New DM here, only on my 15th session or so. But it's going okay so far. I'm looking for help in finding adventure modules from which to adapt side-quests that'll help build my PC's backstories. I had a good experience doing so with a Dungeon Master's Guild module, and want to do more of that... But I need some guidance so that I'm looking in the right places.
We started out with LMOP, and started to move on to Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Long story short, our group structure got disrupted temporarily and we needed a short side-quest before the PCs got to Waterdeep. I used Reidoth from LMOP (and his tie-in to the Emerald Enclave) as a hook for a messy, undercooked, but conceptually solid -- and pretty fun, at least for my group -- adventure I got off Dungeon Master's Guild: The Lair of Elaacrimalicros. In Lair, the PCs help the last remaining High Forest Aarakockra enclave liberate themselves from the tyranny of the ancient green dragon, Elaacrimalicros, who has over the centuries hunted nearly all of them down.
Anyway, the module itself isn't amazing but it was definitely good enough (particularly for a home brew) for me to work around and modify into something entertaining for my group. And I give the author credit: the core idea is really strong. That, and the fact that it's centered on the Aarakockra and we have an Aarakockra PC, was the reason I chose it. As it turned out, it's been an awesome time. And a great way to create some sense of history and backstory for the Aarakockra PC without forcing any dumb "sitting around the campfire / so, tell me about yourself" scenes.
It made me wonder, what other short modules (3-5 sessions) are both fun, and a great way to create history and backstory for my PCs? Any recommendations? We have
A morally ambiguous, spoiled rich kid paladin, who's desperate for the approval of his father, a very wealthy Lord. (His backstory's the best developed, without a doubt, as the player's a naturally good roleplayer...)
A sexually deviant tiefling warlock (Fiend, Pact of the Chain).
A dwarven barbarian (Path of the Ancestors) who's sort of a strong silent-type / simpleton.
A dragonborn drunken monk.
Any recommendations on fun modules to take a look at? I'm really trying to hit that "fun side-quest" / develops a PC's backstory sweet spot. I don't need to run the full module, but good ones that'll give me good story ideas and structure for characters like the above would be great. Thanks!!
This might not be the sort of thing you're looking for, but I thought I'd mention it...
I recently designed this supplement for the Theros setting, but it could be easily adapted to any campaign setting that includes a vast woodland area wherein the Forestmaster (a mythically oversized, magical cyclops being) might dwell. It's not a campaign per se (there's no set storyline), but merely a sidequest with detailed encounter tables similar to the random encounter tables in Xanathar's Guide (with hundreds of encounters tailored to the Forestmaster's demesne and broken into separate tables for the four major character-level tiers). The reason for venturing into the forest is entirely up to you, as is the length of time it would take for the party to find the Forestmaster. There are a handful of suggested adventure prompts that could be used to initiate the quest, but you could come up with something yourself that's more closely tailored to your ongoing campaign and provides a reason for the party to seek the Forestmaster.
One interesting possibility, however... If you have a PC who might be open to multiclassing into a barbarian, the Forestmaster offers a magical pact that invokes an entirely new Barbarian subclass called the Path of the Forestmaster; complete subclass features are included in the supplement...
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Author of Fellozial's Ultimate Guide to Poison, The Primal Gith, and other forthcoming titles at DMs Guild
Personally you don't need modules... but there are some great 3.5 edition that are adapted. look into MrRhexx on youtube he has a lot of lore. geek and Sundry with roll 20 has advice on one shots. How to be a Great DM has great advice too. By no means manuals.. but here are some ideas... Sorry I typically don't run manuals
Demons in the mountains. Mountains owned by the paladin's dad (looks for dad's approval), Back story for the Tiefling's warlock (taking out patron's competition? taking out underlings from the patron? many possibilities. or maybe look into her sexuality?) mountains for the mountain dwarf (maybe they are in a old dwarven fortress or maybe some nice statues for him to identify) add in a wine cellar or maybe a monk temple for the drunken monk or have kobolds that want to worship the dragon born (kobolds love dragons... dragon born pretty close)
Use this as an entry into main quest with a low level to mid level devil or demon. Start of a bigger quest with higher level demons... may work with demons to take down a dragon or lich?
How high or low of magic are you looking for?
Send them on a quest to find a massive moving island (floating on the ocean? flying in air... space travel?) maybe the warlock patron wants some of the rare ore on the island or maybe paladin's dad wants some floating rock for a base. This rock may be home to a dragon who summons them because of the dragon born caught his/her interest?
This is awesome. Thank you! So far, the direction we're going with these back-story side-quests is:
Paladin: Something homebrewed involving his father being an atrocious arch-criminal / slaver. Probably something nautical, borrowed from Ghosts of Saltmarsh?
Warlock: A modified Dead in Thay, from "Tales from the Yawning Portal", where the hook is that the Red Wizards have captured the warlock's Patron and are threatening to kill it and sever their bond. The Red Wizards are using the this leverage to get the warlock to act against the interest of the party. (I'm really excited about this one.)
Barbarian: A very slightly modified Hammon's Eggs, which is on DMs Guild and was recommended by another DnD Beyond user. It's really good. Extremely well written. It's basically a treasure hunt, but there's a lot of great world-building/history and something of a riddle to work out. Going to place it in the far, frozen north.
I haven't figured out anything great for the monk, but I love the ideas about a kobold-rich booze hunt. Maybe in Chult or something? We're in the Sword Coast, obviously, and I like the idea of making the party check out other parts of Faerun.
New DM here, only on my 15th session or so. But it's going okay so far. I'm looking for help in finding adventure modules from which to adapt side-quests that'll help build my PC's backstories. I had a good experience doing so with a Dungeon Master's Guild module, and want to do more of that... But I need some guidance so that I'm looking in the right places.
We started out with LMOP, and started to move on to Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Long story short, our group structure got disrupted temporarily and we needed a short side-quest before the PCs got to Waterdeep. I used Reidoth from LMOP (and his tie-in to the Emerald Enclave) as a hook for a messy, undercooked, but conceptually solid -- and pretty fun, at least for my group -- adventure I got off Dungeon Master's Guild: The Lair of Elaacrimalicros. In Lair, the PCs help the last remaining High Forest Aarakockra enclave liberate themselves from the tyranny of the ancient green dragon, Elaacrimalicros, who has over the centuries hunted nearly all of them down.
Anyway, the module itself isn't amazing but it was definitely good enough (particularly for a home brew) for me to work around and modify into something entertaining for my group. And I give the author credit: the core idea is really strong. That, and the fact that it's centered on the Aarakockra and we have an Aarakockra PC, was the reason I chose it. As it turned out, it's been an awesome time. And a great way to create some sense of history and backstory for the Aarakockra PC without forcing any dumb "sitting around the campfire / so, tell me about yourself" scenes.
It made me wonder, what other short modules (3-5 sessions) are both fun, and a great way to create history and backstory for my PCs? Any recommendations? We have
Any recommendations on fun modules to take a look at? I'm really trying to hit that "fun side-quest" / develops a PC's backstory sweet spot. I don't need to run the full module, but good ones that'll give me good story ideas and structure for characters like the above would be great. Thanks!!
Look at mike’s free encounters on dmsguild. Short sides.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Sounds like a fun campaign so far! :)
This might not be the sort of thing you're looking for, but I thought I'd mention it...
I recently designed this supplement for the Theros setting, but it could be easily adapted to any campaign setting that includes a vast woodland area wherein the Forestmaster (a mythically oversized, magical cyclops being) might dwell. It's not a campaign per se (there's no set storyline), but merely a sidequest with detailed encounter tables similar to the random encounter tables in Xanathar's Guide (with hundreds of encounters tailored to the Forestmaster's demesne and broken into separate tables for the four major character-level tiers). The reason for venturing into the forest is entirely up to you, as is the length of time it would take for the party to find the Forestmaster. There are a handful of suggested adventure prompts that could be used to initiate the quest, but you could come up with something yourself that's more closely tailored to your ongoing campaign and provides a reason for the party to seek the Forestmaster.
One interesting possibility, however... If you have a PC who might be open to multiclassing into a barbarian, the Forestmaster offers a magical pact that invokes an entirely new Barbarian subclass called the Path of the Forestmaster; complete subclass features are included in the supplement...
Personally you don't need modules... but there are some great 3.5 edition that are adapted. look into MrRhexx on youtube he has a lot of lore. geek and Sundry with roll 20 has advice on one shots. How to be a Great DM has great advice too. By no means manuals.. but here are some ideas... Sorry I typically don't run manuals
Demons in the mountains. Mountains owned by the paladin's dad (looks for dad's approval), Back story for the Tiefling's warlock (taking out patron's competition? taking out underlings from the patron? many possibilities. or maybe look into her sexuality?) mountains for the mountain dwarf (maybe they are in a old dwarven fortress or maybe some nice statues for him to identify) add in a wine cellar or maybe a monk temple for the drunken monk or have kobolds that want to worship the dragon born (kobolds love dragons... dragon born pretty close)
Use this as an entry into main quest with a low level to mid level devil or demon. Start of a bigger quest with higher level demons... may work with demons to take down a dragon or lich?
How high or low of magic are you looking for?
Send them on a quest to find a massive moving island (floating on the ocean? flying in air... space travel?) maybe the warlock patron wants some of the rare ore on the island or maybe paladin's dad wants some floating rock for a base. This rock may be home to a dragon who summons them because of the dragon born caught his/her interest?
This is awesome. Thank you! So far, the direction we're going with these back-story side-quests is:
I haven't figured out anything great for the monk, but I love the ideas about a kobold-rich booze hunt. Maybe in Chult or something? We're in the Sword Coast, obviously, and I like the idea of making the party check out other parts of Faerun.
You might also want to check out a Youtuber called MrRhexx. He does a lot of lore on the sword coast and D&D in general. (as well as other games)