The Grand Trunk Telegraph Co. (Campaign Idea)

[stormwell]

This one has been brewing for a while ever since I saw the film Western Union on TV a few weeks ago.

With electric telegraph having been mentioned in Legends and a Seacat post confirming it was 'wired' I think tis possible for a campaign to revolve around the construction of a telegraph line, the PCs would be adventurers hired to scout possible routes, act as troubleshooters and provide security. Theres plenty of scope for encounters from sabotages to outright attacks in the wilderness, as well as investigating missing work crews.

Now the basic idea I have is a telegraph line is to be built from Caspia to the Ordic capital of Merin to improve communications between the two kingdoms. This line will be known as the Grand Trunk once it is completed and would be the backbone of Cygnar's growing telegraph network. Rough idea of a route I have planned as follows;

Caspia
Steelwater Flats
Ironhead Station
Orven
Fort Whiterock
Point Bourne (Optional, may get changed following the events of Wrath)
Tarna
Heartstone
Merin

Caspia to Orven would probably be one of the easiest parts to do considering the railway line, crossing the moutains from Orven to Fort Whiterock would be the most changeling stretch. North of Fort Whiterock I'll give the PCs a choice whether to go to Point Bourne as originally planned, go with Plan B (build an outpost that'll serve as a junction) or come up with their own idea. At this point there will be plenty of trouble relating to the war in the form of Khadoran and Cryxian raids, Tarna will offer some false hope since they won't be in the clear until they're past Heartstone.

Reasons for a 'central' route through Orven would mean the route would be largely 'safe' since it'll be a harder target for anyone to attack being so deep in Cygnaran territory (in theory anyway). There is also the scope of further adventures building other routes.

[Rapier]

Sounds like a good campaign concept to me - I'd probably open it up a bit and allow the pc's to potentially play higher up business men as well as adventuring scout types - you'd definitely want one pc to be playing a telegraph specialist.

I've often thought of running a similar concept - although I didn't plan for the group to travel to Ord - I think it would cut into Ord's Neutrality if they allowed this - and potentially give Khador a reason to invade.

[stormwell]

To be honest I doubt Khador would invade Ord simply for the sake of a telegraph line, raids by 'brigands' certainly but not outright war since the Empire has its own problems and adding Ord to those problems would be a bad idea.

[Rapier]

That's probably true - I've only recently picked up Wrath so I haven't seen the story post legends - last time I checked Khador was winning though - if they were looking for an excuse to invade Ord that would do in my book.

Of course even if you don't think they would do it, the characters (if they're from Cygnar) will have to convince the Ordic officials of the fact - or else demonstrate a willingness to aid Ord if War were to occur.

[stormwell]

Doug highlighted some reasons why Ord is relatively safe from Khadoran aggression for the time being;

http://privateerpressforums.com/show...=1#post1052421

Regardless you've given me a possible plot point, some Ordic nobles could be opposed to the new telegraph out of fear of possible Khadoran action. Probably end up being a similar situation that happened all over Britain during the railway boom when landowners simply refused passage.

[Munindk]

If you havent already, I highly recommend that you read the Discworld book "Going Postal". It isnt exactly the best book in the series, but its all about regular mail vs. telegraphs.

[stormwell]

Yes, I have that book....even seen the TV miniseries they did! ^.^

It did have a basis in fact, in Britain the telegraph got taken over by the post office....so could have some involvement from the Cygnaran Dispatch Alliance.

[Mastervalrik]

Maybe the group are sent to Ord to puit a pitch in to the King and his advisories and maybe they agree if the group will take care of something for them, or maybe they refuse sighting they would not be part of anything like this, let the characters dictate what happens, gives a feel of epicness to it and they can feel like they changed the whole nation....