Hi everyone! This is my first post, but I've read just about all of the others... I just purchased the HC and I'm about to start a new campaign set in the Forgotten Realms. I've been playing D&D since 1993 and I am usually the DM in my group. While my experience is vast and my knowledge of the rules is thorough, figuring out what the players are going to do next is never an easy task. Since this entire adventure revolves around a sizable city MANY NPCs will be encountered.
I was wondering if anyone had come up with a few new NPCs or locations (in the city) for their games. I have a very busy schedule and I am always looking for resources to help lessen my work load when preparing a game.
Also, what have some of your players enjoyed doing while in the city (between adventures). So much can happen in a city setting so I like to be prepared even for the "mundane". I want my players to enjoy themselves and really feel like they are a part of the city.
Finally, I like to use sound effects (on the computer) while running games. I have been searching for old school video game sound effects (like the sound when you find a secret door or new item in the original Legend of Zelda), but I can't seem to find anything like that.
Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
I was wondering if anyone had come up with a few new NPCs or locations (in the city) for their games. I have a very busy schedule and I am always looking for resources to help lessen my work load when preparing a game.
One of the things I genuinely enjoy about the SCAP is the fact that there are so many NPCs and locations already put into place in the setting for you. Other than the occasional tweak here and there, I have yet to need to introduce a non-book NPC as a mjor character in the game.
Also, what have some of your players enjoyed doing while in the city (between adventures). So much can happen in a city setting so I like to be prepared even for the "mundane". I want my players to enjoy themselves and really feel like they are a part of the city.
I have found that expanding on any interaction with the NPCs is helpful. When they go to a shop, don't just have them erase gold and add the item - use that NPC to flesh out the campaign. I don't roll randomly on the rumor charts IMC, I just pick two or three each session that they are 'in town' and have it come up in general conversation.
Each of the major shopkeepers is detailed in the AP, so really it's just a matter of finding the three or four that the party really clicks with and using them from that point on.
I've found that the existing NPCs is plenty (maybe too much) for my players to deal with. I'd recommend against adding any more NPCs to the mix. If something comes up where you might need an NPC, I'd try to tie it back to the existing ones somehow. PCs want to buy adventuring gear - bring them to a Maavu shop. PCs are looking for a brothel - have it run by the Last Laugh. Don't event new stuff.
Sounds: You might try this yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kloogesounds/
It's a yahoo group talking sound effects to use with klooge.werks (an online D&D program) but it's just sound files so they can be used for anything.
Check out this thread. It might be of use:
http://paizo.com/dungeon/messageboards/shackledCity/fleshingOutCauldron
I have not needed to create any new NPCs. I have always found a suitable NPC for what I need.
One reason I'm not creating NPCs is that I'm trying to provide a shared experience. My players can talk to other players who have played this series and compare stories. And the way I can enable that is by creating "Meepo" moments.
Meepo is the sleeping kobold from the 1st D&D adventure Sunless Citadel. Everyone who has played this adventure has a Meepo story.
I have created or modified several new NPC's and locations for my group to have some things tailored to there specific PC's based on there backgrounds. For instance before the hard back introduced the Blue Crater I created the Silver Libram, and library of knowledge and magic administered by Zag, a priest of Boccob. It gave my knowledge hungry PC a place to go and research Cauldron.
In fact it is going to pay a larger part in the second half of Soul Pillars.
Meepo is the sleeping kobold from the 1st D&D adventure Sunless Citadel. Everyone who has played this adventure has a Meepo story.
This is precisely what I love about the AP. It hearkens back to the old 1st edition days. During 2nd edition, there were awesome adventures, but too few of them stood out as being significant in the D&D community. Everyone has done Keep on the Borderlands. Not everyone has done Pools of Radiance #23,525,463: Ruins of Myth Netherese - the Revenge of Tyranthraxus. *G*
Thanks folks for the input! You are probably right about there being enough NPCs already... I am somewhat obessive compulsive and tend to over prepare... I don't get it. I used to sit down with the guys, my dice, a pen and a legal pad and we would game for 10+ hours and have a great time! Maybe I should try that again and see if this new group notices ;) Thanks again!
Thanks folks for the input! You are probably right about there being enough NPCs already...
I have done a Word (.doc) NPC SCAP Roster for my players. I anyone is interested I can send it to you. I have tried to upload to RPGGenius but I don't know how to do it. Sorry.
Thanks folks for the input! You are probably right about there being enough NPCs already...I have done a Word (.doc) NPC SCAP Roster for my players. I anyone is interested I can send it to you. I have tried to upload to RPGGenius but I don't know how to do it. Sorry.
Send it to me and I'll make sure it gets posted on RPGgenius. email is Wagner.Marc(at)gmail.com
Send it to me and I'll make sure it gets posted on RPGgenius.
It's done. Thanks. Hope this helps.
It's done. Thanks. Hope this helps.
I've posted it on The RPGGenius
It should be available as soon as Koramado publishes it.
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What I did at the onset of the campaign is when the players were designing their PCs and backgrounds, I had each of them design 2 NPCs that were important to them. It could be a lover, friend, family, mentor, etc.
This served 2 purposes. 1) it added a few extra NPCs that were "known" by the PCs that I could inject into storylines. 2) it helped make the players and subsequently the PCs care for the city and its inhabitants more and so it motivated them even moreso to do things to help the city fend off its enemies and threats.
Robert
What I did at the onset of the campaign is when the players were designing their PCs and backgrounds, I had each of them design 2 NPCs that were important to them. It could be a lover, friend, family, mentor, etc.
This served 2 purposes. 1) it added a few extra NPCs that were "known" by the PCs that I could inject into storylines. 2) it helped make the players and subsequently the PCs care for the city and its inhabitants more and so it motivated them even moreso to do things to help the city fend off its enemies and threats.
Robert
This is a brilliant idea! Actually, I've tried this in a truncated form before: names and short backgrounds for the NPC's, but not full out designing them. Some of my players are notorious about their character backgrounds. Others... Well others I'm lucky if they have their characters done for the first session. I think I will actually do this the next campaign I run, once the current C&C game I am running winds down to an end. Having them fully design the NPC's may have them invest more emotionally into the NPC's, and it will give me much, much more fodder for the story elements of the campaign.