Thinking of starting a BR campaign sometime soon. I missed out on this setting when it first came out I’m just now discovering the goodness contained here in 
So for a new DM and group what domain would be best to start in? What other suggestions do you have for someone new to this setting to get started. I’ve got the setting and all of the setting books/suppliments.
At 09:25 AM 10/15/2011, bestial warlust wrote:
>Thinking of starting a BR campaign sometime soon. I missed out on
>this setting when it first came out I`m just now discovering the
goodness contained here in
Welcome.
So for a new DM and group what domain would be best to start in?
What other suggestions do you have for someone new to this setting
to get started. I`ve got the setting and all of the setting books/suppliments.
Well, thats a pretty subjective thing, of course. One could make an excellent argument for any of the "player" regions, and a pretty good one for most of the regions that arent supposed to be available to
players… It depends a lot on what you`re planning on doing. Are
you going to play at the adventure level, have the characters carve
out their own domains, or are they going to take on one of the existing ones?
That said, probably the best “introduction” realms are those in
Southern Anuire. Ilien, Modoere, Diemed. At least, those are the
ones that were the most playtested, and one could argue the most apt
for players (particularly new ones) to take on. Other regions of
Cerilia don`t have quite the same dynamic as the one in Southern
Anuire, though many places are apt.
I would avoid having the players get too close to any of the major
awnsheghlien realms too early in the game. Those are major “bosses”
and should be reserved for campaign-conclusion sorts of
things. However, there are any number of villains around, not the
least of which are adventures/encounters involving the Shadow
World. Bear in mind the role of that parallel world in a Birthright campaign.
Hope that helps,
Gary
Thanks that is some help. Now what about introducing new players? starting as a regent seems like it might be overwhelming for a new group. What about starting as adventurers then moving into the regent role? has anyone tried this? how well has it worked?
At 09:05 AM 10/16/2011, bestial warlust wrote:
>Thanks that is some help. Now what about introducing new players?
>starting as a regent seems like it might be overwhelming for a new
>group. What about starting as adventurers then moving into the
>regent role? has anyone tried this? how well has it worked?
The Rulebook has some guidelines for styles of setting up a BR
campaign on pp90-96. At some point or another, most of the BR
veterans around here have likely tried them, and youll probably get a range of opinions on the matter. They all have their merits. If you play purely at the adventure level, then the setting can run more or less like any other campaign world, though Id argue it has some
classic elements that still make it unique and (more) interesting
(than most.) The domain level is the highlight of the setting, for a
lot of people, and is one of the things that really sets BR
apart. However, a pure domain level campaign can look much like a
wargame with little actual role-playing involved. That`s not
necessarily bad–I like wargames–but it does really waste an opportunity.
Personally, I prefer to do this kind of hybrid thing in which the
players operate at the adventure level, but their actions and the
adventures they participate in affect or are inspired by the domain
level. If this is your first BR campaign you might want to consider
starting out at the adventure level, then progressing to things like
regents, random events, domains, etc. That is, players might start
out on a regular adventure, and after that adventure you might say
something like, "As a result of your actions the local guilders holding in the province has increased by 1 level. As a reward for your services he invites you to attend a feast in your honor." At the feast, that regent might give the characters an assignment and/or formalize their relationship by making one or more of them lieutenants. The assignment might be to deal with the effects at the adventure level of a random event (Great Captain, Monsters, etc. See the Rulebook pp40-45.) Maybe their actions result in the establishment of a new trade route, or they act out the effect of the guilders (free) espionage action for that domain round.
Later, the characters might adventure in such a way as to give them
access to a holding. They might become the heir of a regent and
inherit his lands, and then fully participate at the domain
level. However, I would continue to have them role-play their domain
actions to avoid the “wargaming” effect of the domain
level. Conflict with nearby domains, an awnsheghlien or two, etc.
should be appropriate. You could then introdue a larger, continent
spanning campaign: massive incursions from the Shadow World, war
between several states or regions, maybe even a foray by the Gorgon
or another of the awnsheghlien.
(For a long time, Ive been mulling over the birth of a new god as a campaign event... but havent even got round to taking notes on the
idea. I mention it because its the sort of broader campaign event that affects everyone from the adventure through the "empire" level--those regents with large, powerful domains. New temples, new units, new domains, the shift of power from one place to another, wars of conquest, etc. Such an event could easily be done in another campaign world, but theres no great outline for what it is those
things actually are doing to the “face” of the world itself at a
political level.)
As regents, the PCs are big fish, but in a much bigger pond; their
actions have a greater effect, but they still are essentially
role-playing those actions in a way that is familiar to RPGs. Always
bear in mind the themes of the setting: the political level of play,
bloodline and regency, the scarcity (compared to other campaigns) of
magic, the role of the Shadow World, and the unique dynamics of the
conflict of the races. Combine those things and you get the
essentials of a BR campaign at all levels.
Gary
I’d suggest starting with the PC’s as known trouble solvers/makers, have them become entangled in local regent actions early on and be taken on as agents / become regular opponents of a regent’s forces. As they gain in level and fame they should then naturally move into a leadership role, perhaps being given a single holding level and vassalage in exchange for some act of heroism / commercial success / faith / etc and then through success becoming heir to one of the larger domains.
If you want someone to inherit an actual realm then they probably need to start as an heir to the ruler - a third or fourth child possibly, with various acts then clearing their path to inherit true power later - spares were in practice needed sometimes after-all.
That gives them a chance to learn the setting, see the domain interaction, and then take over in stages.
If they have an advisory role they will see domain play before truly doing it themselves, you can show them the metagame at the time and when they want to step in (if they ever do) you can wangle a way for them to do so.
Great thanks for the helpful advice! 