Campaign Device: Would this be fun?

[shadow_archmagi]

A flying kobold fortress is going about raiding and terrorizing. It's accompanied by mounted kobolds on arrowhawks. The fortress is kept in the air by a giant flying white whale (this will only be revealled later on, as it's surrounded and hidden by the fortress. The whale is sapient, with magic abilities. The players must bring this thing down because -insert plot.-





Questions? Comments? Ways to cram in more epic? Suggestions?

[The Neoclassic]

It sounds fun. Only half-serious (though not entirely ridiculous either), but if you aren't going for a strictly serious game, it shouldn't be a problem.

The players might need to bring it down because the fortress is headed towards the king's castle, because they've heard the kobolds in it possess a great treasure, or because one of the PCs' mortal enemies has taken refuge in it and is teaming up with the kobolds.

For some reason I'm wanting some of the lead kobolds in this to use psionics, but I'm not sure why. Heck, I know most of us don't even use psionics. But if you do.... It would be neat.

[Flickerdart]

The PCs receive word that the kobolds are plotting with Mind Flayers to make the Emerald Legion (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101587) and then conquer the world. They have to be stopped before they start cranking them out, obviously.

[Edwin]

No no no, you are all wrong. They need to bring it down, because in the midst of the palace, held airborne by a giant nautical creature, is the foot of an Ancient King, rumoured to have the ability to turn anything it touches into pure gold! :smallwink:

[Xyk]

I think that would be an awesome campaign. You already have your plot though.


A flying kobold fortress is going about raiding and terrorizing. Emphasis mine.

Do you really need another reason?

[MeklorIlavator]

I think that would be an awesome campaign. You already have your plot though.

Emphasis mine.

Do you really need another reason?

Yes. Otherwise the party is as likely to join up with the kobolds(or at least, my parties would be).

[PinkysBrain]

Don't they have any allegiances?

Family?

[Myou]

That's great! A lovely balance between silly and serious!

Now you must populate the interior of the castle with Tucker's Kobolds. :3

[esorscher]

No no no, you are all wrong. They need to bring it down, because in the midst of the palace, held airborne by a giant nautical creature, is the foot of an Ancient King, rumoured to have the ability to turn anything it touches into pure gold! :smallwink:

This sounds a lot like a movie I saw when I was a kid.

You should put an efreet in to help the party, bound to a lamp in a hidden cave that only appears when two halves of a brooch are put together; and only allows the fated individual to enter (who happens to be one of the party. maybe one who came from inauspicious circumstance?).

Also, have that character's father, long-lost (actually hiding in a den of thieves, hoping to raise enough personal wealth to return to his poor family and make them happy), searching for the golden foot also.

His number two tries to usurp his position and, after failing with the help of the party, begins his ruthless search for the golden foot.

[Inyssius Tor]

The whale is a mighty good creature, and the kobolds' architectural ambitions are slowly killing it.

Maybe you could even make the whale occupy some important role in the workings of the world, à la the Water Dragon in Jade Empire. (If you haven't played that game, go play it. The Water Dragon was trapped and gutted by the emperor, who was trying to eat her power--but with her mostly dead, the cycle of life was broken; new life didn't enter the world properly, and old life didn't leave.) In fact, it could still have such a role even if it wasn't good, which would make things more interesting.

That way, you can also have the players having big fights in a castle full of kobolds that is slowly collapsing around them and falling off a giant celestial whale-creature, since the players started destroying the structural supports. All kinds of fun things are possible in a flying castle that's falling to ruins around you.

[Zenos]

That's great! A lovely balance between silly and serious!

Now you must populate the interior of the castle with Tucker's Kobolds. :3

And Emerald Horde Auxialiary troops led by a Mindflayer Psion Captain.

[shadow_archmagi]

It sounds fun. Only half-serious (though not entirely ridiculous either), but if you aren't going for a strictly serious game, it shouldn't be a problem.

The players might need to bring it down because the fortress is headed towards the king's castle, because they've heard the kobolds in it possess a great treasure, or because one of the PCs' mortal enemies has taken refuge in it and is teaming up with the kobolds.

For some reason I'm wanting some of the lead kobolds in this to use psionics, but I'm not sure why. Heck, I know most of us don't even use psionics. But if you do.... It would be neat.

Actually, as part of my need to try out Tucker's Kobolds, I'd been thinking a long hallway, with three gems every five feet. One of the gems is a psicrystal, with a kobold psion lurking on the other side of the wall. In this manner, the psions are guaranteed one or two free Dissipating Touches (the only psion touch attack I can call to mind immediately) while being completely secure.


Also, since I already gave the players an ingame map, I've decided the fortress will be raiding the Chanted Forest (where all the bards live, and the players had a fetch quest in that direction, so they'll be getting the key to the dungeon where the item is kept in return for bringing it down) in an attempt to hunt down Aeyhahb, a formerly prominent mage who was exiled for dumping magicoactive waste into the ocean. (thus creating the giant flying sapient whale.) The kobolds are 50% mind controlled by the whale, 50% in it to raid and terrorize. The whale's name is Bymock Id.

[Prometheus]

I really do like the idea of a flying whale fortress, but I would recommend against kobolds - it just makes no sense and as a group they tend to be overused. I understand you may want to use many of them, but you can still do that with other creatures. If Tucker's Kobold is the model, than that is evidence that encounter CR can be much independent from individual CRs. Here are some monster ideas (just from core):
Grimlock (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/grimlock.htm) (CR 1 blinded and corrupted by the waste), Formian (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/formian.htm) (Variable CR, Already hive-minded, refluff as a crabs, make great crew), Sahuagin (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/sahuagin.htm) (CR2), Lizardfolk (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/lizardfolk.htm) (CR 1), Locathah (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/locathah.htm) (CR 1/2),Triton (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/triton.htm) (CR 2, these last four are various human-fish hybrids)

[shadow_archmagi]

I really do like the idea of a flying whale fortress, but I would recommend against kobolds - it just makes no sense and as a group they tend to be overused. I understand you may want to use many of them, but you can still do that with other creatures. If Tucker's Kobold is the model, than that is evidence that encounter CR can be much independent from individual CRs. Here are some monster ideas (just from core):
Grimlock (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/grimlock.htm) (CR 1 blinded and corrupted by the waste), Formian (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/formian.htm) (Variable CR, Already hive-minded, refluff as a crabs, make great crew), Sahuagin (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/sahuagin.htm) (CR2), Lizardfolk (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/lizardfolk.htm) (CR 1), Locathah (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/locathah.htm) (CR 1/2),Triton (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/triton.htm) (CR 2, these last four are various human-fish hybrids)

Hmm. Good point. We can do a whole water theme here; the only thing cooler than a flying fortress is a flying steampunk fortress. What sort of creature fits a water theme AND flies?

[Hat-Trick]

Flying fish? Seagulls? Ducks? Wait, wait I got it...

Dragons.

Dnd 3.5 has a lot of dragons who swim, including Gold dragons, one of the fire breathing ones(common knowledge, I know).

[Mushroom Ninja]

The fortress is kept in the air by a giant flying white whale (this will only be revealled later on, as it's surrounded and hidden by the fortress. The whale is sapient, with magic abilities. ?

Sounds like something out of Discworld :smallbiggrin:

[Grail]

Would it be fun? It all depends how you do it. Sounds a little tongue-in-cheek to me. But that doesn't matter, because that can be the most fun. Really, any game can setting can be fun, it's just up to the DM and Players to make it so. If you're players are after a serious game and they think that this suspends the laws of beliveability a bit too much, you might lose them. If they aren't or don't, who cares as long as people enjoy.

[shadow_archmagi]

Hmm? Dragons, eh? Dragons are sentient. Oh wait so is everything else involved. So, loco-tath-

Wait. Sea elves! Sea elves wearing Helmets of Endless Water! Obviously the helmet will also shoot laser beams, so that the player, envious of enemy laser fire, will slap one on his head at the first opportunity. And then drown. :smallcool:

[shadow_archmagi]

bump


I apologize for mindlessly bumping.

[Edwin]

This sounds a lot like a movie I saw when I was a kid.

You should put an efreet in to help the party, bound to a lamp in a hidden cave that only appears when two halves of a brooch are put together; and only allows the fated individual to enter (who happens to be one of the party. maybe one who came from inauspicious circumstance?).

Also, have that character's father, long-lost (actually hiding in a den of thieves, hoping to raise enough personal wealth to return to his poor family and make them happy), searching for the golden foot also.

His number two tries to usurp his position and, after failing with the help of the party, begins his ruthless search for the golden foot.

Oh yes! That would be the most awesome campaign plot, ever!

Also, make sure the BBEG is a wizard with the ability to spontaneously turn into a Huge Snake (Constrictor), and also make sure he has a Staff of Suggestion.

[Person_Man]

I find that anything involving flight in D&D is always a huge headache. But maybe that's just me.

[shadow_archmagi]

I find that anything involving flight in D&D is always a huge headache. But maybe that's just me.

Well, to be fair, the PC's can't actually fly, being a psion/fighter and a swordsage bard. So there won't be much in the way of Aeriel combat.

EDIT: Screw you, spellchecker.