I am planing on making a new campaign, but can't decided what to do! I wrote out one idea and i want some feedback.
The players are all guards in a castle and while on duty find themselves pared in a group after the kings gets a death threat. But later when defending the kings door to his rooms, the king threatens to kill the party if they don't bring the king 50,000 GP and a sacred bag of (Undecided). The king later on reveals that he is taken hostage by some one, and will be released when he gives the items to his hostage taker.
There's still plenty of work left. So please give me some ideas to add on to this idea or other campaign ideas.
The biggest issue I can see here - your basic idea infringes on player agency by limiting their backstory choices. Regardless of where they might have come from, you are imposing a restrictions that (a) they had to have chosen the career of guard, (b) therefore must build a character whose personality would result in their choosing to become a guard, and (c) you are trying to pigeonhole them into a plot by basically saying “this is your job, please follow these rails.
These are not an insurmountable problems - but it is a bit of a departure from the “ragtag group of disparate heroes come together from different walks of life” story which is foundational to a lot of D&D experiences. If you are going to pursue something like this, you should be very careful in how you proceed, and be open to flexibility in making players’ backstories work with your idea.
The biggest issue I can see here - your basic idea infringes on player agency by limiting their backstory choices. Regardless of where they might have come from, you are imposing a restrictions that (a) they had to have chosen the career of guard, (b) therefore must build a character whose personality would result in their choosing to become a guard, and (c) you are trying to pigeonhole them into a plot by basically saying “this is your job, please follow these rails.
I think there's a way to do this that involves player agency. "I want to run a campaign where everyone is one of the King's guards. Can you make characters who became a King's guard regardless of their backstory?" It feels more like an opening arc of a greater campaign that could explore the individuals and what drove them to become guards.
Limitations can be strengths. It's a matter of presentation and being open to variety inside the options.
One can offer agency within constraints. If the folks at the table balk at all of them being guards they can always pivot to a new idea.
The biggest issue I can see here - your basic idea infringes on player agency by limiting their backstory choices. Regardless of where they might have come from, you are imposing a restrictions that (a) they had to have chosen the career of guard, (b) therefore must build a character whose personality would result in their choosing to become a guard, and (c) you are trying to pigeonhole them into a plot by basically saying “this is your job, please follow these rails.
These are not an insurmountable problems - but it is a bit of a departure from the “ragtag group of disparate heroes come together from different walks of life” story which is foundational to a lot of D&D experiences. If you are going to pursue something like this, you should be very careful in how you proceed, and be open to flexibility in making players’ backstories work with your idea.
Thanks, i was thinking of this problem too. I was just imaging something like this play through because it would be fun. But i did think of giving the players a chance. Like the king was asking for a high tier guard volunteer and the party signs up driven by the money. I'm not sure but thanks for the feedback.
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I am planing on making a new campaign, but can't decided what to do! I wrote out one idea and i want some feedback.
The players are all guards in a castle and while on duty find themselves pared in a group after the kings gets a death threat. But later when defending the kings door to his rooms, the king threatens to kill the party if they don't bring the king 50,000 GP and a sacred bag of (Undecided). The king later on reveals that he is taken hostage by some one, and will be released when he gives the items to his hostage taker.
There's still plenty of work left. So please give me some ideas to add on to this idea or other campaign ideas.
Thanks, and keep DMing!
The biggest issue I can see here - your basic idea infringes on player agency by limiting their backstory choices. Regardless of where they might have come from, you are imposing a restrictions that (a) they had to have chosen the career of guard, (b) therefore must build a character whose personality would result in their choosing to become a guard, and (c) you are trying to pigeonhole them into a plot by basically saying “this is your job, please follow these rails.
These are not an insurmountable problems - but it is a bit of a departure from the “ragtag group of disparate heroes come together from different walks of life” story which is foundational to a lot of D&D experiences. If you are going to pursue something like this, you should be very careful in how you proceed, and be open to flexibility in making players’ backstories work with your idea.
I think there's a way to do this that involves player agency. "I want to run a campaign where everyone is one of the King's guards. Can you make characters who became a King's guard regardless of their backstory?" It feels more like an opening arc of a greater campaign that could explore the individuals and what drove them to become guards.
Limitations can be strengths. It's a matter of presentation and being open to variety inside the options.
One can offer agency within constraints. If the folks at the table balk at all of them being guards they can always pivot to a new idea.
Thanks, i was thinking of this problem too. I was just imaging something like this play through because it would be fun. But i did think of giving the players a chance. Like the king was asking for a high tier guard volunteer and the party signs up driven by the money. I'm not sure but thanks for the feedback.