Templarkommando
2013-06-21, 11:37 PM
I'm going to place this thread in spoilers in case my players wander in here by accident and don't mean to see it. If the cities of Crestdale, or Koldern mean anything to you, please do not read what I am about to write:
My rule system is 3.5. Okay, so here's my concept: A large mansion belonging to the local Duchess (also mysteriously absent from her own party) is hosting a party.... forever in perpetuity. No one seems to realize that days are passing and turning into weeks and months. At the Ducal mansion in Koldern no one (except for the adventurers) seems to notice that time is passing, and if you ask them what the date is, they'll give you a date from two weeks ago!
In any case, the idea is that the party has to set things right at the party so that life can continue as normal (as per Quantum Leap). This of course will take place over a period of several adventures. There are several distraught NPCs scattered throughout the compound that require certain services in order for things to be set right. These services include things like killing bandits, rescuing treasure, pairing up pretty young elven bard with an angry old soldiering man so that he can regale her with stories which she will turn into songs. etc. etc. etc. For every quest completed, the party will get a reward of some sort in addition to a plot coupon which will later help to break the spell.
I foresee a couple of problems here.
1.) I need a way to keep this from being very rail-road-like. A solution that occurs to me is that characters don't have to have all of the plot coupons, just enough to break the spell - so naturally they don't have to help everyone. Another option would be multiple ways to break the spell (i.e. kill the spell's caster, a high dispell magic of some sort, or gather these alternative ingredients etc.
2.) I want to involve personal intrigue between the various characters(PCs and NPCs). So, the actions of helping one NPC might hurt another NPC. I'm not sure how to craft this together though. I'm not great at intrigue unfortunately.
This being the case, I would like to entertain suggestions on what sorts of NPCs and situations I should introduce. Any help is appreciated.
My rule system is 3.5. Okay, so here's my concept: A large mansion belonging to the local Duchess (also mysteriously absent from her own party) is hosting a party.... forever in perpetuity. No one seems to realize that days are passing and turning into weeks and months. At the Ducal mansion in Koldern no one (except for the adventurers) seems to notice that time is passing, and if you ask them what the date is, they'll give you a date from two weeks ago!
In any case, the idea is that the party has to set things right at the party so that life can continue as normal (as per Quantum Leap). This of course will take place over a period of several adventures. There are several distraught NPCs scattered throughout the compound that require certain services in order for things to be set right. These services include things like killing bandits, rescuing treasure, pairing up pretty young elven bard with an angry old soldiering man so that he can regale her with stories which she will turn into songs. etc. etc. etc. For every quest completed, the party will get a reward of some sort in addition to a plot coupon which will later help to break the spell.
I foresee a couple of problems here.
1.) I need a way to keep this from being very rail-road-like. A solution that occurs to me is that characters don't have to have all of the plot coupons, just enough to break the spell - so naturally they don't have to help everyone. Another option would be multiple ways to break the spell (i.e. kill the spell's caster, a high dispell magic of some sort, or gather these alternative ingredients etc.
2.) I want to involve personal intrigue between the various characters(PCs and NPCs). So, the actions of helping one NPC might hurt another NPC. I'm not sure how to craft this together though. I'm not great at intrigue unfortunately.
This being the case, I would like to entertain suggestions on what sorts of NPCs and situations I should introduce. Any help is appreciated.