Campaign Ideas For Middle-Ages Europe

The Plot

MadAfro wrote:

Mike Rhoads saith:

>Just wondering if anyone could give me some good campaign ideas in the >middle ages, with very limited magic and human NPC's. I'm stuck, >thanks

Assuming it's middle-ages Europe that you're after, there are plenty of things to draw adventures from....

Problems of Feudalism: Nobles rule the serfs, exploit them mercilessly. The serfs could be tired of this crap, and the PCs may find themselves in the middle of an insurrection.

Intrigue: The middle ages were rife with all sorts of intrigues, both between nobles, and with the Church. There was backstabbing, jealousy, infidelity, infighting, inbreeding, and all sorts of other nasty behavior going on.

Crusades: The Church is powerful, and needs to get rid of a few nobles. Send 'em on some religious errand with huge armies and the Grace of God behind them!

Plagues: It's the Dark Ages! Disease is rampant, and makes one hell of a backdrop for PCs to get stuck in! I did this once, and it was a very cool game, and the players actually had fun! ;)

War: If all else fails, go William Wallace on their ass! ;) Wars offer all sorts of adventure hooks, and they happen for an infinite variety of reasons.

Land: Ties in nicely with War, as it tends to be the prime reason for violence. Perhaps one or more of the PCs inherited (or shall inherit) a title and the lands to go with it. Since, in the Middle Ages, land = power, the PC will probably want to do everything in his/her power to keep it.

Social Injustice: The Mid-ages were not a fair time. Women were frequently treated like dirt, as were ethnic minorities, pagans, children, the underprivileged, etc.

Incidentally, I read a very good book (entitled "Shield of Three Lions," by Pamela Kaufmann), in which a girl disguised herself as a boy in the hopes of keeping hold over her father's land, after he is brutally murdered. The whole thing takes place during the Crusades, and I highly recommend it for the historical backdrop, as well as the excellent dialogue she writes. The girl is trying to reach King Richard to validate her claims to the land. However, this girl is far from worldly, and the reader learns about all the "interesting" facets of medieval life as she does.

Also, I don't know if White Wolf's World of Darkness games are your thing, but the Vampire: the Dark Ages main rulebook may be worth at least a cursory thumb-through for ideas. You'd have to decide for yourself how useful it is, though. Other games, such as Pendragon by Chaosium (IIRC), and Ars Magica make use of the time period, as well. V:tDA and Ars Magica are a bit more magically-inclined than you seem to want, though.

There is a historical AD&D supplement called "Charlemagne's Paladins" that may be of some use, and the "Celts" supplement may also be a fun read, even if a bit before the time period you want. These supplements may be out of print, these days, however.

Finally, if you keep on being stuck, you may want to give some thought to changing campaigns. Think about it. Are you fresh out of ideas PERIOD, or only for this particular campaign?