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I feel like Homer Simpson saying "Doh!" when this had occurred to me. Has everybody thought about using the Stormblades as a Pc party or are doing so now instead of having them as foils to the heroes?
I mean if the SCAP hardcover had a pregenerated group of pcs for players who don't have the time or patience to create their own, the Stormblades probably would fit the bill.
While they seem like an interesting set of characters to play, personally I'd recommend against this. First, these are the children of the most powerful families in Cauldron. A DM can overcome the challenges posed by this, perhaps, but it presents a lot of work for the DM to explain why they wouldn't get their parents, and by extension, the whole powerstructure in Cauldron, a lot faster in the adventure path.
Second, you are taking away the opportunity of your PCs to have the Stormblades as a foil for them. I think having a competing adventuring band (or two) is a great way to add roleplaying challenges to the players in Cauldron. Having them be the kids of the powerful nobles makes it so the characters have to think twice before messing with them directly, and have to take them on with competition for attention, reputation, etc. rather than direct confrontation.
One of my PCs is starting the campaign as a member of the stormblades, a fifth member mind. She, having a teacher for a mother, was lucky enough to attend the Bluewater Academy with them so the two girls are her school friends.
She is the laughed-at-behind-the-back-tag-along that they tollerate the presence of becuase she amuses them. She doesn't notice it that much as she worships them and wants to be like them. She want's pretty clothes, money, noble lifestyle etc. you see.
She's not going to be a member for long though. Her brother (another PC) doesn't think much of them and when he returns from Sassarine plans to have words with her.
So she's not a member of the party at the beginning, she'll be introduced in the first event.
She has heard noises from the alley and has gone to investigate whereas the rest of the Stormblades nonchantly decided that it is of their business but she can go look if she likes. Then they have sod off and leave her to it.
Man her brother is going to seriously hate them. I love it, they make such a good foil. I have some great plans to irritate the PCs with them.
For example in the orphanage when they go see the kids in the dorms I'm going to have the boys playing a game of Stormblades. They'll be recounting the clearing out of some Kobalds.
That could be a recurring thing, kids on the streets playing at Stormblades.
Then before flood season I'm going to have kids on the street playing "Rescue the Kidnapped Kids" and have them fighting Kazmodgen and his pet. Or have them playing Hunt Drakthar.
This will really make the party quite elated to see the kids are playing at being them rather than The Stormblades.
Then I get really mean.
--
You see some kids playing in the street. One says something that sounds like, "Let's play Hunt the Drakthar!"
"Yeh"
"Cool," I'll be Drakthar then!
"I'll be a kobald."
"I'll be a mercenary."
*Pause and let the party bask in some reflected glory
"Yeh okay, I'll be Cora then!"
"And I'll be Zachary!"
--
Oh I can see their faces falling now! That is gonna really raise the hate levels for the Stormblades, then it's straight into the Chapter 3 challenge they make :)
Muhahahahaha
*grins sheepishly*
Is that too evil?
In my campaign, I have had the citizens of Cauldron attribute every save to the Stormblades--the children were rescued, praise be the Stormblades; the Stormblades found the control water wands and lowered the level of the lake; did you hear that the Stormblades stopped the rampaging umber hulk, etc. ad nauseum.
It should probably come as no surprise that the PCs *hate* the Stormblades right now.
It's simply just too tempting not to wind them up with the Stormblades :)
Is that too evil?
hey'you're the DM. one of the advantages is that you *get* to do all the evil stuff.