Hey everyone! I'm running a Curse of Strahd game for some friends, and I've been trying to create a "personal quest" for each character that gives them a motivation. Example: the artificer has a long-lost sister who got trapped in Barovia trying to find the Argynvostholt knights, realized they thought that Barovia's freedom was an acceptable sacrifice, and got herself killed trying to convince them to help her defeat Strahd and rose again as a revenant. The artificer now has to finish her sister's mission and free Barovia from the Mists, in order to lay her sister's spirit to rest.
The only problem is, there are a couple characters whose backstories I'm not super sure how to work into a quest. First of all, the changeling bard's goal is to do great deeds so that they'll be remembered when they die. Secondly, the rogue wants to become famous to spite the people who thought he was useless. Thirdly, the human cleric was a noble who left his life of luxury to seek adventure (think Stede Bonnet from Our Flag Means Death). What personalized quest hooks can I give them?
Yeah it sounds like you have a bunch of players who are really invested in playing this campaign. You can ask them out of game if there's anything in their backstories they *want* to work into it, but honestly they sound ready to go as is.
I did something similar, although i used dreams and visions to have the dark powers try and position the party to beat strahd.
for at least one of the players, maybe use the amber temple? Have one of the sarcophagus offer their wishes and give them the power to become legendary or spite those who wronged them. Maybe twist the wishes so it provides a plot-line where their actions might set them up to replace or rival Strahd for barovia. This also ties in with one of the possible plots where strahd is looking for a successor.
for the cleric, maybe link to the abbot? And something about how power corrupts or blind devotion being corrupted to evil? Maybe they could try to redeem the abbot
Thanks all! Really appreciate the feedback, I realized I was being a bit of a perfectionist with the personal quest thing. I think I'm going to try to hint to them that defeated Strahd will earn them fame and renown (they'll probably realize how big a deal victory over Strahd would be after meeting the Mad Mage, Van Richten, and Ezmerelda), and definitely have the cleric realize that he could become someone like the Abbot if he isn't careful.
If the goal is fame then they would probably looking to slay the "devil strahd" and may be under the impression he is some kind of demon lord that they will be famous for slaying. Strahd may try to divert them with something like the amber temple saying they could find the true evil there or saying they could gain great power. He may actually find this reason for them to come after him rather boring.
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Hey everyone! I'm running a Curse of Strahd game for some friends, and I've been trying to create a "personal quest" for each character that gives them a motivation. Example: the artificer has a long-lost sister who got trapped in Barovia trying to find the Argynvostholt knights, realized they thought that Barovia's freedom was an acceptable sacrifice, and got herself killed trying to convince them to help her defeat Strahd and rose again as a revenant. The artificer now has to finish her sister's mission and free Barovia from the Mists, in order to lay her sister's spirit to rest.
The only problem is, there are a couple characters whose backstories I'm not super sure how to work into a quest. First of all, the changeling bard's goal is to do great deeds so that they'll be remembered when they die. Secondly, the rogue wants to become famous to spite the people who thought he was useless. Thirdly, the human cleric was a noble who left his life of luxury to seek adventure (think Stede Bonnet from Our Flag Means Death). What personalized quest hooks can I give them?
Would.....not just completing the adventure and defeating Strahd resolve all of those characters' needs?
Agreed with Metamongoose. If that's not enough, then just have a character tie in the idea of fame and fortune to defeating Strahd.
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
Yeah it sounds like you have a bunch of players who are really invested in playing this campaign. You can ask them out of game if there's anything in their backstories they *want* to work into it, but honestly they sound ready to go as is.
I did something similar, although i used dreams and visions to have the dark powers try and position the party to beat strahd.
for at least one of the players, maybe use the amber temple? Have one of the sarcophagus offer their wishes and give them the power to become legendary or spite those who wronged them. Maybe twist the wishes so it provides a plot-line where their actions might set them up to replace or rival Strahd for barovia. This also ties in with one of the possible plots where strahd is looking for a successor.
for the cleric, maybe link to the abbot? And something about how power corrupts or blind devotion being corrupted to evil? Maybe they could try to redeem the abbot
Thanks all! Really appreciate the feedback, I realized I was being a bit of a perfectionist with the personal quest thing. I think I'm going to try to hint to them that defeated Strahd will earn them fame and renown (they'll probably realize how big a deal victory over Strahd would be after meeting the Mad Mage, Van Richten, and Ezmerelda), and definitely have the cleric realize that he could become someone like the Abbot if he isn't careful.
If the goal is fame then they would probably looking to slay the "devil strahd" and may be under the impression he is some kind of demon lord that they will be famous for slaying. Strahd may try to divert them with something like the amber temple saying they could find the true evil there or saying they could gain great power. He may actually find this reason for them to come after him rather boring.