races that are new to them or different than other settings. So is there anything you would recommend I add to this list? Almost forgot to say reason I ask is the campaign is going to start soon hence why I should tell or not tell them some info on DL. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
#2 sweetmeats Mar 08, 2004 8:54:14	1. What the world is. Places of note and guide to what they would know of the history. 2. Races and that includes Draconians and/or Dragon Spawn. 3. Orders. Give them a rough guide to the Orders of High Sorcery, different Knight Orders, The Legion of Steel, and any others that exist in your game. 4. Gods.
#3 frostdawn Mar 08, 2004 12:18:00	I ran into this myself. Here are the things I let them know about before starting. - different races (aside from the dragonspawn, which are all but unknown to the general populace of Krynn, and I relegate more as monsters than a true race)- races are those available as player characters from the campaign setting. - very brief overview of the world history. (sketchy details, like major players in history, major event outcomes, how it affected the people, etc etc) - pantheon of the gods - how magic works (WoHS, Mystics, Druids, Sorcerers, Clerics, etc) The one area I allowed a little more detail was dealing with what area/city they came from originally. They choose what race they wanted to be, I provided some locations for them to be from appropriate to their race and general character concept, they choose which area they want to be from, then I might share a little info about that area that they would most likely know about. I'm sort of going on the premise that for the most part, the world definitely knows about the Dragon Overlords (at some point or other, they were bound to see a monstously HUGE dragon, or perhaps they are being taxed more in the name of an overlord, or there were operatives that worked for an overlord, etc) Not everyone knows that some of them are dead, much less which ones. (they might notice that operatives aren't seen very much, or that the lands are starting to change again, but they might not know that is because an overlord is dead) Little things like that. Elves showing up in different towns starts rumors, but unless the characters have direct involvement with elves or are elves, they most likely won't know too much about why the elves are fleeing their homelands. They might know about the status of Paladine and Takhisis though. Clerics will definitely know. (their constellations are missing from the sky, wide spread rumors about Paladine walking the world as a mortal elf, rumors of Tak's death, etc etc. Things to consider: the general populace doesn't have anything like CNN or the History channel, so they should be left in the dark for the most part. Details should be appropriate if it ties into a character concept, history or character class.
#4 b4real Mar 08, 2004 12:26:03	* Information about their homelands in detail * Large events that have occurred. Only those that the general population of Ansalon would know about. * Race information and which races they can and cannot play(For instance I do not allow Irda in my campaigns. They are just too detached from the rest of the world to really make an impact on the campaign is how I feel. Plus I already have a player that is a horrible role player and playing an aloof Irda is all I need for him to do to drive me over the wall.) * Class information(I let the other players know what classes have already been created so that the group can be as diverse as possible.) * Their personal background in the Dragonlance campaign(I also allow pre-game journals which I give an extra amount of XP for since it helps them to get into character). ~B4Real
#5 talinthas Mar 08, 2004 12:33:39	remember though, if you try to get too detailed, Dragonlance quickly becomes Boringlance, as i learned while teaching my newbies about the setting =) Just give them enough to base a character on, and let them learn the setting as they go.
#6 b4real Mar 08, 2004 12:48:08	The thing that would need to be cut short is the history of Krynn being that it is very detailed and loooooong as heck. What I do is introduce the history of the lands as they journey through them. That is if they would know about the land that they are travelling through. ~B4Real
#7 Nived Mar 08, 2004 13:42:23	I try and give them the abridged version, but tell them things as they come up. For instance, even through I had no Kender in the party I had everyone roll a knowledge check when they encountered Kelwick in the Silvan Key adventure just to see if their characters knew what an afflicted Kender was. Though they've all been glancing through my DLCS there's only one player I know for sure knows what they are OOC... This might be a bad example because none of them rolled over 10... That's after modifiers. Thankfully one of the players finally asked him later in the story "What's the matter with you? You look frightened." Thus Kelwick related the events of "Spirit of the Wind" to the party, all in character. Characters wouldn't know everything... so handle it as it comes up... now all the characters know what aflicted Kender are and learned it within the story.
#8 b4real Mar 08, 2004 13:47:05	Thus Kelwick related the events of "Spirit of the Wind" to the party, all in character. I have no idea what this is(Spirit of the Wind. I know what an afflicted kender is.) . Can you inform me ? Also, does the afflicted kender always have to look scared ? ~B4Real
#9 Nived Mar 08, 2004 14:01:02	No they don't always look scared... but well they had Kel scout out Pegrin's camp and this was after the fighting started... and he looked a little frightened since they were outnumbered at that point.... "Spirit of the Wind" is a novel in the Bridges of Time series following the Chaos War and dealing with Dragons of a New Age. This is the book that tells of Malystryx, the red dragon overlord's razing of Kendermore. The event that caused the afflicted Kender to be. Spoilers * * ** * ** *** ****** Malys starts warping the land around Kendermore the plantlife becomes blighted and dies, fruit looks healthy but tastes like ash. Malys commandered an Ogre army and turned them on the Kender and started a systematic gennocide. Kronn Thistleknot, son of Kronin Thistleknot, and his sister Catt travel to Solace to lay their fathers remains at the Tomb of the Last heroes (Kronin was leader of the Kender in Kendermore durring the War of the Lance and defeated one of the Dragon Highlords). While there Riverwind happened to be visiting Caramon, Kronn asks them for help, Riverwind agrees to come and help them defend their homeland. By the time they get back the only city standing is Kendermore proper, all the surrounding towns and villages have been destroyed, and all the Kender in Kendermore had become Afflicted. With some skillful planning Kronn and Riverwind plan the destruction of the Ogre army, a mass exodus of the Kender, and attack Malys home... where they find an egg... Maly's decided to be a mommy. Riverwind destroys the egg and stays behind to face the Overlord's wrath to give the Kender time to flee. This is Riverwind's last story if you catch my meaning
#10 lugnut71 Mar 09, 2004 11:18:54	The best thing to tell them. Don't call minotaurs cow.
#11 dragontooth Mar 11, 2004 7:50:03	Originally posted by lugnut71 The best thing to tell them. Don't call minotaurs cow. LMAO are say "Got Milk?"