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View Full Version : A little help with a new world...



pacdudeJG
2007-07-07, 12:58 AM
Hey guys,

I'm a big DnD fan and have played for several years now,

But I also GM for D20 Modern with my freinds quite a bit... and reccently my freinds wanted me to start up a new campain setting... so i created a wild west type of setting.

It's called the Westlands and it involves several conversions from DnD, like Warforged, Shifters, mostly races that don't exist in D20 Modern.

So I have a map, a back story, and a adventuring party... only thing left for me to do is find out what the hell I'm going to have the party do?

I've got several big events going on in the Westlands...

The construction of the rail road, the mapping out of the Lost Forest, The Gold rush in the Sun Scorched Mountains, and the Cattle war going on in the Leeway Plains.

But none of my players want to get involved in any of these events...

So I have to find something fo them to do, and sadly, I have no idea what.

Any advice, ideas, critiques?

Bitzeralisis
2007-07-07, 01:01 AM
Ahh. Boring quests. Specify the level of those aforementioned PCs if you will. With the gold rush, you could let it be attacked by, say, kobolds or bandits, and have the PCs go defeat them. In exchange for gold. Not gp, gold.

In fact, why not have one huge organization planning to ruin not only the gold rush, but also the mapping out of the whatnot forest and the construction of the railroad.

pacdudeJG
2007-07-07, 01:05 AM
Ahh. Boring quests. Specify the level of those aforementioned PCs if you will. With the gold rush, you could let it be attacked by, say, kobolds or bandits, and have the PCs go defeat them. In exchange for gold. Not gp, gold.

In fact, why not have one huge organization planning to ruin not only the gold rush, but also the mapping out of the whatnot forest and the construction of the railroad.

They all be level 1.

So-far they all agree on one thing.

Being evil bastards.

They want to become outlaws and rob banks... But there's only so much you can do with that.

As for what you've told me, I'll consider it. If I can just steer them away from being Jesse James Wanna be's.

mabriss lethe
2007-07-07, 03:00 PM
Let'em roll with it for a while. If they want to be bandits, let'em. They rob a stagecoach, it contains something important to someone else. someone powerful and corrupt. Your potential BBEG then starts scouring the countryside for them. Bounty hunters, legitimate law enforcement, even military. This guy has influence at the highest levels and wants his toy back. Your pcs now need to keep a low profile, stay just one jump ahead of the law. they here that there's some stong arms and bully boys needed up north a ways(or whatever direction) , no questions asked. Turns out those little quests that they have no interest in become the perfect place to lay low for a bit. they rest up for a time, doing some odd jobs... BAM! They get spotted again. the chase begins anew. Time to find another boring quest locale.

Maldraugedhen
2007-07-07, 03:04 PM
It's amazing how quickly a person's wants change on the other side of a gun barrel.

Just have them 'get involved' in situations they wouldn't necessarily choose--maybe they get robbed by some other banditos with some 'big brothers', so to speak. There's a lot you can do with a good set of unfortunate circumstances.

Anxe
2007-07-08, 09:49 PM
Have some banditos kidnap the local ranch lord's daughter and hold her for ransom. The ranch lord hires the players because they're from out of town. They're strangers, so the Banditos won't shoot them once they figure out they have the money. The players mission is to sneak in and grab the daughter and then bring her back. Then the ranch workers can help defend her when the banditos come to kill everyone.

Damn. That's something I'd want to play in! Need to work it up for my own players.

B!shop
2007-07-09, 05:02 AM
They are level 1, so they have to start their banditos carees somewhere.
They cannot go and rob banks at their level, and have to join some group (probably criminal) and starts with small quests and missions, like escorting gold for the boss, extorsions and similar.

If they want to ben independent, they must always face the organization's lackeys in doing robbing (or whatever they want to do), and so fight against them.

Xuincherguixe
2007-07-09, 05:58 AM
Ooo! They want to be evil bastards huh? How about

<Heavy handed social commentary>
Occupying a similar role as the Native Americans, there are numerous tribes of traditionally 'monster' races. The local law establishment is offering bounties against them
</Heavy handed social commentary>

Now you've got to admit, Genocide, LEGALLY SANCTIONED Genocide is pretty evil. It might be a little uncomfortable but... I mean this is evil. What were they planning on doing, twirling their moustaches, saying drat a lot, and proclaiming they will get them next time?


Another possibility is that there's a stage coach full of medicine to be delivered to an orphanage, that they are offered money to steal. If the orphans all die, then there's no reason for the community to let them keep the land.

They've missed a few mortage payments, but times are tough and the citizens wouldn't tolerate the bank kicking them off the property, but now is a chance to get it back. Mwa ha ha. Hey the players don't have to be the only evil people.


There's a forest that some people want to clear cut. The elves are getting in the way of things (maybe the Elves could take the role of "Native Americans" too, that way the players KNOW who they're committing genocide against are 'good' The fact I've gotten two similar ideas here suggests this is good for a LOT of material)


Another gang of psychotic bastards has been up to to trouble in town, and the players are asked to stop them. Now they have the choice of doing this OR joining forces and taking the ramshackle town for all it's worth before splitting up again to continue their path of rampage and Goblin/Elf genocide. They could also kill the other jerks and take all the stuff anyways. Make sure that this particular town doesn't have much for when they loot and murder.


Oh man. Now I'm tempted to run a game like this.


edit: I also just suddenly got ideas on how to get them into those quests while still being bastards. They need to gather up indigenous people to use as slaves to build the rail way. They are mapping the forest so it can be clear cut.

Triaxx
2007-07-09, 06:00 AM
Offer them Good quests, with Evil exit opportunities.

For example, a Dire Rat infestation forced a mansion owner out of his house. He didn't grab (insert expensive item), and wants them to retrieve it. Fine, go in, lay waste to the rodents, take the item, and leave by the back door. Or don't give it to him, and waylay him with non-lethal blows until he drops, and run away. Then let him have massive resources which inspire him to chase them for a while. If there's a cattle war on, have the 'bad guys' hire them to do what bandits do.

Gold rush? Offer them the opportunity to become claim jumpers.

Perhaps the Lost Forest is mapped, and is a bandit hideout. Have them hired to stop the mapping expedition. Include one high level NPC who will constantly be a thorn in their side during these attempts. Let them come up with a creative way to stop him.

Rail road? Set up a shipping magnate, who has a monopoly on the (timber, food, gold, etc) shipping, and doesn't want the competition. Have him get the PC's to harrass the rail road. Blow bridges, pick off workers, destroy locomotives.