I haven't quite figured out what classes yet.Also would you mind telling us what your characters are? Do they start at 1st level? What classes.
I do know I want the characters to start at 1st level, just because I like a low powered game. I like that sense of mortality and I want to make goblins scary again.
As for as characters...well, I'm kinda thinking along the lines of three groups of characters:
1: One character who is the investigator of Mordentshire. Modeled along the lines of Glen Cook's "Garrett, P.I." (If you're familiar with those books) but with a Sherlock Holmes twist. He's a free agent, but the Mordentshire council comes to him with baffling cases too, rather than just every games starting off with, "Dame walked into the office with legs that would make a bishop kick a hole in a stained glass window. I was nursing a bad case of hangover, but it looked liked she was nursing a bad case of life. Before she opened her mouth, I knew she lied." ( Perhaps, I read too much Raymond Chandler) So, detective gets the case and he calls on his associates to help out...kinda like Garrett does with each of the associates handling a different aspect of what is needed (Morley handling the thief skills, Saucerhead being the tank, etc.) This is the Gothic-Pulp game. The majority of the game will be in the town of Mordentshire (I'm using a lot of inspiration from the Cityscape book) with a few excursions into the wild. This is the default Ravenloft game.
2: When the mood hits for more roleplaying, I want to have The Family. Family of nobles sort of modeled after the Kennedys and the family of Henry II and Eleanor. They are the rulers of Mordent and the public loves them. In public they are the quintessential ruling family but behind the scenes things are way different. The family is completely disfunctional. They hate one another; completely jealous and spiteful and will do whatever it takes to destroy the others while they vie for more power. They will ally with each other one day against one member of the family and the next will screw that alliance over.
"You're risking a Powers check by sacrificing that young boy for the spell you're about to cast."
"Damn the Powers! My brother has more sheep in his field than I do and his party was a bigger success than mine. He must pay!"
Just the most despicable group of people you've ever met. Just think, "When Soap Operas Attack" Ravenloft style.
3: Group of adventurers who roam the domains in search of evil. They're supernatural guns for hire; a la Ghostbusters or perhaps church inquisition. They show up, find that there's evil afoot pretty easy, go to the abandoned mine and start killing. 'Cause, I'll be honest, as much as I enjoy a well thought out story with complex plot, intriguing characterization, use of symbolism and sub-plot with an encompasing theme...sometimes I just wanna stomp the sh** out of something.
If any of you have ideas for any of these groups, please throw them in. Don't be shy. I really would like to hear what you think.
Jack
