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I have been kicking around a campaign idea. I have been thinking of setting a campaign in Cheliax. The ultimate goal, say level 12 would be to overthrow the house of Thune.
I was thinking of running an essentially a “resistance” campaign. This was why I was asking about hell knights earlier.
What thoughts do you have about running a “resistance” type campaign in Cheliax,
And with the introduction of the new character classes, I was thinking of putting together an order of inquisitors dedicated to Iomadae, whose goal is to over throw the house of Thrune, and restore Cheliax to how it was before Aroden died.
What thoughs and suggestions might you have? Thanks
I don't know if the OP was intentionally hinting at this or not, but that's exactly what the Council of Thieves AP is.
Um, definately check it out.
At the moment I just have an idea, and I’m thinking about fleshing things out.
I picked 12 level, because, over the last five years, all of the campaigns I have either played in or taken part in running have ended around that level.
I picked Cheliax because I think I can mine the AP for lots of details. Also, well I have read much of the Midnight campaign materiel, and the few times I have trotted it out, my PCs have shied away from it.
I thought it would be interesting to try some adventuring in an atmosphere where “the bad guys had won”.
You are right it would probably realistically take 20 level PCs to overthrow the hosue of Thrune, but I have only gotten PCs from 1 to twentth level once, and that was a few years ago. That campaign lasted three years. I don’t expect I will be able to do so with my current group of gamers.
Im just in the process of brainstorming. Any ideas would be great. Thanks
I suppose my first step might be to set out campaign goals over various levels
Perhaps level 12, hous of thrune, Level 10 the local provincial govener, Level 8 the local lord/ mayor, Level six perhaps the local cleric of asmodeus- level 4 the local sherrif- level 2 local cops. level 1 local thugs.
any ideas you all have would be very helpful
Thanks.
Don't be afraid to throw in faction-specific goals. If the PCs can keep their mouths shut about what they're doing, I'm pretty certain they may be able to find a few backers among the Andoran nobility (or a competing house, if they're that slick) that would be willing to offer support, or at least one act of assistance before they'll deny involvement and explain the action away as an accident/larceny/unauthorized use, etc. A support network that is willing to help even once can make a large difference and add flavor. Maybe set it at a gp value or something, or have the faction-specific goals increase the gp value of the backing they get.
Brainstorming the house's activities, interests, investments would also give you something to fall back on, and provide the more social-minded of your players something to do. If their knowledge and disguise and diplomacy checks are high enough, they can do some politicking and cut support to their next target, resulting in a reduction of men, or equipment, or some other benefit to the (inevitable) combat to come. It could be something as simple as delaying a shipment of weapons, so the guards are equipped with shortswords and daggers, instead of polearms and longswords, or that crucial magical component that would have summoned the demon that patrolled the area they'd be in.
Also, never ever forget that there are numerous side-quests to be had. Even if they're demon-worshipping nobility, to a common peasant they're still people with a numerous span of problems, worries, and anyone that helps them out will be held in a more favorable light.
Milani and Cayden Cailen might also be important deities for such a campaign.
As far as classes go, I think Oracle, and Witch make particularly good good guys. Both could be potentially talking to some sort of primal good where as classes like cleric and paladin might not be able to be trained in such an enviroment as Cheliax. However, any character that could blend in easily and doesn't wear heavy armor, things like bard, ranger, rogue, even some modified NPC classes like aristocrat might be good PC choices. The empathis would be on stealth, disguise, bluff and diplomacy etc.
As for putting an end to the campaign at twelth level, think about Babylon 5. The main characters were not in a situation to take on the big baddies by themselves, but what they did was recruit allies, make deals, and shape what the resistance became by their choices. That might be one way to deal with the overthrow of the government.
Hope that was helpful.
All the best,
Kerney
I don't know if the OP was intentionally hinting at this or not, but that's exactly what the Council of Thieves AP is. ** spoiler omitted **
Um, definately check it out.
Actually, it's not anything like Council of Thieves actually is; that AP is only useful for flavor for the OP.
Actually, it's not anything like Council of Thieves actually is; that AP is only useful for flavor for the OP. ** spoiler omitted **I don't know if the OP was intentionally hinting at this or not, but that's exactly what the Council of Thieves AP is. ** spoiler omitted **
Um, definately check it out.
Actually, it can be a start to overthrowing House Thrune.
However, the scope of such a campaign best suited for high level characters in charge of a large organization and will feature a lot of intrigue and skuldudgery (think Cold War spies; not James Bond, who's really more of an action hero; some of the old Mission Impossible (TV series, not the movies) episodes can be used for ideas). It doesn't really work well for a handful of low to mid level characters (unless the party wants to play the part of various operatives).
I like the basic idea, but it's not gonna be easy.
After all, unseating any mlonarch should not be easy, but even less if said monarch has the backing of Hell.
So, you should :
- Find allied deities, who are courageous enough to tangle with A.
- Find powerful allies who are willing to fight against the devil spawn. Dragons of Golarion could be a good start for this.
- Probably rekindle an alliance with sargava, provided they solve their problems first, and are even able to help
- Find help from Andoran, but it could alienate other allies who would not be so anti-slavery as them.
- Find a legitimate heir to the old royal house. Heck a bastard could do.
- Find a way to raise enough battle worthy troops in a sufficiently short time that all of the above are not crushed before it starts.
- Win enough meaningful battles to cripple the enemy morale.
Hmmm ... Good luck.
Though, I must say, it would definitely rock if you can pull this off.
I have been kicking around a campaign idea. I have been thinking of setting a campaign in Cheliax. The ultimate goal, say level 12 would be to overthrow the house of Thune.
I was thinking of running an essentially a “resistance” campaign. This was why I was asking about hell knights earlier.What thoughts do you have about running a “resistance” type campaign in Cheliax,
And with the introduction of the new character classes, I was thinking of putting together an order of inquisitors dedicated to Iomadae, whose goal is to over throw the house of Thrune, and restore Cheliax to how it was before Aroden died.
What thoughs and suggestions might you have? Thanks
Around 12 seems like a good place to start for a campaign of this magnitude. I would actually suggest starting it after the events of the Council of Thieves AP. As the character I play in that AP does have the specific goal of casting down the Thrune dynasty and replacing it with a model of the previous Cheliax when Aroden was still around. I know, it's a dream my character has. :)
The character I play in the CoT AP is a female human Conjurer who studied acting and the art of the courtesan at the Acadamae in Korvosa (lived there in exile with family from birth) in order to establish a reputation/cover that would allow her to get close to the Thrune hierarchy at the conclusion of the AP. We shall see if the plan pans out or not. :)
But I'm certain you won't get a chance to bring down House Thrune in Council of Thieves. I don't know exactly, though, as I am a player in that campaign. But as far as I know, Paizo don't like to set up game changers like that, and especially not in adventures.
Sure they do, the conclusion of Curse of the Crimson Throne allows for such game changing possibilities.
I like the basic idea, but it's not gonna be easy.
After all, unseating any mlonarch should not be easy, but even less if said monarch has the backing of Hell.
So, you should :
- Find allied deities, who are courageous enough to tangle with A.
- Find powerful allies who are willing to fight against the devil spawn. Dragons of Golarion could be a good start for this.
- Probably rekindle an alliance with sargava, provided they solve their problems first, and are even able to help
- Find help from Andoran, but it could alienate other allies who would not be so anti-slavery as them.
- Find a legitimate heir to the old royal house. Heck a bastard could do.
- Find a way to raise enough battle worthy troops in a sufficiently short time that all of the above are not crushed before it starts.
- Win enough meaningful battles to cripple the enemy morale.Hmmm ... Good luck.
Though, I must say, it would definitely rock if you can pull this off.
Some of these could be reversed to create character concepts and tie it to the game world. For example,
"Find allied Dieties" could be changed to "play Oracle of Diety or Paladin" already allied.
Powerful allies could be "Recuit ancestors of appropriate Sorcerous bloodline."
"Find legitimate heir to old royal house" could be let players find out that they are said heirs or perhaps they are merely members of House Thrune.
"Find enough battle worthy troops" could be "maintain sanctuary", be it the equivilent of Sherwood Forest or the City of Westcrown long enough to build such an army or guerilla force.
All the Best,
Kerney
