Hogscape
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
It's not the years, it's the mileage.
Posts: 2,126
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Post by Hogscape on Oct 27, 2009 21:05:52 GMT -5
Hi folks, Another session tonight; here's what is planned, I need some ideas to spice it up, things that could go wrong/right, exciting stuff to happen... twists and red herrings etc.
The PCs need to gain access to a heavily guarded area of the Big Bad's palace called The Traitor's Court (it's a prison of sorts), to free their NPC patron (wrong place, wrong time).
The ogre jailor has already agreed to turn a blind eye to the escape - he's even going to leave the door open - providing they bring him item 'x'. The location of x is already established and is an easy get (they had it once but erm... don't have it now...).
How can I make it exciting getting in and getting out?
HALP!
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Post by zedofan on Oct 27, 2009 22:01:35 GMT -5
Hogscape- You can always go with the reliable old saw, "A" discovered your plan and is waiting inside to get all of the adventurers,"B" who also discovered your plans wants the "item" and intends to take it before you get into the prison and finally "C" who has his own reasons for wanting to get his paws on "X" is waiting outside for the escapee and his companions. Have fun!
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Post by jongjungbu on Oct 27, 2009 22:02:32 GMT -5
Hmm, off the top of my head...Maybe along the way in, they find the wrong room holding their NPC patron. But this NPC turns out needing rescue as well, and they can choose to bring him along with the promise of reward or good deed or whatever. But, during their escape, some unexpected event occurs that calls for their way out to be heavily patrolled by incoming guards (or out) and the jailor is not there. They gotta sneak by a few more encounters, but if they rescued that wrong NPC, he sells them out by calling out for guards so he can make his own escape.
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Post by ProfGremlin on Oct 27, 2009 22:44:47 GMT -5
How can I make it exciting getting in and getting out? Two ideas, though, granted they're not well fleshed/thought out: 1) Time shift a room/corridor. What the PC's see in there is one minute or day ahead or behind them. Shifting it a minute or so off could mean that they run into a guard patrol their information indicated wouldn't be there at the time they are. If you shift it a day it's exactly one day so lighting and everything looks the same. If you shift it a day ahead suddenly all the guards know who the PC's are and what they did and how they got out. Initiate hue and cry! You could also set it so that outside the room/corridor the PC's see into the corridor in the same time frame. It's only when they enter the boundary of the room/corridor that they can perceive the shifted reality. Oops! I thought you said the way was clear! 2) Dogs. Geas bound miniature hell mutts on a serious caffeine buzz. The dogs are bound to guard the item and will track it down if it moves X feet from them. Nothing like a little dog barking it's head off to ruin your Luck SR to hide in the closet under that stairwell.
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Hogscape
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
It's not the years, it's the mileage.
Posts: 2,126
|
Post by Hogscape on Oct 27, 2009 22:55:19 GMT -5
Thanks for the ideas folks. The PCs have been chasing the item for long enough so I want to move them to the prison break but I don't want it to be a run-o-the-mill cliched break-out...
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machfront
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
"Let's go dark!"
Posts: 2,147
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Post by machfront on Oct 27, 2009 23:23:40 GMT -5
Heh. You plan things. It's weird. Anyway. I don't see anything wrong with the ol' standbys/cliches. They work. 1. It's a trap. 2. Their presence becomes known after they've found the NPC and removed him from his cell or whatever... now, they'll have to "Mission: Impossible" a way out. Planning, stealth, timing. 3. Woops. Sorry, Mario, but the princess is in another castle. ;D 4. Everything goes fairly well. Uh-oh....NPC'sadoppelganger! Porthos: "It worked!" Athos: "Of course; it's a prison. There's no trouble getting in, the problems will come when we want to get out." - The Man In The Iron Mask (1998)
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Post by Toad-Killer-Dog on Oct 28, 2009 0:15:15 GMT -5
Nuts sorry I didn't see this in time.
I would have the ogre jailer arrested by the guard at the last minute on an unrelated charge of graft and corruption, then the players have the information they need, but no inside man.
Abort the mission?
Alternative plan?
Pour the tension on. ;D
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Hogscape
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
It's not the years, it's the mileage.
Posts: 2,126
|
Post by Hogscape on Oct 28, 2009 2:57:06 GMT -5
Hmmm, all good...
Okay, here's the bit that I kind of forgot to mention... The Big Bad wants the NPC to be rescued. The NPC is a small cog in the conspiracy to bring Black Lucas down. The rebels are trying to plant 3 summoning discs on strategic islands to summon a 'thing' to deal with BL's 'things'. The PCs have already planted one disc, BL wants them to complete the job since the discs don't do what the rebels think they will...
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machfront
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
"Let's go dark!"
Posts: 2,147
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Post by machfront on Oct 28, 2009 3:56:55 GMT -5
Well, it's probably too late for input, but... In that case, what I'd probably do is let the NPC's breakout go pretty by the numbers. Let them wonder why it was (relatively) "so easy". Let them sweat about that. They may end up paranoid about everything. ...or, if they don't notice... hey... too bad.
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Post by mgtremaine on Oct 28, 2009 9:36:02 GMT -5
You could also put something/someone in a cell near by that is a whole different adventure. Pirate Lord who is only too happy to turn on whoever helps him out? Bound Demon in the form of a Human? Raving Madman who is very convincing until he's let out then his madness threatens to alert everyone in the area. Since it's a prison there should be lots of other fun things held there.
-Mike
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Hogscape
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
It's not the years, it's the mileage.
Posts: 2,126
|
Post by Hogscape on Oct 28, 2009 10:24:21 GMT -5
Thanks folks, I played the break in and out kind of by the numbers but they made a friend of one of the guards so that will be useful down the track.
We did have one major gllitch during the game - one of the players went into diabetic shock. I learned that I am no good in a crisis!
Anyhoo, with blood sugar restored, we continue!
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Post by ProfGremlin on Oct 28, 2009 10:34:01 GMT -5
Anyhoo, with blood sugar restored, we continue! Yikes! Glad to hear they made their Con SR. It's a heck of a way to learn about a such a situation. I deal with migraines and just in the off chance I react to my medication I make sure that at least one other player knows what I took and when. It's situations such as these that make me take another look at the in-born Advantages and Flaws that some other systems use. Can you imagine a hobbit going into diabetic shock just as combat begins? There's a reason they have eight meals a day!
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machfront
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
"Let's go dark!"
Posts: 2,147
|
Post by machfront on Oct 28, 2009 20:47:37 GMT -5
We did have one major gllitch during the game - one of the players went into diabetic shock. Ugh. I hope it all turned out well. One my very good friends is very much diabetic, but he's a tough MFer and handles it rather well. I learned that I am no good in a crisis! Oh, man... you didn't run around in circles did you? I trust you've learned what to do if there's a 'next time'?
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Hogscape
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
It's not the years, it's the mileage.
Posts: 2,126
|
Post by Hogscape on Oct 28, 2009 23:43:29 GMT -5
Running in circles with hands in the air. Isn't that what you're supposed to do in a crisis??? At least everyone else knows there's something going on... Our wizard immediately Googled; then summoned hot sugary tea, toast and jam to revive him. Worked a treat, she's good like that!
Yes we know what to do next time. He confessed that it happens 2 - 3 times a year and he was glad he didn't hit his head as he hates having to buy new glasses!!!
He was soon
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machfront
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
"Let's go dark!"
Posts: 2,147
|
Post by machfront on Oct 29, 2009 4:48:20 GMT -5
Umm... hello?... you ok? -lol-
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