Investigative Campaign set in Eberron, Ideas Appreciated!


Homebrew and House Rules


Hello, all! I'm working on writing a series of episodic adventures set in the Eberron setting, entirely (or mostly) within the city of Sharn. The players will play as private investigators delving into some of the city's myriad plots and secrets, all the while struggling to keep the rent paid and their receptionist paid. All in all, I'm looking for a pulpy, film noir feel, with little connectivity between separate adventures but with potential for a gradual plot to develop. The starting level is going to be quite low, so that's the power level I'm working with for now.

Where I'm stuck is what kinds of adventures a group of five investigatives might get into in a steampunk/fantasy city of 200,000+ people. So far, I've got the following:

1 A client hires two different investigatives companies to find someone or something, and the two have to race to solve the mystery.

2 The Royal Eyes of Aundair are spying on a noblewoman, and not being too subtle about it. She wants them to go away.

3 A professor at Morgrave University is stealing artifacts from a colleague. The Order of the Emerald Claw becomes involved, and things blow up.

What I'm looking for are pitches like those, just quick ideas I can expand. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!


Ron Lundeen of Run Amok Games has several investigative adventures with excellent reviews...

Make sure to read the GMG section on investigative adventures

The old penumbra d20 investigative adventure might fit: Unhallowed Halls

Also the haunting of Soldragon academy might be adjusted to fit there.

Oh and this thread has some more ideas:Sharn: City of Murder and recommend a few adventures from dungeon magazine.

The Sharn inquisitive might be a handy prop and or mineable for plot hooks

This post on CSI Sharn has a few ideas:

Quote:

- A man has been found dead, obviously he died by falling from a great height. The problem is that shouldn’t be possible because of the feather fall enchantments that are in effect.

- A serial killer is stalking the warforged of Sharn, causing them to stop working in the local foundries, which will lead to an economical crisis in the near future.

-A countess has been killed by an unknown aberration that obviously used the plumbings to escape.

- In a gang fight several gang members from both sides are killed. When the guard rounds up the surviving combatants they deny being responsible for the deaths of their fellow gang members.

There a CSI Sharn blog with useful information on the city and more...

And the Eberron P.I. blog has some advice...


GM Aest wrote:

Hello, all! I'm working on writing a series of episodic adventures set in the Eberron setting, entirely (or mostly) within the city of Sharn. The players will play as private investigators delving into some of the city's myriad plots and secrets, all the while struggling to keep the rent paid and their receptionist paid. All in all, I'm looking for a pulpy, film noir feel, with little connectivity between separate adventures but with potential for a gradual plot to develop. The starting level is going to be quite low, so that's the power level I'm working with for now.

Where I'm stuck is what kinds of adventures a group of five investigatives might get into in a steampunk/fantasy city of 200,000+ people. So far, I've got the following:

1 A client hires two different investigatives companies to find someone or something, and the two have to race to solve the mystery.

2 The Royal Eyes of Aundair are spying on a noblewoman, and not being too subtle about it. She wants them to go away.

3 A professor at Morgrave University is stealing artifacts from a colleague. The Order of the Emerald Claw becomes involved, and things blow up.

What I'm looking for are pitches like those, just quick ideas I can expand. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

You could also look into the modules from Dungeon Magazine: Murder in Oakbridge, Chimes at Midnight, Quoth the Raven, and Hell's Heart (online). I had an idea to do a similar campaign, but my players chose Iron Gods instead. Keep us posted on what you come up with and how the campaign goes!


I'll comb through that Eberron PI blog when I get the opportunity. As for those modules, same thing. Thanks, guys!


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

If you want an overarching background plot, you can always tie in the Dragonmark Houses. Perhaps slowly things line up to a turf war, or infighting with one guild.


There was also a module called Steel Shadows in Dungeon that dealt with warforged murders.

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