Good setting for a first campaign

[Tash]

I'm working out ideas for my first TROS campaign.  My goup has been together for several years now, though I've only been playing with them a few months.  For the most part we rotate who is DMing adventures so that everyone gets to play thier character, but we try to keep all the adventures within a loosely organized structure.

I will be acting as the Seneschal for the first few adventures.  I though I'd run the basic setting of my campaign by some of the experts to see if anyone has some advice.

The campaign will be set in Stahl near the border with Angharad.  The basic plot of the campaign will revolve around a conflict between two princes over their adjoining lands.  One is staunchly atheist and tolerates no mystical delusions among his smallfolk.  The other traveled in Angharad as a youth and allows its naturalist traditions to flourish.  

Both lords have begun levying troops and hiring mercenaries to supplement their forces, and some covert raiding has begun, though full blown hostilities have yet to commence.

The first session or two will consist of "basic training".  Litterally our characters will join a side (most likely the second lord since several of us have a thing for celtic based characters) and be run through a series of practice combats (to allow us to learn the system before risking the characters for real).  Once we are comfortable with how the mechanics work the party will be face some kind of special challenge that will earn them the notice of those in command (assuming they are victorious) and resulting in special missions being given to them as the political situation grows worse.  Each mission (scouting, raiding a town, assassinating a key figure, basically Special Ops kind of stuff) can then be done as a unique adventure with everyone who wants to taking a turn as the Seneschal.

Has anyone else used a simillar structure in another campaign?  Is this something you recomend doing for beging players or should we try something else first?

Advice is welcome.

[Brian Leybourne]

That sounds really good. One thing I suggest is that you sit down with the players beforehand and discuss the likely structure of the campaign and the lords etc, so that everyone can make the decision as to which lord to side with etc before the game, as an out of character decision rather than leaving it until everyone is IC, otherwise you'll (possibly) end up with widely disperate characters and SA's, and your life will become very difficult. If some of those decisions are made before you even start, and a group SA discussion as well, then things will be a lot easier in the long run.

Have fun, and let us know how the campaign goes!

Brian.