I'm running LMoP for a group of new players. I'm a new DM myself, so I'm feeling out what is responsible use of my new deity status.
They've just got to the end of the Redbrand Hideout quest. My wife, the pyromaniac wizard, set fires as they progressed through the hideout, and after they left I ruled that the whole manor was ablaze and ultimately collapsed.
I feel like this must have some consequence - townsfolk are going to have an opinion on this. I'd also like the elimination of the Redbrands to have some consequence, since the adventure alludes to the Redbrands keeping some semblance of order (presumably like a protection racket they were shaking down the townsfolk, but keeping goblin and orc raiders at bay). My thinking is below, mostly this will be flavor resulting in some skirmishes around the town and hopefully making it all feel a little more real and responsive to their actions. The goal is definitely not to significantly restrict player progress, or change the central tenets of LMoP -
They're about to return Sildar, at the Townmaster's house. When they arrive Harbin proclaims something to the effect 'You fools, do you know what you've done? The Redbrands were no saints, but now we'll be up to our necks in goblins and orcs within the week!". Sildar responds that he'll start deputizing citizens in the morning and pays the party for eliminating the Redbrands and bringing him info about Iarno. Roleplay opportunities for the party to discuss further with Harbin and Sildar. Harbin seems a useless sack of excrement so he'll generally be doom and gloom and defeatist. Sildar will say he has it in hand, but would appreciate if he can call on them as needed.
In the meantime, invisible to the party, Halia will be working in the background to take advantage of ill-feeling about the demolition of a beloved piece of town history - with her real motivation being to run them out of town, since she can't control them and they have thwarted her plans to take over leadership of the Redbrands (the cleric passed a perception test, and divined her true motivation). Certain town citizens will become colder to the party during roleplaying. No-one will be outright hostile, I don't want to prompt a bout of murder hobo-ing. Maybe prices will increase 10% in certain establishments. They retained the seamstress' service to make them some cloaks they are due to collect - perhaps they'll be of noticeably lower quality than her other wares and if asked "I'm sorry, I guess I was distracted by the town being slowly burned down." Just spitballing - as you would expect in real life, there will be a mix of hero worship for eliminating Redbrands, and criticism of their methods. You can't please all the people, all the time...
The party plans to head to Agatha's Lair, Old Owl Well, and Wyvern Tor next. I figure this is a solid week or more of adventuring. When they next return, I want them to find newly deputized citizens, aided by Sildar, in the middle of fighting off a goblin/orc raiding party. The expectation being that they join the fray and heroically save the town, but who knows what this group of maniacs will do. Probably burn something to the goddamn ground.
Anyway. Good flavor? Or have I fallen into the trap of thinking I have a cool idea that actually sucks and will just derail everything and ruin the adventure? Give it to me straight, Doc, I can handle the truth.
[Edited because the profanity censor mistook my proper use of a word to be the alternate insulting use...]
Actions have consequences! Definitely having a pyromaniac wizard burn down a major landmark is going to have repercussions.
On the other hand, it's debatable how attached the common folk would actually be to the old Lord's manor. Some of them might just say "old geezer Tresendar was a right bastard anyway." But I can't imagine anyone would be enthusiastic about it. I think you hit a good balance in your ideas, though.
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Hi all,
I'm running LMoP for a group of new players. I'm a new DM myself, so I'm feeling out what is responsible use of my new deity status.
They've just got to the end of the Redbrand Hideout quest. My wife, the pyromaniac wizard, set fires as they progressed through the hideout, and after they left I ruled that the whole manor was ablaze and ultimately collapsed.
I feel like this must have some consequence - townsfolk are going to have an opinion on this. I'd also like the elimination of the Redbrands to have some consequence, since the adventure alludes to the Redbrands keeping some semblance of order (presumably like a protection racket they were shaking down the townsfolk, but keeping goblin and orc raiders at bay). My thinking is below, mostly this will be flavor resulting in some skirmishes around the town and hopefully making it all feel a little more real and responsive to their actions. The goal is definitely not to significantly restrict player progress, or change the central tenets of LMoP -
They're about to return Sildar, at the Townmaster's house. When they arrive Harbin proclaims something to the effect 'You fools, do you know what you've done? The Redbrands were no saints, but now we'll be up to our necks in goblins and orcs within the week!". Sildar responds that he'll start deputizing citizens in the morning and pays the party for eliminating the Redbrands and bringing him info about Iarno. Roleplay opportunities for the party to discuss further with Harbin and Sildar. Harbin seems a useless sack of excrement so he'll generally be doom and gloom and defeatist. Sildar will say he has it in hand, but would appreciate if he can call on them as needed.
In the meantime, invisible to the party, Halia will be working in the background to take advantage of ill-feeling about the demolition of a beloved piece of town history - with her real motivation being to run them out of town, since she can't control them and they have thwarted her plans to take over leadership of the Redbrands (the cleric passed a perception test, and divined her true motivation). Certain town citizens will become colder to the party during roleplaying. No-one will be outright hostile, I don't want to prompt a bout of murder hobo-ing. Maybe prices will increase 10% in certain establishments. They retained the seamstress' service to make them some cloaks they are due to collect - perhaps they'll be of noticeably lower quality than her other wares and if asked "I'm sorry, I guess I was distracted by the town being slowly burned down." Just spitballing - as you would expect in real life, there will be a mix of hero worship for eliminating Redbrands, and criticism of their methods. You can't please all the people, all the time...
The party plans to head to Agatha's Lair, Old Owl Well, and Wyvern Tor next. I figure this is a solid week or more of adventuring. When they next return, I want them to find newly deputized citizens, aided by Sildar, in the middle of fighting off a goblin/orc raiding party. The expectation being that they join the fray and heroically save the town, but who knows what this group of maniacs will do. Probably burn something to the goddamn ground.
Anyway. Good flavor? Or have I fallen into the trap of thinking I have a cool idea that actually sucks and will just derail everything and ruin the adventure? Give it to me straight, Doc, I can handle the truth.
[Edited because the profanity censor mistook my proper use of a word to be the alternate insulting use...]
Actions have consequences! Definitely having a pyromaniac wizard burn down a major landmark is going to have repercussions.
On the other hand, it's debatable how attached the common folk would actually be to the old Lord's manor. Some of them might just say "old geezer Tresendar was a right bastard anyway." But I can't imagine anyone would be enthusiastic about it. I think you hit a good balance in your ideas, though.