building mods

[Jabarie]

ok guys i have billion ideas for games my mind is exploding

but i cant seem to put my mind around detailed mod building

how do i make sure the adventure is balanced and not over powered

not sure how level appropriate some things are. how many minions can i

throw out with a boss befor i exceed cr of the group and such,

and most of my ideas are high powered even if i didnt mean them to be

how build a low level mod properly and stil have fun challenge and story?

what are good general guid lines?

any mod building tips guys i got bad writers block

[Anburaid]

I might start with your npc ideas, and what kind of encounters you want to see. This method is sort of like working backwards from the climax of the story. If you plan out how you are going push the PCs to the limit, then you have something to compare the other encounters to, and can make sure the pacing is right. Plan what you want to see and then look for interesting ways for the players to have gotten to that point. The details will start to fill themselves in after a while.

Also when making encounters, try to model how different characters (or your specific PCs) are likely to approach the challenges of your encounters. This also helps you envision special rules or mechanics to apply to encounters to make them more interesting. Also by thinking ahead, you can identify what obscure rules you might need to know. There still might be obscure rules you need to look up, but you will still be better prepared.

Good luck!

[Ice_Deep]

Jabarie wrote:

ok guys i have billion ideas for games my mind is exploding

but i cant seem to put my mind around detailed mod building

how do i make sure the adventure is balanced and not over powered

not sure how level appropriate some things are. how many minions can i

throw out with a boss befor i exceed cr of the group and such,

and most of my ideas are high powered even if i didnt mean them to be

how build a low level mod properly and stil have fun challenge and story?

what are good general guid lines?

any mod building tips guys i got bad writers block

The main thing is just start writing with what you know you want.

Only have a level 18 bad guy right now? Not a problem. Don't have any ideas? Look at history, try and take some ideas from times during time were people had to persevere or humanity as a whole would lose. Pick someone who is threatening that humanity (or at least a small country).

Build him, his places of "business" and then now you have some ideas I imagine for what he is doing just keep expanding out. How is he effecting the little guy? Make a trail of 3-4 lesser BBEG's and some hooks to why the PC's will need to "deal with them".

Now you need a start, think of say 5-10 ways they can "fall into" the storyline you will start down a path towards this BBEG. By the time they fall into one or 2 they will hopefully go down the trail of breadcrumbs you have lead until they get to your BBEG.

As a example...

mine:

During the land expansion for the Chelaxian Empire a lesser Shoanti noble being kicked off his land leaves his land with as many of his people he can gather. Setting out for destination unknown on a half dozen ships you finally comes across a uninhabited island. The island has many strange runes all around, and after exploring many of the crew who went in with the Noble did not return, but the Noble had diamonds which was proof they had been destined to come here.

700 years later, after many generations the island has been almost 1/2 filled with the disendents of the Shoanti nobles journey, but by imposing harsh laws, serfdom, and leaving the people little freedoms the back of the people is almost broken. The is many underground resistances.

One main thing is the King has a imposed 5 year period where any Magic User/Caster must work for the state, there is a Mages Guilde completely run by the state and also a division within who hunt and kidnap children who "show the gift". Anyone who refuses is put to death for crimes against the state.

Now the PC's sitting in the Market see someone running away from a group of Mage Hunters, there is multiple items around nearby, do they use this chance to stun/slow the Mage Hunters so the guy gets away?

At the last second he tries to use some magic to make a bag of flour explode to conceal himself for a quick turn around the corner, and one of the PC's (hopefully) a merchant push the guy into a "secret" door (barring missing that, some footprints would be visible more easily).

Do they question the merchant? Turns our he needs help moving this man out to the forest where they is a party of people who take such men, but of course he can't do it. He would be willing to outfit the party for the 3 day journey and give them a little gold for there risk as well.

Little do they know the merchant, and man on the run are both working for the King, will they find out? Will the find out in time to stop the upcoming raid? Find the hidden statue? etc. etc..

Just think of a little think and keep it moving until it gets to your BBEG :)