A good ol' fashioned train heist! [Archive] - Wizards Community

A good ol' fashioned train heist! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
That Blasted Somoflange
10-14-05, 11:35 AM It involves the thunder rail and an airship, specifically the airship not able to keep up with the thunderrail lies in wait for the train, when it sees it, it launches 2 ballista with chains attached to harpoon the train, dragging the airship along. Then the crew of the airship breaks into the cargo car and tries to steal somehting. The PC's can be the ones that try to thwart the heist, or they can possibly be the ones doing the heist.

Has anybody done an encounter like this? How did it go? I'm writing an adventure for this and would like to hear some ideas and feedback about anybody elses group doing something similar.
DoveArrow
10-14-05, 12:31 PM If you haven't already, you should seriously watch the Firefly episode called "The Train Heist." It's on the first disc of the DVD collection. It ought to help you generate some ideas.
SpyGuy
10-14-05, 12:44 PM I gotta say, I love the chain idea between airship and rail.

But if you want a larger caper, have the devious criminal patron that hires the PCs insist they track down a renegade Orien heir, or kidnap a loyal one. They get on the train normally, get creative with keeping the passengers in check, and have the Orien heir use their dragonmark to take control of the rail and slow it to match speed with an airship.

Airships don't exactly have cargo bay doors, so part three of the plan could be attaching chains from the bottom of the ship directly to the crate they're trying to steal.

Hiccups in the plan could be powerful passengers, an unexpected cabin filled with extra hired muscle, or pretty much anything that might go wrong, like losing control of the elemental.

I can just imagine somehow the Orien heir getting his head blown off and the train accelerating to dangerous speeds with an airship in tow... and they're heading right toward a station...
shadowpavement
10-14-05, 12:59 PM There is also a great train scene in the old school movie King Solomon's Mines staring Richard Chamberlain. It's prabably the best scene in the whole thing, though considering the quality of the movie that isn't saying much. But it is a pretty fun watch if you don't take it very seriously.

You can pick it up pretty cheep at any used or even new dvd place

"I've Got It!!!"

(for those who have seen the movie)
cmanos
10-14-05, 02:13 PM I have a train scene like this planned for a future adventure, with seeds from the Firefly Train Heist as well as one of the MoH adventures where the characters have to fix the train.

I don't want to add anything from Whisper, as the players will be going throuigh that mod as well, but definitely like the idea of a train scene.
REN
10-14-05, 04:03 PM Ever since I saw the Firefly episode, I've been dreaming of ways to incorporate that into a D&D adventure. I had hoped to be a player in such a story line, but since that's not happening I've decided that I would try it with the group that I DM. As soon as I'm done with the WOAVB module, that on the return trip to Sharn, there will be some sort of train heist. My ideas so far are as follows...

The Emerald Claw knows that the PCs are aboard the train and want to capture the SoulBlade or/and the Shemas. They will plant a changling spy on the train who will force the driver to slow the train down enough so that Garrow can 'glide in' with his airship and drop down on top of the train - trying not to alert anyone. They would ancor the Airship to the train and send down some soldiers. The elemental would be supressed to allow the soarwoad to simply sail the skies with the ropes anchored to the train would propel it forward. This would happen at night while most people are asleep. I may even put some sort of sleep effect on the passengers, giving the PCs an easy DC to beat (hopefull some beat it). Then they would have to do a Listen or Spot check to see if they sense the train slow down or if they see the airship (depening where they are). The Emerald claw soldiers will search the train from front to back looking for the PCs and when they find them they will either take them prisoner or a fight will break out. Eventually something will go wrong - perhaps the driver decides to be brave - er... stupid, and begins to comand the elemental to speed up the train while the spy is distracted. This would of course cause the airship to be pulled downward quite fast and require that the driver of the airship activate the elemtental thus causing a sort of tug of war. I would most likely have the tug start when the soldiers are escaping or the PCs are going up the ladder/ropes. Something is going to crash!

On the other hand, it would be interesting to make the PCs be the thieves. Hmmmmmm....

I would like to hear other ideas as well, since my idea is sort of basic. This sounds like a great mini scenario.
That Blasted Somoflange
10-15-05, 08:56 PM If you haven't already, you should seriously watch the Firefly episode called "The Train Heist." It's on the first disc of the DVD collection. It ought to help you generate some ideas.

Oh I've seen it all right... Joss Whedon is my master now :D
g. felix
10-15-05, 10:04 PM you have inspired me! i think i am going to have my heroes hi-jack a train using the airship they took when they killed garrow. but why? maybe a madman has stolen it. or maybe an army is on it and the heroes have to stop them from attacking and restarting the war. i am hoping to see more cool ideas here and i hope you guys don't mind me stealing them. of course you can always use my luke-warm ideas whenever you want.
That Blasted Somoflange
10-16-05, 09:39 PM you have inspired me! i think i am going to have my heroes hi-jack a train using the airship they took when they killed garrow. but why? maybe a madman has stolen it. or maybe an army is on it and the heroes have to stop them from attacking and restarting the war. i am hoping to see more cool ideas here and i hope you guys don't mind me stealing them. of course you can always use my luke-warm ideas whenever you want.

I personally don't mind if you steal ideas, heck that's why I made this thread, all I ask is you let us know how it went.
Radkres
10-16-05, 09:54 PM You know you can fly them upside down right
is covered in EXHB page 29

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
That Blasted Somoflange 10-14-05, 11:35 AM	It involves the thunder rail and an airship, specifically the airship not able to keep up with the thunderrail lies in wait for the train, when it sees it, it launches 2 ballista with chains attached to harpoon the train, dragging the airship along. Then the crew of the airship breaks into the cargo car and tries to steal somehting. The PC's can be the ones that try to thwart the heist, or they can possibly be the ones doing the heist. Has anybody done an encounter like this? How did it go? I'm writing an adventure for this and would like to hear some ideas and feedback about anybody elses group doing something similar.
DoveArrow 10-14-05, 12:31 PM	If you haven't already, you should seriously watch the Firefly episode called "The Train Heist." It's on the first disc of the DVD collection. It ought to help you generate some ideas.
SpyGuy 10-14-05, 12:44 PM	I gotta say, I love the chain idea between airship and rail. But if you want a larger caper, have the devious criminal patron that hires the PCs insist they track down a renegade Orien heir, or kidnap a loyal one. They get on the train normally, get creative with keeping the passengers in check, and have the Orien heir use their dragonmark to take control of the rail and slow it to match speed with an airship. Airships don't exactly have cargo bay doors, so part three of the plan could be attaching chains from the bottom of the ship directly to the crate they're trying to steal. Hiccups in the plan could be powerful passengers, an unexpected cabin filled with extra hired muscle, or pretty much anything that might go wrong, like losing control of the elemental. I can just imagine somehow the Orien heir getting his head blown off and the train accelerating to dangerous speeds with an airship in tow... and they're heading right toward a station...
shadowpavement 10-14-05, 12:59 PM	There is also a great train scene in the old school movie King Solomon's Mines staring Richard Chamberlain. It's prabably the best scene in the whole thing, though considering the quality of the movie that isn't saying much. But it is a pretty fun watch if you don't take it very seriously. You can pick it up pretty cheep at any used or even new dvd place "I've Got It!!!" (for those who have seen the movie)
cmanos 10-14-05, 02:13 PM	I have a train scene like this planned for a future adventure, with seeds from the Firefly Train Heist as well as one of the MoH adventures where the characters have to fix the train. I don't want to add anything from Whisper, as the players will be going throuigh that mod as well, but definitely like the idea of a train scene.
REN 10-14-05, 04:03 PM	Ever since I saw the Firefly episode, I've been dreaming of ways to incorporate that into a D&D adventure. I had hoped to be a player in such a story line, but since that's not happening I've decided that I would try it with the group that I DM. As soon as I'm done with the WOAVB module, that on the return trip to Sharn, there will be some sort of train heist. My ideas so far are as follows... The Emerald Claw knows that the PCs are aboard the train and want to capture the SoulBlade or/and the Shemas. They will plant a changling spy on the train who will force the driver to slow the train down enough so that Garrow can 'glide in' with his airship and drop down on top of the train - trying not to alert anyone. They would ancor the Airship to the train and send down some soldiers. The elemental would be supressed to allow the soarwoad to simply sail the skies with the ropes anchored to the train would propel it forward. This would happen at night while most people are asleep. I may even put some sort of sleep effect on the passengers, giving the PCs an easy DC to beat (hopefull some beat it). Then they would have to do a Listen or Spot check to see if they sense the train slow down or if they see the airship (depening where they are). The Emerald claw soldiers will search the train from front to back looking for the PCs and when they find them they will either take them prisoner or a fight will break out. Eventually something will go wrong - perhaps the driver decides to be brave - er... stupid, and begins to comand the elemental to speed up the train while the spy is distracted. This would of course cause the airship to be pulled downward quite fast and require that the driver of the airship activate the elemtental thus causing a sort of tug of war. I would most likely have the tug start when the soldiers are escaping or the PCs are going up the ladder/ropes. Something is going to crash! On the other hand, it would be interesting to make the PCs be the thieves. Hmmmmmm.... I would like to hear other ideas as well, since my idea is sort of basic. This sounds like a great mini scenario.
That Blasted Somoflange 10-15-05, 08:56 PM	If you haven't already, you should seriously watch the Firefly episode called "The Train Heist." It's on the first disc of the DVD collection. It ought to help you generate some ideas. Oh I've seen it all right... Joss Whedon is my master now :D
g. felix 10-15-05, 10:04 PM	you have inspired me! i think i am going to have my heroes hi-jack a train using the airship they took when they killed garrow. but why? maybe a madman has stolen it. or maybe an army is on it and the heroes have to stop them from attacking and restarting the war. i am hoping to see more cool ideas here and i hope you guys don't mind me stealing them. of course you can always use my luke-warm ideas whenever you want.
That Blasted Somoflange 10-16-05, 09:39 PM	you have inspired me! i think i am going to have my heroes hi-jack a train using the airship they took when they killed garrow. but why? maybe a madman has stolen it. or maybe an army is on it and the heroes have to stop them from attacking and restarting the war. i am hoping to see more cool ideas here and i hope you guys don't mind me stealing them. of course you can always use my luke-warm ideas whenever you want. I personally don't mind if you steal ideas, heck that's why I made this thread, all I ask is you let us know how it went.
Radkres 10-16-05, 09:54 PM	You know you can fly them upside down right is covered in EXHB page 29