So I’m about to start Gm’ing an urban fantasy game. My players are part of a gang looking to expand their magic prowess (three players are spellcasters +1 barbarian https://speedtest.vet/). One of my players is a Kobold Wizard who’s effectively been “sold” into the service of this gang.
I’m trying to figure out why. Are they a slave? Do they have debt? How in the world did this kobold become a wizard? My player is brainstorming too, but if anyone has any good ideas we’d appreciate it.
So I’m about to start Gm’ing an urban fantasy game. My players are part of a gang looking to expand their magic prowess (three players are spellcasters +1 barbarian). One of my players is a Kobold Wizard who’s effectively been “sold” into the service of this gang.
I’m trying to figure out why. Are they a slave? Do they have debt? How in the world did this kobold become a wizard? My player is brainstorming too, but if anyone has any good ideas we’d appreciate it.
The gang leader cut a deal with a mysterious figure to buy "a relic of great power". When the purchase finally went down, it nearly got disrupted by the authorities, and the gang had to run with what they thought was the crate holding the relic
When they got back to their hideout, they popped it open and found... your kobold PC. Once the gang was satisfied the kobold didn't have any clue what was going on (and could do a little magic too), they make him part of the gang
Basically, as a DM you'd be punting a lot of the big questions down the road and setting up mysteries to answer later. Why were they in the crate? Who was the seller who put them in there? Was the gang just scammed completely, or is the relic still out there after a bait and switch? Or is the kobold "the relic of great power", and what does that mean, exactly?
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I don't know if this is the direction they want to go with their character, but I like the idea of leaning into the classic Kobold's sort of... naturally subservient flavor. Kobolds kind of blindly follow anything they're told as long as it comes from a dragon. I think you could do something fun with them being trained into wizardry by a Dragonborn who is taking advantage of him. Going with the urban fantasy gang story, I'm picturing him as basically a con-man... maybe the Dragonborn themselves aren't even a wizard, they're just really good at sleight of hand and they just have the Kobold doing the actual spellcasting, acting like it's just more "lessons". I'm imagining them pulling off stuff like that scam in Zootopia where the Dragonborn has the Kobold pose as their child. Makes for a pretty obvious version of the Charlatan background.
My rule of thumb is: Use a simple explanation unless a complicated one offers some clear value.
Depends on the setting, but for example:
He willingly traded his freedom for magical knowledge. Someone promised to make him a wizard in exchange for 10 years of service. Got what he was promised, but forgot to read the fine print. Still had a few years left and was sold to someone else for the remaining time.
You don't really need to explain further. That's the beauty of it. "I made a decision that backfired" -> "I regret/don't regret" is a solid story. 😄
My rule of thumb is: Use a simple explanation unless a complicated one offers some clear value.
Depends on the setting, but for example:
He willingly traded his freedom for magical knowledge. Someone promised to make him a wizard in exchange for 10 years of service. Got what he was promised, but forgot to read the fine print. Still had a few years left and was sold to someone else for the remaining time.
You don't really need to explain further. That's the beauty of it. "I made a decision that backfired" -> "I regret/don't regret" is a solid story. 😄
Or as someone pointed out, leave open ends and mysteries on purpose and tackle them later. You don't even need to know all the answers yet yourself.
One thing I've learned throughout the years. Never plan/design more than you need to. I've created several complex stories /settings before realizing that most of it was just overcomplicating things and shifting focus away from stuff that the players are actually playing/experiencing/enjoying.
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So I’m about to start Gm’ing an urban fantasy game. My players are part of a gang looking to expand their magic prowess (three players are spellcasters +1 barbarian https://speedtest.vet/). One of my players is a Kobold Wizard who’s effectively been “sold” into the service of this gang.
I’m trying to figure out why. Are they a slave? Do they have debt? How in the world did this kobold become a wizard? My player is brainstorming too, but if anyone has any good ideas we’d appreciate it.
The gang leader cut a deal with a mysterious figure to buy "a relic of great power". When the purchase finally went down, it nearly got disrupted by the authorities, and the gang had to run with what they thought was the crate holding the relic
When they got back to their hideout, they popped it open and found... your kobold PC. Once the gang was satisfied the kobold didn't have any clue what was going on (and could do a little magic too), they make him part of the gang
Basically, as a DM you'd be punting a lot of the big questions down the road and setting up mysteries to answer later. Why were they in the crate? Who was the seller who put them in there? Was the gang just scammed completely, or is the relic still out there after a bait and switch? Or is the kobold "the relic of great power", and what does that mean, exactly?
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I don't know if this is the direction they want to go with their character, but I like the idea of leaning into the classic Kobold's sort of... naturally subservient flavor. Kobolds kind of blindly follow anything they're told as long as it comes from a dragon. I think you could do something fun with them being trained into wizardry by a Dragonborn who is taking advantage of him. Going with the urban fantasy gang story, I'm picturing him as basically a con-man... maybe the Dragonborn themselves aren't even a wizard, they're just really good at sleight of hand and they just have the Kobold doing the actual spellcasting, acting like it's just more "lessons". I'm imagining them pulling off stuff like that scam in Zootopia where the Dragonborn has the Kobold pose as their child. Makes for a pretty obvious version of the Charlatan background.
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My rule of thumb is: Use a simple explanation unless a complicated one offers some clear value.
Depends on the setting, but for example:
He willingly traded his freedom for magical knowledge. Someone promised to make him a wizard in exchange for 10 years of service. Got what he was promised, but forgot to read the fine print. Still had a few years left and was sold to someone else for the remaining time.
You don't really need to explain further. That's the beauty of it. "I made a decision that backfired" -> "I regret/don't regret" is a solid story. 😄
Finland GMT/UTC +2
Or as someone pointed out, leave open ends and mysteries on purpose and tackle them later. You don't even need to know all the answers yet yourself.
One thing I've learned throughout the years. Never plan/design more than you need to. I've created several complex stories /settings before realizing that most of it was just overcomplicating things and shifting focus away from stuff that the players are actually playing/experiencing/enjoying.
Finland GMT/UTC +2