| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Henroshi
Acolyte
USA
0 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Feb 2011 : 21:16:48
|
Hello everyone! Good to see this place is active and about. Allow me to introduce myself.
I'm a lowly Dungeon Master from Utah. I only really got into D&D about 4 years ago when 4th edition was rolling off the assembly line. Since then any campaign I've been in has rarely lasted more than 5 sessions. The first time I tried to DM a campaign, I found myself overwhelmed. I created a highly unorthodox original setting that ultimately failed to provide my party with enough adventuring before they got where they were supposed to go (at which point I was expecting them to be level 10 or higher). It was still a blast despite the repeated absences and little direction (I had great things planned way too far ahead), but I inevitably burnt out. Also many of the players were completely new to the game and completely new to the concept of role-playing, so character interaction was forbiddingly stale. I've thought about restarting it since it could really do well given better ideas and experience, but for now...
This brings me to why I was drawn here. I'm currently collaborating with another DM on a campaign set in the Forgotten Realms. This followed several months worth of conceptual weaving. It all started with the idea that the characters would be students of some special academy that trained heroes and sent them out on missions. A seasoned DM can see the appeal: gameplay in an open marriage with the overarching plot, tons of variety, a lot of exploring new places...makes for a good long-living campaign, provided the players are invested (which is the spine of any campaign, really). Even when we had all the characters and a few quest ideas fleshed out, we still hadn't found a name or a location for this Academy. I wanted it to be near Baldur's Gate, since the Sword Coast is one of the best places to start a FR campaign. After days of fruitless searching I was ready to just dot it in on the map. Then something caught my eye: Just South of the Cloak Wood there was this place called Candlekeep. I decided to look it up and it turned out to be the perfect place, EXACTLY where I wanted it to be. Given the open-ended descriptions in the Player's Guide and Campaign Guide, it made too-perfect sense for Candlekeep to play host to my party of student-adventurers. And thus the Candlekeep Academy was born. It is currently my longest-running campaign yet, and by far the most fun I've had playing D&D.
I'll post more about the actual escapades and details of my campaign where it's appropriate, but I just wanted to tell you guys my story. I'm also curious if anyone else has come up with a similar concept.
|
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37010 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2011 : 21:56:29
|
Welcome to Candlekeep! 
Feel free to ask any questions you may have... A lot of us have been Realms fans for years, and we know a thing or three about the setting. Plus, we've got some of the authors and creators here! 
As for the rest of us, we are friendly, mostly harmless, and occasionally strange... Enjoy your stay! 
|
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
 |
|
|
Joran Nobleheart
Senior Scribe
USA
495 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2011 : 23:40:23
|
| Welcome to Candlekeep, Henroshi! I hope that you enjoy your stay in these hallowed halls, and that all of your questions are answered here by the finest sages in the Realms. |
Paladinic Ethos
Saint Joran Nobleheart |
|
|
|
Knight of the Gate
Senior Scribe
USA
624 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2011 : 03:58:04
|
| Welcome aboard, Henroshi! I would heartily recommend that you cut and past your request in 'Running the Realms' and make the title something like 'Need Help placing adventuring academy'. You will find that many scribes here don't really look at the posts in the 'hangout forums' such as this one. Good luck! |
How can life be so bountiful, providing such sublime rewards for mediocrity? -Umberto Ecco |
|
|
|
Kentinal
Great Reader
4705 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2011 : 04:07:48
|
*Blink* not sure about "It all started with the idea that the characters would be students of some special academy that trained heroes and sent them out on missions. A seasoned DM can see the appeal."
I see no appeal, see more like railroading the characters of the players, if not the players themselves.
However as already indicated, this belongs in running the realms shelve.
Perhaps a moderator could shift it. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
|
|
|
Henroshi
Acolyte
USA
0 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2011 : 08:05:13
|
Well I didn't really post that with the intent to inquire after people for ideas or look for constructive feedback (see last paragraph of my initial post). In the case that I do need any advice, feedback, or brainstorming, I will certainly start a thread in the appropriate shelf. I just thought people here would find it neat that this forum's namesake is central in my campaign. Just part of me introducing myself, which I believe is the purpose of this shelf.
@Kentinal: So far that hasn't been a problem. I only give the characters one objective. Along the way I still make sure to provide obstacles and choices to the players that they have to figure out on their own. I see it more as direction than railroading. Of course this is my opinion based on my particular style of DMing (most basically give the players a situation and see how their characters react...c'est la vie, non?). The product of such a style is still what we're all aiming for, which is a fun time and memorable moments. I understand people play the game a bit differently. |
|
|
|
Knight of the Gate
Senior Scribe
USA
624 Posts |
Posted - 27 Feb 2011 : 14:28:52
|
quote:
Originally posted by Henroshi
Well I didn't really post that with the intent to inquire after people for ideas or look for constructive feedback (see last paragraph of my initial post). In the case that I do need any advice, feedback, or brainstorming, I will certainly start a thread in the appropriate shelf. I just thought people here would find it neat that this forum's namesake is central in my campaign. Just part of me introducing myself, which I believe is the purpose of this shelf.
@Kentinal: So far that hasn't been a problem. I only give the characters one objective. Along the way I still make sure to provide obstacles and choices to the players that they have to figure out on their own. I see it more as direction than railroading. Of course this is my opinion based on my particular style of DMing (most basically give the players a situation and see how their characters react...c'est la vie, non?). The product of such a style is still what we're all aiming for, which is a fun time and memorable moments. I understand people play the game a bit differently.
Understood, Henroshi; I just wanted to point you toward the place where you'd get the most feedback for your campaign design. |
How can life be so bountiful, providing such sublime rewards for mediocrity? -Umberto Ecco |
|
|
|
dragonhasfangs
Acolyte
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 04:37:08
|
Hail and well met! I too am new to Candlekeep although I have frequented this place many times in the past 10+ years to poke around. I never joined the forums though until tonight! I am a DM of 20+ years who grew up on 1st and 2nd edition AD&D and until recently had never touched the newer editions. I now DM 3.5 due to the request of my players (who are mostly in their early 20's). I am planning on teaching my son how to role-play and even though I'm older now, I still enjoy acting out the roles of various NPCs for my players. I get up from my seat and walk around the room with a specific gait and twist my face into whatever is appropriate for the character, emulating their voices and accents to further entrench the party in a real life play who only they have the chance to prove the outcome.
I hope to write and read many great posts here and it is quite nice to meet you all.
-Dragonhasfangs
http://NERDTREK.com
|
-Dragonhasfangs
http://NERDTREK.com
the Nerd Generation |
|
|
|
Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2011 : 15:16:00
|
| Greetings and well met, dragonhasfangs! |
Errant d20 Designer - My Blog (last updated January 06, 2016)
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back. --Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
"Mmm, not the darkness," Myrin murmured. "Don't cast it there." --Erik Scott de Bie, Shadowbane
* My character sheets (PFRPG, 3.5, and AE versions; not viewable in Internet Explorer)
* Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document (PFRPG OGL Rules)
* The Hypertext d20 SRD (3.5 OGL Rules)
* 3.5 D&D Archives
My game design work:
* Heroes of the Jade Oath (PFRPG, conversion; Rite Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 1: Cantrips & Orisons (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 2: 1st-Level Spells (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Martial Arts Guidebook (forthcoming) (PFRPG, designer; Rite Publishing)
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
So obviously I am new here...
