Hey, I have ideas for a campaign that I want to run (starting form level 1) but I am getting lost in how to make something engaging and entertaining, while not being overly complex or underwhelming.
The only thing I've got so far is that I want the party to start with them getting processed into a prison (nothing special I know) as someone was killed in a festival and the party was picked up and processed (they won't be together at this point) - some things happen to clue them in that something suspicious is going on as things like their documents are destroyed by the warden and just as they are left alone, a riot would happen and other prisoners would come in and try to kill them (as an entry encounter to begin the campaign) - on the bodies they would find a letter from someone requesting the "new prisoners" deaths in exchange for freedom and that the riot would be the signal. After this, the party could escape with this proof in hand, they wouldn't be under threat of pursual because there is nothing confirming them to have been arrested etc etc.
The long and short of it is, some group wanted someone dead and then arranged it so some random fol (the party) would get arrested and then die in prison before they could be properly documented so as to cover all their tracks.
Here's the problems:
This seems way too complex for an introduction, if I'm having trouble explaining it here then it's definately going to be too much for the players
The stakes probably seem confusing after the fact without some meta commentary confirming they're fine to do whatever (which I don't want)
The motivations from the group responsible for all of this are undefined and honestly there is no way I can think of on how to make it intriguing without seeming nonsensicle or stupid, to warrant having a rube goldberg machine of events for the opening to happen
I think I'm just getting lost and brought down by overcomplicating things, so the main question I've got is "why would all this happen?" and why that would be interesting or responsible for a level 1/early group to pursue.
Much love for reading this far and thanks for any help.
Hey, I have ideas for a campaign that I want to run (starting form level 1) but I am getting lost in how to make something engaging and entertaining, while not being overly complex or underwhelming.
The only thing I've got so far is that I want the party to start with them getting processed into a prison (nothing special I know) as someone was killed in a festival and the party was picked up and processed (they won't be together at this point) - some things happen to clue them in that something suspicious is going on as things like their documents are destroyed by the warden and just as they are left alone, a riot would happen and other prisoners would come in and try to kill them (as an entry encounter to begin the campaign) - on the bodies they would find a letter from someone requesting the "new prisoners" deaths in exchange for freedom and that the riot would be the signal. After this, the party could escape with this proof in hand, they wouldn't be under threat of pursual because there is nothing confirming them to have been arrested etc etc.
The long and short of it is, some group wanted someone dead and then arranged it so some random fol (the party) would get arrested and then die in prison before they could be properly documented so as to cover all their tracks.
Here's the problems:
This seems way too complex for an introduction, if I'm having trouble explaining it here then it's definately going to be too much for the players
The stakes probably seem confusing after the fact without some meta commentary confirming they're fine to do whatever (which I don't want)
The motivations from the group responsible for all of this are undefined and honestly there is no way I can think of on how to make it intriguing without seeming nonsensicle or stupid, to warrant having a rube goldberg machine of events for the opening to happen
I think I'm just getting lost and brought down by overcomplicating things, so the main question I've got is "why would all this happen?" and why that would be interesting or responsible for a level 1/early group to pursue.
Much love for reading this far and thanks for any help.
I have an idea! Maybe, incorporate their backgrounds into a reason they'd want to be killed by some unknown villain. Let's say someone has the Soldier background, and they wish to have faced an enemy in the past that even they couldn't defeat. I know that's really specific, but you can warp it to fit other things. You could, however, just use good ol' DM persuasion and tell them how good of an idea it is to do what you want. Don't make it too obvious, though. Player agency is key to them having fun.
I got off-topic. My bad. So if you use their backgrounds, that could be a reason the police found them as possible suspects for the murder. Otherwise, the police could have been bribed by this mastermind who wants the players dead.
Maybe just try to simplify the introduction a little. Also, it doesn't all have to be said at once. Just try to get it all out within the first session. Also, maybe there should be a threat of pursuit, to up the stakes along the adventure.
You could start the adventure with something like this: "All around you, there is the sound of music, joy, and laughter. You can smell delicious food and the air is humming with livelyness. You walk around a while longer, until you hear screams. As you look around, you notice splatters of blood leading to a massive crowd. You manage to push your way through and see a man lying dead on the ground, with a dagger through his heart. Moments later, police (or whatever law enforcement you'd like) show up and assess the situation. Everyone is in shock. In all the buzz and chaos, you all get apprehended by the police."
That's what I could come up with. I hope you find it helpful! 👍
Thanks for the response, I'll clue the players in and learn more about what they want their backstories to be and try to tie it in that way. Thank you for the tip!
Not that I have a whole lot of experience DMing, but I have a couple thoughts:
If it is just the PCs getting rounded up, can you start the PCs off at a level higher than 1? Then, hypothetically they have already adventured and built up a reputation, either individually or as a group, to warrant the being framed. They have crossed the villain, ruining their plots (either wittingly or unwittingly, I like the unwittingly angle) and now the villain wants revenge.
Otherwise, I would frame it as the PCs are caught up in a round up of a wider scale, and whoever this early on BBEG is, wants to wipe out all possible witnesses, and your players, caught up in the round up, come together, not as the particular focus of a plot, but out of necessity. They can either discover the intentions (in any number of ways,) or just band together during the riot. They save a bunch of the other prisoners in the process of escaping and thus establish a reputation, being as they screwed the villain's mass murder plot, and as such creating the situation that makes sense in the build up to and then the confrontation or confrontations with this BBEG comes to pass. As a side note, it might be a possible to start session 1 in prison, with a session 0 to cover their experiences in prison after being arrested. A couple dice rolls could determine who knows what about the plot.
Hey, I have ideas for a campaign that I want to run (starting form level 1) but I am getting lost in how to make something engaging and entertaining, while not being overly complex or underwhelming.
The only thing I've got so far is that I want the party to start with them getting processed into a prison (nothing special I know) as someone was killed in a festival and the party was picked up and processed (they won't be together at this point) - some things happen to clue them in that something suspicious is going on as things like their documents are destroyed by the warden and just as they are left alone, a riot would happen and other prisoners would come in and try to kill them (as an entry encounter to begin the campaign) - on the bodies they would find a letter from someone requesting the "new prisoners" deaths in exchange for freedom and that the riot would be the signal. After this, the party could escape with this proof in hand, they wouldn't be under threat of pursual because there is nothing confirming them to have been arrested etc etc.
The long and short of it is, some group wanted someone dead and then arranged it so some random fol (the party) would get arrested and then die in prison before they could be properly documented so as to cover all their tracks.
Here's the problems:
I think I'm just getting lost and brought down by overcomplicating things, so the main question I've got is "why would all this happen?" and why that would be interesting or responsible for a level 1/early group to pursue.
Much love for reading this far and thanks for any help.
i had to delete this comment. just look below.
I have an idea! Maybe, incorporate their backgrounds into a reason they'd want to be killed by some unknown villain. Let's say someone has the Soldier background, and they wish to have faced an enemy in the past that even they couldn't defeat. I know that's really specific, but you can warp it to fit other things. You could, however, just use good ol' DM persuasion and tell them how good of an idea it is to do what you want. Don't make it too obvious, though. Player agency is key to them having fun.
I got off-topic. My bad. So if you use their backgrounds, that could be a reason the police found them as possible suspects for the murder. Otherwise, the police could have been bribed by this mastermind who wants the players dead.
Maybe just try to simplify the introduction a little. Also, it doesn't all have to be said at once. Just try to get it all out within the first session. Also, maybe there should be a threat of pursuit, to up the stakes along the adventure.
You could start the adventure with something like this: "All around you, there is the sound of music, joy, and laughter. You can smell delicious food and the air is humming with livelyness. You walk around a while longer, until you hear screams. As you look around, you notice splatters of blood leading to a massive crowd. You manage to push your way through and see a man lying dead on the ground, with a dagger through his heart. Moments later, police (or whatever law enforcement you'd like) show up and assess the situation. Everyone is in shock. In all the buzz and chaos, you all get apprehended by the police."
That's what I could come up with. I hope you find it helpful! 👍
Good luck DMing!
Thanks for the response, I'll clue the players in and learn more about what they want their backstories to be and try to tie it in that way. Thank you for the tip!
Not that I have a whole lot of experience DMing, but I have a couple thoughts:
If it is just the PCs getting rounded up, can you start the PCs off at a level higher than 1? Then, hypothetically they have already adventured and built up a reputation, either individually or as a group, to warrant the being framed. They have crossed the villain, ruining their plots (either wittingly or unwittingly, I like the unwittingly angle) and now the villain wants revenge.
Otherwise, I would frame it as the PCs are caught up in a round up of a wider scale, and whoever this early on BBEG is, wants to wipe out all possible witnesses, and your players, caught up in the round up, come together, not as the particular focus of a plot, but out of necessity. They can either discover the intentions (in any number of ways,) or just band together during the riot. They save a bunch of the other prisoners in the process of escaping and thus establish a reputation, being as they screwed the villain's mass murder plot, and as such creating the situation that makes sense in the build up to and then the confrontation or confrontations with this BBEG comes to pass. As a side note, it might be a possible to start session 1 in prison, with a session 0 to cover their experiences in prison after being arrested. A couple dice rolls could determine who knows what about the plot.
The PCs could definitely start at a higher level than 1.