That Face

[the_taken]

My oldest method of runnings game has usualy been totally improvised. This unfortunetly leasd to mishaps with prefabricated monsters from WotC. So I've been gradually shifting towards a more organized method. Planning out areas for the PCs to run amok in, and prefabricating all of the possible encounters. It's allot of work, but ultimately rewarding, and usualy error free.

But it's not the enough for me. Those games are usualy smash fests, with the group wildly tossing about their characters from one monster filled meadow to the next monster filled room. I want to make a story that I can get PCs to play thru all the way. A good story that will keep my group wanting to play every session. Yes, addicting would be a way to describe it.

I have a basic story. It's a simple idea I came up with long ago for a compilation of magically invoked disasters (one of Xathan's think tanks). The basis of an entire campaign: the most beautiful woman. Ever. It's an idea I've had on the back burner.
She's a princess, daughter of two great adventurers who wanted to endow their children with great gifts. They only had one though. (Ain't it just like those darn dragons. Eating adventurers.)

I'll be using all of the material from Races of War, the Dungeonomicon and other books fromt hat series, and my WotC collection.

I have a decent story outline.

The first part consists of angry fey; jealous nymphs and such. Because of their elusive nature, as long as that human is around, they don't get any attention. So they decide to do away with her. At first it's just a few random outbursts of woodland critters, but it quickly escalates to druids and sorceresses spell slinging right at the castle.

Part Two consists of a demon or devil at first trying to open a gate to the material and pulling her. After the PCs thwart him, he'll try to get her possessed.

Part Three involves a bunch of angels gone bad. They say her beauty is completely accidental and that she must let the angels absorb her beauty to restore an imbalance in the celestial realm. This is obviously bullette shit; beauty is as subjective as it is irrelevant with regards to morality. The angels want her beauty to regain their halos. The demon from earlier can make a cameo here; we'll have him invoke a 'mine or no ones' policy here.

I need another couple of adventures before the fourth part, maybe interchanged with the previous two, but here it is: A Walker in the Waste (It's Hot Outside) has come to preserve the Avatar of Beauty. She's unique and there's likely never to be another mortal as beautiful as her again. He comes to preserve her. This part should show up when the PCs are Lvl 17.

The final part cumulates with the Avatar of Beauty declaring her one true love a hobgoblin. This is going to be wildly regarded as a very bad choice and will make every human, elf, dwarf, and any of any other men of the 'worthy people' angry. In a fit of jealous rage, all of the kingdoms ruled and governed by a large portion of males with crusade against all of goblin kind.
These are results of an anti-goblin propaganda campaign orchestrated by a death cult. The dark prophesy goes that if enough goblinoids can die in a day, in a concentrated area, then the world will be consumed by a dark ans terrible evil. The death cult is also pulling the strings on he goblin's side; directing the goblins to gather in one epic battle.

Dilemmas #1: I need to get the princess permanently attached to the party.

Idea #1: As the daughter of two adventurers, she has the training, skills and heart of one. Wishing to wander the world free of her family's blessings, she hides her face, speaks in a high nasal tone, and travels from tavern to tavern, joining bands of mighty heroes, seeking treasure and recognition for her deeds. She joins the party by the cliche; beerteins apon a wooden table stained by booze.

Idea #2: The attacks have been going on for a while. Although she's learned to defend herself, a little help from some mercenaries goes along way. The PCs are hired to protect her.
Unfortunetly, one assassination attempt ends with the princess' home completely destroyed. Without a family, she joins the PC's.
Alternatively, the PCs are rehired for each adventure.

Idea #3: The PCs are out to rescue the princess. She's been kidnapped. After the PCs retrieve her, the other adventures outlined above kick in, and getting her home is long and arduous.

Idea #4: The PCs are hired to kidnap the princess. Good news is she wants to leave. Her surviving parent is so overprotective. Bad news is he's mad and dangerous. The princess makes herself invaluable to the abductors' mission. Seeing how useful she is (and how much gold she let's them lift from the family coffers) the PCs decide to take her on as a sidekick, cohort, or even a full member.

Idea #5: One of the PCs decides to have his character pursue the princess as a lover. He ultimately fails, but it's a reason to keep her around

Dilemma #2: Getting the Hobgoblin Prince to meet the princess.

[Higgs Boson]

Heres an i dea that will work for both dilemmas, if you stretch it a litle: a quasi-diety/other diety with a secret agenda that has something to do with goblins either conquering or dying out (its not sure) and he hides in human form as a great and powerful person and hires the PC's to get the Avatar of Beatuy to the Hobgoblin prince. The idea behin dthe campaign is interesting also. i may end up stealing little pieces of it for my own i'm running with some friends right now if you don't mind. *attempts to subtly slide a cabbage made out of 1000 condensed cabbages* :D

[the_taken]

Dilemma #1, Idea #6: Operation Jealous Stepmother. Starts out the same way Snow White does, but replace the dwarves with the PCs. Works awesome if all of the PCs are dwarves anyway.

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There's an idea. Which idea is chosen is based apon the party's composition. Sweet.
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Dilemma #2: Getting the Hobgoblin Prince to meet the princess.

Idea #1: HP is ambitious. He wants her for himself. He hatches a plan to kidnap the princess.

Idea #2: HP is an adventurer. He's had a following out with his parents about his chosen art (sword instead of sorcery, shield and hammer instead of cloak and dagger). And wanders the world in exile. He meets the princess out on an adventure or job.
Attach him to the PCs via the cliche is an option, or maybe they meet while after the same treasure.

Idea #3: Thru the machinations of an unknown entity, the Hobgoblin Prince and The Beautiful Princess are kidnapped by the same group. They're placed in adjoining cells/rooms, and get to know each other over their internment.

Idea #4: The cliche again. They meet in a tavern and sparks fly. After one night together, they decide to spend the rest of their lives together.

[the_taken]

Heres an i dea that will work for both dilemmas, if you stretch it a litle: a quasi-diety/other diety with a secret agenda that has something to do with goblins either conquering or dying out (its not sure) and he hides in human form as a great and powerful person and hires the PC's to get the Avatar of Beatuy to the Hobgoblin prince. The idea behin dthe campaign is interesting also. i may end up stealing little pieces of it for my own i'm running with some friends right now if you don't mind. *attempts to subtly slide a cabbage made out of 1000 condensed cabbages* :D

Solving both dilemmas #1 & #2 together: Simply railroad the PCs to get the two to meet and they'll fall madly in love with each other. Sounds like the only episode of 'Tripping the Rift' I saw.

[Thanuir]

Shall the players create new characters for the game?

If yes, insist that all of them be suitors to the lady. No railroading necessary.

If no, tell about the goals and ambitions of the characters.



Shall the game happen in a specific setting? If yes, I doubt you will have a lack of powerful factions that have an interest in the situation, one way or another.

[the_taken]

Dilemma #1, Idea #7: The PCs are suiters for the Princess. In party fighting ensues. Great source of comedy their.

Fire Mage: "My heart burns with passion!"
Rogue: "You've stolen my heart. May I take yours?"
Orc Savage: "Yu perdy." *bonk*

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There are always powerful factions with their eyes looking for something valuable. I can make up my own on the spot. Watch:

Larry the Lyricist prides himself on being the most charming elven bard across the world. Every moment of his life is spent wooing the most beautiful maidens at every opportunity. Jealous men call him lecherous, and justifiably. It's likely that he's sired hundreds of bastard children during his long life.
And now comes his greatest challenge. The skirt of the most pious and pure maiden, The Avatar of Beauty. By his silver tongue (and golden belt), he plans to introduce the princess to the wonders of womanhood.
To his competitors: His blade is sharper than his wit, and his wit is vorpal.

[Higgs Boson]

Imagine the hilariousness...wait..that last one should be made into a show! Imagine:
Fighter: I will ask her to marry me!
Rogue: Hah hah...now you cant cause i took the ring and sold it! Now I'll ask her to marry me
Wizard: *Casts maximized Hadoken* oops...didnt mean to kill the princess along with the 5 cities...

[Thanuir]

There are always powerful factions with their eyes looking for something valuable.

There is your "plot". then. A number of factions try to get the lady under their power, for whatever reasons. PCs must decide who they will support against whom, or try to plot the prize for themselves.

Even better; have one player play the lady herself.

[the_taken]

There are always powerful factions with their eyes looking for something valuable.

There is your "plot". then. A number of factions try to get the lady under their power, for whatever reasons. PCs must decide who they will support against whom, or try to plot the prize for themselves.

Just roll powerful faction after powerful faction, and lovesick men of various arts and careers as generic random encounters. Excellent idea.

[blockquote=Dilemma #1, Idea #8]
Even better; have one player play the lady herself.
[/blockquote]
That's an option. Removes the damsel in distress scenarios, but those are unrealistic in D&D anyway.

[Thanuir]

If some NPC/faction is given attention by the players, give it more detail.

Also, if you have good roleplayers in your group, one of them playing the girl and others various suitors is bound to be interesting, in and of itself. Don't let any plots derail from rp between players.