A good starting place

[Simon Graindorge]

Hi everyone,

I am about to start a new campaign, and I want to ask you all for some
advice on a good place to start. I would like to base the campaign in
Anuire, with the players (2 of them) either starting out as, or becoming,
regents. I haven't decide whether they will be regents of separate domains,
or of a single domain. I would like the campaign to be set near the Imperial
City (for obvious reasons ;-) ), as I would like the players to side with
the Chamberlain, or be able to taste politics with the big players (the
Chamberlain, Boeruine & Avan) with possible intrigue from the Gorgon (*very*
well hidden, naturally) and/or Rhuobe.

I was thinking of Roesone, it being a rather fractured nation, requiring a
good leader (or a harsh dictator) to unite the various provinces into a
realm, but I feel that maybe this is a little too far removed from the
centre of action. I was also considering somewhere along the Western edge of
the continent, but I have never really set any adventures there. Anyone got
any good suggestions, or had some good campaigns set in these areas? I enjoy
hearing about other people's campaigns, so feel free to write about other
parts of Cerilia/Anuire which have produced enjoyable campaigns for the
players.

Cheers all,

Simon

-

[Pieter Sleijpen]

I find it difficult to give any advice on the exact spots in Anuirie,
since my favorite area are either the Khinasi or the Vos. The campaign I
am currently DM'ing is in Khourane, so my knowledge on Anuirie is rather
limited. I can advise you to make the player regents in the same country
and to try to give them more or less simular goals. In my campaign this
was not the case and I had to split the group and I had to let them make
an extra PC. It became to unrealistic to bring the PC's together
everytime for an adventure.

Suiriene Ruler: "What do you mean I am in Djafra? But the Serpent has
just assassinated my agent in the guilds of Suiriene."

Khourane ruler: "What do I care about your men in Suiriene, in Djafra
bandits are hiding for my soldiers, using the lawlessness of that land
to hide and as such plundering freely my provinces."

[Craig Dalrymple]

- -----Original Message-----
From: Simon Graindorge
To: birthright@MPGN.COM
Date: Sunday, October 25, 1998 10:58 PM
Subject: [BIRTHRIGHT] - A good starting place


>Hi everyone,
>
>I am about to start a new campaign, and I want to ask you all for some
>advice on a good place to start. I would like to base the campaign in
>Anuire, with the players (2 of them) either starting out as, or becoming,
>regents. I haven't decide whether they will be regents of separate domains,
>or of a single domain. I would like the campaign to be set near the
Imperial
>City (for obvious reasons ;-) ), as I would like the players to side with
>the Chamberlain, or be able to taste politics with the big players (the
>Chamberlain, Boeruine & Avan) with possible intrigue from the Gorgon
(*very*
>well hidden, naturally) and/or Rhuobe.
>
>I was thinking of Roesone, it being a rather fractured nation, requiring a
>good leader (or a harsh dictator) to unite the various provinces into a
>realm, but I feel that maybe this is a little too far removed from the
>centre of action. I was also considering somewhere along the Western edge
of
>the continent, but I have never really set any adventures there. Anyone got
>any good suggestions, or had some good campaigns set in these areas? I
enjoy
>hearing about other people's campaigns, so feel free to write about other
>parts of Cerilia/Anuire which have produced enjoyable campaigns for the
>players.
>
>Cheers all,
>
> Simon
>
Well Simon I would suggest Avanil, or the Imperial City itself.

They don't have to be true regents at all to start. They can be major
players in organizations that are trying to influence
IC politics. As long as there is a lot of activity ad turmoil they won't
even miss the fact that they are not running a nation. Plus there are plenty
of adventure sites over there. The College of Sorcery, Rhuobe, the humanoids
in the Seamist MTS., etc...

It's not too hard to run the "minor" players of a nation or region. I still
emulate the domain turn activities at that level with all the local nobles
and high priests, etc. trying to influence regional goings on as the true
regents don't see it all and control every single move of their
organization. I did this rather well in Roesone with the Bellam's being
rebellious/treasonous in their regular actions as they countered the actions
of the regent to make themselves feel important.

Hope this helps.


Craig

[Kenneth Gauck]

Simon, my next campaign will start below the level of regent, and there are
several devices I plan to use: heirs to existing realms, minor nobles with
a handfull of holdings, and standard scions. Perhaps a son of Eriene
Mierelen (Brosengae), for one player -- who might succede around say 4th
level, or when the plot device works for you. The young Sir Talier, (a
vassal of Avon in Taliern) who might directly control 2 or 3 law holdings in
the province in the name of his liege, Prince of Avanil. After good service
to Avon, he might be elevated to Count Taliern by a greatful liege. Players
could start out in the system, but spending a portion of their realm turns
at the direction of others.

Kenneth Gauck
c558382@earthlink.net

- -----Original Message-----
From: Simon Graindorge
Date: Monday, October 26, 1998 1:02 AM


>I would like to base the campaign in Anuire, with the players (2 of them)
>either starting out as, or becoming, regents. I haven't decide whether they
>will be regents of separate domains, or of a single domain. I would like
>the campaign to be set near the Imperial City (for obvious reasons ;-) ),
>as I would like the players to side with the Chamberlain, or be able to
taste
>politics with the big players (the Chamberlain, Boeruine & Avan) with
>possible intrigue from the Gorgon (*very* well hidden, naturally) and/or
Rhuobe.
>

[Jim Cooper]

Simon Graindorge wrote:
Anyone got any good suggestions, or had some good campaigns set in these
areas?<

Hello, Simon:

Without going into any details about my ongoing campaign, may I suggest
you start your players off in Endier (either as major players, or the
regent)? I had, and found it perfect for the type of campaign you
described (thats IF the players cooperate ). :)

Endier is a small realm, weak militarily, so I have found this forces
players to think rather than use sword point diplomacy. In other words,
politics and intrigue! Its a great place for espionage and, since the
regent has a holding within the CoA, would seem natural for the players
to get involved with goings on in the big city.

Cheers mate,
Darren

[James Knevitt]

- ---Simon Graindorge wrote:
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I am about to start a new campaign, and I want to ask you all for some
> advice on a good place to start.


A really sweet place to start is to have one of the regents in charge
of the Medoere provinces and the other in charge of Diemed. Give the
Medoere provinces to the priest/paladin/religious character and diemed
to the warrior.


James
Critical Mass Studios
(Makers of the Soothsayer multi-genre RPG)
__________________________________________________ _______
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

[Sindre Berg]

Simon Graindorge wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I am about to start a new campaign, and I want to ask you all for some
>
> advice on a good place to start. I would like to base the campaign in
> Anuire, with the players (2 of them) either starting out as, or
> becoming,
> regents. I haven't decide whether they will be regents of separate
> domains,
> or of a single domain. I would like the campaign to be set near the
> Imperial
> City (for obvious reasons ;-) ), as I would like the players to side
> with
> the Chamberlain, or be able to taste politics with the big players
> (the
> Chamberlain, Boeruine & Avan) with possible intrigue from the Gorgon
> (*very*
> well hidden, naturally) and/or Rhuobe.
>
> I was thinking of Roesone, it being a rather fractured nation,
> requiring a
> good leader (or a harsh dictator) to unite the various provinces into
> a
> realm, but I feel that maybe this is a little too far removed from the
>
> centre of action. I was also considering somewhere along the Western
> edge of
> the continent, but I have never really set any adventures there.
> Anyone got
> any good suggestions, or had some good campaigns set in these areas? I
> enjoy
> hearing about other people's campaigns, so feel free to write about
> other
> parts of Cerilia/Anuire which have produced enjoyable campaigns for
> the
> players.
>
> Cheers all,
>
> Simon
>
>

[Lee]

I have to echo the nomination of Brosengae as a 'starter' realm.
Roesone, Medoere,and the South Coast are good if there are multiple players,
but the DM will have to keep busy. The West coast is a bit further from the
main pit of Imperial action, but it is easy to keep involved, as Boeruine
might come courting. I ran it in PBEM once, and had a lot of fun with
trading and diplomacy.
If you want to stay within a country, Talinie is a personal favorite.

Lee.

[Tim Nutting]

Roesone and Aerenwe are, without a doubt, the two most popular provinces in any
game I have played. After a while it becomes sickening to see who gets to play
Aerenwe, and so when I started a new group that "wanted something different"
but still wanted the South Coast, I pulled a fast one on the regional history.

In an alternate history, there was something of a mystical attempt on the life
of Traderic (is that the old regent's name?) Roesone, the assumptions lead
anywhere, but Gavin Tael has always been a favored target. In 511 MR, I had
Lillien Swordwraith and Traderic Roesone arrange a marriage of convenience to
unite their two realms. The conditions were that any new child of the union
would be regent of both lands, but if no such child came, Marlae Roesone would
inherit the combined Kingdom of Aerenwe upon the Lillien's abdication (it was
assumed Traderic would die within the next year due to illness).

The marriage was arranged quickly and quietly, but still Gavin Tael learned of
it, and suddenly finding the idea of a 14 province "kingdom" to his south made
him very nervous, thus he launched a massive raid into Roesone, with the aid of
Sedrie Bellamie. The war lasted a year and a half, and were it not for aid
sent to Roesone by Ilien and Medoere, many soldiers would have died in the
unusually harsh winter.

King Roesone regained his health, and a new child was born of the union. His
unusual strength in the Blood was almost immediately apparent, and he was named
Daen II, in honor of the Black Baron who forged the line. It seemed that
Lillien's line was the stronger, and her indirect ties to Reole made matters
all the worse, for now there was truly another regent in the coming who had
serious claims to the Iron Throne.

In 531, my starting year, the lands are found with an assassinated King and
Queen, two dead regent-children, and seven noble lords of various lesser houses
struggling to gain control of this potentially very powerful kingdom, who's
charter denies the Iron Throne, but pledges allegiance to a new Emperor,
"should he be rightfully chosen" (ambiguous enough to suit the drafters of the
concord).

The game ran for some time, almost a year, and was easily one of the betters
that I've done, everyone enjoyed the new face on Anuirean politics, and I
enjoyed having a part of Cerilia that was really, truly, mine.

Hope this helps in some small way (though I can't imagine how... hmmm)
Game on!
Tim Nutting