Hi, I've been a lurker so for a while, finding pretty much all the info I needed by searching through old posts. However, I'm writing my first campaign (likely I'll be starting GMing in a month or two) so I'm looking forward to posting a little more often.
Anyways, my idea for a campaign is sort of a sandbox, but also features a rivalry with an NPC party that would compete with the party in completing quests. The rival party is led by a charismatic and well-connected but also arrogant and power-hungry LE Ifrit Sorcerer with the Elemental Fire bloodline. Due to his charisma and fire abilities, this sorcerer has attained a cult-like following among a small group of goblins who make up the rest of his party, one of whom is a cleric convinced that the sorcerer is a prophet of The Ravaging Hunter, goblin god of fire.
I'm hoping that I can get the party interested in this rivalry and use this to subtly direct the players towards the encounters I have prepared (by dropping hints of their rival party's activities) without giving the campaign too much of an "on rails" type feeling. I want the PCs to be able beat the rival party every now and then, but it should feel like a major achievement. And I definitely don't want them to be able to beat them so badly the rivals won't have a chance to flee and fight another day.
I want the rival party to level up roughly with the PCs, but should they maybe be a level or two ahead to keep the challenge up? Also, I'm probably going to let my PCs create their characters with 25 point buy. Should I create my rival group with the same? I have similar questions about gear: should I use the value for PCs of their level or NPCs?
I'd love to hear ideas on either flavor or balance. Thanks.
