Arcane encounters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Arcane encounters [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gurv
09-02-05, 06:48 AM Ok, heres the deal: Two members of my regular group have plans this weekend and won't be able to game. Normally, this isn't a problem, as I simply reduce enounter levels and otherwise tone things down for a smaller group. But in this case, the two players are pretty much the entire melee force in the party, leaving behind only spellcasters and roguely-types. Since the encounters I had planned (and loathe to change, for important plot reasons) include combat with a grisgol, I need to come up with something to slow the shrunken party down. There is no way that these guys can scratch a creature with golem-like magic immunity without their tanks.

So what I need are some ideas for encounters which are ideal for a high-level (14th-15th level) group of non-combat oriented characters. It sounds easy, but at those levels, such individuals can dish out a lot more than they can take, and do almost anything they want...given time to prepare for it. The encounters must be something that I can drop in as wilderness encounters, or city-based encounters that can be quickly forgotten by the inhabitants of Eberron (no front-page, almost-destroyed-the-city encounters). I only need to keep them busy for a while, as they're willing to wait for the combat characters to return before going into the target dungeon, but not willing to stand around doing nothing.

So...any ideas?
Splendide
09-02-05, 07:55 AM Rescuing someone that was kidnapped.
Ricohard_Draconis
09-02-05, 09:13 AM thieveing and other 'black ops' type missions that involve getting in and out with out the clanky fighters. (nice because if done right no one will know)

Diplomatic missions- Dealing with the houses or the churches. (if done right no one will want anyone to know)

mental missions- murder mysterys, 'assisting' the guard, puzzle based dungeons. (either the guard won't want people knowing or its far from major.)

depends where they are and what skills they have. also think about any allegiances or connections that they might have that might call on them (dragonmarked houses, nobility, churchs, etc.

remember that eberron adventures can take place in the smoky back rooms of a house gallandra inn as in the jungles of xen'drik
Rechan
09-02-05, 09:29 AM I'll echo Ricohard_Draconis, but another suggestion:

Spellcasting enemies.

A really nice, ugly spell-dual would be very nice. Especially against say, a conjurer or evoker and his battle sorceror/warmage bodyguard.

That way, the roguish types have something to deal with (conjured creatures, not-dense-melee fighters), and the mages have to scramble to either counter-spell or blow the guy out of the water.
anarco_rata
09-02-05, 09:57 AM put em ina fight that challenge their intellects and not only their power. Fighting a golem, ok, but give them a chance to defeat him by wits and not raw power, for instance, destroying the cliff where the golem stands to make him fall, or stuff like that :rolleyes:
Roxlimn
09-03-05, 07:14 AM An intrigue including any of the major powers will do. Dragonmarked Houses work. Royal spies work. Even clandestine Emerald Claw maneuvering will work. Heck, practically every org on the face of the continent has some means of covert operations, and trying to foil these operations while making sure you aren't doing exactly what they want you to be doing is demanding enough for 14th-15th level PCs. Dreaming Dark, the Chamber, you name it.
spencerhaas
09-03-05, 12:32 PM I think i'm on the same page here with most of the folks responding,but let me get a little more specific...

A good mystery worked for my campaign recently.The party members accepted a mission to find an up and coming young artist that had gone missing.I encouraged them to question his patron (a minor noble).No big deal,but one of my pc's got great enjoyment out of using his house connections to pull strings to get in there.Of course there were some interesting clues and,what I like to call,fluff,to make them really get a good picture of their mark.Essentially,I used this scene as a good roleplaying oppurtunity,especially for the charisma heavy pc's in the party.You have to be delicate when questioning a noble and they rose to the challenge.

Then they went to his apartment to search for clues.They did'nt have a sneak,but they did have a very personable team leader that was able to convince the busy body landlady to give them the key to his apartment,after they coaxed her into spilling the beans on his personal life (town gossips know it all and love to let anyone nice enough to ask know what they know).Turns out the young man was seeing someone on the sly...a mature yet classy lady with money that hardly anyone could ever get a good look at.Then just when they thought they had a bead on the case,they stumble upon some local thugs looting his apartment.Of course they were more interested in getting away than fighting...

Feel free to use the above ideas if they appeal to you.I get the ideas from t.v.,movies,books,the news...you name it.For instance,the relocation of the jewish settlements in gaza.In your campaign you could do a story where the local government asked for your help in relocating the Cyre refugees...only they don't want to move.Which is why they want you to do it...you don't have any political ties.Although,I do try to be careful about getting too specific,D&D is a game after all.

Oh,by the way,the artist had been dragged away and used as an experiment by an evil wizard that was trying to perfect a spellwarped formula...of course he was only chosen because his mistress (the minor nobles wife) was afraid he'd tell her husband about the affair,so she told him to meet her somewhere secluded so her wizard buddies minions could find him and end her problems by making him disappear.I don't care how powerful the spellcasters are in the party,that ought to keep them busy and hopefully entertained.Of course,the evil wizard could put the hurt on them...especially if they think they can just scare the mistress into spilling the beans(she's sith lord scary).If she does tell them anything,it's a trap.But i'm sure you can take it from here...i'm just rambling on and on...have fun.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gurv 09-02-05, 06:48 AM	Ok, heres the deal: Two members of my regular group have plans this weekend and won't be able to game. Normally, this isn't a problem, as I simply reduce enounter levels and otherwise tone things down for a smaller group. But in this case, the two players are pretty much the entire melee force in the party, leaving behind only spellcasters and roguely-types. Since the encounters I had planned (and loathe to change, for important plot reasons) include combat with a grisgol, I need to come up with something to slow the shrunken party down. There is no way that these guys can scratch a creature with golem-like magic immunity without their tanks. So what I need are some ideas for encounters which are ideal for a high-level (14th-15th level) group of non-combat oriented characters. It sounds easy, but at those levels, such individuals can dish out a lot more than they can take, and do almost anything they want...given time to prepare for it. The encounters must be something that I can drop in as wilderness encounters, or city-based encounters that can be quickly forgotten by the inhabitants of Eberron (no front-page, almost-destroyed-the-city encounters). I only need to keep them busy for a while, as they're willing to wait for the combat characters to return before going into the target dungeon, but not willing to stand around doing nothing. So...any ideas?
Splendide 09-02-05, 07:55 AM	Rescuing someone that was kidnapped.
Ricohard_Draconis 09-02-05, 09:13 AM	thieveing and other 'black ops' type missions that involve getting in and out with out the clanky fighters. (nice because if done right no one will know) Diplomatic missions- Dealing with the houses or the churches. (if done right no one will want anyone to know) mental missions- murder mysterys, 'assisting' the guard, puzzle based dungeons. (either the guard won't want people knowing or its far from major.) depends where they are and what skills they have. also think about any allegiances or connections that they might have that might call on them (dragonmarked houses, nobility, churchs, etc. remember that eberron adventures can take place in the smoky back rooms of a house gallandra inn as in the jungles of xen'drik
Rechan 09-02-05, 09:29 AM	I'll echo Ricohard_Draconis, but another suggestion: Spellcasting enemies. A really nice, ugly spell-dual would be very nice. Especially against say, a conjurer or evoker and his battle sorceror/warmage bodyguard. That way, the roguish types have something to deal with (conjured creatures, not-dense-melee fighters), and the mages have to scramble to either counter-spell or blow the guy out of the water.
anarco_rata 09-02-05, 09:57 AM	put em ina fight that challenge their intellects and not only their power. Fighting a golem, ok, but give them a chance to defeat him by wits and not raw power, for instance, destroying the cliff where the golem stands to make him fall, or stuff like that :rolleyes:
Roxlimn 09-03-05, 07:14 AM	An intrigue including any of the major powers will do. Dragonmarked Houses work. Royal spies work. Even clandestine Emerald Claw maneuvering will work. Heck, practically every org on the face of the continent has some means of covert operations, and trying to foil these operations while making sure you aren't doing exactly what they want you to be doing is demanding enough for 14th-15th level PCs. Dreaming Dark, the Chamber, you name it.
spencerhaas 09-03-05, 12:32 PM	I think i'm on the same page here with most of the folks responding,but let me get a little more specific... A good mystery worked for my campaign recently.The party members accepted a mission to find an up and coming young artist that had gone missing.I encouraged them to question his patron (a minor noble).No big deal,but one of my pc's got great enjoyment out of using his house connections to pull strings to get in there.Of course there were some interesting clues and,what I like to call,fluff,to make them really get a good picture of their mark.Essentially,I used this scene as a good roleplaying oppurtunity,especially for the charisma heavy pc's in the party.You have to be delicate when questioning a noble and they rose to the challenge. Then they went to his apartment to search for clues.They did'nt have a sneak,but they did have a very personable team leader that was able to convince the busy body landlady to give them the key to his apartment,after they coaxed her into spilling the beans on his personal life (town gossips know it all and love to let anyone nice enough to ask know what they know).Turns out the young man was seeing someone on the sly...a mature yet classy lady with money that hardly anyone could ever get a good look at.Then just when they thought they had a bead on the case,they stumble upon some local thugs looting his apartment.Of course they were more interested in getting away than fighting... Feel free to use the above ideas if they appeal to you.I get the ideas from t.v.,movies,books,the news...you name it.For instance,the relocation of the jewish settlements in gaza.In your campaign you could do a story where the local government asked for your help in relocating the Cyre refugees...only they don't want to move.Which is why they want you to do it...you don't have any political ties.Although,I do try to be careful about getting too specific,D&D is a game after all. Oh,by the way,the artist had been dragged away and used as an experiment by an evil wizard that was trying to perfect a spellwarped formula...of course he was only chosen because his mistress (the minor nobles wife) was afraid he'd tell her husband about the affair,so she told him to meet her somewhere secluded so her wizard buddies minions could find him and end her problems by making him disappear.I don't care how powerful the spellcasters are in the party,that ought to keep them busy and hopefully entertained.Of course,the evil wizard could put the hurt on them...especially if they think they can just scare the mistress into spilling the beans(she's sith lord scary).If she does tell them anything,it's a trap.But i'm sure you can take it from here...i'm just rambling on and on...have fun.