So... My campaign is centered around a band of pirates, some fresh and some salty, having been embroiled into a political plot between two countries. Bottom line, one king is dead due to an assassination at a peace convention, and the other king hightailed it back to his capital. There are other plot arcs in the overall scheme, but I'm having trouble with my timeline. I'm not sure how to ease in the foreshadowing of the other arcs while still balancing the immediate military/political situation. My players have been given "free roam" of the world, and show no palpable interest in the quagmire, and I need to gently entangle them into it. They are actually the ones who assisted in "escorting" the king back to the main naval fleet, but I'm not sure where to go from there. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.
I would start by drawing up a progression of events timeline, without times. So think about how your plot will impact the land, civil unrest, restriction of trade, military control, whatever you can think of, in the order they would happen. For each of them, write up a way to introduce them. Soft intro's and hard intro's. Rumours, goods being unavailable, refugees flooding/abandoning towns, full martial law with curfews etc.
Then ask yourself.... are your players having fun with the current adventure or is it starting to drag? If its not, go with soft intro's and see if your players take the bait. If they're starting to drag, kick in the hard intro's and really make it happen.
At the end of the day, does a timeline REALLY matter, as long as your players are having fun?
So... My campaign is centered around a band of pirates, some fresh and some salty, having been embroiled into a political plot between two countries. Bottom line, one king is dead due to an assassination at a peace convention, and the other king hightailed it back to his capital. There are other plot arcs in the overall scheme, but I'm having trouble with my timeline. I'm not sure how to ease in the foreshadowing of the other arcs while still balancing the immediate military/political situation. My players have been given "free roam" of the world, and show no palpable interest in the quagmire, and I need to gently entangle them into it. They are actually the ones who assisted in "escorting" the king back to the main naval fleet, but I'm not sure where to go from there. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Well you say they are escorting the king? Maybe he gives them some jobs. And as a king, mayhaps he is very worried of dying. So in his haste he agrees to a large sum of money or several magical items as payment. The PCs do it, maybe he gives them a new task. And soon they may realise that it's useful to be friends with a king. And in the kings inner circle there are some spies who want to corrupt the players. Etc. Hope this helps! ^^
So... My campaign is centered around a band of pirates, some fresh and some salty, having been embroiled into a political plot between two countries. Bottom line, one king is dead due to an assassination at a peace convention, and the other king hightailed it back to his capital. There are other plot arcs in the overall scheme, but I'm having trouble with my timeline. I'm not sure how to ease in the foreshadowing of the other arcs while still balancing the immediate military/political situation. My players have been given "free roam" of the world, and show no palpable interest in the quagmire, and I need to gently entangle them into it. They are actually the ones who assisted in "escorting" the king back to the main naval fleet, but I'm not sure where to go from there. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Well you say they are escorting the king? Maybe he gives them some jobs. And as a king, mayhaps he is very worried of dying. So in his haste he agrees to a large sum of money or several magical items as payment. The PCs do it, maybe he gives them a new task. And soon they may realise that it's useful to be friends with a king. And in the kings inner circle there are some spies who want to corrupt the players. Etc. Hope this helps! ^^
Not a bad thought. Bit of backstory, the Navy is responsible for the sinking of one of the pirates former ship. So that was a tense boat ride. They've already dumped him with the Navy, and set their sails elsewhere. But the king still knows their boat, and crew. So it would seem reasonable for future prospective employment. Thank you!
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So... My campaign is centered around a band of pirates, some fresh and some salty, having been embroiled into a political plot between two countries. Bottom line, one king is dead due to an assassination at a peace convention, and the other king hightailed it back to his capital. There are other plot arcs in the overall scheme, but I'm having trouble with my timeline. I'm not sure how to ease in the foreshadowing of the other arcs while still balancing the immediate military/political situation. My players have been given "free roam" of the world, and show no palpable interest in the quagmire, and I need to gently entangle them into it. They are actually the ones who assisted in "escorting" the king back to the main naval fleet, but I'm not sure where to go from there. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.
I would start by drawing up a progression of events timeline, without times. So think about how your plot will impact the land, civil unrest, restriction of trade, military control, whatever you can think of, in the order they would happen. For each of them, write up a way to introduce them. Soft intro's and hard intro's. Rumours, goods being unavailable, refugees flooding/abandoning towns, full martial law with curfews etc.
Then ask yourself.... are your players having fun with the current adventure or is it starting to drag? If its not, go with soft intro's and see if your players take the bait. If they're starting to drag, kick in the hard intro's and really make it happen.
At the end of the day, does a timeline REALLY matter, as long as your players are having fun?
Well you say they are escorting the king? Maybe he gives them some jobs. And as a king, mayhaps he is very worried of dying. So in his haste he agrees to a large sum of money or several magical items as payment. The PCs do it, maybe he gives them a new task. And soon they may realise that it's useful to be friends with a king. And in the kings inner circle there are some spies who want to corrupt the players. Etc. Hope this helps! ^^
Not a bad thought. Bit of backstory, the Navy is responsible for the sinking of one of the pirates former ship. So that was a tense boat ride. They've already dumped him with the Navy, and set their sails elsewhere. But the king still knows their boat, and crew. So it would seem reasonable for future prospective employment. Thank you!