Adventure Building

[Jaxilon]

LOL - I was wracking my brain trying to figure out where a story about a Mayor came from until I realized you mean "a major story arc" not "a mayor story arc". I thought you were just being really vague or something. LOL.

[tilt]

edited - thanks jax

[Korash]

I thought we were working on a caravan from point A to point B, and we were going to be deciding on the which encounters to add to it. Or are we trying to figure the basic arc of the adventure?

[Yandor]

I'd be happy to proof read and just poke in and help here and there if need be...

[jtougas]

I think the classic caravan story line would be great for a first adventure. It opens all kinds of encounter possibilities both combat and pure role play.(which would be my personal favorite)

[mearrin69]

Apologies for not reading the entire thread through before posting...if I say something stupid please ignore it! Will go back and read the whole thing when I get a moment.

The basic caravan story isn't so very original so I don't feel too bad suggesting something from the basic GURPS adventure called Caravan to Ein Arris (which I think is a free download). That one, which is based in a Arabian-like land, starts with a hiring event that seeks employees for the caravan. Guards, cooks, etc. test their skills against one another to see who is best qualified. Of course the odds are stacked in the PCs favor (can't have some one not getting hired) but it's a good chance to interact with NPCs before the adventure begins and a nice way to avoid the "you meet in a tavern where someone approaches you about a job" phenomenon. Might be something to consider emulating.

If I remember, the purpose of that caravan was to escort the king's daughter to her wedding in a far-off city...along with all of her dowry and so on. That's not a bad premise but there are others that would make equally interesting reasons for going beyond just the run-of-the-mill-twice-annual-caravan: maybe a diplomatic caravan, carrying gifts for the government being wooed, or an inaugural trade caravan through a newly established trade route. Of course, maybe the caravan's not all that important in itself...but it's unknowingly carrying the king's runaway daughter as a stowaway or some horrible artifact of the Elder Gods disguised as a small, unassuming jade statue.

Just some food for thought. I don't have scads of time these days but I'd give a shot helping out if I can. If this is taking place in the CWBP I've got to suggest that it start out in Argria (which I need to finish) and travel west through the barbarian lands!
M

Edit: BTW, on system compatibility, I'm no expert but I think that making this Pathfinder compatible would be legally easy. Just include the OGL. I reckon it could even be sold to benefit the Guild (I know that's not the point). I think that 4E compatibility is more difficult. Don't know the details but I think you sort of have to sign a lot of stuff away (like your ability to make OGL-compliant content) to participate in the GSL. GURPS is out of the question...I don't think SJC lets anyone make stuff using their system (which is odd, because they really don't focus on adventures and such).

[industrygothica]

• Option 1: PCs are escorting the caravan, guarding cargo and/or passengers, and are caught in an ambush.
• Option 2: PCs receive word that the caravan never made its destination and are hired to investigate.
• Option 3: Reports say that an important item was stolen from the caravan during an ambush in which someone known by one or more of the PCs was killed. A false report may be a cover-up in an attempt to steal the item.
• Option 4: An important (magic) item was stolen and stashed among the goods in the caravan. The PCs are hired to intercept the caravan and discreetly get it back before it falls into the wrong hands.
• Option 5: Caravan made it to its destination, but when they got there the cargo was gone and the caravan crew had no ideas of what happened to it, like they blacked out.
• Option 6: The caravan is carrying a coded message of great importance. This is hidden in several maps that are part of a cartographical shipment. PCs can be agents sent to steal the maps (or at least get hold of them long enough to uncover the message), or trying to get them back for the government they're intended for after the caravan is waylaid (the bandits probably have no idea of the significance of the maps), or a third party drawn by the cover story used by the government agents that they're off to recover a magic item (which may or may not exist) carried in the caravan.

My vote is for #4 as a main story arc (Find the missing item). Except that when they encounter the caravan, it has already been ambushed and some of the passengers are dead or dying (moral dilemma: chase the bandits or help the injured). Of course the cargo has been stolen (continuing the main plot), and some passengers have been kidnapped (extra credit for recovering them all).



-IG

[jtougas]

I like that basic idea M. It's different enough to be interesting. I particularly like the starter. If the PCs were immediately engaged with the NPCs it would get everyone "into" it that much quicker. I know we have a ton of scenarios already but here's one more. The caravan is bringing desperately needed weapons, aid, etc to an embattled region of a kingdom embroiled in a civil war (or something similar) Obviously this means that there will be plenty of opportunities for encounters along the way along with the possibility of the PCs "changing sides" which would open up all new adventure ideas (even if they didn't they would surely make some enemies along the way.. )

[Korash]

Yeah, I like #4 best as well.

If they are long enough, caravans often had merchants heading the same way join up and leaving when they got closer to their own destination. Perfect cover for a thief to join, acquire the item and leave. Be it the Party trying to get it, or the rival/rivals (there need not be only one) the situation is ripe for red herrings too. Was the Item stolen before or after the PCs arrived, or if we use the caravan already attacked scenario, before the attack.

Like I said...I like #4.

***EDIT***
#6 would be a great way to Highlight the mapping capacity of the Guild, but seems too ...... self serving ...?

#1 sounds more like an encounter as opposed to an arc.

#5 I really do not like published mystery adventures. Either they are too vague to use as a ready adventure, or they are too detailed to fit in a campaign without a lot of work

[Jaxilon]

Option 4 is good as the heart of the adventure - We can add on other things if we want to as well in the form of additions to the Caravan as have been mentioned.
Option 6 would be fun to put together as well just due to the mapping but it would have it's complications as well.

It might be good for us to use the KISS method here (Keep It Simple Stupid) since we are still working this all out. Let's not get too nuts on our first outing or we might find nobody wants to try again.