Keinnicht
2010-11-28, 08:19 PM
Hey guys, as you may have gathered from the title, I've recently gotten back into DMing, and need some advice. I'd had a hankering to play Dungeons and Dragons, and, upon expressing this to a friend, played a brief game with her. She seemed to have fun, up until the point my ability to make crap up off the top of my head ran out and I called it off, to give me time to prepare.
Now, of course, I need something to prepare. I'm trying to think of adventure ideas, here's what I've got so far:
1. The initial "adventure" was the old "Something's kidnapping villagers, find out what it is and kill it, we'll give you some money" set-up. Anyways, they came to discover a cleric of Nerull living on the outskirts of town, with two zombies under his command. I then realized my mistake (He can't cast any spells to create zombies, he was only second level,) and think I may have a good hook. Upon the character's return, the mayor commented that three villagers had disappeared (Not two) but it was probably nothing.
So I figure in a few levels I'll have the third missing villager turn up as the originator of the zombies. What undead can create zombies, just in the Monster Manual I?
2. I need something to do in the meantime, I was figuring I'd hash out some campaign setting, since I'm feeling a bit stupid referring to nameless mayors and villages. I was considering rounding up some of my old Dungeon magazines and running a low-level adventure or two out of those, which would give me time to have some sort of real campaign, and also cause the PCs to make a few contacts on the way.
3. I also have broken one of the cardinal rules of DMing. I have a NPC/DMPC. He exists to increase the size of the party, especially since the player is playing a bard, which isn't the greatest solo adventurer at first level. To what extent should "my" character be involved? Right now he sort of follows around the bard, participates in combat, and occasionally expresses an opinion to nudge things along. I figure this is about his proper place. I'll probably have him leave if more players come along. Feelings/advice on this?
Now, of course, I need something to prepare. I'm trying to think of adventure ideas, here's what I've got so far:
1. The initial "adventure" was the old "Something's kidnapping villagers, find out what it is and kill it, we'll give you some money" set-up. Anyways, they came to discover a cleric of Nerull living on the outskirts of town, with two zombies under his command. I then realized my mistake (He can't cast any spells to create zombies, he was only second level,) and think I may have a good hook. Upon the character's return, the mayor commented that three villagers had disappeared (Not two) but it was probably nothing.
So I figure in a few levels I'll have the third missing villager turn up as the originator of the zombies. What undead can create zombies, just in the Monster Manual I?
2. I need something to do in the meantime, I was figuring I'd hash out some campaign setting, since I'm feeling a bit stupid referring to nameless mayors and villages. I was considering rounding up some of my old Dungeon magazines and running a low-level adventure or two out of those, which would give me time to have some sort of real campaign, and also cause the PCs to make a few contacts on the way.
3. I also have broken one of the cardinal rules of DMing. I have a NPC/DMPC. He exists to increase the size of the party, especially since the player is playing a bard, which isn't the greatest solo adventurer at first level. To what extent should "my" character be involved? Right now he sort of follows around the bard, participates in combat, and occasionally expresses an opinion to nudge things along. I figure this is about his proper place. I'll probably have him leave if more players come along. Feelings/advice on this?