Goodman Games

Ogrepuppy wrote:Specifically, I'm looking for info regarding how you doled out the background info. Did you give them a pile of info up front ("This is what you know about Wildsgate: __insert background info here__") or did you let them draw out the info piece by piece via interaction with the NPCs?

In other words, did the players arrive at Wildsgate already knowing the history of Wulfrun & Zamuk, or was it something that was exposed during play?

After reading sections of the adventure a few times, I still don't get how the PCs are going to mentally "link" or associate the dwindling fortunes of Wildsgate with the retrieval of the 3 heirlooms, or how they're supposed to figure out that by going into the Wilds they'll find said heirlooms.

Maybe to a more experienced GM it's clear, but I need a little more hand-holding as far as that's concerned. Or maybe I'm just not reading a portion of the adventure properly (I've had to read bits & pieces of the module over the span of the past few days).

* * Later * * D'OH! I just re-read the section on, heh heh, page 3 about Rumors, and how other rumors can be given out as the PCs meet more native NPCs.

Any additional info is welcome. Despite me being a blind, non-adventure-reading dork.

The Hanar Campaign Pack

My primary goal in designing and running this campaign: I wanted to create and run a D20 DnD campaign that while similar to the traditional D20 rule set was unique enough to be fresh and unfamiliar while still retaining all the fun. I wanted that “Oh god were going to die!” feel of SST and the Grim feel of Conan. In order to accomplish this I have decided to use a rather large handful of D20 rule variants.

This campaign needs to be scalable enough to accommodate 2 to 10 players at a time. The rules need to be accessible to the players and not so complicated that they will be loath to learn a new system. The system must also be something which I want to run, which at this point is not standard D20.

I understand that the players are play testers; they will be aware that the rule set will be a living document and may change over time. Major changes after play starts will be discussed with the players. The idea is to come up with a system which is enjoyable to run, play in, and is much grittier than standard D20 Dnd.

With that said…

Welcome to the World of Hanar

Hanar is a world of gritty hand to hand combat, powerful magic that is rare yet attainable, and where a man is measured by both his words and deeds.

The Hanar campaign is different then other campaigns I have run in the past.
• It is primarily an open ended Dark Age fantasy medieval campaign using a modified D20 rule set.
• There will be a strong religious crusade theme in the initial campaign.
• Magic is a wild and chaotic force. Its use is closely monitored by guild mages working for the state and church. Non guild members who exhibit magic tendency are considered outside the church’s blessing and a threat.

The PCs all start as free crusaders belonging to the adventures guild and are stationed in Wildsgate. Wildsgate is the last human stronghold in civilized territory located on the very edge of the wilderness

Starting Character information:
ABILITIES
• Standard Point Buy System. 28 points. Abilities start at 8 and can not go below 8
• Roll 4D6, re-roll 1s, drop the lowest, arrange as desired, can spend points at 2:1
RACE
• Human, as this campaign is intended to have a crusading Human against everyone theme. All other races are restricted at the beginning of the campaign.
CLASS
• The Generic Classes variant (UA 76) will be used for core classes.
• Hit points are modified by the grim n gritty combat system. (HP = Con)
ALIGNMENT
• Select a Standard alignment at character creation which reflects your characters world view.
• Alignment determines starting Honor and is ignored there after.
OTHER VARIANTS
CLASSES:
• Generic Character Classes (UA 76) – 3 core classes, The Expert, The Warrior, and The Spellcaster
• Prestigious (core) Character Classes (UA 69) – Bard, Knight, Paladin, Ranger




CHARACTER:
• Character Traits (UA 86) –Adds a minor drawback and bonus. Up to Two Traits at character creation.
• Character Flaws (UA 91) – Adds a major drawback but grants an extra feat. Up to Two Flaws at character creation.
• Spell touched Feats (UA92) – Extra feats based on what spells you have endured.
• Weapon Group Feats (UA 94) – Eliminates simple, martial and exotic weapon types. Groups like weapons together and grants proficiency with every weapon of that type. Everyone get Basic weapon feat for free. Warriors can an additional 3, Experts get 2, Spellcasters get 1
• Craft Points (UA97) – Eliminates down time for crafting. Adds the concept of projects that are going on in the background. Adds many crafting feats.
ADVENTURING:
• Action Points (UA122) – Adds to dice roles, special actions, and feats
• Grim and Gritty Combat (Ultimate games Designer’s Companion pg 109) – Characters get a Defensive value. Armor grants Damage reduction. HP change. Injury.
MAGIC:
• Magic Rating (UA135) – Magic power goes up abet slowly even if you no longer take spell caster class.
• Metamagic Component (UA139) – Specific items have great effect on some spells
Spontaneous Metamagic: Daily Uses (UA152) – Designed to increased the number of times Metamagic can be used in the game.
• Spell Points (UA153) – All spell castors are effectively sorcerers. They can cast any spell they know as many times as they have spell points for. They can use spell points to activate meta magic feats pass the daily limit. They can use spell points to increase damage over the base amount.
• Spell Points: Vitalizing (UA156) – Spending spell points id very physically taxing and potentially can cause the caster to become tainted. Becoming fatigued and exhausted from spending spell points forces a taint save.
• Item Familiars (UA170) – Special items that can grow in power with a character.
• Incantations (UA174) – A very rare very powerful form of magic.
• Grim and Gritty magic (Ultimate games Designer’s Companion pg 109) – In addition to the damage changes in the spell point system. All dice used in any magic are reduced by one step. D20=D12, D12=D10, D10=D8, ect.
CAMPAIGNS:
• Contacts (UA 179) – Those special people you know will be there when you need them.
• Reputation (UA 180) – Because if you do great things people will know.
• Honor (UA185) – “Good” Starting honor is a function of your alignment. Gaining and loosing honor is a function of play style. Positive and negative honor has positive and negative social effects. Honor may be used to requirments for the paladin and Knight PRCs.
• Taint (UA189) – “Evil” Corruption effects based on actions and location. Taint is bad bad bad. And has horrible effects on a character. Enjoy!
• Taint (HoH 81)- May replace the UA taint rules.
• Taint Prestige Classes (UA191) – For when I need to make a villain even meaner.
• Level-Independent XP Awards (UA213) –Keeps the math for handing out XP to a minimum and it’s got an Old School ™ feel to it! Should work well to help get low level character caught up with the rest of the party.






People who you may know of
Vilerus Rex, The King of Man
Father Mainart Alfax , Head of the church of Raahn
Sir Arthurax Blackmane , The leader of the free crusade

The Power players of Wildsgate

Kaldal, Baron of Wildsgate
Young and sick. Once strong, the pale heir spends his days in a haze, never fully asleep or awake.
Sodersund, Regent of Wildsgate
Handles the day to day affairs of ruling Wildsgate. Cruel, cunning, and heartless.
Lady Aborn
Kaldal’s ½ sister. Will rule Wildsgate if and when Kaldal dies. Beutifu;l, generous, and kind. Beloved by the people of Wildsgate.
Captain Argun
The young Dashing leader of the Outriders, a man who takes great pride in maintaining the martial discipline among his men. Beholden to Lady Aborn.
Marshak the Reeve
A great hulking brute of a man. He is the barons reeve, master of the gate, and captain of the watch.
Nazost the Scrivener
Marshak’s Scribe and note taker. Elderly and surly. The local expert on the wilds.
Father Motter
An ageing man who retains the vibrancy and passion of his youth. Age has cooled his temper, leaving him a calm, peaceful man. But when trouble threatens his flock, he if the first to don his armor. He is a powerful, charismatic speaker.
Ancilith “Ancy”
Owner of the Mug and Blade tavern. (rumor is she won it with a throw of the dice) She is a stunningly attractive woman with a discolored scar that runs the length of her face.
Hilto Foibald
Elderly grey haired man who runs the day to day operation of The Falling Star inn.
Master Bolo
A stout man with a black, sprawling bread. He lost an eye early in life and now wears a silver eye patch that’s riveted to his scull. He is slow to warm to most but is easily taken by pretty women. His work is first rate and prices are fair.
Kolgot
Locksmith and General provisioner. Owns “The Broken Manacles” Moved to Wildsgate and set up shop 2 years ago.
Sergio the Vizier
A trader and Moneylender. Owns “The Bloodstone” A friendly and gregarious man with impeccable manners.
The watch,
Man at arms tasked with the protection and defense of Wildsgate.
The Outriders
Wulfrun’s of Knights tasked with patrolling and protecting the kings road.


Wildsgate
Wildsgate began as little more then a crude hill fort built atop a ridge overlooking the Wilds. Protected by ramparts of earth and watch fires, it owed its existence to its charismatic founder: Savage born Baron Wulfrun. Wulfrun and his band of hearty warriors drew the first setters to the area, promising safety and prosperity in return for fealty and unswerving loyalty. When Baron Wulfrun died, he passed the stone crown on to his son, who swore himself, and all his descendants to the continued prosperity of Wildsgate.

The crude hill fort quickly grew to prodomance as a bastion of civilization. Brave men and woman answered the call of adventure and the fort grew to include stone walls, docks, and a towering citadel that surveyed the land for miles in every direction.

Some time ago for some reason the descendants of Baron Wulfrun all began to waste away as they came of age. This in turn caused expansion and growth to come to a shuttering halt leaving Wildsgate as it appears today: unfinished and raw. Wildsgate has retained much of its rough and tumble ways; the fortress is not a safe or a pleasant city, but a citadel surrounded by a savage wilderness. The descendants of Baron Wulfrun have all wasted away as they come of age.

Several hundred peasants live in mud huts and hovels surrounding Wildsgate. Their work has transformed much of the forest south of the river Saedre into fertile farmlands, but no one, peasant or warrior, ventures past the north shore. The lands south of the Wilds are patrolled by Captain Argun and his dashing Outriders.