Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Abulafia 02-14-07, 05:20 PM	The Gygax dungeon. The ale-swilling dwarf. The loner drow PC with a heart of gold. Everybody likes to bash clichés, and for good reason -- they're boring, they're uncreative, and their familiarity to players makes for metagaming problems. However, at the root of every cliché is a good idea whose obvious utility led to destructive repetition. I would like to identify and defend those ideas which, cliché though they may be, are nonetheless still useful to the skillful DM. I'll start the list . . . 1. Adventure concept: PCs must find the several pieces of an artifact which have been scattered about the land. From Voltron to The Order of the Stick, this idea has been done. That said, it still has tremendous playability -- storyline motivation, exotic locales, and easy session-to-session pacing. A properly-constructed "find the pieces" storyline is (in my opinion) the easiest way to navigate high-level play. 2. The kindly old wizard who hires PCs for quests. It's not original, but it's plausible, it's easy, and it provides a great in-game source of quests, information, and low-level rewards. Furthermore, it's a great gateway to mid-level play, as the characters find out what the wizard is really up to . . . 3. An old-fashioned break-in. Many DM's don't like to play out sneak-and-grab jobs -- if you've done one, you've done them all, and handling the necessary dice-rolling without breaking the drama can be tough -- but B&E's are what thief-type players live for. With proper planning, a grand heist can be fun for DM's and players alike -- just make sure your fighter has something to do in the meantime. What are your favorite clichés?
Rhuxley 02-14-07, 05:24 PM	4. Adventurers meet in an inn I like to start my sessions off with somethign dramatic, and what is a better way to incorperate a bunch of randoms(as you dont always know upfront who is what), than over a cup of ale and a common problem they are all sure to be on the same side of, like a bar room brawl or an attack or something like that. The fact is, an inn is where adventurers go as soon as they get into town, where the sleep eat & whatever, and since they just started and were assuming their not on a quest yet, what the hell else are they doing? why would they not be in an inn?
DDdreamer 02-15-07, 03:51 AM	5.An NPC challenges a PC to a duel at dawn.
mcnoo 02-15-07, 04:01 AM	6. The orc guarding a chest in a 10 foot by 10 foot room ex dee.
Orbb_was_railed_by_God 02-15-07, 09:39 AM	7. The Big Bad Evil Guy There is always someone out to ruin everyone elses fun. However else would you know who to beat up and whose stuff to take?
Grognor 02-15-07, 09:40 AM	8. The dungeon with innumerable traps that make commuting and getting supplies nigh impossible, and the colony of kobolds/orcs/drow/ogres/trolls/gnolls therein that continually make trips in and out.
Arrowhen 02-15-07, 10:46 AM	9. The peaceful village that's wholly incapable of defending itself, yet somehow has managed to get along just fine until about a week before the party of 1st level adventurers shows up.
locksmyth 02-15-07, 10:47 AM	10. The Half Celestial Elf No? Maybe it's just that one player then?
Dei 02-15-07, 11:35 AM	11. The Military Citadel that has withstood countless barrages of evil in the past but is suddenly in desperate peril that only the PCs are equipped to deal with.
Utumno 02-15-07, 11:44 AM	12. The Big dungeon under the major city. Think Castle Greyhawk and Undermountain. I love the idea that the dungeon is right below the PCs feet and they have a base right above them.
Aberlonian 02-15-07, 11:50 AM	13. The Crazy Old Reclusive Wizard™ who lives in a tower in the middle of nowhere.
RobbyPants 02-15-07, 11:57 AM	14) The mentor of the PCs who turns out to betray them and be the BBEG. 15) The dungeon filled with many predatory monsters with no thought to the ecology, or how they would survive. 16) The badass loner who sits in the dark corner of the tavern.
Abulafia 02-15-07, 12:35 PM	It's nice to see some interest in this list, although I think some of you miss the point. We're looking for good clichés -- fun, useful, sensible ideas that suffer only from their familiarity -- not clichés in general. 4. Adventurers meet in an innVery good -- I almost put this in my initial list. There's nothing wrong with meeting at an inn. Thanks also to DDdreamer (NPC duel), Orbb (BBEG), Dei (beseiged citadel), Utumno (Undermountain), and Aberlonian (reclusive wizard) -- these are all excellent examples! Does anyone else have an example of a cliché that is nonetheless fun to play?
RobbyPants 02-15-07, 01:16 PM	It's nice to see some interest in this list, although I think some of you miss the point. We're looking for good clichés -- fun, useful, sensible ideas that suffer only from their familiarity -- not clichés in general. Oops... :eek: Lemme try again :P 17) The suave aristocrat holding formal parties that is actually a vampire. 18) The grizzled, retired adventurer at the bar who has useful advice on many a subject. ...better? ;)
Singer_of_the_Song 02-15-07, 01:21 PM	19. The Hopeless Charge that ends in Glorious Victory nonetheless
The_Shaman 02-15-07, 01:34 PM	20. The hooded figure/dame in a bar that gives the characters their (often first) mission. 21. Predominance of magic: every bad guys group will likely have some clerics and/or wizards, even if they are notoriously rare in the land. 22. Inherent racism: no matter what the setting, chances are that humans will be the predominant race. Ever heard of a setting where humans, dwarves and halflings are commonly called "gnomoids?" Me neither.
Keiichi_m 02-15-07, 02:33 PM	22. Inherent racism: no matter what the setting, chances are that humans will be the predominant race. Ever heard of a setting where humans, dwarves and halflings are commonly called "gnomoids?" Me neither. I actually have that setting. in the world my PCs are on now the contenant they've just found has: Frost elves really really really hairy halflings and dark dwarves (all aclimitized to -40 degrees C.) but no humans at all (cept the PCs) so they don't use the standard humaniod discription 23. the missing official, who's improtant enough that he can't be replaced, but not important enough to have the entire city gaurd looking for him just the PC's
tete 02-15-07, 02:36 PM	24. Bar of Beholders After a long day of traveling you spot an inn. It looks warm and inviting and you can hear the music from outside. You open the front door and all eyes turn on you...
Singer_of_the_Song 02-15-07, 02:44 PM	24. Bar of Beholders After a long day of traveling you spot an inn. It looks warm and inviting and you can hear the music from outside. You open the front door and all eyes turn on you... That actually made me laugh out loud.
DreadArchon 02-15-07, 03:25 PM	25. "She was polymorphed." The inn comment reminds me of the Warlord CCG: "Come on guys! I have an overwhelming urge to go to the nearest inn and meet a pair of strange travelers who will help us with our quest!" "What, so soon after our two friends died?"
BrazilRascal 02-15-07, 04:53 PM	26. The Hero with no Past. Who'd imagine that during a fight in a small village in the very first adventure, an NPC casting a dispelling spell on some buffed Orc raiders would also make the nearby statue of a sorcerer turn back to flesh, having no recollection how he came to be that way, and readily joining the party to find out his past? ;)
Herald@Large 02-15-07, 05:20 PM	27. The BBEG's Melodramatic Speech. Much as your fighter wants to cut that speech short with an axe (to the face), you have to have The Speech: how else can you find out why the BBEG has been doing all these terrible things? :P
tryco 02-15-07, 05:22 PM	24. Bar of Beholders After a long day of traveling you spot an inn. It looks warm and inviting and you can hear the music from outside. You open the front door and all eyes turn on you... That actually made me laugh out loud. me to. that's just funny. :rofl:
Grod_The_Giant 02-15-07, 06:16 PM	24. Bar of Beholders After a long day of traveling you spot an inn. It looks warm and inviting and you can hear the music from outside. You open the front door and all eyes turn on you... Reflex save! REFLEX SAVE!!! 28. The ever-escaping BBEG. No matter HOW carefully you plan, the reccuring bad guy ALWAYS escapes.
Reversefigure4 02-15-07, 06:25 PM	I'd like to see people putting reasons behind why it's a good idea instead of just the cliche, in the way that the OP has done. 29. The Item That Is More Than It Appears To Be: The PCs are hired to retrieve the family sword - unbeknown to them, their employer, or anyone else, it is actually the Sword of Power. Leads on to future adventures, while avoiding the obvious question of why Joe the Level 1 Fighter would be hired to get such an important artifact in the first place. 30. The Ancient, Unexplored Tomb: Often convieniently located with a days travel of a shop, for some reason all the previous parties of adventurers have missed this one. Good thing, too, otherwise there'd be no game for the PCs. 31. Familiar Surroundings: Want to find a Druid? He's in the forest. Looking for a Wizard? Try the big tower in the middle of the city. No helpful NPCs live in ordinary homes that look like every other house next to them. Unlikely, but it does make them easy to find and keeps the game moving.
Abulafia 02-15-07, 07:16 PM	28. The ever-escaping BBEG. No matter HOW carefully you plan, the reccuring bad guy ALWAYS escapes.Good one! Of course the BBEG always escapes; otherwise, the game grinds to a halt. As a player, I always find defeating the BBEG somewhat bittersweet -- sure, I wanted to kill the guy, and there's tremendous satisfaction in doing so, but then there's the sudden realization that a very entertaining character is gone.
Abulafia 02-15-07, 07:23 PM	I'd like to see people putting reasons behind why it's a good idea instead of just the cliche, in the way that the OP has done.the OP has a name, y'know. ;-) 29. The Item That Is More Than It Appears To Be: The PCs are hired to retrieve the family sword - unbeknown to them, their employer, or anyone else, it is actually the Sword of Power. Leads on to future adventures, while avoiding the obvious question of why Joe the Level 1 Fighter would be hired to get such an important artifact in the first place. 30. The Ancient, Unexplored Tomb: Often convieniently located with a days travel of a shop, for some reason all the previous parties of adventurers have missed this one. Good thing, too, otherwise there'd be no game for the PCs. 31. Familiar Surroundings: Want to find a Druid? He's in the forest. Looking for a Wizard? Try the big tower in the middle of the city. No helpful NPCs live in ordinary homes that look like every other house next to them. Unlikely, but it does make them easy to find and keeps the game moving.Great job! These are all terribly cliché; yet you did a good job of explaining how they can be useful to a game without coming off as unreasonably nonsensical or lame. Here's another: 32. NPCs who make magic items for sale. Look -- we all know that making magic items takes time, money, and precious, precious XP. No one in their right mind would make magic items, particularly powerful ones, just to trade them for cash. That said, who doesn't like magic items? I don't think too many players will object to including an item-making NPC in your campaign.
Singer_of_the_Song 02-15-07, 07:53 PM	33. The Bane of All Level 1 Parties: Stirge Attack!
dragonface72 02-15-07, 08:09 PM	Heh, I've used all of these except for Bar of Beholders (idea for next adventure, the PCs walk into a bar...), and NPCs who make magic items for sale (Nobody in their right mind would make this stuff just to sell!) 34. The Crazy Old Man. Dirty and bedraggled, this confused individual is usually encountered on the path to the heroes next adventure. He spouts random thoughts and nonsense, but hidden in his inane ramblings is a clue for those wise enough to catch it.
Orbb_was_railed_by_God 02-15-07, 08:14 PM	The inn comment reminds me of the Warlord CCG: Classic.:D
Adrian_Crane 02-15-07, 08:24 PM	35. The klepto halfling, the nature-loving, arrogant elf, and the tinkering gnome. Because stereotypes are what make races easy to quickly place and relate to, and because predictable patterns are all the more fun when you throw in someone who's an unexpected exception. Addendum: the loner, good-aligned Drow is such a cliche that I'd throw in a loner NPC Drow who's a rotten bastard. See if the PCs are stupid enough to "give him a chance," then show them WHY these races have the reputation they do. :plotting:
BrazilRascal 02-15-07, 09:13 PM	27. The BBEG's Melodramatic Speech. Much as your fighter wants to cut that speech short with an axe (to the face), you have to have The Speech: how else can you find out why the BBEG has been doing all these terrible things? :P My gaming group has turned that into a running joke. Whenever they reach the BBEG, they just sit back and say "Alright, let him speak his piece...just tell us when we're allowed to start hitting him." Alternatedly, they'll be hanging on anxiously and trying to cut him off. "Can we hit him? Can I hit him -now-? Can I hit him yet?"
Abulafia 02-16-07, 11:37 AM	Addendum: the loner, good-aligned Drow is such a cliche that I'd throw in a loner NPC Drow who's a rotten bastard. See if the PCs are stupid enough to "give him a chance," then show them WHY these races have the reputation they do. :plotting:Good idea, but how about the loner, good-aligned Drow who (once you get to know him) becomes whiny and insufferable? He's still good-aligned and all, but his lack of socialization makes him dump all over everyone who will deign to give him a moment to speak. Probably not a fun idea for a PC, but I could have some fun with an NPC built on this concept. Any other good clichés? Maybe I should have shot for a less ambitious thread title; say, 50 Good Clichés. ;)
tete 02-16-07, 12:11 PM	36. Magic Missle Its only a matter of time... 37. Getting Drunk Again only a matter of time and sometimes there are girls there.
Toptomcat 02-16-07, 12:21 PM	38. Drunken Dwarf Barbarians. "When your head is level with their waist, your teeth are level with their groin!" "T'DAY IS A GOOD DAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DIE!"
RobbyPants 02-16-07, 01:35 PM	My gaming group has turned that into a running joke. Whenever they reach the BBEG, they just sit back and say "Alright, let him speak his piece...just tell us when we're allowed to start hitting him." Alternatedly, they'll be hanging on anxiously and trying to cut him off. "Can we hit him? Can I hit him -now-? Can I hit him yet?" Yeah, I've had the opposite problem in my game in the past. I have one player with a habit of interupting the BBEG's speech to get a pre-emptive attack on him/her. It gets quite frustrating. Of course, I can totally see why he does it.
DarknessEternal 02-16-07, 04:59 PM	32. NPCs who make magic items for sale. Look -- we all know that making magic items takes time, money, and precious, precious XP. No one in their right mind would make magic items, particularly powerful ones, just to trade them for cash. That said, who doesn't like magic items? I don't think too many players will object to including an item-making NPC in your campaign. It makes lots of sense. Running a successful business is a challenge. Challenges get you XP.
Orbb_was_railed_by_God 02-16-07, 05:27 PM	39. The Availablity of Hazardous Materials Just where the hell to you get enough acid to fill a pool? Who do you pay to go out and capture a thousand poisonous snakes? Why is it that people who build dungeons have access to these kinds of things?
dpity1 02-25-07, 01:35 AM	40. Of course the PCs get along! Despite having a party composed of an honest paladin, a deceptive rogue, a royalty-hugging samurai, an anarchist elf bard, and a completely evil Drow character, player parties must always unite, even when they would be better off fighting each other.
pmurray@bigpond.com 02-25-07, 03:31 AM	Ever heard of a setting where humans, dwarves and halflings are commonly called "gnomoids?" Me neither. Ever read Terry Pratchett's "Only you can save mankind"? Turns out that the hero winds up saving the aliens. That's because the alien word for their own race when translated into human is "mankind". By definition - to each race, they thenselves are "mankind" or the equivalent thereof.
pmurray@bigpond.com 02-25-07, 03:36 AM	41. Dragon sitting on a pile of treasure At least the draconomicon gives good reason for this. 42. The haunted graveyard 'Nuff said.
CaptainPicard 02-25-07, 03:54 AM	43. The former BBEG who joins the party after some revelation. Or simply out of desperation. This is actually my favourite end for BBEGs. Nothing says you're defeated more strongly than "OK, I give up. Can I join your team?" Plus, you don't lose the awesome villain, and you get to see a lot more of them.
DmMagnus 02-25-07, 08:24 AM	24. Bar of Beholders After a long day of traveling you spot an inn. It looks warm and inviting and you can hear the music from outside. You open the front door and all eyes turn on you... Funniest thing ever! I am gonna steal this and use it in my campaign :)
Grod_The_Giant 02-25-07, 08:36 AM	41. Dragon sitting on a pile of treasure At least the draconomicon gives good reason for this. what IS the reason? I mean, in the Hobbit the dragon slept on its treasure so that it would encrust on its belly and make it invulnerable, but...
Merloth 02-25-07, 08:55 AM	44. The Orphan PC The PC that doesn't know who his parents are or where he came from. Allthough very clichè, this opens up for a really good story. Sometimes the PC is the BBEG's son, sometimes he's the mentor's son, or something like that.
Senevri 02-25-07, 12:11 PM	39. The Availablity of Hazardous Materials Just where the hell to you get enough acid to fill a pool? Black or Green dragons. Once you're high enough level to become a BBEG, you can bully some nice juvenile dragon to fill 'em for you. Even better, threaten them AND afterwards pay them! Training! Who do you pay to go out and capture a thousand poisonous snakes?a Cleric, a Monk or more likely a summoned demon. Isn't that a nice use for a Planar Bound imp? "You shall bring me... ten thousand poisonous snakes! And a shrubbery!" Why is it that people who build dungeons have access to these kinds of things? They're probably wizards. High-level wizards can do pretty much anything.
Kukamunga 02-25-07, 04:35 PM	This one i pulled on my PCs... the PCs were actually the BBEG's Hidden children... They were givin fake memories for the first 10 years of their life and they lived with foster parents for the rest.. for some reason they were always very close. I let them find out by haveing their real memories start seeping through about mid level.. this was after they found out that the BBEG was the ruler of the current reigning evil dictatorship heh it was classic... one of the PCs defected and became the next BBEG once his dad was killed by the PC's
Elemental 02-25-07, 04:44 PM	45: The Succubus in the Dungeon "Oh woe is me, I am a beautiful maiden being held captive, with my clothes suggestively torn up! What? You'll rescue me? Why thank you, you big handsome man, let me reward you with a kiss....sucker!" (energy drain) They fall for it every time! :)
Eled_the_Worm_Tamer 02-25-07, 08:09 PM	46: The sprawling underground complex built centauries ago within a stones throw of a small village, entrance easily seen just a day or so from the beaten track, full of monsters and the treasures of centauries ago, but that no one in all that time has bothered to explore until the PCs arrived 47: Villagers pleased to see a small band of disparate mercenaries arrive despite the fact that with days of there turning up there lives, homes and families will be placed in mortal danger that those mercenaries are then paid several years harvests to deal with. 48: The noble good aligned king buried with his powerful weapons and armour rather than passing them onto his heir, and whose crypt is filled with undead that he would find morally repugnant were he alive. Despite this inexplicable propensity to undead looting his grave goods will not result in a haunting.
Singer_of_the_Song 02-25-07, 09:31 PM	44. The Orphan PC The PC that doesn't know who his parents are or where he came from. Allthough very clichè, this opens up for a really good story. Sometimes the PC is the BBEG's son, sometimes he's the mentor's son, or something like that. Or they are the son of a god...and that god was Bhaal, Lord of Murder...
PHDrillSergeant 02-25-07, 11:52 PM	47. The small, annoying-voiced non-humanoid who yaks at the party for various reasons. Often a mephit, bird, talking weasel, spirit, etc.
Sathery 02-26-07, 01:40 AM	48. The NPC that saves the party. The DM creates an NPC that saves the party at the last possible chance. Riding in on his/her noble steed with a henchman at his/her side annihilating the BBEG the party is fighting. Chaotically aligned, the NPC does whatever, whenever, and only seems to be truly useful to the party on that one occasion. The rest of the time, he's hanging out, not doing a damned thing.
DmMagnus 02-26-07, 07:50 PM	48. The NPC that saves the party. The DM creates an NPC that saves the party at the last possible chance. Riding in on his/her noble steed with a henchman at his/her side annihilating the BBEG the party is fighting. Chaotically aligned, the NPC does whatever, whenever, and only seems to be truly useful to the party on that one occasion. The rest of the time, he's hanging out, not doing a damned thing. As a DM you should not use this to much.. it pisses of the PC`s when they cant be the heroes xD 49. The evil necromancer that wants to turn the whole world into undeads.
Regular_K 02-26-07, 08:38 PM	40. Of course the PCs get along! Despite having a party composed of an honest paladin, a deceptive rogue, a royalty-hugging samurai, an anarchist elf bard, and a completely evil Drow character, player parties must always unite, even when they would be better off fighting each other. Not always. In the games I usually play, we love to hate each other. Drives the DM mad! 50. The Dying Old Adventurer who wants the PCs to carry on his legacy This NPC is famous for giving the PCs a boat, some supplies and saying, get a move on, carry on my legacy... and then dying. PCs being PCs, they are forced to carry on his legacy and find trouble on the way. In the end, they find the Old Man as a lich, using a devious plot to kill them. Who Knew? 51. Kobald named Meepo needs to get back dragon Exactly!
Sathery 02-26-07, 10:11 PM	As a DM you should not use this to much.. it pisses of the PC`s when they cant be the heroes xD Oh, I don't do it at all. I did it once when the PCs were near death just starting out playing a while back. They needed some guidance, so I helped them out during that one time. Other than that, he hangs back and does nothing. Come to think of it, he's not even in the same region as the party.
Cryforge 02-26-07, 10:12 PM	52. The BBEG has summoned up some sort of immensely evil demon/devil/outsider/Cthulhu that turns out to completely manipulate him. In both D&D and the Final Fantasy video games, everyone knows that the final boss isn't going to be the BBEG. That's the second to last boss. The final big battle is with the horrifying entity that secretly controls the BBEG. Don't believe me? Look at the two Dungeon magazine Adventure Paths. One ends with a battle with a demon prince named Adimarchus, the other ends with a fight with Kyuss. The third one that they're in the middle of now ends with a fight with Demogorgon. Nuff said. ;)
Mindolin 02-26-07, 10:43 PM	The loner drow PC with a heart of gold. That character was my favorite. If I remember right, he found it after killing either an Elder Earth Elemental, or a Golem.
robertliguori 02-26-07, 11:07 PM	53: Evil Cultists They're better than Nazis. You can have long, arduos moral debates about whether or not the goblins living in the abandoned mine are justified in defending themselves against the encroaching elves, or whether or not your paladin really should march to war or try just one more time for a diplomatic solution. But break out the unholy symbols, the summoned fiends, and the sure and certain realization that every one of them has chosen their path of corruption, and even the most ethically-sensitive of parties breaks out the fireballs and the smiting.
wigrid22 02-27-07, 12:04 AM	37. Getting Drunk Again only a matter of time and sometimes there are girls there. "Am I getting drunk? Roll to see if I get drunk!" "Are there any girls there? If there's any girls there I wanna do 'em!" Classic.
Myree 02-27-07, 12:13 AM	Well, Grod the Giant took my initial thought, so here's the runner-up: 54: The Cleric (straight man) and the Rogue (prat fall). They are constantly trying to convert, reform, corrupt, insult, or injure each other, but in the end there are no two closer friends. I hate to say that the reason behind this one actually stumped me the first couple of times I ran into it (hey, it was a LONG time ago, alright?), but then I finally figured it out -- it was the only simple way to explain how these two theoretical opposites stay in the same party, and the humor keeps it lively too. I had two friends that picked this bit up perfectly, all the way down to the thief playing the practical jokes (usually while on watch) and the cleric absentmindedly foiling some long planned but unrelated con job.
tete 02-27-07, 01:16 PM	51. Kobald named Meepo needs to get back dragon Exactly! Why must he haunt my dreams! :D
Dei 02-27-07, 02:23 PM	55. The Noble Paladin. Though rarely done with even a modicum of competence a well played paladin can be the epitomie of heroic fantasy.
Galenraug 03-01-07, 09:43 AM	56. The BBEG that has in and of him/her self the personal power to destroy the PC's at low level with but a greater teleport and a few well aimed spells,(don't really even need to be well aimed, *cough*apocalypsefromthesky*cough*), yet despite the immense secular and magical resources, with the capacity to locate and eradicate the party, dawdles and allows the PC's to survive to a threatening level of power. Then he/she lets loose an elite 'counter-party' to pit off 1-on-1 with the party members, think Marvel Secret Wars from the 80's. After some information is leaked, the party take the 'final boss walk' to the installation/castle/secret temple/main city's sewer or wizard tower, etc., etc., ad nauseum; final battle ensues, then a misdirection that reveals the BBEG wasn't really the BBEG, and...and....insert one of the previously mentioned BBEG alternatives (being controlled by a demon/monster, possessed, black-mailed or threatened into their position, plug one in for flavor)
Galenraug 03-01-07, 09:53 AM	57. The BBEG wants to become a god; there is no better power kick than getting worshipped, and benefiting from it:) 58. The BBEG is actually attempting a quasi-noble act, such as summoning and defeating the evil typhoneus/cthulu/fenrir/Tiamat uber-daemon abomination paragon soul-drinking godless destoyer of worlds... of legend. Of course, instead of pooling resources to enlist the aid of the clever party who've dodged/defeated him up until now, and revealing his ambiguously good intentions, he fights them to the bitter end before failing in his attempt, leaving the party to clean up his mess...Magus from Chrono Trigger, anyone? 59. A loyal friend of the party, perhaps a mentor, becomes a victim of the BBEG's depridations; their death polarizes the party into action, and provides some shock value...until the next close friend/mentor/childhood rival/redeemed villian/jovial innkeeper acquaintance of the party since level 1 is killed off; wash, rinse and repeat if the DM wants to pull the party's focus off in another direction
Epicweaver 03-01-07, 03:21 PM	60. Dead PC, New PC - Our dearest dwarven companion Redbeard was lost in a ferocious battle in the Glendeep Caverns on our travels to Riverbrook, shortly thereafter we met a friendly traveling dwarf named Whitebrow who wished to join our party. Strangely, we always seem to encounter a new adventurer looking to join our party after someone dies, more often then not possessing a similar skill-set as our fallen companion. 61. Evil Monologues - It's time for you to die foolish adventurers... but first I will explain my dastardly plan, showing you the brilliance of my masterful puppetry. What you don't want to hear it? Why are you casting spells? I'm supposed to tell you the sorry before the final fight! Why are you putting your portable hole into your bag of holding... 62. Hard Travel, Easy Travel - Hrmmm... isn't it strange Sparrow? The trip to the dungeon always seems to be a hazardous trek through a wilderness teeming with savage beasts and murderous cutpurses... but the return trip always seems to be quick and without incident.
Galenraug 03-01-07, 05:46 PM	63. The appearance of epic-level monsters- it never fails to amaze me that characters can avoid these creatures in the wilderness until they hit level 21; epic level must give off some kind of pheromone that releases these gods-forsaken abominations from their turpor at the center of hte earth; and apparently the overland travel precautions of an epic level party goes down in this estimation; "huzzah, fellows, we have ascended to untold prowess and skill with our vanquishing of the lich of trite tower... where did that elder titan come from???"
dpity1 03-01-07, 06:50 PM	The disappearance of Goblins, Orcs, and Kobolds At the same time that strong monsters magically appear to challenge the group, all the creatures that used to constantly raid the party as it traveled disappear.
Chrono Nexus 03-01-07, 07:00 PM	64. The good guys win.
Bert The Troll 03-01-07, 09:56 PM	45: The Succubus in the Dungeon "Oh woe is me, I am a beautiful maiden being held captive, with my clothes suggestively torn up! What? You'll rescue me? Why thank you, you big handsome man, let me reward you with a kiss....sucker!" (energy drain) They fall for it every time! :) Part way through the temple of Elemental evil, and from then on, my players draw weapons whenever they saw an attractive woman.
Galenraug 03-02-07, 03:39 PM	66. The graveyard filled with undead- emaciated, decomposed limbs clamouring from out of the fresh burial soil, hungering for the flesh of the living; EVERY graveyard seems to house enough negative energy (or have a troublesome necromancer nearby) to animate the dead, though they will not rise until the moment the party sets foot on the grounds to satisfy a quest objective; that's one heck of a contingency spell; in the D&D world, I'd just as soon cremate all of my loved ones, so that this oft-repeated tragedy never happens. Can I get an "amen"? How about a consecration?
Epicweaver 03-02-07, 03:56 PM	67. Huge Monters and Larger Have Treasure In Their Stomachs - Swiftwind couldn't believe it. Another dead adventurer inside the belly of the beast! He couldn't believe how many creatures stomachs he'd sliced open to find the remains of an unlucky adventurer who's gear still seemed useable! Ah well, thought Swiftwind, the merchant won't know the difference aside from a bit of an acrid smell. I'll just say it was used to battle an ooze. Swiftwind smiled, wiped some of the gore from his face and turned his eyes eastward, back to the task at hand he thought.