Belle of the ball [Archive] - Wizards Community

Belle of the ball [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Eightbitmage
02-01-05, 08:54 PM Well after much fighting, torture, searching, destroying, and even a bit of roleplaying my group has finally reached a ball they were promised five or six sessions ago. My group is made of 3 girls and one guy, and the girls have invested a lot in this ball (They spent an entire session looking for dates and dresses), so I've been trying to think of ways to make it special. And I've come to find... I can't think of much about what goes on at a ball at all.

So little help?

The ball is being thrown by a legendary warrior who has taken the PCs in as his students. He has overthrown evil kings, prevented an evil demon god's minions from awakening him, and is known quite well throughout the land. I already plan to have a few guests including a king queen and prince (who was recently rescued by the PCs), the leaders of a halfling mage's guild, a female dragon polymorphed into human form accompanied by her adopted human son, a group of paladins, the head of corellion's church in the main elf kingdom in my world (his daughter is the wife of the guy throwing the ball), and a few others the PCs have met along the way.

So any suggestions about things that could happen/ or even what the hell happens at a ball?
Ongorth
02-01-05, 09:23 PM If our party knows about anything, its balls. Their love of balls is well known. I'm glad my group is not the only group that spends an entire sessions at and getting ready for parties.

In order to know what's happening at a ball, you kinda need to know the occassion it's being thrown for. Some ideas: Correnation, wedding, coming of age/graduation, shindig, "hey, we're going on adventure that might get us killed, wanna have a party," business, rivaling balls, etc. Once you have that, you can decide who's showing up, who's crashing and who's peeved about not being there.

Next, the stuff happening will depend on the type of people, but one thing happens at any party: the talking. People use the oppurtunity to meet, influence, score with and, yes, just hang around other people. The party can serve a chance to meet new characters and just play your characters being themselves for a while, without dragons or dungeons.

Now, every good party needs some plot twists. Whether it be the old "love potionin the drink," a surprise guest, a kidnapping attempt, "fire in the hole" or just some good old fashion politicking ending in the infamous "triple backstab," no twists makes for an unmemorable experience.

The party needs details, lots of them and plenty of mini-events. This is the time to use obscure skills or skills in strange ways. Outfits, decor, drinks, people, these should all have a flavor to them. Make the people want to meet the people. Depending on the crowd, the party could meet other adventurers, investors, powerful political people, royalty, just about anything, really. They could use the party as a way to get an enemies ally compromised.

We always have parties in our game and they are always memorable because of the detail and strange events thrown into them. You just gotta figure the mood, the crowd and the twist(s) and off you go.

Also, remember, the players mightwant to use the party scene to create there own plots and twists, which should always be encouraged. Be prepared to improv all sorts of characters that they might meet and design them later if they become aquaintted. Someone might just say, "I'm looking for a ship captain" because they want to travel. Use it, have names and physical description ready. Wing the rest, fill in the details for next session.
Eightbitmage
02-01-05, 11:44 PM Well the ball is an annual thing to introduce his students to people who one day may hire them, or just need their services. Also he just enjoys these types of social events.
KP91
02-02-05, 12:08 AM You could have this hero introduce the PC's to some more important people. Have the PC's make diplomacy checks to see which hires them. There might be some games that the PC's can play for fun too.
penchant
02-02-05, 01:26 AM We also have balls and celebration. Lots of NPCs throw them. He has big balls, she has big balls, they have big balls... but we've got the biggest balls of them all! Sorry.. rocker moment.

At the party, there is lots of dancing, but hosts strive to entertain their guests in the most extravagant means possible. We have had races with magic items as prizes, duels, poetry contests (combative rhyming, like modern freestyle rap contests), and of course the feast with unusual food surprises. Remember the rhyme,

Four and Twenty Black Birds Baked in a Pie..

This was from such a ball where a giant pie held live birds to surprise the guests.
Nom
02-02-05, 01:39 AM You need to figure whether the ball is an excuse to gather the PCs for a dramatic plot event, or an end in itself. Either can work.

If you're in a politically charged environment, a ball (or similar social gathering) is all about who you are seen talking to. My PCs (including 3 female players) had a lot of fun planning for their ball, getting dresses ready, going shopping, and whatnot (yes, this took about 2 hours play time). At the ball, it was all about whose ear they could gain and how they measured up against their rivals (well, at least for one of them). Meanwhile, one male PC brooded (a surly cleric), while the other (a gnome bard) provided entertainment.

In a more casual environment, it's a chance for the PCs to encounter intersting people. Have them mill around, talk, flirt, whatever, and encounter people they (or you) think it would be useful for them to speak to.

In either case, you need to have an idea of who is going to be at the ball, what their agendas are, and who they will want to speak to. Stats aren't important; personality and goals are. In that sense, it's a lot more difficult than grabbing a random monster from the MM and dropping it on the table, but it can feel a lot more rewarding too.

Sample plotlets:
* An insignificant character shows a romantic interest in one of the PCs.
* A significant character shows a romantic interest in one of the PCs.
* An NPC friend gets drunk / lost and the PCs have to find them before they humiliate themselves.
* The PCs have the opportunity to charm a potential benefactor.
* A PCs is sought by two potential benefactors, and must choose between them.
* The PCs hear some negative gossip about a potential benefactor. They may use this to gain more influence, or to avoid that person, or perhaps to pass it on to an opponent.
* Someone steals an minor but treasured item from a PC.
* Disaster strikes! In an accident that is not her fault, something is spilled over a PC, ruining her dress. How will she recover?

Depending on the style of ball, there may also be side attractions - clowns, stalls and the like - for the PCs to enjoy or avoid.

In a purely social ball, your goal should be that the PCs come out with new friends, new enemies, and new opportunities. In contrast, dramatic plot events are easier, since the rest of the ball is filler. However, such things may spoil the 'ball' feel, rendering it merely an excuse. It's possible to have a memorable ball without any world shattering disasters, if you come prepared with minor but personal encounters.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Eightbitmage 02-01-05, 08:54 PM	Well after much fighting, torture, searching, destroying, and even a bit of roleplaying my group has finally reached a ball they were promised five or six sessions ago. My group is made of 3 girls and one guy, and the girls have invested a lot in this ball (They spent an entire session looking for dates and dresses), so I've been trying to think of ways to make it special. And I've come to find... I can't think of much about what goes on at a ball at all. So little help? The ball is being thrown by a legendary warrior who has taken the PCs in as his students. He has overthrown evil kings, prevented an evil demon god's minions from awakening him, and is known quite well throughout the land. I already plan to have a few guests including a king queen and prince (who was recently rescued by the PCs), the leaders of a halfling mage's guild, a female dragon polymorphed into human form accompanied by her adopted human son, a group of paladins, the head of corellion's church in the main elf kingdom in my world (his daughter is the wife of the guy throwing the ball), and a few others the PCs have met along the way. So any suggestions about things that could happen/ or even what the hell happens at a ball?
Ongorth 02-01-05, 09:23 PM	If our party knows about anything, its balls. Their love of balls is well known. I'm glad my group is not the only group that spends an entire sessions at and getting ready for parties. In order to know what's happening at a ball, you kinda need to know the occassion it's being thrown for. Some ideas: Correnation, wedding, coming of age/graduation, shindig, "hey, we're going on adventure that might get us killed, wanna have a party," business, rivaling balls, etc. Once you have that, you can decide who's showing up, who's crashing and who's peeved about not being there. Next, the stuff happening will depend on the type of people, but one thing happens at any party: the talking. People use the oppurtunity to meet, influence, score with and, yes, just hang around other people. The party can serve a chance to meet new characters and just play your characters being themselves for a while, without dragons or dungeons. Now, every good party needs some plot twists. Whether it be the old "love potionin the drink," a surprise guest, a kidnapping attempt, "fire in the hole" or just some good old fashion politicking ending in the infamous "triple backstab," no twists makes for an unmemorable experience. The party needs details, lots of them and plenty of mini-events. This is the time to use obscure skills or skills in strange ways. Outfits, decor, drinks, people, these should all have a flavor to them. Make the people want to meet the people. Depending on the crowd, the party could meet other adventurers, investors, powerful political people, royalty, just about anything, really. They could use the party as a way to get an enemies ally compromised. We always have parties in our game and they are always memorable because of the detail and strange events thrown into them. You just gotta figure the mood, the crowd and the twist(s) and off you go. Also, remember, the players mightwant to use the party scene to create there own plots and twists, which should always be encouraged. Be prepared to improv all sorts of characters that they might meet and design them later if they become aquaintted. Someone might just say, "I'm looking for a ship captain" because they want to travel. Use it, have names and physical description ready. Wing the rest, fill in the details for next session.
Eightbitmage 02-01-05, 11:44 PM	Well the ball is an annual thing to introduce his students to people who one day may hire them, or just need their services. Also he just enjoys these types of social events.
KP91 02-02-05, 12:08 AM	You could have this hero introduce the PC's to some more important people. Have the PC's make diplomacy checks to see which hires them. There might be some games that the PC's can play for fun too.
penchant 02-02-05, 01:26 AM	We also have balls and celebration. Lots of NPCs throw them. He has big balls, she has big balls, they have big balls... but we've got the biggest balls of them all! Sorry.. rocker moment. At the party, there is lots of dancing, but hosts strive to entertain their guests in the most extravagant means possible. We have had races with magic items as prizes, duels, poetry contests (combative rhyming, like modern freestyle rap contests), and of course the feast with unusual food surprises. Remember the rhyme, Four and Twenty Black Birds Baked in a Pie.. This was from such a ball where a giant pie held live birds to surprise the guests.
Nom 02-02-05, 01:39 AM	You need to figure whether the ball is an excuse to gather the PCs for a dramatic plot event, or an end in itself. Either can work. If you're in a politically charged environment, a ball (or similar social gathering) is all about who you are seen talking to. My PCs (including 3 female players) had a lot of fun planning for their ball, getting dresses ready, going shopping, and whatnot (yes, this took about 2 hours play time). At the ball, it was all about whose ear they could gain and how they measured up against their rivals (well, at least for one of them). Meanwhile, one male PC brooded (a surly cleric), while the other (a gnome bard) provided entertainment. In a more casual environment, it's a chance for the PCs to encounter intersting people. Have them mill around, talk, flirt, whatever, and encounter people they (or you) think it would be useful for them to speak to. In either case, you need to have an idea of who is going to be at the ball, what their agendas are, and who they will want to speak to. Stats aren't important; personality and goals are. In that sense, it's a lot more difficult than grabbing a random monster from the MM and dropping it on the table, but it can feel a lot more rewarding too. Sample plotlets: * An insignificant character shows a romantic interest in one of the PCs. * A significant character shows a romantic interest in one of the PCs. * An NPC friend gets drunk / lost and the PCs have to find them before they humiliate themselves. * The PCs have the opportunity to charm a potential benefactor. * A PCs is sought by two potential benefactors, and must choose between them. * The PCs hear some negative gossip about a potential benefactor. They may use this to gain more influence, or to avoid that person, or perhaps to pass it on to an opponent. * Someone steals an minor but treasured item from a PC. * Disaster strikes! In an accident that is not her fault, something is spilled over a PC, ruining her dress. How will she recover? Depending on the style of ball, there may also be side attractions - clowns, stalls and the like - for the PCs to enjoy or avoid. In a purely social ball, your goal should be that the PCs come out with new friends, new enemies, and new opportunities. In contrast, dramatic plot events are easier, since the rest of the ball is filler. However, such things may spoil the 'ball' feel, rendering it merely an excuse. It's possible to have a memorable ball without any world shattering disasters, if you come prepared with minor but personal encounters.