The Campaign Builder's Guild

Ok.. I'm going to be running a 4E D&D game for about 4-6 players. Its going to be an evil campaign based around the new 4E diety, Bane. The emperor has died and his son is taking over the reigns of the empire. The new emperor (the son) learns of a plot to overthrow his rule by the clergy of Bane. Attempting to put a stop to the problem, he bans the worship of Bane in the kingdom altogether. I'm wanting the PC's to be servants to the clergy of Bane and start off imprisoned and unsure of why. They get led to the chopping block with a few dozen other of Banes faithful. As the executions begin a rescue party helps to free them and the others.. thats where I've gotten so far. Any thoughts on what I've got or what could come next? I'm wanting them to eventually take part in a plot to overthrow the govt., asassinate the emperor, his general of his armies (who worshipped Bane as well, and was a part of the original overthrow attempt but switched sides when the emperor learned of the plot), and any others that get in their way. Thoughts?

Cool beginning.  Careful about railroading, though.  Starting the PCs off in prison etc is fine, but after that they should have more freedom.  In my experience a strictly scripted plot is a bad idea, whereas plots that form around and derive from the players themselves are the strongest.

Definitly agree with you about a strictly scripted plot. I've tried to make most of my campaigns freeflow, usually leave it up to the players on how they accomplish goals (or if they even want to accomplish them at all) I'm putting them in a prison at first for a kind of different opening than they're used to. They're going to be starting off as 10th lvl chars and will have to fight their way to their equipment with basic weapons and armor supplied by their rescuers. I've got two players who aren't really thinkers and more of followers, and two players who are MAJOR thinkers and if I'm not careful can unravel a well planned campaign easily. The other two possible players are the non-thinkers significant others and they're a mixed bag when it comes down to it.

I'm mainly needing help with filler, plot twists, cool battle ideas, etc..

Another thing to be careful of is evil group failure syndrome. Wherein the players fight within the group and otherwise end up tearing it apart, saying that they are doing what they are doing because they're evil.

Not going to happen.. first off we're a group of friends who wont screw over each other (on purpose at least lol) and second, all the players are smart enough to realize that even though theyre evil they'll have to work together to accomplish what tasks the clergy of Bane sets before them. Plus they're all going to be on the same general side and the clergy of Bane won't accept failure and will punish those who fail.. (in my campaign at least).

It can even happen then. I have had it happen to me under similar circumstances. Just keep a lookout for it.

Quote from: NomadicAnother thing to be careful of is evil group failure syndrome. Wherein the players fight within the group and otherwise end up tearing it apart, saying that they are doing what they are doing because they're evil.

Just set the backstories up so it can't happen.  evil does not mean stupid.  Evil does not mean they hate everyone.  They can still care about other people.
But the right backstories can stop this dead.

If anything they wont mess with each other just out of fear. Fear of punishment from one of the other's masters (clergy) for messing with their servant.

Hey I never said it is going to happen. I am trying to give a warning that if you say it can't happen, there's a strong chance karma will cause it to happen to you. Just be careful is all.

No prob nomadic.. appreciate the warning. And if you hadn't said something and I just expected it to not happen, you're probably right.. it would have bit me in the arse  x.

I did sort of get off topic though. I think perhaps early on they will be trying to lay low. You could have them avoiding hunters, finding a hideout, doing other quests that help build them up. You know, strengthening themselves to the point where they can take on the big cheese. The hunters would make for good bosses along the way.

I like the ideas so far... maybe they could find a town or city that's sympathetic to Banes church and use it as a base of operations. lol, maybe take part in building a base in an abandoned cave system to serve as an underground temple to Bane.. (help create the BBEG's complex the goodie two-shoes will attempt to raid) And I like the hunter idea as well.. thankfully I've got a while to plan this campaign (current game we're playing in just started and the DM has planned this one for a while).. the ideas are startin' to pile up now  :whoa:

yeah, characteristic bounty hunters are always fun.

One of my friends had a couple good ideas (work buddy that is). He suggested having three advisors to the emperor. One, an archwizard who is some type of diviner(he's also the one who found out of the plot by the church of Bane). The second, a cleric of Pelor, He serves as an envoy to the people and voices the citizens needs and opinions. And the third, the warlord, the commander of his armies (this is the guy who was in on the plot from the beginning, was the "inside guy" for Banes clergy, however, he got cold feet when the emperor pre-maturely learned of their treaturey so he switched sides). Also the emperor has in his employ, his spymaster, who's in charge of all the royal assassins and bounty hunters.

Does the Emperor have a wife?  Perhaps the wife was a part of the conspiracy as well, and she's the warlord's lover.  Maybe the wife is sleeping with all of the advisors, and plans to use the group against each one of the advisors in turn.  She could be a source of aid for the group, and even turn on them if someone get's close to discovering her secret agenda.  That should teach your Thinkers for disrupting your game.  

What classes do your players usually run?  Do you have an idea what they'll be playing?