[Kingmaker, Spoilers] The B-team (AKA NPCs PT II)

[Auxmaulous]

Another idea I have been kicking around to expand on Kingmaker AP1, was the addition of another group of explorers, the B-team if you will.

I know on pg 13 it mentions one team of explorers being sent to explore and map the the Northern Greenbelt (in addition to the teams sent to the Glenebon Uplands, Nomen Heights, and The Slough) but I thought of a variant/addition to spice up some action/adventure seeds by adding another low-level team to also explore and compete with the party. The B-team can be comprised however you like, but should reflect a good cross reference of skills similar to standard PC party designed to fight and explore.

I think it's a good way to foster adventure or scenario seeds, threats, and or a place to draw from if players have their PC endure an early retirement due to death. So I'll just put out some ideas as points since there is no one concrete direction I have decided to go with on this:

The B-team as clock.

The B-team starts out around the same time as the PCs, they are determined to map the area (and collect some cash) as fast as possible. This can now put the PC on a clock on how fast they move, if they move at bad times (go out in bad weather, take extra risks, etc). Something if you want things to move faster.

The B-team are scum.

They will do what they can where they can to undermine and screw over the party as subtly as possible. Fighting out the gate should not be encouraged as this would reflect poorly on the party as a choice to represent Brevoy (open murder or combat at Oleg's for example). Ultimately this will lead to a showdown and there will be fighting. Could be played up and foreshadowed with some good PC/NPC dialogue (think Tombstone) before the inevitable fight. The fight may end up outside in the wilderness where the PC are set upon by another threat only to get attacked by these guys, or it could happen at the trading post after many built up smaller altercations - fights while gambling, bad trades, accusations of theft, claim jumping (lol), fighting over mistaken slights, women, too much booze, etc, etc. The more the build up, the better the day of reckoning will be when it comes.

The B-team, not a bad bunch of guys.

This version has the b-team at odds with the pcs as competition, but soon find out that these guys are just trying to make a living and a name for themselves (just like party), there may be some good ribbing, rivalry, and even friendship which can developed, maybe even a love interest.
They can come to the party's rescue or the party can maybe end up helping them out of a bad situation - as they are captured/pinned down in a fight or trapped somewhere. They can be temporary extra muscle in a build up to a large single fight or encounter which goes beyond the scope of 4-5 PC style fights - maybe against a tough clan of gobbos or orcs who outnumber the party and are not going to be easy to deal with. Could be used sparingly in situations where the trading post needs to be defended or some big baddie needs to be taken out and it is a little beyond the party's realm of power.

In any of the variants the party can end up trading info, gear, magic items (even with the scum option) and they can serve as an extra source for the DM for getting out leads, intel, etc. In the last version (which can be combined with the first) the party can mine this group for potential replacement PCs who die. These guys could end up being the PCs best friends and even end up in their cabinet as trusted administrators and politicians - (think of early US history) once the higher level Kingmaker aspect kicks into gear.

In any case these are just some ideas, they each have a different purpose and can be used to minimal or major impact. The smallest being the B-team as scum, since that would probably (unless it's a guild) get worked out rather quickly. It is also possible to have a B and C team, the B-team being good guys while the C-team could be a group of villainous (but discrete) scum. The B-team helps party, becomes best friends and of course gets slaughtered by the C-team while they are exploring in the wilderness - maybe they were helping the party search a tough area, or aiding in covering ground – in the end, murdered. If the B-team and party become fast friends you should expect your PCs to show little or no remorse when it comes time for revenge.

Could be other variants, B-team is scum, but actually it's their leader who is heavy handed, most of the guys in the crew are rough around the edges but not villainous bastards, they may even get tired of their leader and leave/seek out work on their own or even work for the party later on.

Let me know what you guys think or if there is something I am missing, always appreciate feedback!

[Lee Hanna]

As a fan of the Stormblades (rival adventuring group) in Shackled City, I like this idea! I've been wanting to use the rival concept in a campaign for a while, I just haven't done it yet.

One thought: if the PC party is themselves "rough around the edges" maybe the rival team ought to have a paladin leading it. Make him a real Dudley Do-Right, especially if he can rescue the party at some point.

Another thought: if at some point, you want to put some fear into the PCs, have them find out that the rival team has been (almost) wiped out by your next BBEG.

Perhaps someone on Team A is the jealous younger brother/sister/cousin of someone on the B-Team, or vice versa? Nothing like family rivalry to make things interesting.

[Auxmaulous]

Lee Hanna wrote:

As a fan of the Stormblades (rival adventuring group) in Shackled City, I like this idea! I've been wanting to use the rival concept in a campaign for a while, I just haven't done it yet.

One thought: if the PC party is themselves "rough around the edges" maybe the rival team ought to have a paladin leading it. Make him a real Dudley Do-Right, especially if he can rescue the party at some point.

Another thought: if at some point, you want to put some fear into the PCs, have them find out that the rival team has been (almost) wiped out by your next BBEG.

Perhaps someone on Team A is the jealous younger brother/sister/cousin of someone on the B-Team, or vice versa? Nothing like family rivalry to make things interesting.

Excellent ideas, and yeah considering the content/nature of the AP there is a pretty good chance that the party (team A) is going to be rough around the edges. A rival Paladin leader (assuming the party isn't totally evil) will set up for some good laughs and NPC conflicts as both groups compete and the party comes across as the dirty underdogs vs Mr Right and his team (of perfect?). Good stuff!

And yeah, basic ideas behind any of this is just to serve as another tool for the DM to get some:
-roleplaying action (since this is mostly party vs. wilderness)
-story ideas (political, dramatic, springboard for next encounter)
-vested PC involvement beyond the next ridge or cave