Oh my! I've been developing/running a caravan-based campaing (simply titled "Caravan") since the days of 2e. It is a Forgotten Realms set campaign where the caravan will travel from Waterdeep to Kara-Tur and back. Since, as you correctly state, that getting hit by brigands would get dull after a while, I set mine up where the PCs are "caravan runners." In that capacity, they would travel to areas that the main caravan couldn't get to. I gloss over the trading/bartering part, but have been able to input a bunch of adventures along the way.I had a thread a few months ago laying out the first few chapters (28 planned!) but I can't find it so I'll recap.
Chapter 1: Waterdeep
- Heroes' Rest (my creation, PCs form as a party and get a small adventure under their belt before the caravan departs and runs afoul of the Zhentarim - the start of a long and beautiful friendship)
Chapter 2: The Road North
- Welcome to the Kryptome (Dun 52)
- By Kraken (my creation, run afoul of the Kraken Society in Yartar)
Chapter 3: The Interior
- The Whistling Skeleton (Drag 200)
- The Matchmakers (Dun 7)
- Shut In (Dun 128 - the party got horribly off track in "The Matchmakers" and I had to use this little gem to straighten things out)
- Midnight Snacks (Orpsus from FR "Book of Lairs")
- Cave In (my creation, the party's first foray into the Underdark)
- Keeper of the Balance (my creation - dealt with crazed druid in Firepeak Mtns)
- Grakhirt's Lair (Dun 1)
Chapter 4: Welcome to Iriaebor
- A Day at the Faire (based on article in Drag 118)
- For the Price of a Rose (foray into the planes - from PS Boxed Set)
- The Eternal Boundary (PS Adventure)
Chapter 5: To the Inner Sea
- Honor Lost, Honor Regained (Dun 48)
- Raid on Teziir (Pirates of the Inner Sea)
- The Oracle at Sumbar (Dun 48)
Chapter 6: Into the Elven Wood
- Two for the Road (Dun 49)
- Raid on Essembra (from "Raid on Bormeum" in the DL Taladas boxed set)
- Pool of Radiance: Attack on Myth Drannor
- Till Death Do Us Part (Dun 29)
- Commando (my creation - PCs rescue a Harper from the prison in Hillsfar)
I've slowly been converting to 3.5 and just about have Chapters 1-14 done. If you want to know more, I'll be happy to expound more.
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