Post by Chickadee (DM Trish) on Sept 25, 2017 19:20:42 GMT
My hubby and I run solo campaigns for each other in between our larger group campaign. I've just started one for him and we've completed the basic character creation & introduction night.
He's playing a half-orc barbarian who was taken as a slave when he was a young teen by an elven empire (asian-inspired aggressive dynasty that are completely xenophobic of all other races including half-elves) His PC had a terrible first owner but has spent the past 10 years as the bodyguard for the son of a high-ranking general (he was very well treated, trained, and respected). The story begins when one of the general's political rivals attempted an assassination on the boy (failed) and framed our hero. He was beaten and shipped off to the mines to die. (the miner/slaves never leave the mine -even the camp/cells are underground)
He's been there about a month when he realizes that some strange things are occurring within the mine. A drug named 'Dream' has become popular because it allows you to live/function in a zombie-like state (making the whole experience less miserable since they will carry on working without any real memory of it). Users are said to be 'in the dream' and addicts eventually fall so heavily into the dream that they eventually die if someone does not force feed them...they'll just stand or sit motionless. It has taken hold of both miners and many guards and parts of the mine have been taken over by a drug lord referred to as the Dreamcatcher (a huge orc). The lord has taken an interest in our PC and has offered him a place within his organization. They are starting to circulate the drug into the nearby city (as far as our PC can tell, the Dream is being mined - but he doesn't know what it is). As well, he refuses to take the drug but is starting as a loosely lawful neutral character (with the intention to develop as the story unfolds). He's also stated that his current goal in life is to clear his name and return to his master.
I want to offer him a more sandbox style campaign but I feel like I need to put in some plot hooks and there is just so many ways this could develop. For example, it could become a 'slave uprising' story, or a 'bring down a drug cartel' story, or a crime 'prove your innocence' story, or an 'escape from the empire' story.
Anyhow, that's why I was hoping you guys/guys could flex your DM muscles and throw out some ideas.
For example..
1) The drug 'Dream' - any ideas/plot hooks/moral dilemmas that you think could be interesting here?
2) Do you have any tips for how to offer a variety of plot hooks without railroading my player?
3) My PC is playing a character that is less intelligent than he is naturally - he's having trouble 'dumbing himself down' and wonders if perhaps a less intelligent character won't work for a solo campaign as he is the one making all the decision.
He's playing a half-orc barbarian who was taken as a slave when he was a young teen by an elven empire (asian-inspired aggressive dynasty that are completely xenophobic of all other races including half-elves) His PC had a terrible first owner but has spent the past 10 years as the bodyguard for the son of a high-ranking general (he was very well treated, trained, and respected). The story begins when one of the general's political rivals attempted an assassination on the boy (failed) and framed our hero. He was beaten and shipped off to the mines to die. (the miner/slaves never leave the mine -even the camp/cells are underground)
He's been there about a month when he realizes that some strange things are occurring within the mine. A drug named 'Dream' has become popular because it allows you to live/function in a zombie-like state (making the whole experience less miserable since they will carry on working without any real memory of it). Users are said to be 'in the dream' and addicts eventually fall so heavily into the dream that they eventually die if someone does not force feed them...they'll just stand or sit motionless. It has taken hold of both miners and many guards and parts of the mine have been taken over by a drug lord referred to as the Dreamcatcher (a huge orc). The lord has taken an interest in our PC and has offered him a place within his organization. They are starting to circulate the drug into the nearby city (as far as our PC can tell, the Dream is being mined - but he doesn't know what it is). As well, he refuses to take the drug but is starting as a loosely lawful neutral character (with the intention to develop as the story unfolds). He's also stated that his current goal in life is to clear his name and return to his master.
I want to offer him a more sandbox style campaign but I feel like I need to put in some plot hooks and there is just so many ways this could develop. For example, it could become a 'slave uprising' story, or a 'bring down a drug cartel' story, or a crime 'prove your innocence' story, or an 'escape from the empire' story.
Anyhow, that's why I was hoping you guys/guys could flex your DM muscles and throw out some ideas.
For example..
1) The drug 'Dream' - any ideas/plot hooks/moral dilemmas that you think could be interesting here?
2) Do you have any tips for how to offer a variety of plot hooks without railroading my player?
3) My PC is playing a character that is less intelligent than he is naturally - he's having trouble 'dumbing himself down' and wonders if perhaps a less intelligent character won't work for a solo campaign as he is the one making all the decision.
