A great presence blocks out the moon, and all goes black... [Archive] - Wizards Community

A great presence blocks out the moon, and all goes black... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SOPI
02-23-06, 06:30 PM This is pretty important, so I need feedback ASAP.

Those of you who are in my group will face this adventure as soon as I get a chance to DM, so don't read this! (You know who you are.)

The PCs will be attending the annual Harvest Festival in the village of Bifidus, a celebration celebrating the full moon of Oktobre (the months in my homebrew world are Janur, Febur, Maz, Avril, Mayberry, Juni, Jul, Agost, Septembre, Oktobre, Novembre, and Dekembre). Unfortunately a moonlord (Dragon Magazine 340 p. 62) and a horde of mooncalves and other creatures disrupt the festivities. After the PCs eradicate the monsters from the village, the moonlord descends upon the village. Basically, I want to end this section of the adventure with "a great presence blocks out the moon, and all goes black...
The PCs would wake up in the Bifidus the next day to find the city in semi-ruins and the moonlord's omen of crows in effect.

Can I do this? I'm worried that people will find it to be railroading or something. No save is allowed, and no explanation is given. I thought it would add to both the plotline and the creepiness, but I'm worried that it might become an argument. My group members aren't so much rules lawyers as they are "rules paralegals", but they might make a big deal out of it.
FinisofLife
02-23-06, 06:35 PM Well as long as your not doing it constantly I dont think they will mind. And they will probably enjoy a bit of good story/plot even if it takes a little railroading. Besides, if no one ever railroaded there would be no need for a DM to prepare ahead of time, he would just let the adventurers walk around randomly and roll dice for what monsters showed up.
Board_Rider
02-23-06, 06:37 PM I don't think that it's to bad so as long as the PCs get to keep their stuff. Losing stuff is usually what pisses Players off. Moreso if they don't get a chance to defend against that loss.
SOPI
02-23-06, 06:46 PM I don't think that it's to bad so as long as the PCs get to keep their stuff. Losing stuff is usually what pisses Players off. Moreso if they don't get a chance to defend against that loss.
Well, they don't lose anything, and they don't get hurt at all, so by that logic it should be fair.

If an argument breaks out, maybe I should just plead "Rule 0", the Elastic Clause of D&D. :P
Pellanor
02-23-06, 06:55 PM Give them a DC 40 will save. Increase it by 5 for every level beyond first that you're starting at. That way they get their save, but they're garunteed to fail. (note: I count Nat 20's as a 30, not as an auto-pass).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SOPI 02-23-06, 06:30 PM	This is pretty important, so I need feedback ASAP. Those of you who are in my group will face this adventure as soon as I get a chance to DM, so don't read this! (You know who you are.) The PCs will be attending the annual Harvest Festival in the village of Bifidus, a celebration celebrating the full moon of Oktobre (the months in my homebrew world are Janur, Febur, Maz, Avril, Mayberry, Juni, Jul, Agost, Septembre, Oktobre, Novembre, and Dekembre). Unfortunately a moonlord (Dragon Magazine 340 p. 62) and a horde of mooncalves and other creatures disrupt the festivities. After the PCs eradicate the monsters from the village, the moonlord descends upon the village. Basically, I want to end this section of the adventure with "a great presence blocks out the moon, and all goes black... The PCs would wake up in the Bifidus the next day to find the city in semi-ruins and the moonlord's omen of crows in effect. Can I do this? I'm worried that people will find it to be railroading or something. No save is allowed, and no explanation is given. I thought it would add to both the plotline and the creepiness, but I'm worried that it might become an argument. My group members aren't so much rules lawyers as they are "rules paralegals", but they might make a big deal out of it.
FinisofLife 02-23-06, 06:35 PM	Well as long as your not doing it constantly I dont think they will mind. And they will probably enjoy a bit of good story/plot even if it takes a little railroading. Besides, if no one ever railroaded there would be no need for a DM to prepare ahead of time, he would just let the adventurers walk around randomly and roll dice for what monsters showed up.
Board_Rider 02-23-06, 06:37 PM	I don't think that it's to bad so as long as the PCs get to keep their stuff. Losing stuff is usually what pisses Players off. Moreso if they don't get a chance to defend against that loss.
SOPI 02-23-06, 06:46 PM	I don't think that it's to bad so as long as the PCs get to keep their stuff. Losing stuff is usually what pisses Players off. Moreso if they don't get a chance to defend against that loss. Well, they don't lose anything, and they don't get hurt at all, so by that logic it should be fair. If an argument breaks out, maybe I should just plead "Rule 0", the Elastic Clause of D&D. :P
Pellanor 02-23-06, 06:55 PM	Give them a DC 40 will save. Increase it by 5 for every level beyond first that you're starting at. That way they get their save, but they're garunteed to fail. (note: I count Nat 20's as a 30, not as an auto-pass).