So, I've been wanting to run a short campaign based in Golarion, specifically Galt. the premise is rather similar to Eden of the East (great anime).
the pc's get a letter (they're all level 5, and human, Aasimar, or Half-human at least, and with some link to Galt, Andoran, or Cheliax) that contains a token and instructions to deliver the token to a very specific bar in Absalom in exactly 3 weeks, and that they will be VERY well rewarded for their trouble. the campaign picks up with them standing in front of the bar (preferably one by one, as they arrive at the place we play) and make their way inside. after presenting the token to the barkeeper they're escorted to an empty library, with a secret door that the barkeeper opens and motions for them to go inside.
inside is a room with a long table and a lone woman dressed like a maid (shes a very high level caster, and the room is actually a Demiplane, or is linked to one, havent decided) she says nothing, but the players see name placards at the table for them to sit (this is reflected on the table) so they sit in mostly silence aside from their introductions and such. once everyone is there and seated and introduced (like i said, they start at level 5) the woman taps on a large mirror on the wall next to her and casts something described as an augmented scrying cast silently and still (to show off her level a little) if they pass a dc25 or so check on it, but getting higher will still lead to "its unlike any scrying you've ever seen before, and it must have been INSANELY difficult to cast" and the pc's are introduced to Darl Jubannich (who is the mastermind behind the whole thing, a knowledge history will give them a loose backstory at a high dc, or knowledge nobility at a moderate one) Jubannich will speak through the mirror, and tell the PC's a short narritive about a man who has spent his entire life attempting to save Galt from itself giving him the moniker Grandfather.
he tells the pc's that Grandfather has chosen them because they show promise, and because he is confident that they are able enough to make the decisions and actions that can bring about a lasting change in the war-torn nation. he tells the pc's that they are to stay together as much as possible, and that they are free to do whatever they see fit to meet the goals they are given, and no questions will be asked. the pc's are told that the tokens are magical items (around this time the tokens that the barkeeper took from them appear on their person, most likely in a pocket), and that by holding the token to their mouth and speaking a request they can be assured that it will be preformed (changed below, but i left this here because i want your thoughts on this idea for the token). finally, the kicker, they are informed that they have funding in a total amount of 2.5 million gold peices, to be spent however they see fit (they are told that personal equipment will be limited to level-appropriate values as determined by me out of character, so they dont become overpowered and break the combats i have planned) they are also warned that if they havent completed their goal to Grandfathers satisfaction by the time the money runs out, they will face the Final Blades (if you dont know, the final blades are a guillotine that kills for good, meaning no resurrection. period.) the pc's are told their gold pool will not be growing in any way over the campaign, and that even though they have plenty of gold to pay for rez's death is still a big deal (this is one of the things im concerned about, i need SOME way to dissuade them from being careless... maybe by making death give a permanent negative level that cant be healed...?) i will give them a sample list of favors, mainly ranging from bribes to assassinations to teleportation spells for fast travel and etc. i want the pc's to feel like they can do almost anything with the token, but that doing so will cost them potentially large sums of money.
i have a number of missions and scenarios that are designed to challenge characters from level 5 to 15, and ill make sure they know that unless they really play well and strech their gold level 15 is going to be the max (i REALLY dont want to get into the super-high levels, where combat starts to take hours) and we'll probably move at a pace of 1 level every 2 or 3 games, unless they meet certain goals. im going to let the campaign develop rather dynamically, however i am toying with the idea of presenting them several small goals that will lead to their major goal being accomplished (which would be finding Grandfather A.K.A Jubannich in a position of suitable power, or getting one of themselves in a similar position that he approves of.
these goals will include turning a member of the counsel that leads galt in this world to their side, killing/otherwise eliminating them, or setting them up to be taken out of power or convincing a large population of galtans to follow them (unlikely, but do-able). i have 12 npc's built (the counsel) ranging in level's based on when the party wants them to be targeted, i also have a series of 12 keeps/dungeons/caves/hideouts/etc that is associated with each of these counselors. (i intend to press upon the pc's the idea that they're basically an elite group specifically picked to do this, if they dont already get the idea, and they should feel like they are the best people for the jobs, particularly with their gear being top-of-the-line)
as i type this out and get it all on paper (so to speak), im going to leave my initial ideas for the tokens above, and state here that i think that seems a bit too tempting, and that the pc's may not even decide to take care of things themselves, due to this fact im probably going to change it to an insurance policy, telling them that if they're caught they will be able to use the tokens to bribe people, and/or otherwise get themselves out of trouble as an insurance policy, or if they make a mess of a house (slaughtered guards, murdered counsellors, they'll be able to pay a large sum of their gold (which i track) to have a cleanup crew hired, things like that.
a secondary idea is to present it to the players that they simply ARE an elite group that this guy has gathered to suit his own agenda, and play it like a less dynamic campaign, but i dont want to do this, that sounds to close to just a normal old campaign. i want the players to feel like they're having money and resources just absolutely thrown at them, but i also want them to feel like their task is daunting and almost insurmountable, and i want them to fear failure.
CONCLUSION
i apologize for my rambling, while ive spent some considerable time designing each of the parts, you can see im having some issues really getting everything connected and coherent. my questions to you all is one, do you like the idea behind the campaign (tldr? change Galt with nearly unlimited resources or die) two, is it something you'd be interested in playing? three, do you have any recommendations based on backstory, history, basic campaign designs or other really simple things, that im just being stupid and not thinking of? please be honest, i think its a good idea but if you think it'd be boring, overwhelming, or otherwise unfun to play, please let me know, and dont be afraid to make suggestions i didnt think of!
Thanks,
Soul.
bump...
Thanks for the response!
I was actually aiming for a little bit of familiarity with the concept. our group of 6 regulars features everything from relative newcomers to role-play to seasoned vets that can slip into character at a moments notice and never break from it. as such i wanted to create something quick, fun, and daunting, i have a number of plot twists i plan on tossing in, as well as some other randomness that will certainly break the monotony of a longer campaign that i didnt want to chance spoiling.
not everyone will be comfortable with a dynamic campaign that changes based on what they do, so there also needs to be structure to an extent, my main goal of this thread is to get advice on how to acheive that, as well as proof-of-concept and reassurances that it sounds fun to play to a community as various as ours tends to be.