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Jesse Lowe
Looking around
(1/28/03 1:58 pm)
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Temple of Elemental Evil mega-campaign
I'm pondering running a very long-term campaign centering around RtToEE. In essence, it would consist of one (or two) sets of PCs -- though probably the same players -- running through first the original Temple of Elemental Evil modules, then their (literal or figurative) heirs running through Return some years later, followed by a push to epic level dealing with further manifestations of Tharizdun et al.
Problem is, I don't really know what all Elemental Evil material is out there! Can anyone point me to links or summarize the products available (in print or out) that would be useful in this campaign?
Also, what other suggestions or inspirations does this campaign idea call to mind? Is anyone else doing something like this, or has done something like this?
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C Galadrim
Looking around
(1/28/03 9:24 pm)
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Re: Temple of Elemental Evil mega-campaign
I have something related to this going on in the game I am about to start. I ran the original Temple years ago with most of the same guys that are still in the group I have now. Their characters back than actually started building a small keep in Homlett. I thought that an interesting way to tie the two games together would be for some of those same adventurers had indeed finished the keep, and have taken up a semi retirement in Homlett, kinda like Rufus and Burne.
More on your question, I would say to add some little things that what I mentioned above that would make it seem like the first group had an impact that affected the campaign in a noticeable way. Whether it be a keep, an established adventuring company, or even remains of a site where a major battle took place, the feeling that it all ties together will give both you and the players that experience it a chance to see things from a grand scale.
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Andorax
Still here? Wow.
(1/29/03 8:03 am)
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Re: Temple of Elemental Evil mega-campaign
If you can, find a way to tie in the old WG4 "Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun", possably with the earlier group. Run it as a followup to S4 (Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth), which in turn can be a followup to the original ToEE. You might even consider running a few other things after that...let the "first group" come up to 20th or so and retire.
Then, be sure to add elements from that into the RttToEE. Have one of the PCs have retired back in Hommlet itself, and take the place of Rufus and Burne. For a real nasty twist, have one of the PCs that "died" around 12th - 16th level take the place of Thrommel. Try to find a way to have the history of the PCs be a significant part of the history of the RttToEE campaign.
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
C Galadrim
Looking around
(1/29/03 4:59 pm)
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Re: Temple of Elemental Evil mega-campaign
This is actually directed towards Andorax...
Would replacing my "retired" PCs from the original game in place of Rufus and Burne cause a ruckus of a major sort? If I remember correctly, the land they bought was actually from those two way back when, and I was toying with the idea of taking those guys out and placing the old party in as the town "watchers".
Would this be too big a change, or do you think it could work out pretty well? Just an idea I had going through my head lately.
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Kenmis
Here for a while
(1/29/03 9:34 pm)
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Rufus and Burne
To answer your question, no, it wouldn't be a big deal at all. R&B run the militia and are common figures around town, but that's about it.
As a whole, the adventure has little to do with Hommlet (though there is a LOT to do there, if the players so choose) but those two are by no means nessisary to the plot. They're purely there to give players who went through the original a nice cameo, which is something that would work even BETTER if you replaced them with their own, now retired, PC's. 
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Thrommel
Can't leave now (mod)
(1/30/03 10:58 am)
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Re: Rufus and Burne
It is better, but there's one risk you're running: when the party finally gets back to the Recovered Temple, they may try to pull in their former buddies for support. (It's not that far from Hommlet to the Temple.)
At that point you either need to bump the enounters (not recommended) or find a way to sideline the retired PC's.
I'm picturing a scenario where the dedication of the Greater Temple is happening and one of the guys tied to the altar is a retired PC... 
I like the suggestion of replacing Thrommel with one of the retired PC's as well. That makes it much more of an RP encounter and all the more poignant.
-Thrommel, who's secretly been replaced with Folger's Crystals. Let's see if the board members notice a difference...
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C Galadrim
Looking around
(1/30/03 1:20 pm)
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Re: Rufus and Burne
Oooohhh...
That was a good idea man... I like that one alot! To see my usual party leader's face when he sees his swashbuckler up there with a knife poised above his heart...
And good point about the current party asking for help, I would've been stuck if that came up. I'll just have to make sure that the big guns have been crippled and taken out of the equation. Though, if big trouble ensues, I might make a glorious last minute save, giving the party one last shot to get the job done.
And the guys say I don't give them enough of a chance... Pshaww!
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Apollonian
Here for a while
(2/10/03 10:38 am)
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Epic of Elemental Evil Update
Well, I picked up T1-4, D1-2, D3, G1-3, and GDQ1-7, plus Forgotten Temple and Lost Caverns. As far as I can tell, there are two potential campaigns there. Both start with the Temple of Elemental Evil, but one branches out into the Slavelords series and then through the Giants-Drow-Spider Queen or GDQ set, while the other would be centered around the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth with the Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun as a side trip.
Personally, I favor the latter path, as I've never been a very big drow fan (no real objections, they just don't excite me that much).
One thing I noticed skimming through these is that they expect a rather larger party than third edition -- 10 to 12 seems about standard!
Does anyone have suggestions on converting AD&D 1st and 2nd edition stuff to 3rd edition (soon to be revised)? I'm going to start with the little booklet that WotC put out when 3rd first came out, but a lot of stuff looks like it will take considerable tweaking.
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smetzger
Here for a while
(2/11/03 7:57 am)
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Conversion Suggestions
I have converted A1-A4 and have the conversions up on my web page. I just did a straight forward conversion and ran it with this conversion. But then I had a large party, started with 4 and it grew to 9 or 10.
If you post your conversions you will need to follow WOTCs ESD conversion agreement, which can be found on the d20 site.
yoyodyne.virtualave.net/
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amerigoV
Here for a while
(2/11/03 9:32 am)
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Re: Conversion Suggestions
Quote:
And good point about the current party asking for help, I would've been stuck if that came up. I'll just have to make sure that the big guns have been crippled and taken out of the equation.
You could make two easy adjustments here:
1) Apply the aging factors in the DMG to their ability scores (if needed)
2) If they truly settled down and retired, their skills are not going to be what they were at their peak of adventuring. I would give the orginal PCs negative levels. That way, they can still do some of the neat things (feats, for example), but they have a hard time hitting like they used to. Perhaps one could even adventure with the new PCs. They gain experience at an eccelerated rate to represent "knocking the rust off".
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Slipperyslope
Looking around
(2/11/03 10:30 am)
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Could be a problem
If your party destroys the Yellow Skull in the Temple of Elemental Evil, the temple is destroyed. Completely. Seems like that would put a damper on further adventuring in Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil
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Andorax
Still here? Wow.
(2/11/03 12:19 pm)
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Re: Could be a problem
Actually, Slipperystone, that assumption is made in RttToEE, and the "complete" destruction of the temple actually only consists of the collapse of the lower levels and sealing off of the nodes (which is exactly the state you'll find the Ruined Temple in in Chapter 1). The surface temple did not collapse as a result, and what damage was done has been being "fixed up" by the Hobgoblins who dwell there.
It would be more complicated if the first group of PCs DIDN'T destroy the Orb of Golden Death.
"Whadda ya mean, Orcs get levels too?!?" |
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