Adventure Ideas [Archive] - Wizards Community

Adventure Ideas [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Meloncov
08-20-03, 06:46 PM I am running a mileteristic campaighn, where the charecters are rebelling from a nation. Right now the charectors are 16th level. The problem is that the BBEG is twentiath level, and will have a much higher El with his henchmen, and I am running out of adventrue ideas. Changing the BBEG level is not an option. Thanks!!!!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------My speiling is worse then yours. I win.
Damren
08-20-03, 07:20 PM A little vague on details, sadly the whole 'running out of ideas' thing doesn't give us an idea of what you've done so far, what the geography is, the politics, etc. It just doesn't give us much to go on, if that makes sense?

But, that doesn't mean we don't try;

If the BBEG is a local lord or king and the rebellion is kingdom wide, you could begin goal specific missions in certain areas of the kingdom you haven't explored.

If were talking something like Robin Hood and the BBEG is taking over, the PCs may need to try and restore the true ruling family of the realm, or protect them from harm until they can escape to exile and thus saftey (more or less).

If the rebellion is mass scale, think of a few things like the american revolution & french/indian wars. You have local tribes that may or may not be with you. Enemy forts that need to be overtaken or cirvumvented. Spys and traitors to deal with. Refugees need to be saved & fed.

Heck, take a look at some of the StarWars material and convert it over. There is tons of stuff there that could be of use in at least plot if not in totallity.

Enemy forces could be harassing a known monster forest & driving the creature into range of a suspected rebel outpost.

An icon of the rebellion (think Yoda) might have gone missing and need to be found.

The BBEG might be questing for the three relics of evil in the hopes of opening a doorway for his true master into the world. And event which will destroy all hope of survival.

BBEG's slash & burn tactics might be mitigated by finding a legendary druid in the great forest & turning him to the rebellions side, providing much needed food and protection for the surviors.

When BBEG defeated the local rulers, they fled (and may never have been found), but, a local child of the rebellion was swimming in the forest creek and came on some coins, or a helm (whatever item works) that seem to indicate a direction the royalty may have gone. Dead or alive, the wealth they took with them would aid the rebels immensly. And, they may have certain magic items on them that would make entry into BBEG's 'new' castle much easier for the good guys.

The top of my head is clear (for the moment). Let me know if that helps.
El Magnifico
08-20-03, 07:40 PM Everything Damren said is good and like he (or she - sorry mate I can't tell from your handle!) said it's hard to tell what you've already tried but what about sending them to a couple of rebel factions who have fallen out with each other. Maybe together they would be powerful allies (going with extremes but something along the lines of dwarven melee fighters and elven archers) but individually they are too few to be significant. Your party could be sent to mediate. The root of the problem (and so its solution) could be tailored to the parties abilities and the players interests.

Hack and Slashers? Go with something like a dispute over some missing item (make the item symbolically important but not magically powerful or anything. That way the party isn't tempted to keep it!). One faction accusing the other of stealing it. Then can turn out it has been taken by some of the BBEG's minions to keep the factions apart. Your lot then have to steam in and retake it.

More interested in roleplay? Think classically "two households, both alike in dignity" and all that. Any old blood feud is deeply ingrained but some careful diplomacy from the players may allow the factions to put aside their differences for the greater good.
Ferran Reidock
08-20-03, 07:44 PM The final encounter in my last campaign was very similar. The party was 15th level, and the BBEG was 20th with 3 16th level henchmen. Waaaaay more than their EL (In the 'extreme luck to win' range) To be fair, one party member had a certain ability that made him much more than his EL would suggest, but still, this enocunter wasn't exactly balanced.

So, I had all the NPCs the party had helped, allied with, or otherwise befriended present during the battle. Each one had a specific action they would take, once, to help out if neccesary. For example, a cleric NPC would cast Heal once, a powerful Wizard came and blasted the enemies once, etc. It ended up working out pretty well, although if the Druid PC hadn't used Creeping Doom to kill two of the henchmen in one round, it might have been a different story. Oh well, it was a 'roleplaying campaign,' so balance wasn't as much of an issue.
Meloncov
08-20-03, 11:15 PM Sorry for not giving you much detail. So far the adventures have been mostly mass combat, so I's trying to avoid to much of that.

About taking stuff from Star Wars, my charectors are already to mad about stealing to many of Gourge Lucas's Ideas. ( I inteded it to by a break off from history, what would have happend if the romans had rebelled from Julius Ceasar, but that's also the basic idea behind Star Wars, so they are nearly identicle).
Meloncov
08-20-03, 11:18 PM Sorry for not giving you much detail. So far the adventures have been mostly mass combat, so I's trying to avoid to much of that.

About taking stuff from Star Wars, my charectors are already to mad about stealing to many of Gourge Lucas's Ideas. ( I inteded it to by a break off from history, what would have happend if the romans had rebelled from Julius Ceasar, but that's also the basic idea behind Star Wars, so they are nearly identicle).

On idividual adventure, once the burned about half of thier enemies nazy, and they are about to tray and take over a Wizards Tower. That's about it. (the chapaighn started at tenth level, in case you where wondering)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My speiling is wors than yours. I win
Meloncov
08-20-03, 11:19 PM Sorry about the double post
Damren
08-21-03, 10:13 AM Actually, the 'StarWars' comment was not so much targeted at the movies than the gaming material now being produced and most likely added to on web-sites world wide.

As SW has a 'rebellion' period, you might be able to find adventures & plot devices in the old (westend games?) and new (wotc) material. By no means do I think you should take anything directly from the movie as most players tend to know that stuff by heart (unless you trying to lure them into something, then it might be helpful). Just a suggestion.

Did ANY of the ideas previously suggested sound interesting to you? You didn't actually say if any of the material would be helpful or could be expanded on?

If you've mostly done mass combat, try mixing in a little intrigue. Watch a mystery movie or two, check out a cop drama. See how other plot elements can be mixxed into you story line.

Who is this wizard in the tower? Is he really a servant of the BGs or his he just someone stuck looking for a way out? Once the BGs find out he's willing to side with the rebels, will they be willing to kill them both? Or, is there a chance the wizard will double cross at the last minute, see the good guys caught & then be killed in front of them by the BBG for even THINKING about going rebel?

Then you have the whole, sent to the prison camps, with the hopes their friends will try and rescue them, but thats what the BGs want because they will be waiting storyline. It's a little predictable, but, who knows what might be in those mines the PCs are being forced to work in as part of their sentence?

By the way, when you swipe ideas, try doing it in such a way that they find it really hard to figure out. Bury the original concept so deep they will miss it unless they really try...or get lucky.

My group was in the lair of a feared necromancer who was trapped, via wish class magics, in a mass of adamantite (which I described as a large mass of dark metal over 12 feet in diameter but non-symetrically shaped).

They killed (by sheer luck) the dragon that had 'moved in' while the necromancer was napping. And proceeded to clean out the lair, leaving the necromancer napping just as he was.

Only days later as a friends kids were watching the Mummy Returns did he realize I captured that one little piece of the movie, in which the mummy was caught in a strange mass of whatever that was, for this part.

The same applies for stuff like Storm Troopers (aka The Knightly Order of Vigilance), Imperial Guards (aka The Knightly Order of Guardians), or Yoda (the Druidess of the Hollow Grove). Preserve the idea, change the special affects. Just a suggestion.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Meloncov 08-20-03, 06:46 PM	I am running a mileteristic campaighn, where the charecters are rebelling from a nation. Right now the charectors are 16th level. The problem is that the BBEG is twentiath level, and will have a much higher El with his henchmen, and I am running out of adventrue ideas. Changing the BBEG level is not an option. Thanks!!!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------My speiling is worse then yours. I win.
Damren 08-20-03, 07:20 PM	A little vague on details, sadly the whole 'running out of ideas' thing doesn't give us an idea of what you've done so far, what the geography is, the politics, etc. It just doesn't give us much to go on, if that makes sense? But, that doesn't mean we don't try; If the BBEG is a local lord or king and the rebellion is kingdom wide, you could begin goal specific missions in certain areas of the kingdom you haven't explored. If were talking something like Robin Hood and the BBEG is taking over, the PCs may need to try and restore the true ruling family of the realm, or protect them from harm until they can escape to exile and thus saftey (more or less). If the rebellion is mass scale, think of a few things like the american revolution & french/indian wars. You have local tribes that may or may not be with you. Enemy forts that need to be overtaken or cirvumvented. Spys and traitors to deal with. Refugees need to be saved & fed. Heck, take a look at some of the StarWars material and convert it over. There is tons of stuff there that could be of use in at least plot if not in totallity. Enemy forces could be harassing a known monster forest & driving the creature into range of a suspected rebel outpost. An icon of the rebellion (think Yoda) might have gone missing and need to be found. The BBEG might be questing for the three relics of evil in the hopes of opening a doorway for his true master into the world. And event which will destroy all hope of survival. BBEG's slash & burn tactics might be mitigated by finding a legendary druid in the great forest & turning him to the rebellions side, providing much needed food and protection for the surviors. When BBEG defeated the local rulers, they fled (and may never have been found), but, a local child of the rebellion was swimming in the forest creek and came on some coins, or a helm (whatever item works) that seem to indicate a direction the royalty may have gone. Dead or alive, the wealth they took with them would aid the rebels immensly. And, they may have certain magic items on them that would make entry into BBEG's 'new' castle much easier for the good guys. The top of my head is clear (for the moment). Let me know if that helps.
El Magnifico 08-20-03, 07:40 PM	Everything Damren said is good and like he (or she - sorry mate I can't tell from your handle!) said it's hard to tell what you've already tried but what about sending them to a couple of rebel factions who have fallen out with each other. Maybe together they would be powerful allies (going with extremes but something along the lines of dwarven melee fighters and elven archers) but individually they are too few to be significant. Your party could be sent to mediate. The root of the problem (and so its solution) could be tailored to the parties abilities and the players interests. Hack and Slashers? Go with something like a dispute over some missing item (make the item symbolically important but not magically powerful or anything. That way the party isn't tempted to keep it!). One faction accusing the other of stealing it. Then can turn out it has been taken by some of the BBEG's minions to keep the factions apart. Your lot then have to steam in and retake it. More interested in roleplay? Think classically "two households, both alike in dignity" and all that. Any old blood feud is deeply ingrained but some careful diplomacy from the players may allow the factions to put aside their differences for the greater good.
Ferran Reidock 08-20-03, 07:44 PM	The final encounter in my last campaign was very similar. The party was 15th level, and the BBEG was 20th with 3 16th level henchmen. Waaaaay more than their EL (In the 'extreme luck to win' range) To be fair, one party member had a certain ability that made him much more than his EL would suggest, but still, this enocunter wasn't exactly balanced. So, I had all the NPCs the party had helped, allied with, or otherwise befriended present during the battle. Each one had a specific action they would take, once, to help out if neccesary. For example, a cleric NPC would cast Heal once, a powerful Wizard came and blasted the enemies once, etc. It ended up working out pretty well, although if the Druid PC hadn't used Creeping Doom to kill two of the henchmen in one round, it might have been a different story. Oh well, it was a 'roleplaying campaign,' so balance wasn't as much of an issue.
Meloncov 08-20-03, 11:15 PM	Sorry for not giving you much detail. So far the adventures have been mostly mass combat, so I's trying to avoid to much of that. About taking stuff from Star Wars, my charectors are already to mad about stealing to many of Gourge Lucas's Ideas. ( I inteded it to by a break off from history, what would have happend if the romans had rebelled from Julius Ceasar, but that's also the basic idea behind Star Wars, so they are nearly identicle).
Meloncov 08-20-03, 11:18 PM	Sorry for not giving you much detail. So far the adventures have been mostly mass combat, so I's trying to avoid to much of that. About taking stuff from Star Wars, my charectors are already to mad about stealing to many of Gourge Lucas's Ideas. ( I inteded it to by a break off from history, what would have happend if the romans had rebelled from Julius Ceasar, but that's also the basic idea behind Star Wars, so they are nearly identicle). On idividual adventure, once the burned about half of thier enemies nazy, and they are about to tray and take over a Wizards Tower. That's about it. (the chapaighn started at tenth level, in case you where wondering) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My speiling is wors than yours. I win
Meloncov 08-20-03, 11:19 PM	Sorry about the double post
Damren 08-21-03, 10:13 AM	Actually, the 'StarWars' comment was not so much targeted at the movies than the gaming material now being produced and most likely added to on web-sites world wide. As SW has a 'rebellion' period, you might be able to find adventures & plot devices in the old (westend games?) and new (wotc) material. By no means do I think you should take anything directly from the movie as most players tend to know that stuff by heart (unless you trying to lure them into something, then it might be helpful). Just a suggestion. Did ANY of the ideas previously suggested sound interesting to you? You didn't actually say if any of the material would be helpful or could be expanded on? If you've mostly done mass combat, try mixing in a little intrigue. Watch a mystery movie or two, check out a cop drama. See how other plot elements can be mixxed into you story line. Who is this wizard in the tower? Is he really a servant of the BGs or his he just someone stuck looking for a way out? Once the BGs find out he's willing to side with the rebels, will they be willing to kill them both? Or, is there a chance the wizard will double cross at the last minute, see the good guys caught & then be killed in front of them by the BBG for even THINKING about going rebel? Then you have the whole, sent to the prison camps, with the hopes their friends will try and rescue them, but thats what the BGs want because they will be waiting storyline. It's a little predictable, but, who knows what might be in those mines the PCs are being forced to work in as part of their sentence? By the way, when you swipe ideas, try doing it in such a way that they find it really hard to figure out. Bury the original concept so deep they will miss it unless they really try...or get lucky. My group was in the lair of a feared necromancer who was trapped, via wish class magics, in a mass of adamantite (which I described as a large mass of dark metal over 12 feet in diameter but non-symetrically shaped). They killed (by sheer luck) the dragon that had 'moved in' while the necromancer was napping. And proceeded to clean out the lair, leaving the necromancer napping just as he was. Only days later as a friends kids were watching the Mummy Returns did he realize I captured that one little piece of the movie, in which the mummy was caught in a strange mass of whatever that was, for this part. The same applies for stuff like Storm Troopers (aka The Knightly Order of Vigilance), Imperial Guards (aka The Knightly Order of Guardians), or Yoda (the Druidess of the Hollow Grove). Preserve the idea, change the special affects. Just a suggestion.