Mark A Vandermeulen
05-01-1999, 06:27 PM
On Sat, 1 May 1999, Complete Systems wrote:
> Another (and perhaps easiest to write), would be a regular 4-5 player
> adventure with non-regents, just using the BR background and a few blood
> abilities.
This conception has always worked best for me when introducing folks to
the BR milleux. I generally set up the PC's as lieutennants or
high-ranking servants to one of the regents (or to two or more allied
regents). This features one of the strengths of the game: the political
aspect--the PC's must solve the problem posed by the DM in a way that
doesn't embarrass their patron, doesn't alienate their allies, and doesn't
provide an opening for their enemies to exploit. They must think on their
feet, and use their wits as much as their swords. Pick any one (almost) of
the possible Random Events from the Rulebook, and assume that the Regent
has assigned the PC's to resolve the situation before it get out of
control. Select complications, enemies looking for advantage, allies who
must be courted and treated carefully, and stakes that either keep rising,
or that become personal.
My own introductory adventure is called "Plague of Rats" and I gave it at
Gen Con a few years ago. I've since been using my voluminous (ha!) spare
time to try and write it up as a _Dungeon_ submission. Basically, it
involves the "Plague" random event, when it is discovered that the Priests
of Haelyn cannot magically cure this plague. The PC's soon discover that
the plague is in fact caused by a minor awnsheghlein called The Rat who
has a Plague Touch which can cause a unique form of lycanthropy
(wererats). By this time, some of the PC's might start coming down with
the plague, and begin to realize that some of those who have supposedly
"recovered" from the plague are now working against them and against their
regent. The PC's are trapped in the sealed walls of the plague-ridden
city, and must discover who the Rat really is, and foil his plans to
subvert the city to his own control.
This kind of adventure works well, because it introduces only one of the
cultures, takes place in a very small geographic area, but focuses on
political interactions and investigation, while still allowing for
swashbuckling, sword-swinging action at the end (once the mystery is made
clear and the plot must be foiled). It allows the PC's (if blooded at all)
to possess the weaker and easier-to-use blood powers, and allows them to
be surprized when one of the NPC's can suddenly switch on one of the more
powerful god-like bloodpowers (I use the Basaia ability to shoot sunbeams
out of your eyes to see in the dark--and give it to an NPC the PC's KNOW
is not a mage). And it allows the players to feel that their characters
are connected to something bigger than their own pocketbooks, that their
duty to their regent is an integral part of their characters and their
solution to the problem.
Mark VanderMeulen
vander+@pitt.edu
> Another (and perhaps easiest to write), would be a regular 4-5 player
> adventure with non-regents, just using the BR background and a few blood
> abilities.
This conception has always worked best for me when introducing folks to
the BR milleux. I generally set up the PC's as lieutennants or
high-ranking servants to one of the regents (or to two or more allied
regents). This features one of the strengths of the game: the political
aspect--the PC's must solve the problem posed by the DM in a way that
doesn't embarrass their patron, doesn't alienate their allies, and doesn't
provide an opening for their enemies to exploit. They must think on their
feet, and use their wits as much as their swords. Pick any one (almost) of
the possible Random Events from the Rulebook, and assume that the Regent
has assigned the PC's to resolve the situation before it get out of
control. Select complications, enemies looking for advantage, allies who
must be courted and treated carefully, and stakes that either keep rising,
or that become personal.
My own introductory adventure is called "Plague of Rats" and I gave it at
Gen Con a few years ago. I've since been using my voluminous (ha!) spare
time to try and write it up as a _Dungeon_ submission. Basically, it
involves the "Plague" random event, when it is discovered that the Priests
of Haelyn cannot magically cure this plague. The PC's soon discover that
the plague is in fact caused by a minor awnsheghlein called The Rat who
has a Plague Touch which can cause a unique form of lycanthropy
(wererats). By this time, some of the PC's might start coming down with
the plague, and begin to realize that some of those who have supposedly
"recovered" from the plague are now working against them and against their
regent. The PC's are trapped in the sealed walls of the plague-ridden
city, and must discover who the Rat really is, and foil his plans to
subvert the city to his own control.
This kind of adventure works well, because it introduces only one of the
cultures, takes place in a very small geographic area, but focuses on
political interactions and investigation, while still allowing for
swashbuckling, sword-swinging action at the end (once the mystery is made
clear and the plot must be foiled). It allows the PC's (if blooded at all)
to possess the weaker and easier-to-use blood powers, and allows them to
be surprized when one of the NPC's can suddenly switch on one of the more
powerful god-like bloodpowers (I use the Basaia ability to shoot sunbeams
out of your eyes to see in the dark--and give it to an NPC the PC's KNOW
is not a mage). And it allows the players to feel that their characters
are connected to something bigger than their own pocketbooks, that their
duty to their regent is an integral part of their characters and their
solution to the problem.
Mark VanderMeulen
vander+@pitt.edu