A beginner with big ambitions - would love some input and thoughts
TL;DR I'm working on my first DM project and would love your tips and input for a beginner working with an experienced team of 3 people. How was your first time, any ideas for my concept, resources or planning tips? Where can I read more content and lore ?
Background: Hey guys, I'm Matt I'm new to the world of tactical RPG. my partner had a team with their brother and girl friend, and used to play a lot of DND and VtM having me joining a couple of adventures and I wanted to bring forth my own adventure of Draw-steel as my first DM campaign. The overall concept was to focus around Capital, think Game of thrones meeting Lord of the rings kind of vibes. I read through book 1 and seen some videos on MCDM youtube. I will write this post sharing my thoughts and organize those as I go.
My current approach: I started with printing out the map and lore of the city (I'll attach it), I want my players to have a lot of room to do as they like with a push of a general agenda. I have some experience in gaming RPG and and major-crimes series thought of setting a lot of possible "quests" around the city for them to explore of different types allowing room to gain projects, artifacts and gain xp matching their echelon and gaining information on the history and story line, people of interest and power plays.
I want to refine the reason my players would reach Capital but the time frame is as the book stated - 3 years after the death of the prince and the power struggle for the crown.
In the city there are 7 groups playing for the 7 deadly sins.
> House Silvara (sloth): in charge of resources and the blackpowder facilities - the house in charge living in the palace. the prince used to be the head of it but after his "death" no suitable ancestor came forth to claim the throne just yet. Hakaan ancestry. Talent-null
> House Alvaro (pride): in charge of the imperial university and research. High elf ancestry. Tactician.
> House Vorona (wrath): the military-law enforcement and prison. Orc ancestry. Fury-censor.
> House Navarr (greed): justice and church laws. Memonek or human ancestry. Conduit.
> House Valetta (lust): same story as the lore, used to be tax collectors but alienated themselves after the lilac night using the Codex Mortis. Revenant ancestry. Shadow.
> The Guild leaders (envy): 3 guys teaming up to use the Valetta downfall for power representing the middle class of the Capital. Lady Shirome being in charge of the spy network (seeking power) working with the common bank leader (seeking wealth) and the craftsmanship leader (seeking fame). mixes ancestries maybe Polder, Dwarf, Human. Troubadour.
> The forsaken House Gorgannon (gluttony): used to be part of the Capitol and great houses but was disowned and neglected, nowadays it is the outskirts of the capital vines cover worn out buildings and trees growing everywhere, where the poor and hungry assumed control. The place of smugglers and the underground, the resistance. wode elf ancestry. "They knew something and were silenced. now they seek to get back on their feet and avenge". elementalist.
The overall storyline:
Our time count starts at the "great explosion" (our 00) the one that created the Khoursir desert and brough forth the "evil" devils who live there. it is said to have caused a religious war between the good - the Capitol and the evil - the devil worshippers. The mountains have risen to protect the good people of the capital but about a hundred years ago a massive energy attack has hit the capitol once again - House Gorgannon being the most eastern district has fallen, locked away and people forbidden from reaching it due to the risk of radiation or evil energy remnants. The people of the Capital swore to never forget but inevitably moved on. about 5 years ago the tax collectors (House Valetta) stopped from coming to the guild district the common people cheered in the streets, the mysterious disappearance of a house seemed to diminish with the relief that came with their disappearance. around the same time the Guild leaders have taken charge and shown to be of great value to the kingdom and being closer to the prince. Then, three years ago the kingdom has announced that the prince is gone and for now the Silvara house with the help of the other Great Houses will be in charge until the rightful ruler will take the throne.
I need to refine what the mystery will be about. maybe a threat of war from the outside as a cover story or a resistance growing from the ashes of House Gorgannon - not as "dead" as declared.
I like the idea of the prince not being really dead.
The players will first try to understand who wants to take the throne - who has the rightful claim, House Alvaro being prideful thinking they could do a good job in their place but House Vorona resisting it, the players looking for a lost son of the prince or a will (surprisingly doesnt exists or largely benificial to house Navarr). after getting to know the houses better or some "mystery" notes regarding the prince - coming to the understanding some people wanted him gone and were unhappy with his ruling - assuming it was an assassination. maybe House Vorona had something to do with it with their disappearance, or maybe the resistance only wanting to cause chaos in the Capital and take down the kingdom or maybe even House Navarr being close to the kingdom but wanting more control as in his absence the justice system and religion gained a lot of power.
The guild Three were growing in a surprising rate of reputation but with the prince being a part of their growth it seems odd for them to assassinate him. what do they have to gain from the whole state of chaos?
Growing through the tragic story of house Valetta - the players will be tasked to obtain the book of Codex Mortix in fear of it being used again by the house and evil vampire duchess wanting to turn everyone their subjects. only to later discover it is needed by the other houses to complete a ritual.
The prince isnt dead, 3 years ago he underwent a ritual made gain the power of the original Dragon Phalanx with the support of some of the houses - house Alvaro and House Vorona. As House Alvaro has been refining the beast magic and transformations in their research center and House Vorona was promised to use such power to strengthen their armies.
With the late House Gorgannon being in charged with resources and the guild district they knew something was up - the demand of blackpowder and experiments as if the Capital was getting ready for a war but before they could tell the press about it, they were silenced.
The sleeping prince was found by the Navarr house at the depth of the castle but the secret was kept as they preserved him unaware of what has accrued looking to understand more without uncovering they are the one holding him. House Alvaro and House Vorona believing the other might were the ones to steal the prince causing more tension between the houses sharing the secret. at the verge of a war or a surprise assassination as the adventure proceeds to try and silence the other house and look for the prince.
small quests ideas the players can do as they further the plot:
1st echelon:
- lost artist : major crimes arc to find him, fighting some smugglers and uncovering what happened to him he ended up being rat out by his friend sent to prison over painting the prince assassinated
- join the army: get weapons and training, fight monsters. (get to know house Vorona)
- getting to know the guilds:
-- The Fonts : sent on a lead of a story with reward. getting to know more about the houses
-- The Rasp : needing the players help with a delivery
-- the common bank: getting a task to go to the outskirts of the city and claim bounty over monsters.
- the guild leaders - close to end: the players are known in the district and get to know the leaders and their rapid recent growth, how they were close to the prince. Lady Shirome admits to being in charge of the spy network giving the players the task to look into the assassination option of the prince -> ponting them to look into the outskirts and the revolution or destruction of house Gorgonne.
2nd echelon:
- ancient secrets: going through the ruins and uncovering history document about House Silvara claim of power and madness. the conflicts of the prince with other houses.
- help the weak: a child disappearance or the terror of monsters as they have no protection as the rest of the capital.
- Smugglers Ally: an npc that ran from the prison wants the players to help them and rescue his lover that was left behind. (getting to know house Vorona and their agenda - unrightful imprisonment)
- we need more information: go to the imperial university.
-- wild monsters in the streets (getting to know house Alvaro and the animal experiments)
- fight or teamup with the resistance - agents of chaos want to shake the Capital, the rich vs the poor. they lack the power to do anything meaningful but might suggest an action against the church. The deceitful organization that let the poor rot with their fake morals. (getting to know the church and how it gained a lot of power, a "well kept secret" by the church)
3rd echelon:
- the fire breaking: a Montage test
- the opera: a growing cult and an uprising of a character claiming the throne as the rightful prince ancestor.
- the kingdom needs their help a meeting with the great houses - risk of war with House Valetta and retrieval of the codex (the tragic tale, uncovering the secret of the codex mortis being used for a ritual and that maybe the prince isnt dead at all - "the houses are using us") the guilds leaders want the house to fall completely.
-- a trip to the castle : a surprise assassination sparks conflict between House Alvaro and House Vorona. (who killed and why? clues to the tension starting three years ago with the first failed ritual and the disappearance of the prince)
4th echelon:
-- we have to find to prince to stop the Alvaro-Vorona inevitable conflict, diving into either of the houses and trying to find where the prince is at -> the House Navarr secret. at this point based on who knows what and if the players are not holding the codex mortis or have lost it I'll probably consider different ending scenarios:
> House Navarr awakening the prince when they feel like they are being targeted.
> the assassination was done using the guild leaders and turning them villain trying to claim control and killing more of the Nobel Houses heads.
> one of the other houses discover Navarr holds the prince and decides to take him back using the blackpowder supply - if House Alvaro then transforming the power lying in the prince to pure power they can control, if House Valetta - making him into a super soldier but turning out a lashing monster for a final fight.
> the resistance did their planned mission against the church and found the prince, they try to blackmail the church or the noble houses for a change -> reviving the House Gorgonne and stopping discrimination against the poor.
> the players failed to get the codex mortis, and house Valetta decided to get the stolen prince to prevent and find a cure to their curse (if we can reverse the prince we could reverse us or maybe even succeed this time in reviving the late lord Valetta)
I'll have to think of the actual monsters and riddles as I go and prepare. I thought it would be nice to use the Fonts as a way of propelling the bigger agenda events using rumors and articles. Still have no idea how I will actually do any of it in real time or what my game plan will be, but this has been my creative outlet and ideas so far.
If you've read through I would love your reviews or opinions - even a "sounds great/ awful", "you over think this/ I love an over the top major-crime who's the killer in the middle of an adventure"
Thanks lovies <3
Posted Dec 5, 2025, 3:14 PM UTC