Muz
2008-03-31, 05:57 PM
So hey, here's me coming to you folks for some DMing advice. I'm not sure if anyone's familiar with a 2nd edition AD&D (super)module called "The Rod of Seven Parts," (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Seven_Parts) but I'm currently running it. I've come up against a problem. It's a fairly (I should think) common problem in the DMing world, so advice is welcome even if you don't know the module.
Essentially the PCs have found a piece of an extremely powerful artifact weapon used in wide-ranging war between Law and Chaos. The Rod was designed to kill Chaos's major general/military mastermind, but, long story short, it merely weakened him enough to be imprisoned before the Rod broke into seven pieces. The war soon stalemated once this general was lost (thousands of years ago now).
If reassembled, the Rod could likely be used to finish this guy off...OR to break him out of his prison. Law is mostly okay with the current situation, Chaos wants their general back so they can get back to fighting. As such, Chaos is looking for the rod more actively.
The Rod is currently on the PC's world, and Chaos's search for it is causing the fabric of reality to start breaking down, at least a bit. The PCs are trying to find the pieces of the rod so they can either use it to kill off the general for good OR just plain get it off their world, either way solving the instability problem.
NOW, my problem: They'll run into a few rather powerful lawful good creatures in the course of their quest, and the module text says very little about just why these beings/creatures don't just trot along with the party and, ya know, HELP. Of course the game's a lot less fun when the party's just a few sidekicks to a powerful dragon or some other-planar ubergood, but obviously if they're playing in character, they're going to ask for help.
...Why wouldn't these creatures HELP them? :smalleek:
Any advice to keep the plot from breaking my game is appreciated. :smallbiggrin:
Essentially the PCs have found a piece of an extremely powerful artifact weapon used in wide-ranging war between Law and Chaos. The Rod was designed to kill Chaos's major general/military mastermind, but, long story short, it merely weakened him enough to be imprisoned before the Rod broke into seven pieces. The war soon stalemated once this general was lost (thousands of years ago now).
If reassembled, the Rod could likely be used to finish this guy off...OR to break him out of his prison. Law is mostly okay with the current situation, Chaos wants their general back so they can get back to fighting. As such, Chaos is looking for the rod more actively.
The Rod is currently on the PC's world, and Chaos's search for it is causing the fabric of reality to start breaking down, at least a bit. The PCs are trying to find the pieces of the rod so they can either use it to kill off the general for good OR just plain get it off their world, either way solving the instability problem.
NOW, my problem: They'll run into a few rather powerful lawful good creatures in the course of their quest, and the module text says very little about just why these beings/creatures don't just trot along with the party and, ya know, HELP. Of course the game's a lot less fun when the party's just a few sidekicks to a powerful dragon or some other-planar ubergood, but obviously if they're playing in character, they're going to ask for help.
...Why wouldn't these creatures HELP them? :smalleek:
Any advice to keep the plot from breaking my game is appreciated. :smallbiggrin: