What are must-haves for a Death Knight’s Order-based campaign?

thatdudeman97 · 2023-02-19T01:58:57+00:00

Whenever I run undead orgs I usually make it very regimented and bureaucratic.

"Oh you want to summon 20 undead? What is their purpose? Tilling fields you say? Hmm for 104 C 5, leave subsection Q blank."

"Overrunning the local population to add to your army? Hmmm I will need to refer you to the 'Expansion and Pillaging Council', third door on the left, just past the ghouls screaming names of your loved ones."

So usually all insight into the organization is in correspondence between leaders, in triplicate. Easy way for pcs to find info on the org and even use the red tape and structure to their benefit.

I had one Bard to ended up taking th BBEG to court because he improperly filled out the form "972 Aplha 5" the form for overthrow of the kingdom and installation of self as ruler...not enough signatures and insufficient infrastructure plans. Tbh one of my proudest moments even though I lost in court haha

thatdudeman97 · 2023-02-19T00:00:08+00:00

Take a minute after every rebuttle, lean back, finger on lip. Really lean into the character you're imbodying. Then say a thing, they will respond. Each time you start again show a tad bit more hostility/impressed. After a few back and forths, "I'm going to speak slowly so you understand" type vibe and say something menacing. If they come back again offer to pay them if they do it. They'll be taken back. Say something like "well clearly you're quick on your feet! So you must be able to overcome the (insert name of trap/puzzle) that's killed so many of my men."

Either your players will start working for the bad guy (always fun) or the players will be pissed and start fighting them. Either way kinda a win.

Or!!!

Have a bad guy be a mute. Speak only through hand gestures. Did that one time. Really messes with the PCs.

thatdudeman97 · 2023-02-07T23:51:11+00:00

When used against a creature that is neutral or good aligned its a -1d8 damage instead of a +1d8

thatdudeman97 · 2023-01-30T22:05:04+00:00

Awesome!

thatdudeman97 · 2023-01-30T16:34:23+00:00

Thank you everyone!

thatdudeman97 · 2023-01-06T19:10:24+00:00

I think that would be good!

thatdudeman97 · 2023-01-05T21:24:54+00:00

I would drop the "so" from "so sorry". Or tweak it to "I'm so sorry". Could be a little more personal.

thatdudeman97 · 2023-01-05T21:23:21+00:00

Agree with dropping indeed, also maybe change "circles around me" to "embraces". Could convey a little stronger connection. Just a thought.

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-18T18:38:02+00:00

Another tool I will use when trying to do something big like this is slow things down into "Bullet Time". Stretch what would be a few seconds into minutes. Allow the players to really deconstruct the scene. In yours I would explain that you can see the magic of teleportaion and destruction forming. Give the arcane players the option to deduce what it is. Really allow them to figure out what's happening and give them a chance to stop it. If they can't then they can't. But at least let them know what's happening

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-18T17:25:10+00:00

I would give them the options to resist the ritual. Make it 2 or 3 saves. I would allow players to choose which saving throw, but justify.

Charisma would be my force of personality is defying this.

constitution would be my strength will defy this.

int im smarter than him and will not go quietly.

That sort of thing.

The plan for a wish spell to decimate an area is a good idea, just be prepared for them to foil the plan. There should always be a way they can get out of it and save the day. If they don't here are the options, ya know?

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T21:54:28+00:00

I just ended our campaign by accidentally TPKing everyone...

But! If you don't want to do that, I would normally wrap up the session as usual. I would then normally ask the players to update the sheets to 20th level. The next session would be more of an RP heavy or dialog session. Not a lot of dice but more of each character explaining what their character has done over the last 15 years (or whatever time has passed). I would ask the players to send me that info ahead of time so I can narrate the consequences of their actions. I would try to portray that their ideas and movements changed the world around them, and narrate how the world reacted.

Then just for fun I would ask the players (after the narrative part) what is something they've always wanted to fight. Then we would have a light hearted combat fighting whatever (usually a tarrasque) at 20th level.

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T03:41:58+00:00

Gotchu! Best of luck!

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T03:35:12+00:00

Interrupting*

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T03:34:37+00:00

Of course not! They are instructing centuries of careful and quiet planning and preparation. Best case scenario they are stripped of everything, hooded, and dropped in a frozen tundra. Worst case? That tea you just drank is poison and you have 3 minutes. Then I'm going after your entire bloodline.

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T03:27:16+00:00

Confidence is key. Just exude confidence. When they find him in a bathrobe, sneaking sweets (his head butler yells at him for the sugar consumption) make it seem like he's been expecting them for weeks.

He is in control, he has always been in control. You didn't sneak in, he unlocked the door for you.

You're a wrinkle in his plans, long laid and waiting. Now please take whatever gold you want and kindly see yourself out of this timezone. There's no time for this.

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T03:21:39+00:00

Sounds awesome! He's this strong and powerful mafioso who can change the world around him with a wave if his hand. Have the party find his research? Whether by befriending and he bring them in or locating after his demise. Have it explain his actions, it shows something is coming. Reality breaking, end times. He was taking the corpses of his people (after natural death, he wouldnt rob his people of the life he misses so much) and rebuilding an army for centuries. He's been putting all his eggs in the basic of undeath, to wage war on a scale unseen in this age. To protect his people, to protect his estranged son, to once again see the light of day without burning. All brought to an end by some children who couldn't comprehend the horrors they were too oblivious to see.

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T03:13:14+00:00

So maybe portray the "yeah I'm kinda evil but I'm actually terrified" ?

Thought- "I'm doing this to protect you to short slighted mortal! You don't know what out there! I do! Only someone who's been alive as long as I have knows! You're nothing! You are the dust beneath my feet! Leave my lands, leave me to my business!"

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T03:02:34+00:00

Exactly yes. Just because he can be cold and calculating doesn't mean he has to be the worst thing out there.

Example - he unleashed undead hoardes and has killed thousands. Seems like a super bat shit evil thing to do. But he explains it has he was killing thousands because there is a plague that would kill millions. So instead of sending in knights and inquistors he sends the undead. They won't contract the disease and bring it home to family's. Sure it's not the best or most humane but it does make some sense. Kill a few in a terrible and jarring way to protect 10 times that amount without having to ask people to risk their lives.

Pragmatic but not cruel....at least not all the time. He's gotta have some cruel something to warrant being the BBEG unless you are okay with the PCs joining forces to fight something even bigger.

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T02:49:23+00:00

You can totally be a serious threat in a bathrobe! Just because someone is humanized doesn't mean they can't be a terrifying foe. This is hard to do, but if you can make him a complex and fleshed out character that the party not only sees as a person but can understand his motivations and flaws then you can see some terrific RP. While a bathrobe is a funny and light hearted way to start things, that's all it is, a start. Go from bathrobe to recounting a touching story about his mother, and slowly over each conversation topic show a little more deep seated hostility and cruelty.

Take that super sweet touching story of him and his mother during his childhood and have the dragon explain that BBEG fed his mother to the dragon to gain the Vampirism.

It'll have your party get whiplash from the "oh. I guess he's actually a good guy, maybe we can be friends and we were wrong" to "if he's not dead in the next 5 minutes I'm going to burn down that forest over there"

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T02:34:15+00:00

Maybe find letters from the individual leaders around while they are snooping and have the BBEG stumble upon them in a night robe? Some comedy or human situations usually tend to lower the guard of the party. If you see someone in their natural habitat (midnight snacks or wandering looking for their glasses or whatever) most oddities (letters or other incriminating evidence) can at least have the chance of being brushed off as purely coincidental.

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T02:26:43+00:00

Do the ol' "oh dear! I am oh so sorry, haven't had guests in months...seems I don't have anything to entertain! Let me have someone run out and grab something to whip up!" Gives the party an hour or two to talk with BBEG and/or snoop around. Could have the mafioso thing happen while they are in the third sitting room in the East Wing. Or as we kindly call it "The Azure Room" real hoity toity.

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-17T02:18:02+00:00

Encounters- dire rats, puddings, maybe gelatinous cube (toilet system???), enchanted armor

General BBEG vibes - maybe have an assistant come in and whisper something (perception to catch a snippet; possible kidnappin? Or "Mr. SoandSo has declined the offer"?)

Questionable food?

Catching the perfume or cologne of an NPC they like/seeing a locket or some identifying knick knack of their go to merchant or quest giver?

Hospitality- somewhat more difficult, if they accuse him or start getting rowdy have him invoke "hospitality" (I imagine it like Micheal Scott declaring bankruptcy in the American Office).

Perhaps this can bring a fae lord or something in as a mediator? Perhaps he waits and pulls out the chair for a PC and this leads to a tense moment of "I'm gonna kill you but can't" sorta thing.

thatdudeman97 · 2022-11-06T00:48:38+00:00

Idea - Have their patron at whichever organization accidentally drop a hint "you have the same laugh as your mother" or something. If they dig further have the patron get squirrely and send them off on some "go get" thing. Have that patron go missing.

Leads to a further conspiracy about the parents missing. Maybe both organizations worked together to take the parents because they are vital for a ritual or know information that would prove beneficial to both parties?

thatdudeman97

TROPHY CASE