Lightning Rail Hijacked [Archive] - Wizards Community

Lightning Rail Hijacked [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Arithian
07-07-07, 02:50 AM Has anyone done a general Lighning Rail hijack encounter that they could share. I am just looking for a typical hijack encounter.

Anyone?
bad_phil
07-08-07, 12:15 PM I did not Hijacked one in my game, but I think a well organized group could. Simply by threatening the pilot (with an hostage or something like that), or the hijackers could have one of them able to control the rail.
gensuke626
07-08-07, 04:54 PM Ok, when you say Hijacked, are we talking like agents in waiting take over the train scenario, or are we talking a spaghetti western train robbery?

if it it the former, then I could try to help you.

If it is the latter, I actually am in the middle of designing a Lightning Rail Robbery scenario that feels like a spaghetti western.
mahavira
07-08-07, 05:05 PM I once ran a hijacking by the Emerald Claw: they pretended to be just doing a train robber, but were in fact setting the train to accelerate continuously until it smashed into the terminal station in Fairhaven, causing mass death and releasing an angry air elemental. I got the PCs on the train as bodyguards to a magewright who was being pressured by Cannith to reveal how an invention worked. Anyway, after the initial 'robbery', in which the lead hijacker made it clear that if there was any resistance he'd start randomly killing women and children (but promising to leave them all alive, albeit poorer if they went along), the hijackers secured the locomotive, had their Orien heir sabotage the controls, then arranged to be picked up by an airship, leaving only expendable undead for when the train hit while a smaller group detatched the baggage car, intending to loot it when it ran out of momentum. The PCs were a warforged and a soulblade, so they were easily able to overcome the few guards left in the coach they were in (they overheard the human guards talking, cluing them in to the real situation), then they climbed up onto the roof of the coach to move about. Balance checks, hide checks to sneak up on the couple of sentries the Claw had put up top, general mayhem. I placed various useful NPCs in each coach (a retired Orien heir to help stop the train, the Orien heir's Deneith bodyguard, a Josasco physician wtih some extra potions, that sort of thing).
gensuke626
07-08-07, 06:22 PM well, since people have begun to post things here, this is my robbery scenario/plan on how to do it were I a thief.

The initial plan requires a bit of a significant investment on the part of the thieves. This comes in the form of a special cart, one with a conductor stone (Most likely stolen from a previous robbery/a wrecked rail car that had been found) attached to the bottom and with 2 soarsleds attached along the bottom in the following pattern [@ # @] (@ designates a soarsled and # designates the conductor stone).

On this car you have 2 goblin adepts to work the sleds and 12 goblins with light crossbows. The lightcrossbows are armed with Grappling hook bolts and are tied to the cart. The cart is hidden near the rail, but far enough away that the stone doesn't react yet. When an incoming Lightning rail is spotted, the 2 adepts activate the soarsleds and when the cars are close enough, the other 12 goblins fire their crossbows. Generally about half of the hooks should hit and catch, dragging the now flying sled behind the rail. The goblins pull their lines in and tie off the cart behind the Lightning Rail's Caboose, letting the conductor stone keep the cart aloft while they raid the rail.

When the Goblins are ready to go, they activate the sleds again and cut the ties to the caboose, allowing them to (ideally) coast for a bit and slow down before they leave the trail and find somewhere safe to settle down. After that they just need to steal a couple of horses, mules, or oxen to haul their cart for them.

This plan may work, or it may fail completely, but in my Game it's going to work.
kentonblack
07-08-07, 06:49 PM nice one gensuke. thos epesky goblins are at it again.

really, if you have seen the movie "butch cassidy and the sundance kid" you know exactly how to pull off a train robbery.

that and the ability to throw your voice(ghost sound, bluff, disguise) really comes into play.
Arithian
07-09-07, 12:33 AM Ok, when you say Hijacked, are we talking like agents in waiting take over the train scenario, or are we talking a spaghetti western train robbery?

if it it the former, then I could try to help you.

If it is the latter, I actually am in the middle of designing a Lightning Rail Robbery scenario that feels like a spaghetti western.

It was more of the latter I guess. The game that it took place in was this past weekend. As a matter of fact it is still taking place right now. The game ended as they took out the second Hijacker.

The Hijacking was of a Lightning Rail leaving the Passage, Aundair Rail Station, and the hijackers were members of the Ashbound Sect. A 5th Lvl Druid and 3 1st Lvl Barbarians.

We will resolve the seen next game seesion which is on 7/21/07.

Please continue the input though. This is my first hijacking scenario for a Lightning Rail, but I dont think it will be my last. So maybe I can use these ideas later.

Thanks!
Cutlass
07-09-07, 01:08 AM well, since people have begun to post things here, this is my robbery scenario/plan on how to do it were I a thief.

The initial plan requires a bit of a significant investment on the part of the thieves. This comes in the form of a special cart, one with a conductor stone (Most likely stolen from a previous robbery/a wrecked rail car that had been found) attached to the bottom and with 2 soarsleds attached along the bottom in the following pattern [@ # @] (@ designates a soarsled and # designates the conductor stone). ...

Not to be a total nitpick, but soarsleds are somewhat limited outside of Syranian manifest zones (SCOT page 171). However, that being said, if your thieves were to plan carefully ahead of time that could be used to their advantage. If they were to time their raid such that when they were finished the lightning rail was entering such a manifest zone then their getaway would be just about guaranteed, and in the Sharn manifest zone it would be easy for them to find places to hide their loot without having to transfer it to a wagon.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Arithian 07-07-07, 02:50 AM	Has anyone done a general Lighning Rail hijack encounter that they could share. I am just looking for a typical hijack encounter. Anyone?
bad_phil 07-08-07, 12:15 PM	I did not Hijacked one in my game, but I think a well organized group could. Simply by threatening the pilot (with an hostage or something like that), or the hijackers could have one of them able to control the rail.
gensuke626 07-08-07, 04:54 PM	Ok, when you say Hijacked, are we talking like agents in waiting take over the train scenario, or are we talking a spaghetti western train robbery? if it it the former, then I could try to help you. If it is the latter, I actually am in the middle of designing a Lightning Rail Robbery scenario that feels like a spaghetti western.
mahavira 07-08-07, 05:05 PM	I once ran a hijacking by the Emerald Claw: they pretended to be just doing a train robber, but were in fact setting the train to accelerate continuously until it smashed into the terminal station in Fairhaven, causing mass death and releasing an angry air elemental. I got the PCs on the train as bodyguards to a magewright who was being pressured by Cannith to reveal how an invention worked. Anyway, after the initial 'robbery', in which the lead hijacker made it clear that if there was any resistance he'd start randomly killing women and children (but promising to leave them all alive, albeit poorer if they went along), the hijackers secured the locomotive, had their Orien heir sabotage the controls, then arranged to be picked up by an airship, leaving only expendable undead for when the train hit while a smaller group detatched the baggage car, intending to loot it when it ran out of momentum. The PCs were a warforged and a soulblade, so they were easily able to overcome the few guards left in the coach they were in (they overheard the human guards talking, cluing them in to the real situation), then they climbed up onto the roof of the coach to move about. Balance checks, hide checks to sneak up on the couple of sentries the Claw had put up top, general mayhem. I placed various useful NPCs in each coach (a retired Orien heir to help stop the train, the Orien heir's Deneith bodyguard, a Josasco physician wtih some extra potions, that sort of thing).
gensuke626 07-08-07, 06:22 PM	well, since people have begun to post things here, this is my robbery scenario/plan on how to do it were I a thief. The initial plan requires a bit of a significant investment on the part of the thieves. This comes in the form of a special cart, one with a conductor stone (Most likely stolen from a previous robbery/a wrecked rail car that had been found) attached to the bottom and with 2 soarsleds attached along the bottom in the following pattern [@ # @] (@ designates a soarsled and # designates the conductor stone). On this car you have 2 goblin adepts to work the sleds and 12 goblins with light crossbows. The lightcrossbows are armed with Grappling hook bolts and are tied to the cart. The cart is hidden near the rail, but far enough away that the stone doesn't react yet. When an incoming Lightning rail is spotted, the 2 adepts activate the soarsleds and when the cars are close enough, the other 12 goblins fire their crossbows. Generally about half of the hooks should hit and catch, dragging the now flying sled behind the rail. The goblins pull their lines in and tie off the cart behind the Lightning Rail's Caboose, letting the conductor stone keep the cart aloft while they raid the rail. When the Goblins are ready to go, they activate the sleds again and cut the ties to the caboose, allowing them to (ideally) coast for a bit and slow down before they leave the trail and find somewhere safe to settle down. After that they just need to steal a couple of horses, mules, or oxen to haul their cart for them. This plan may work, or it may fail completely, but in my Game it's going to work.
kentonblack 07-08-07, 06:49 PM	nice one gensuke. thos epesky goblins are at it again. really, if you have seen the movie "butch cassidy and the sundance kid" you know exactly how to pull off a train robbery. that and the ability to throw your voice(ghost sound, bluff, disguise) really comes into play.
Arithian 07-09-07, 12:33 AM	Ok, when you say Hijacked, are we talking like agents in waiting take over the train scenario, or are we talking a spaghetti western train robbery? if it it the former, then I could try to help you. If it is the latter, I actually am in the middle of designing a Lightning Rail Robbery scenario that feels like a spaghetti western. It was more of the latter I guess. The game that it took place in was this past weekend. As a matter of fact it is still taking place right now. The game ended as they took out the second Hijacker. The Hijacking was of a Lightning Rail leaving the Passage, Aundair Rail Station, and the hijackers were members of the Ashbound Sect. A 5th Lvl Druid and 3 1st Lvl Barbarians. We will resolve the seen next game seesion which is on 7/21/07. Please continue the input though. This is my first hijacking scenario for a Lightning Rail, but I dont think it will be my last. So maybe I can use these ideas later. Thanks!
Cutlass 07-09-07, 01:08 AM	well, since people have begun to post things here, this is my robbery scenario/plan on how to do it were I a thief. The initial plan requires a bit of a significant investment on the part of the thieves. This comes in the form of a special cart, one with a conductor stone (Most likely stolen from a previous robbery/a wrecked rail car that had been found) attached to the bottom and with 2 soarsleds attached along the bottom in the following pattern [@ # @] (@ designates a soarsled and # designates the conductor stone). ... Not to be a total nitpick, but soarsleds are somewhat limited outside of Syranian manifest zones (SCOT page 171). However, that being said, if your thieves were to plan carefully ahead of time that could be used to their advantage. If they were to time their raid such that when they were finished the lightning rail was entering such a manifest zone then their getaway would be just about guaranteed, and in the Sharn manifest zone it would be easy for them to find places to hide their loot without having to transfer it to a wagon.