An archery contest; the finals? [Archive] - Wizards Community

An archery contest; the finals? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
robot flux
08-27-07, 02:47 PM Greetings!

I will be planning on creating an archery contest in a city celebrating a festival. I have already come up with the qualification rounds (there are two before the final);

10 contestens/round

5 arrows.

Everyone shoots (ranged attack) the arrows and adds the combined result together. If a natural 20 is rolled, that shooter gets to roll a "bonus" roll, which will add to the total sum. The five best from round 1/2 go to the finals.

The problem is, I do not know what to come up with the finals. I wouldn't want to make a same round like the previous qualifiers were, instead something regarding to "shooting an arrow through a small hole (DC what-not)" or equivalent, making the final a bit more interesting...

Does someone have a good idea how to create an interesting final? I'd appreciate any ideas! :)

Cele
Taddilius
08-27-07, 03:06 PM Do you want the PCs to win or lose or does this contest not have an impact on the over all plot line?

I'd use the rules for attacking objects. So if you have a 3 ring target. ring 3 has an AC of 12 (tiny size mondfier), Ring 2 has a DC of 4 and the bulls eye has a DC of 18. Let the player choose how they are going to score. ring 3 is worth 1 point, ring 2 2 points and the bulls eye is worth 4 points.

For the next round you could challange the players to be creative. they need to come up with trick shots.

You can have a couple that the NPCs do, so a blind fold shot, over the shoulder, left handed, etc. If they make the shot the rest of the challengers need to make the shot. That way the players can be creative.
Tunllaw
08-27-07, 03:51 PM Make the finals shooting moving targets, like prisoners with targets on their backs and they get to run into the woods, the archer with the highest kill count wins.
Shaggy_Shaggs
08-27-07, 04:00 PM Make the finals shooting moving targets, like prisoners with targets on their backs and they get to run into the woods, the archer with the highest kill count wins.

That's not a bad idea, actually. If the people running the archery contest aren't the types that are willing to subject actual people/creatures to death for it, summoned creatures could be used as targets - they don't actually die when killed.
Krusk
08-27-07, 04:20 PM Rules - magic items not allowed, spells are an option so long as you cast them. All contestants are debuffed befor each round.

round 1- your thing, they just shoot at targets far away
round 2- the targets are just as far, but they need to shoot at them as they rotate through a couple of squares. Give a dodge bonus to AC of a couple.
round 3- The arrows are shot through a cheesecloth wall at the target. Granting concealment. 20-50.
round 4- the targets are moving behind the cheesecloth.
round 5- archers are shown the targets location, then blindfolded and told to shot. Treat as fighting an invisable creature. -if thats possible with ranged weapons, not sure.-
Round 6- shown targets then the targets start to move while you are blindfolded- use listen checks to determine new location.
Round 7- blindfolded then pointed in the direction of the targets. Targets then move around as needed.

Have the bottom X contestants eleminated each round. Also include a minimum passing score for each round. Anyone who dosn't get this is also out. I doubt you will go past round 4 or 5 but just in case.
Oakspar77777
08-27-07, 05:13 PM Normally and archery contest has 3 or 10 arrows, but that is up to you. Here are some contest I have run ove the years . . .

1) Standard (bulls-eye) - Contestants shoot arrows, high roll wins, if more than one bull's eye (natural 20), then there is a shoot off (note that a natural 20 would still win even if the total attack is less than another shooter's with a high bonus to attack).

2) Standard (composite) - Multiple shots are made and the totals counted. Natural 20's add 10 points to their total.

3) Consistant (close) - Give the 10 rings of the target ACs from 10 (outer) to 20 (center). The highest AC that a shot could hit is the ring scored. Add the score of all the shots (note that a high level shooter could possibly ace this competetion time after time so long as natural 1's are not rolled).

4) Consistant (range) - Same as before, only each half the contestants are eliminated and the targets are moved one range incriment back (effectively increasing the target's AC by 2). Keep doing this all the way back to 5 range incriments (-10 to attacks, but less with Far Shot). This makes characters with Far Shot feel cool (effectively +2 to hit) and also keeps most characters from being able to ace the target.

5) Single shot - Can be done as a standard or consistant (bull's eye) shot. Adds drama and unpredictability.

6) Moving targets - Targets have random AC (1d20 + an appropriate base number for the contest's difficulty). Since each contestants targets vary greatly in AC, more luck and unpredictability comes into play.

7) Living targets - Targets are summoned creatures. Can be scored either by shots needed to complete a set number of kills OR by kills with a set number of shots. This adds the damage eliment to the challenge, increasing randomness but also favoring those who have put damage boosts into ranged combat.

NO MATTER WHAT, anytime you do something like an archery contest, the party should know what the prizes are ahead of time. That way, win, loose, or draw, they know that it was a fair contest
Mirage_1
08-27-07, 06:19 PM was just in a fun archery contest...of course, real life is probably more fun that rolling for this sorta thing.

Competition 1:
Modified clout shoot. Started at 100 yds, then 90, then 80, and so on. (that wa we ended up at target to retrieve arrows and score). 2 arrows at each distance. The main target had 2 score zones....2 points if you hit the "hydra", 1 point if you hit the scene. There were also secondary targets. These were small boats...3 points each. Of course, you could get almost a guaranteed hit on the hydra up close, or risk it and try for the boat. Of course...no way to do it in game, but there accidental boat hits as well.

Competition 2:
Forest shoot. Targets throughout the woods. lots of branches obsuring (ie - concealement). 2 arrows at each target. 2 points for target, 1 point for backing.

Competition 3:
Assortment of field events. Included moving targets, spinning targets (2 shooters..wen one hits, it caused it to spin 1 direction, other archer hit it wet the other. was actually easier if the two archers were evenly matched, as much less spinning). Most of these were speed rounds...ie - as many arrows as you can in 30 seconds. Of course in real life, you can push your rate of fire...but reduce accuracy...or everyone there has multiple rapid fire feats that stacked.

Competition 4:
Trick shots. ex - hit the target through a tunnel. More of a psychological thing than actual increased difficulty.
Baernwulf_of_Nor
08-27-07, 07:55 PM Myeh. This can be tricky. There are definitely some good ideas in here, but still I feel that lots of stuff when it comes to contests is too random. For example, if a barbarian with str 16 and a rogue with str 8 arm wrestle, I hope you wouldn't have them roll dice, because the barbarian will always win. My friend sucks at arm wrestling, and trust me, there is no such thing as natural ones.

I like the idea of hunting down prisoners/summoned creatures in the woods. OR...

Have the archers fire at each other. They play in a big arena with varying heights and plenty of good sniping points. Their arrows have the tips taken off and have something like paint balls put on instead. Before each round there is a large antimagic field set around the arena, and the arches go in maybe 5 at a time to snipe each other out. Fill the arena with ravines, trees, ledges, and maybe a cliff or 2. When a man is hit he is disqualified. Treat AC as a ranged touch attack. That would be interesting and would have slightly less randomness attached to it.

BoN
Phae
08-27-07, 08:57 PM Why hasn't anyone suggested the most obvious final task?

Split a bulls-eyed arrow from fletching to head! It would be a fairly simple matter of range attacking the arrow and bypassing hardness and such with enough damage to split the arrow. The damage requirement would be set by you. Robin hood fort the win! :elf:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
robot flux 08-27-07, 02:47 PM	Greetings! I will be planning on creating an archery contest in a city celebrating a festival. I have already come up with the qualification rounds (there are two before the final); 10 contestens/round 5 arrows. Everyone shoots (ranged attack) the arrows and adds the combined result together. If a natural 20 is rolled, that shooter gets to roll a "bonus" roll, which will add to the total sum. The five best from round 1/2 go to the finals. The problem is, I do not know what to come up with the finals. I wouldn't want to make a same round like the previous qualifiers were, instead something regarding to "shooting an arrow through a small hole (DC what-not)" or equivalent, making the final a bit more interesting... Does someone have a good idea how to create an interesting final? I'd appreciate any ideas! :) Cele
Taddilius 08-27-07, 03:06 PM	Do you want the PCs to win or lose or does this contest not have an impact on the over all plot line? I'd use the rules for attacking objects. So if you have a 3 ring target. ring 3 has an AC of 12 (tiny size mondfier), Ring 2 has a DC of 4 and the bulls eye has a DC of 18. Let the player choose how they are going to score. ring 3 is worth 1 point, ring 2 2 points and the bulls eye is worth 4 points. For the next round you could challange the players to be creative. they need to come up with trick shots. You can have a couple that the NPCs do, so a blind fold shot, over the shoulder, left handed, etc. If they make the shot the rest of the challengers need to make the shot. That way the players can be creative.
Tunllaw 08-27-07, 03:51 PM	Make the finals shooting moving targets, like prisoners with targets on their backs and they get to run into the woods, the archer with the highest kill count wins.
Shaggy_Shaggs 08-27-07, 04:00 PM	Make the finals shooting moving targets, like prisoners with targets on their backs and they get to run into the woods, the archer with the highest kill count wins. That's not a bad idea, actually. If the people running the archery contest aren't the types that are willing to subject actual people/creatures to death for it, summoned creatures could be used as targets - they don't actually die when killed.
Krusk 08-27-07, 04:20 PM	Rules - magic items not allowed, spells are an option so long as you cast them. All contestants are debuffed befor each round. round 1- your thing, they just shoot at targets far away round 2- the targets are just as far, but they need to shoot at them as they rotate through a couple of squares. Give a dodge bonus to AC of a couple. round 3- The arrows are shot through a cheesecloth wall at the target. Granting concealment. 20-50. round 4- the targets are moving behind the cheesecloth. round 5- archers are shown the targets location, then blindfolded and told to shot. Treat as fighting an invisable creature. -if thats possible with ranged weapons, not sure.- Round 6- shown targets then the targets start to move while you are blindfolded- use listen checks to determine new location. Round 7- blindfolded then pointed in the direction of the targets. Targets then move around as needed. Have the bottom X contestants eleminated each round. Also include a minimum passing score for each round. Anyone who dosn't get this is also out. I doubt you will go past round 4 or 5 but just in case.
Oakspar77777 08-27-07, 05:13 PM	Normally and archery contest has 3 or 10 arrows, but that is up to you. Here are some contest I have run ove the years . . . 1) Standard (bulls-eye) - Contestants shoot arrows, high roll wins, if more than one bull's eye (natural 20), then there is a shoot off (note that a natural 20 would still win even if the total attack is less than another shooter's with a high bonus to attack). 2) Standard (composite) - Multiple shots are made and the totals counted. Natural 20's add 10 points to their total. 3) Consistant (close) - Give the 10 rings of the target ACs from 10 (outer) to 20 (center). The highest AC that a shot could hit is the ring scored. Add the score of all the shots (note that a high level shooter could possibly ace this competetion time after time so long as natural 1's are not rolled). 4) Consistant (range) - Same as before, only each half the contestants are eliminated and the targets are moved one range incriment back (effectively increasing the target's AC by 2). Keep doing this all the way back to 5 range incriments (-10 to attacks, but less with Far Shot). This makes characters with Far Shot feel cool (effectively +2 to hit) and also keeps most characters from being able to ace the target. 5) Single shot - Can be done as a standard or consistant (bull's eye) shot. Adds drama and unpredictability. 6) Moving targets - Targets have random AC (1d20 + an appropriate base number for the contest's difficulty). Since each contestants targets vary greatly in AC, more luck and unpredictability comes into play. 7) Living targets - Targets are summoned creatures. Can be scored either by shots needed to complete a set number of kills OR by kills with a set number of shots. This adds the damage eliment to the challenge, increasing randomness but also favoring those who have put damage boosts into ranged combat. NO MATTER WHAT, anytime you do something like an archery contest, the party should know what the prizes are ahead of time. That way, win, loose, or draw, they know that it was a fair contest
Mirage_1 08-27-07, 06:19 PM	was just in a fun archery contest...of course, real life is probably more fun that rolling for this sorta thing. Competition 1: Modified clout shoot. Started at 100 yds, then 90, then 80, and so on. (that wa we ended up at target to retrieve arrows and score). 2 arrows at each distance. The main target had 2 score zones....2 points if you hit the "hydra", 1 point if you hit the scene. There were also secondary targets. These were small boats...3 points each. Of course, you could get almost a guaranteed hit on the hydra up close, or risk it and try for the boat. Of course...no way to do it in game, but there accidental boat hits as well. Competition 2: Forest shoot. Targets throughout the woods. lots of branches obsuring (ie - concealement). 2 arrows at each target. 2 points for target, 1 point for backing. Competition 3: Assortment of field events. Included moving targets, spinning targets (2 shooters..wen one hits, it caused it to spin 1 direction, other archer hit it wet the other. was actually easier if the two archers were evenly matched, as much less spinning). Most of these were speed rounds...ie - as many arrows as you can in 30 seconds. Of course in real life, you can push your rate of fire...but reduce accuracy...or everyone there has multiple rapid fire feats that stacked. Competition 4: Trick shots. ex - hit the target through a tunnel. More of a psychological thing than actual increased difficulty.
Baernwulf_of_Nor 08-27-07, 07:55 PM	Myeh. This can be tricky. There are definitely some good ideas in here, but still I feel that lots of stuff when it comes to contests is too random. For example, if a barbarian with str 16 and a rogue with str 8 arm wrestle, I hope you wouldn't have them roll dice, because the barbarian will always win. My friend sucks at arm wrestling, and trust me, there is no such thing as natural ones. I like the idea of hunting down prisoners/summoned creatures in the woods. OR... Have the archers fire at each other. They play in a big arena with varying heights and plenty of good sniping points. Their arrows have the tips taken off and have something like paint balls put on instead. Before each round there is a large antimagic field set around the arena, and the arches go in maybe 5 at a time to snipe each other out. Fill the arena with ravines, trees, ledges, and maybe a cliff or 2. When a man is hit he is disqualified. Treat AC as a ranged touch attack. That would be interesting and would have slightly less randomness attached to it. BoN
Phae 08-27-07, 08:57 PM	Why hasn't anyone suggested the most obvious final task? Split a bulls-eyed arrow from fletching to head! It would be a fairly simple matter of range attacking the arrow and bypassing hardness and such with enough damage to split the arrow. The damage requirement would be set by you. Robin hood fort the win! :elf: