Advice Needed: One-Shot Adventure [Archive] - Wizards Community

Advice Needed: One-Shot Adventure [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Killer_Joe
10-29-07, 10:36 AM I have done some minor research on one-shot adventures and here's what I have so far:

Three Things:
1.) Outside of the Dungeon encountering random monsters
2.) Guards at the entrance of said Dungeon
3.) Fighting the big dude inside with his minions beside him.

This is for Level 1 - 3 because I have many beginners in the group.

Any advice is appreciated!
Gryllmyre
10-29-07, 11:10 AM I made an experimental low level sandbox where the players could pretty much do what they like (but also allowed them to go to areas that would challenge them more than they were ready, so it was a mixed bag).

In any case, one area involved a cave in the side of a mountain that hid a (get, ready... really unique copyrighted patented idea here) band of goblin raiders. To reach the entrance, you had to first cross a stream with a makeshift log bridge crossing it. The goblins rigged it to come apart if a hidden rope wasn't secured to a small stump first. Crocodiles infest the waters to make the trap more deadly.

The entrance to the cave was guarded by some goblin lookouts hiding in trees that would run screaming into the cave if any were shot down.

Inside the cave were a couple more goblin guards with a worg watchdog that could help sniff for intruders. This encounter actually ended up being too much for the characters because they were still first level. I recommend the PC's get to at least level 2 before they actually reach the cave.

I had some more wandering guards, a barracks room, and the head bandit was a goblin fighter/rogue that would dart between crates holding the stolen goods, taking shots at the PC's from hidden locations. My particular version didn't work all that well. He missed every time he fired, and the PC's just followed him to his next hiding spot and took him down.

Anyway, those are a few ideas for you. This wasn't enough to get the PC's to level 3, but the trek involved killing zombies at a graveyard and hunting crocs as well. I also had a goblin ambush at the road across the stream.
Killer_Joe
11-02-07, 06:30 AM Thanks. Those are good ideas that made me think of additional things I could do.

I'm sure writting your own "1-Shot Adv" is the best way to go but are there any publications for them? Remember how Hero Quest had like 12 mini-stories, are there anything like that going around? Does anyone know?
DoveArrow
11-03-07, 12:46 PM Personally, I think that if you need a one-shot adventure, the best place to turn is the RPGA. I know, for example, that the Living Greyhawk campaigns have some great introductory campaigns that are round 1st level. I say check them out.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Killer_Joe 10-29-07, 10:36 AM	I have done some minor research on one-shot adventures and here's what I have so far: Three Things: 1.) Outside of the Dungeon encountering random monsters 2.) Guards at the entrance of said Dungeon 3.) Fighting the big dude inside with his minions beside him. This is for Level 1 - 3 because I have many beginners in the group. Any advice is appreciated!
Gryllmyre 10-29-07, 11:10 AM	I made an experimental low level sandbox where the players could pretty much do what they like (but also allowed them to go to areas that would challenge them more than they were ready, so it was a mixed bag). In any case, one area involved a cave in the side of a mountain that hid a (get, ready... really unique copyrighted patented idea here) band of goblin raiders. To reach the entrance, you had to first cross a stream with a makeshift log bridge crossing it. The goblins rigged it to come apart if a hidden rope wasn't secured to a small stump first. Crocodiles infest the waters to make the trap more deadly. The entrance to the cave was guarded by some goblin lookouts hiding in trees that would run screaming into the cave if any were shot down. Inside the cave were a couple more goblin guards with a worg watchdog that could help sniff for intruders. This encounter actually ended up being too much for the characters because they were still first level. I recommend the PC's get to at least level 2 before they actually reach the cave. I had some more wandering guards, a barracks room, and the head bandit was a goblin fighter/rogue that would dart between crates holding the stolen goods, taking shots at the PC's from hidden locations. My particular version didn't work all that well. He missed every time he fired, and the PC's just followed him to his next hiding spot and took him down. Anyway, those are a few ideas for you. This wasn't enough to get the PC's to level 3, but the trek involved killing zombies at a graveyard and hunting crocs as well. I also had a goblin ambush at the road across the stream.
Killer_Joe 11-02-07, 06:30 AM	Thanks. Those are good ideas that made me think of additional things I could do. I'm sure writting your own "1-Shot Adv" is the best way to go but are there any publications for them? Remember how Hero Quest had like 12 mini-stories, are there anything like that going around? Does anyone know?
DoveArrow 11-03-07, 12:46 PM	Personally, I think that if you need a one-shot adventure, the best place to turn is the RPGA. I know, for example, that the Living Greyhawk campaigns have some great introductory campaigns that are round 1st level. I say check them out.