Let the Games begin! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Let the Games begin! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Restless
07-13-05, 05:41 PM My PCs were recently captured by some Droomite slavers and barring some clever thinking ont heir part, will soon be sold as blade fodder into the Vralkek gladiatorial pits. Now, the fighting is relativly easy to orchastrate, they fight in the pits, increasingly difficult fights, until they escape or are killed. Now, I'm having some difficulty coming up withstuff for them to do as Droomite slaves between fights. Any suggestions?
MarkB
07-14-05, 09:40 AM Put in some gladiatorial archetype NPCs for them to interact with. The guards and a suitably brutal guard captain, of course, but more importantly fellow slaves.
The cruel an arrogant current champion (who, along with his cronies, may demand favours or provoke fights)
The kindly and mentoring old veteran (characters who can persuade him to teach them may gain access to knowledge of other gladiators' tactics, become more familiar with gladiatorial weapons, or have advance warning of forthcoming contests)
The wiley conniving black-marketeer (unimpressive as a fighter, but knows all the guards well and exchanges various favours, so somehow he's never put up against serious challenges in the arena, for suitable renumeration he can get the party access to information, better gear, superior food, etc.)
The newbie (Just arrived, weak and poor at fighting. If the party help and protect him, he may turn out to be an important person or have friends on the outside who will mount a rescue attempt. Anyone who's befriended him might be invited to join the escape)
Give each of them a set of stats (even if just taken from the DMG NPC progressions) and their own backstory (just a paragraph or so), then just let the party interact with them, and see what happens.
Kinger
07-14-05, 09:57 AM Feeding the Cockatrices. THERE'S a slave's job if there ever was one.

Why Cockatrices? Well, you need them to play Six Stones, another popular slave-sport. See S:CoT for rules. Essentially, seven guys and a cockatrice go in, and one guy comes out. Fun is had by all... aside from the contestants.

If the characters themselves are not particularly impressive looking (by Droamite standards) they may find themselves fighting brawls with other slaves outside of the arena. I don't imagine a proud gnoll would fancy being lumped in with some namby-pamby elves. Or, perhaps, gnomes is good eatin'.
Guide D'Jorasco
07-14-05, 03:16 PM One way you could really get the PC's involved is too have some kind of "employeer" watch the matches for prospective adventurers. For instance, create an "employeer" and have him make judgements based on the outcomes of the fight. During one of the tougher mathces, make the PC's work hard, but survive. Have the pit owner approach the PC's and tell them that he has somebody they need to meet. (Don't mention the employeer bribed him for the interview and is wanting to buy the PC's.) After a discussion have the PC's become slaves to this one guy, possibly accompanied by guards or he could just be an extremely high level. Now you can play it like the PC's have to earn their freedom by doing favors. Have some kind of weird twist also where the employeer is actually an associate of the villain of your game!

After the matches, create a cell area for the PC's and split them up. This will require the PC's to roleplay and communicate in different fashions. You might even have ways for them to escape that they have to pick up on. Such as the guard carries the keys on his side or the patrol of the guards. This will allow roleplaying along with the intense fighting of the gladitorial matches. MarkB's idea is great is was exactly what I was thinking, using NPC's to create a grand role playing setting. Watch movies like Stir Crazy - Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka). You can intersting and funny things to your campaign from this movie, just adjudicate. You could even have Gorgon riding (bull riding) which would be pretty cool between matches for your more talented riders.

I hope some of this helps!
Restless
07-14-05, 10:31 PM If the characters themselves are not particularly impressive looking (by Droamite standards) they may find themselves fighting brawls with other slaves outside of the arena. I don't imagine a proud gnoll would fancy being lumped in with some namby-pamby elves. Or, perhaps, gnomes is good eatin'.

Actually, it's worse. Two are Shifters, who will most likely be accepted, but the other two are pretty-boy Kalshatar. Hehe.

Thanks for the ideas guys, I'm definitly using MarkB's suggestions, as colorful NPCs are fun to make, and the idea of using Seven Stones had not even occured to me. Man, my players are going to hate me. :devil:

Great ideas, keep em' coming if anyone has anymore.
Splendide
07-15-05, 12:51 AM Writing out tickets for the next night.
Kitchen work.
Cleaning up after the patrons.
DoveArrow
07-15-05, 01:16 AM Well, finding a means of escape comes to mind. Another thing you might consider is having the PCs forced to clear out particularly dangerous areas, like mines that have become infested with big-and-nasties.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Restless 07-13-05, 05:41 PM	My PCs were recently captured by some Droomite slavers and barring some clever thinking ont heir part, will soon be sold as blade fodder into the Vralkek gladiatorial pits. Now, the fighting is relativly easy to orchastrate, they fight in the pits, increasingly difficult fights, until they escape or are killed. Now, I'm having some difficulty coming up withstuff for them to do as Droomite slaves between fights. Any suggestions?
MarkB 07-14-05, 09:40 AM	Put in some gladiatorial archetype NPCs for them to interact with. The guards and a suitably brutal guard captain, of course, but more importantly fellow slaves. The cruel an arrogant current champion (who, along with his cronies, may demand favours or provoke fights) The kindly and mentoring old veteran (characters who can persuade him to teach them may gain access to knowledge of other gladiators' tactics, become more familiar with gladiatorial weapons, or have advance warning of forthcoming contests) The wiley conniving black-marketeer (unimpressive as a fighter, but knows all the guards well and exchanges various favours, so somehow he's never put up against serious challenges in the arena, for suitable renumeration he can get the party access to information, better gear, superior food, etc.) The newbie (Just arrived, weak and poor at fighting. If the party help and protect him, he may turn out to be an important person or have friends on the outside who will mount a rescue attempt. Anyone who's befriended him might be invited to join the escape) Give each of them a set of stats (even if just taken from the DMG NPC progressions) and their own backstory (just a paragraph or so), then just let the party interact with them, and see what happens.
Kinger 07-14-05, 09:57 AM	Feeding the Cockatrices. THERE'S a slave's job if there ever was one. Why Cockatrices? Well, you need them to play Six Stones, another popular slave-sport. See S:CoT for rules. Essentially, seven guys and a cockatrice go in, and one guy comes out. Fun is had by all... aside from the contestants. If the characters themselves are not particularly impressive looking (by Droamite standards) they may find themselves fighting brawls with other slaves outside of the arena. I don't imagine a proud gnoll would fancy being lumped in with some namby-pamby elves. Or, perhaps, gnomes is good eatin'.
Guide D'Jorasco 07-14-05, 03:16 PM	One way you could really get the PC's involved is too have some kind of "employeer" watch the matches for prospective adventurers. For instance, create an "employeer" and have him make judgements based on the outcomes of the fight. During one of the tougher mathces, make the PC's work hard, but survive. Have the pit owner approach the PC's and tell them that he has somebody they need to meet. (Don't mention the employeer bribed him for the interview and is wanting to buy the PC's.) After a discussion have the PC's become slaves to this one guy, possibly accompanied by guards or he could just be an extremely high level. Now you can play it like the PC's have to earn their freedom by doing favors. Have some kind of weird twist also where the employeer is actually an associate of the villain of your game! After the matches, create a cell area for the PC's and split them up. This will require the PC's to roleplay and communicate in different fashions. You might even have ways for them to escape that they have to pick up on. Such as the guard carries the keys on his side or the patrol of the guards. This will allow roleplaying along with the intense fighting of the gladitorial matches. MarkB's idea is great is was exactly what I was thinking, using NPC's to create a grand role playing setting. Watch movies like Stir Crazy - Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka). You can intersting and funny things to your campaign from this movie, just adjudicate. You could even have Gorgon riding (bull riding) which would be pretty cool between matches for your more talented riders. I hope some of this helps!
Restless 07-14-05, 10:31 PM	If the characters themselves are not particularly impressive looking (by Droamite standards) they may find themselves fighting brawls with other slaves outside of the arena. I don't imagine a proud gnoll would fancy being lumped in with some namby-pamby elves. Or, perhaps, gnomes is good eatin'. Actually, it's worse. Two are Shifters, who will most likely be accepted, but the other two are pretty-boy Kalshatar. Hehe. Thanks for the ideas guys, I'm definitly using MarkB's suggestions, as colorful NPCs are fun to make, and the idea of using Seven Stones had not even occured to me. Man, my players are going to hate me. :devil: Great ideas, keep em' coming if anyone has anymore.
Splendide 07-15-05, 12:51 AM	Writing out tickets for the next night. Kitchen work. Cleaning up after the patrons.
DoveArrow 07-15-05, 01:16 AM	Well, finding a means of escape comes to mind. Another thing you might consider is having the PCs forced to clear out particularly dangerous areas, like mines that have become infested with big-and-nasties.