Hey, I'm playing a table where I have to face a red dragon, an empire, and a named "Ancient God", in itself I think it's insane, knowing that my group is still progressing to lvl 8, but it's still something exciting due to the great challenge. The ancient god seems to be trying to free himself, in addition to periodically trying to possess certain beings, the ancient dragon is looking for ways to kill deities, the empire seems to take advantage of the situation of both to strengthen itself, even wanting to control the same dragon. I'm a wizard and I believe it opens up a range of options for how I can act, I thought about joining the empire or the red dragon to put an end to the greater evil, but I still feel a certain reluctance about how to proceed, since any mistake is DEATH. If you can give me suggestions or advice I would be very grateful!
(forgive me for English, it's not my native language)
This is a complicated question that many rebellions, insurgencies and generals ask themselves over the course of campaigns they must accept can take years, decades or even generations. Your responses and mileage might vary based on campaign setting, player power, technological advancement and access to information/transportation.
You won't be toppling any dictators or villains worth their salt at level 8, but you will probably be sufficiently off the Big Bads' radars for some time to give you a chance to make connections with the pockets of resistance throughout the world. This makes me think of many a Final Fantasy game with similar plots, notably FF14: Start small.
Empires and even gods depend on a well-structured system of logistics, laws, tithes and prayers to function. Sprawling imperial states and occupied territories require vast armies, colossal amounts of resources and food, and a widespread yet intricate (and often thereby delicate) network of communication. To defeat an enemy, you must first understand them.
If a party has no other choice but to join a lesser evil to avoid immediate death, do so with the intention of stringing your employer along while making connections as duplicitously and inconspicuously as you can with anyone left with any will and courage left to fight back. Chances are some blue-collar workers or boots on the ground level of an empire know as well as the administrators what the villains value so dearly. This information is not so much important as to how to squeeze or remove those weaknesses, but to know when or how to tamper with those fracture points at the right time to make a difference that will last.
Befriend downtrodden peoples. Make connections and allies with influentials and common folk who will make up the base of your future resistance. Learn what your enemy depends on and where their complacency is most vulnerable.
Work your way up the to-do list as carefully as possible while keeping your employers off your backs. If you can gain their trust to reveal a degree of vulnerability or exposure, consider the consequences before seizing on a dagger-in-the-back opportunity. Try to bear the brunt of reprisals in place of your common folk, when possible. Learn as much as you can, even if it risks falling into traps. Many a deity or villain has a weakness or some degree of ego/hubris that you can use against them.
When it comes to managing multiple geopolitical problems on a world scale, however, chances are the DM is going to throw you a curve ball no matter how well you chess match your way through usurping the proverbial Garlean Empire's occupation of a foreign territory.
Hey, I'm playing a table where I have to face a red dragon, an empire, and a named "Ancient God", in itself I think it's insane, knowing that my group is still progressing to lvl 8, but it's still something exciting due to the great challenge. The ancient god seems to be trying to free himself, in addition to periodically trying to possess certain beings, the ancient dragon is looking for ways to kill deities, the empire seems to take advantage of the situation of both to strengthen itself, even wanting to control the same dragon. I'm a wizard and I believe it opens up a range of options for how I can act, I thought about joining the empire or the red dragon to put an end to the greater evil, but I still feel a certain reluctance about how to proceed, since any mistake is DEATH. If you can give me suggestions or advice I would be very grateful!
(forgive me for English, it's not my native language)
So a JRPG storyline then, maybe based on Final Fantasy?
This is a complicated question that many rebellions, insurgencies and generals ask themselves over the course of campaigns they must accept can take years, decades or even generations. Your responses and mileage might vary based on campaign setting, player power, technological advancement and access to information/transportation.
You won't be toppling any dictators or villains worth their salt at level 8, but you will probably be sufficiently off the Big Bads' radars for some time to give you a chance to make connections with the pockets of resistance throughout the world. This makes me think of many a Final Fantasy game with similar plots, notably FF14: Start small.
Empires and even gods depend on a well-structured system of logistics, laws, tithes and prayers to function. Sprawling imperial states and occupied territories require vast armies, colossal amounts of resources and food, and a widespread yet intricate (and often thereby delicate) network of communication. To defeat an enemy, you must first understand them.
If a party has no other choice but to join a lesser evil to avoid immediate death, do so with the intention of stringing your employer along while making connections as duplicitously and inconspicuously as you can with anyone left with any will and courage left to fight back. Chances are some blue-collar workers or boots on the ground level of an empire know as well as the administrators what the villains value so dearly. This information is not so much important as to how to squeeze or remove those weaknesses, but to know when or how to tamper with those fracture points at the right time to make a difference that will last.
Befriend downtrodden peoples. Make connections and allies with influentials and common folk who will make up the base of your future resistance. Learn what your enemy depends on and where their complacency is most vulnerable.
Work your way up the to-do list as carefully as possible while keeping your employers off your backs. If you can gain their trust to reveal a degree of vulnerability or exposure, consider the consequences before seizing on a dagger-in-the-back opportunity. Try to bear the brunt of reprisals in place of your common folk, when possible. Learn as much as you can, even if it risks falling into traps. Many a deity or villain has a weakness or some degree of ego/hubris that you can use against them.
When it comes to managing multiple geopolitical problems on a world scale, however, chances are the DM is going to throw you a curve ball no matter how well you chess match your way through usurping the proverbial Garlean Empire's occupation of a foreign territory.
Wow, this even makes me more excited. The empire tries to control some "Monsters", goblins, gnolls and who knows what, I thought about trying to come to an agreement with these creatures, maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I'll follow your advice
Hey, I'm playing a table where I have to face a red dragon, an empire, and a named "Ancient God", in itself I think it's insane, knowing that my group is still progressing to lvl 8, but it's still something exciting due to the great challenge. The ancient god seems to be trying to free himself, in addition to periodically trying to possess certain beings, the ancient dragon is looking for ways to kill deities, the empire seems to take advantage of the situation of both to strengthen itself, even wanting to control the same dragon. I'm a wizard and I believe it opens up a range of options for how I can act, I thought about joining the empire or the red dragon to put an end to the greater evil, but I still feel a certain reluctance about how to proceed, since any mistake is DEATH. If you can give me suggestions or advice I would be very grateful!
(forgive me for English, it's not my native language)
So a JRPG storyline then, maybe based on Final Fantasy?
I hadn't noticed this until now, and it's very similar, but I doubt my DM has played any JRPG
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Hey, I'm playing a table where I have to face a red dragon, an empire, and a named "Ancient God", in itself I think it's insane, knowing that my group is still progressing to lvl 8, but it's still something exciting due to the great challenge. The ancient god seems to be trying to free himself, in addition to periodically trying to possess certain beings, the ancient dragon is looking for ways to kill deities, the empire seems to take advantage of the situation of both to strengthen itself, even wanting to control the same dragon. I'm a wizard and I believe it opens up a range of options for how I can act, I thought about joining the empire or the red dragon to put an end to the greater evil, but I still feel a certain reluctance about how to proceed, since any mistake is DEATH. If you can give me suggestions or advice I would be very grateful!
(forgive me for English, it's not my native language)
This is a complicated question that many rebellions, insurgencies and generals ask themselves over the course of campaigns they must accept can take years, decades or even generations. Your responses and mileage might vary based on campaign setting, player power, technological advancement and access to information/transportation.
You won't be toppling any dictators or villains worth their salt at level 8, but you will probably be sufficiently off the Big Bads' radars for some time to give you a chance to make connections with the pockets of resistance throughout the world. This makes me think of many a Final Fantasy game with similar plots, notably FF14: Start small.
Empires and even gods depend on a well-structured system of logistics, laws, tithes and prayers to function. Sprawling imperial states and occupied territories require vast armies, colossal amounts of resources and food, and a widespread yet intricate (and often thereby delicate) network of communication. To defeat an enemy, you must first understand them.
If a party has no other choice but to join a lesser evil to avoid immediate death, do so with the intention of stringing your employer along while making connections as duplicitously and inconspicuously as you can with anyone left with any will and courage left to fight back. Chances are some blue-collar workers or boots on the ground level of an empire know as well as the administrators what the villains value so dearly. This information is not so much important as to how to squeeze or remove those weaknesses, but to know when or how to tamper with those fracture points at the right time to make a difference that will last.
Befriend downtrodden peoples. Make connections and allies with influentials and common folk who will make up the base of your future resistance. Learn what your enemy depends on and where their complacency is most vulnerable.
Work your way up the to-do list as carefully as possible while keeping your employers off your backs. If you can gain their trust to reveal a degree of vulnerability or exposure, consider the consequences before seizing on a dagger-in-the-back opportunity. Try to bear the brunt of reprisals in place of your common folk, when possible. Learn as much as you can, even if it risks falling into traps. Many a deity or villain has a weakness or some degree of ego/hubris that you can use against them.
When it comes to managing multiple geopolitical problems on a world scale, however, chances are the DM is going to throw you a curve ball no matter how well you chess match your way through usurping the proverbial Garlean Empire's occupation of a foreign territory.
So a JRPG storyline then, maybe based on Final Fantasy?
Wow, this even makes me more excited. The empire tries to control some "Monsters", goblins, gnolls and who knows what, I thought about trying to come to an agreement with these creatures, maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I'll follow your advice
I hadn't noticed this until now, and it's very similar, but I doubt my DM has played any JRPG