''DM Lite'' factions
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Further to my previous thread on this sort of topic I have been thinking over the idea of DM Lite factions which could appear IG, groups with a few basic perks (such as a small HQ, storage, some very minor NPC backing / oversite) and basically left to get on with it. Think player faction with minor NPC interest, meaning you won't rely on a DM oking everything you do, but you will get a hand with things if you need them.
Let's hear some ideas of groups like that which I could drop into the server and invite players into.
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A retired merchant investing his accumilated wealth into a mercanary/merchanting group
lyssan cult
A ragtag crusader faction. A collection of goodly warriors came together to form an organization that combats evil. All goodly men are accepted and there are no restrictions
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My ideas aren't likely to be terribly good at this time of night…
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A fledgling thieves guild/gang of lowly thugs
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Something like Amn's Emerald Cabal (unlawful mages/sorcerers that oppose the Mage Guild's regime)
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Druid Circle? Lawl, I thought there was one already…
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Obsessive collection of art collectors, dedicated to adventurin' and intriguin' for that stuff so they can hmm and humm and display it all in one cute little museum.
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Festhall of Sharess, dedicated to
cyborkeeping them adventurers happy -
Cats?
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A secret sponser acting through a slippery liason, preeching a vision of peace and prosperity, of a time when Kings no longer rule but every man has a say in how his nation is run. His superior's/s' funds seem limitless, their contacts in no short supply; those who can succeed in gaining influencial allies for this great cause, or muddying the names of the tyrants who prevent its rise - if not outright sabotaging their efforts - are richly rewarded. Perhaps even to meet the mysterious benefactor themselves if they can show they have the right stuff - but what is the right stuff, in this treasonous conspiracy where the ends justify any means? And is there more than gold to be made by trying to exploit such resources for personal gain while ensuring your master's plans keep moving forwards? The reward for betrayal is surely not going to be anything less than everything if you get carried away.
This would be a faction that allows characters to put forward their plans and discuss what they require to make them succeed, and how they will bring the sponser's objective closer within reach. An agent of the revolution is more likely to be granted an exceptional number of resources if they've proven themselves to be succesful, though in all liklihood they will have to provide some key components themselves that are too risky or too laborious for the sponser to aquire themselves. Generally, they would be given a certain budget with which to strut their stuff, with sponsered missions being an unusual and exciting time. A red letter day which can make or break agents.
A character may be recommended by a PC member to join the faction.
If all PCs agree to him or the sponser agrees, they are initiated as an agent of the revolution.
They are given access to some basic faction stuff like storage, hideout access, secret handshakes etc. and a lump sum of 5,000gp to "further the cause" in some way.-
Have dreams of being a succesful performer, and finance a play that highlights a rebel outwitting a tyrant.
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Desire to bring notoriety to their diety, and use the money to hire a dedicated mob of "followers" as you preech in the streets about your diety and their support for the people, who are the reason the nation stands at all - not because of some King who wears all the nation's riches on his head.
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Want to get a foothold in to the underworld, and use the money to pay for thugs to help in capturing a Sheriff, giving them a talk about how they ought to remember that they are with the people and the King stands alone, before sending them back - naked, if they were uncooperative.
And after one of these - if they are a success - the player gets to exercise some real creativity by thinking up an even more daring idea that would involve a DM directly - who would speak through the liason to keep the attempt reasonable and prick and prod it here and there to make it workable. Something like:
- A raid on the estate of a pro-monarchy noble to clear out their vaults and toss the plunder out to the slums people. Your sponser might ask you to aquire up to three people you trust explicitly; unidentifiable gear; a distraction (eg. a wizard on a signalling device being paid 1,000gp to fireball the side of the estate when buzzed) and maybe some other stuff.
TL;DR: A secretive dissident faction with an allegedly selfless goal and seemingly limitless resources that only cares for results.
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While I don't have any specific suggestions right now I just wanna say how awesome I think this idea is and that I hope to see more of these types of groups in the future.
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My ideas aren't likely to be terribly good at this time of night…
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A fledgling thieves guild/gang of lowly thugs
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Something like Amn's Emerald Cabal (unlawful mages/sorcerers that oppose the Mage Guild's regime)
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Druid Circle? Lawl, I thought there was one already…
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Obsessive collection of art collectors, dedicated to adventurin' and intriguin' for that stuff so they can hmm and humm and display it all in one cute little museum.
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Festhall of Sharess, dedicated to
cyborkeeping them adventurers happy -
Cats?
I quite like some of these. Any other ideas?
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House Jaerdon!!! In all seriousness as it's only remaining active player I would whole heartedly devote all my time to make it back into a actual faction and as we know noble houses have all sorts of leeway when it comes to goals and intrigue. And as it so happens the campaign to build the estate grounds minus the two origional nobles is underway!
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Perhaps bring some of the old Houses back; Deshurr and Thond are still around yet its almost as though they are completely absent which doesn't seem realistic given what has gone in Arabel in the past few years. Have a few dedicated PCs acting as their representatives try to put them back on the map in some form or the other.
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I wouldn't be keen on going over old ground with the same nobles, no. Some reference to them certainly, but not bringing them back per say.
I'm all about nobles though, there is a lot of scope for interesting things there.
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Good to know :) Perhaps have some new nobles arrive into the city than?
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Good to know :) Perhaps have some new nobles arrive into the city than?
Rather than nobles that suddenly appear, which I find immersion upsetting.. (where have they BEEN ?)
I'd rather see foriegn nobles appear and try to earn recognition - or locals who earn lower-end nobility by stuff they do.
in this time of chaos and supposed strife, I'd think earning recognition would be easier than in times past.When the crown has enemies right in town, right next door, even just somewhat small tasks might earn minor perkdoms.
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Maybe just enoble past PC characters.
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That's a good idea, although I think games idea of having foreign nobles coming to Arabel and setting up shop for themselves. A combination of both would be desirable