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As I mentioned elsewhere, I'm starting my players off in this AP at 6th level, and they won't be from Cauldron. In order to pull that off, I'm looking for some good RP hooks that will get them interested in the fate of the city.
Simple interactions with folks like the Striders will help, but I'm trying to avoid the reaction that my players often have to danger, which is to say that it's not worth it, and go back to town.
In other words, I need stronger motivation in chapter 4 than celest's request, but more generally I need some stong incentives for the whole plot (once things start rolling in chapters 8 and on, I don't think it will be a problem).
Thoughts?
As I mentioned elsewhere, I'm starting my players off in this AP at 6th level, and they won't be from Cauldron. In order to pull that off, I'm looking for some good RP hooks that will get them interested in the fate of the city.
Simple interactions with folks like the Striders will help, but I'm trying to avoid the reaction that my players often have to danger, which is to say that it's not worth it, and go back to town.
In other words, I need stronger motivation in chapter 4 than celest's request, but more generally I need some stong incentives for the whole plot (once things start rolling in chapters 8 and on, I don't think it will be a problem).
Thoughts?
OK, first, you're going to need a picture of a kitten. Make it as cute as possible- you can probably find a suitable one on the web somewhere. Print this picture out, and tape it to your DM screen or what have you. Then below it, tape a typewritten note that says "If you don't follow the plot, this kitten will be crushed under a car." Game normally and you should start seeing results. ;-D
Right, seriously now. Various RP hooks- family/friends/war buddies in the town are always a good way to get PCs involved in the goings-on. If your PCs are divine-oriented, you could have the church ask them to investigate something there and have it turn out to be the events of chapter 4. Semi-prophetic dreams are always an amusing tool, either as supplementing one of the other hooks or possibly as a stand-alone hook.
Hope some of this helps.
If there is a wilderness/investigative character, have them start already a member of the Striders.
More importantly, ask your players to create characters with heroic motivations. Tell them that this adventure won't work unless their characters care about the town.
OK, first, you're going to need a picture of a kitten. Make it as cute as possible-
If you're using this solution you may want to have a look at this new supplement, there are lots of pics of cute kitten in it:
http://i36.imagethrust.com/i/392257/ca1.jpg
As a second note, you should try to establish strong PC connections with citizens from Cauldron. Someone within the city might be a relative of one of your players' character. This might be someone in a position of power, like Jenya, so whenever this character meets her she can tell him directly of the citys problems, inducing the urge to help in the pc's mind. It should even work with Celeste. If you have a dwarf in your party, use Zenith Splintershield, tell the character about Zenith's fate and develop his characters' plans based on that information - he might want to reestablish the dwarven community in the Malachite hold, for example.
If you're about to start chapter 4, create some peaceful events in the city so your players will start to like it on their own, before you start with the main events. You could have them enjoy the flood festival from chapter 3 for example, without the later events in that adventure. In my game I gave strong emphasis on the poorer regions of the city as I found characters can usually sympathise with those much easier.
Something you could also try is to give your players a house within the city walls (as an inheritance?). Most players enjoy to have one and dont want to give it up. This could also be a shop or another running business of some kind (maybe something one can only run if he has a certain craft or profession skill that one of your players took). This way they will have something to to immediately.
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Spoilers below (though relatively minor)
you should try to establish strong PC connections with citizens from Cauldron. Someone within the city might be a relative of one of your players' character. This might be someone in a position of power, like Jenya, so whenever this character meets her she can tell him directly of the citys problems, inducing the urge to help in the pc's mind. It should even work with Celeste.
Celeste is an interesting one.... there are two revelations that would be more interesting if the PCs knew her / were related.
Speaking of which, when we say, "archmage to the north, and no I'm not going to tell you his name," are we assuming that that means that she's an agent of the circle?
As I mentioned elsewhere, I'm starting my players off in this AP at 6th level, and they won't be from Cauldron. In order to pull that off, I'm looking for some good RP hooks that will get them interested in the fate of the city.
I had this problem with some of my PCs. The first thing I did was connect one of the major NPCs with an enemy they had from a previous adventure. To get to him they needed to go through the new one. The simplest thing to do is find the buttons for the players or characters and make sure press them. Just because the characters are locals does not mean they will get involved in any plot in the Caldron. Do they care about cash, well make sure Celest suggest that they might be some. The NPCs will have been watch the PCs there is no reason that they can't have figured out how best to manipulated them. "Think of the renound you will gain in your temple for converting X ..."
Regards
DaveF
Speaking of which, when we say, "archmage to the north, and no I'm not going to tell you his name," are we assuming that that means that she's an agent of the circle?
I think this relates to the mage Manzorian, who appears in the age of worms adventure path (together with Celeste, who reappears as his agent). I haven't read those adventures though, so I might be mistaken.
It was recommended that Manzorian is replaced as Tenser in Greyhawk, I believe. This would make Celeste an agent of his if you play in GH.