1001 Best Plot hooks [Archive] - Wizards Community

1001 Best Plot hooks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Radin Of The Justice
04-13-05, 11:21 PM Well after reading through 1001 worst plot hooks i decided it would be enriching to see good plot hooks you have had.

One that i liked was
-An evil soon to be overlord has begun a rebelion against the current kingdom in the world. and what with all the power needs a party of people to not only defend him but do the evil biding to progress is campaign.

and im sure that you can put the rest together and yes this is an evil campaign.
Nuntius128
04-13-05, 11:45 PM Well, as I displayed in my post for the worst, I've never really seen any good storylines, but NWN is the best I can think of. I love those games.
Charir
04-13-05, 11:54 PM The plot hook I am using in my campaign now is this...

A private corporation/merchants guild have set about the reclamation of a huge ancient bridge across a unfordable river, this bridge has many outbuildings and structures along its over mile long length, and when cleared will allow trade acess to many rich areas, but the party will be competing with several other pc/npc parties for choice areas to explore and even rivalries to be made, all this will be set in a small boomtown style village built by their employers, I even have a npc hiring hall for the players to fill out their ranks, for a price.
Moon-Lancer
04-14-05, 10:47 AM How about this. You are graduating from adventurer academy, but you are asked to save a princesses as well (you can only pick one). Well we went to save the princesses, found a strange portal, and ended up in new York city. Saveing the princes from a wizard, you get back to school and realize everyone is dead full of bullet holes. Keep in mind this is set in a d&d fantasy setting.

That’s a good hook in my opinion.
Good & Evil
04-14-05, 01:29 PM Started my game with this and turned out pretty good:

Player's make 1st lv characters and start out in jail for a crime they seperately did or didn't commit. They are hanged (hung?) in the morning (along with other NPC criminals) and just as they are about to pass out (yes, their necks didn't snap) the ropes are cut.

The survivors (both PC's & NPCs) are told that they are now officially dead and belong to the government. They are taken to a hidden base to be trained to be part of different tactical strike teams, depending on where their talents lie (basically your training for a class). After they have completed their training and have served the government on several missions (up to lv 3) they have the option of leaving to do their own thing or stay on as government agents.

Worked rather well and the PCs felt more like teammates that depended on each other than the "strangers meet at a tavern" type of group. We got to 3rd level rather quick (3 or 4 adventures) and they chose to go out into the world.
Phrennzy
04-14-05, 06:45 PM The players are Up and coming students of various masters - all nobility.
They are selected by the king to sail across the ocean and explore the new continent. A small colony has been built after a previous colony disappeared without a trace.

Mission is to find money, magic, allies, maps, and what happened to the colony, as well as protecting the current colony.
Herald@Large
04-14-05, 07:30 PM Overnight, every living thing in the capitol city disappears. No bodies. No blood. Just ... gone! And everyone who has attempted to investigate has either returned stark raving mad, or has not returned at all ...
Good & Evil
04-14-05, 11:12 PM The PC's are a band. Bard, monk, and rogue with max ranks in perform. Sorc or wiz do the special effects. Fighters and barbarians are the bodyguard/security. The cleric (especially with tickery domain) is the manager. They travel the countryside performing in villages and cities, solving mysteries and adventuring as they go.

Not really a plot hook but still a nicer group set up than "You enter a tavern and you see an elf sitting at the only table still open..."
Morka
04-15-05, 09:10 AM We are walking in the montain to reach some evil temple when we ear 2 persons discussing together in a cavern, complaining about a "Big Beasty". Sneacking in, we realize it is an Ettin! The giant is starving because the "Big Beasty" hunt all the game in the area. He kindly ask us to kill the "Big Beasty", and he return, he will give us... nothing. :confused:
mcnoo
04-15-05, 09:14 AM Someone's been reading their Pratchett i see. Just a small pointer, mainstream authors tend to get read by a lot of people, exactly how long did you think it would take before someone realised this isn't original?

Started my game with this and turned out pretty good:

Player's make 1st lv characters and start out in jail for a crime they seperately did or didn't commit. They are hanged (hung?) in the morning (along with other NPC criminals) and just as they are about to pass out (yes, their necks didn't snap) the ropes are cut.

The survivors (both PC's & NPCs) are told that they are now officially dead and belong to the government. They are taken to a hidden base to be trained to be part of different tactical strike teams, depending on where their talents lie (basically your training for a class). After they have completed their training and have served the government on several missions (up to lv 3) they have the option of leaving to do their own thing or stay on as government agents.

Worked rather well and the PCs felt more like teammates that depended on each other than the "strangers meet at a tavern" type of group. We got to 3rd level rather quick (3 or 4 adventures) and they chose to go out into the world.
Helmed Horror
04-15-05, 05:03 PM Just thought this up... sorry about lack of details...Depending on the players, railroading may be needed.

I'm not truly sure how exactly the party met up together... anyways...

You wake up, and on the base of each bed/sleeping roll/something near you, is a note. Nearby, is a totally empty vial lying on it's side along with some other clue. Describe the note as following, each note is identical.

Greetings [character name],
I am not one to be the bearer of bad news...but,
You are Poisoned. What poison? The poison that leaves no trace. Every party member has been infected. It can't be detected by any magical means, shows no physical symptoms, and in [insert time] you will die. Each of your party members have been given a clue to the antidote written somewhere on this paper.
The trick? There is only enough antidote for [total # of party members -1].
Good luck and good hunting.

-[whoever you want]

More DM's notes...

There is no poison and all the characters are being scryed on by none other than the BBEG OR the major organization using this a test for possible recruits.

The clues... should be parts to the map of the dungeon where the antidote is.

The clues are all written in invisible ink. The vial has nystul's magic aura on it.

Depending on the skill of the player's, hide the vial. (DC 25 or so..)
echobunny
04-15-05, 06:26 PM You start the game out being hunted by a guild of assassins, and your party has absolutely no idea why. Eventually you get a hold of a copy of the contract, and it essentially says that you and your party members are to be eliminated by such and such date four years from now because you are all a threat to the society and political structure of the entire world. And this is before you've ever left the backwater little area of the world which you started in or done anything that seems at all "world-shaking".
Insane Pixie
04-15-05, 08:22 PM You start the game out being hunted by a guild of assassins, and your party has absolutely no idea why. Eventually you get a hold of a copy of the contract, and it essentially says that you and your party members are to be eliminated by such and such date four years from now because you are all a threat to the society and political structure of the entire world. And this is before you've ever left the backwater little area of the world which you started in or done anything that seems at all "world-shaking".

Hey, this sounds one I saw on the 1001 Worst Plot Hooks board!

:P
Good & Evil
04-17-05, 11:09 AM Someone's been reading their Pratchett i see. Just a small pointer, mainstream authors tend to get read by a lot of people, exactly how long did you think it would take before someone realised this isn't original?

So...you're saying its not a good plot hook? Or because its been done before it couldn't work for anyone else?

;)
pzykotikjp
04-17-05, 01:07 PM Here's one I used (it may or may not be great though, I liked it though):

The youngest son of the general of the army is sent to a nearby kingdom to escort a wizard back to the kingdom. Unbeknowest to him, this wizard is king's nephew, and the king wants him killed so that he can never challenge the throne.

Before the son sets out, a rogue from Naz'Shabboth (an organization founded by the king's brother/wizard's father, who was killed 5 years ago by the general), is instructed the travel with the son and make sure that no harm comes to the wizard. And to make things more interesting, the general had killed the rogue's father as well (no, the general isn't evil, there's just a lot of backstory on why all that happened).

The son, the rogue, and the wizard are the PCs.
ToxicWiz
04-17-05, 01:07 PM it sounds simular to one that came up before, but i'll say it anyway.

a small fort on the skirts of the realm has stopped sending surpplies (sorry about the spelling) and messages. the < organisation PCs know and trust> want you to find out what has happened there because the goverment will most likely twist the information, for a very large sum of money and free reign over whatever equipment the PCs find there.

If they agree, they arrive there finding the portcullis open, and enter. there are no obvious signs of battle, and there seems to be no sign of the inhabitants of the Fort. as they came in, <PC name> thought they saw someone on the battlements, but when they looked back, it were gone.

<cue PCs begin doing something>

like I said dunno if it is any good, but it came out well with my group. especially when they found out about what caused it. when they did they left VERY cautiously

(once again sorry about the spelling!)
Gedrin
04-18-05, 02:00 AM The background of "my parrent died" is fairly common. As a plot hook...

A disheveled man arrives at the door wearing old clothes that look to have been chewed on by moths for several years. He says he's just gotten out of jail, and he has a message for you. from inside the lining of his jacket, he produces an aged worn leter with your Father/Mother/Brother/Whatever's personal seal and the date is the day he/she died.

Pretty much instantly, you've got a character personally involved, introduced an NPC who knows things, offered up information in the form of the letter (the first clue), and established an atmosphere of tension and intrigue.

What's in th letter?
Who is this person?
Why was this person in jail?

The subject of the letter depends on where you want the PC's to go next, but it is a fairly interesting way to bring the PC's into things.
DaemeonBlack
04-18-05, 05:36 AM "You are awoken from a dead sleep by a loud crash reverberating through the wall from the room adjacent to yours. In your half asleep groggy state you hear a muffled scream followed by a bloodcurdling sound unlike anything you have ever heard before, a grinding sound like metal upon bone. The sound sickens you on some unknown level but instantly awakens you, filling you with dread. You grab your weapon as you bolt from your room to bang on your allies inn room doors, franticly calling them to your aid."

" The room next door is locked from the inside but easily broken open by your parties efforts. Once inside a stench assults your nose as it escapes from the now opened portal into the hall, the coppery smell of blood combined with sulfur and the hint of burnt wood. Inside you see the bed completely split down the center, both halves on either side of a large scorch mark on the floor where the bottom of the bed would have been. As you look around you see no sign of the resident of the room, and the window is barred from the outside like every other room in the inn. As you do a closer inspection of your surroundings you notice a single bloody hand print in the center of each wall, as well as the middle of the floor and ceiling."
Moon-Lancer
04-18-05, 07:27 AM That gives nice goosbumps. Puts one in the mood for demonslaying.
echobunny
04-18-05, 07:14 PM Hey, this sounds one I saw on the 1001 Worst Plot Hooks board!

:P

*shrug* I thought it was awesome. And the DM who ran it was astounding. If I won the lottery, I would employ this guy just to be at my beck and call (for roleplay purposes only, I swear *innocent grin*)
twad
05-12-05, 10:19 PM :bump:
Samusic
05-13-05, 03:24 AM In my campaign my grandfather, in order to free our tribe of Elves from slavery had to kill some of our own. After coming back from making a trade agreement (little side adventure) with some new comrades I find my home has been attacked. Not just the village, but my house in particular had been burned to the ground. My family injured, I inquire only to be silenced by my father who won't tell me much of anything.

After discovering a hidden laboratory of his in my home he tells me the story of my grandfather. Though freeing our tribe made our family the village "leaders", the fact that my grandfather killed some of our own to do so led our deity to curse our family. Now, when the men reach the age of 300 we become monsters. Actually, a particular kind that hunts and kills all Elves with much hatred, but I can't remember the name. My father nearing the age of 300, I am now on a quest to save my father (and I) from that fate and adventuring along the way.

I'm sure this is only a part of what our campaign will be, but this is it at the moment.
The Almighty Dru
05-13-05, 11:24 AM You start the game out being hunted by a guild of assassins, and your party has absolutely no idea why. Eventually you get a hold of a copy of the contract, and it essentially says that you and your party members are to be eliminated by such and such date four years from now because you are all a threat to the society and political structure of the entire world. And this is before you've ever left the backwater little area of the world which you started in or done anything that seems at all "world-shaking".

Been playing Morrowind with the Tribunal expansion, by any chance?

Best game ever. And I pwn at it.
Kakerate
05-13-05, 11:44 AM Started my game with this and turned out pretty good:

Player's make 1st lv characters and start out in jail for a crime they seperately did or didn't commit. They are hanged (hung?) in the morning (along with other NPC criminals) and just as they are about to pass out (yes, their necks didn't snap) the ropes are cut.

Give them the ghost template, tell them an evil force below them trapped them as ghosts, then send them on some mission to regain their lives back. Also, let the PC's keep their good alignment.

and.. for more hook in your nook!

Have the PC's as ghosts help out an Evil NPC party, because its the only way for the PCs to get brought back to life. That evil party makes its way through a dungeon that it can only get through with the ghost PC's help and in the end of the dungeon the NPC's will activate a device that unknowingly restores the ghost PC's lives, but only if the PC's can trick the evil party into doing this. By the way, giving the evil party a cleric or even 2 might be a good idea.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Radin Of The Justice 04-13-05, 11:21 PM	Well after reading through 1001 worst plot hooks i decided it would be enriching to see good plot hooks you have had. One that i liked was -An evil soon to be overlord has begun a rebelion against the current kingdom in the world. and what with all the power needs a party of people to not only defend him but do the evil biding to progress is campaign. and im sure that you can put the rest together and yes this is an evil campaign.
Nuntius128 04-13-05, 11:45 PM	Well, as I displayed in my post for the worst, I've never really seen any good storylines, but NWN is the best I can think of. I love those games.
Charir 04-13-05, 11:54 PM	The plot hook I am using in my campaign now is this... A private corporation/merchants guild have set about the reclamation of a huge ancient bridge across a unfordable river, this bridge has many outbuildings and structures along its over mile long length, and when cleared will allow trade acess to many rich areas, but the party will be competing with several other pc/npc parties for choice areas to explore and even rivalries to be made, all this will be set in a small boomtown style village built by their employers, I even have a npc hiring hall for the players to fill out their ranks, for a price.
Moon-Lancer 04-14-05, 10:47 AM	How about this. You are graduating from adventurer academy, but you are asked to save a princesses as well (you can only pick one). Well we went to save the princesses, found a strange portal, and ended up in new York city. Saveing the princes from a wizard, you get back to school and realize everyone is dead full of bullet holes. Keep in mind this is set in a d&d fantasy setting. That’s a good hook in my opinion.
Good & Evil 04-14-05, 01:29 PM	Started my game with this and turned out pretty good: Player's make 1st lv characters and start out in jail for a crime they seperately did or didn't commit. They are hanged (hung?) in the morning (along with other NPC criminals) and just as they are about to pass out (yes, their necks didn't snap) the ropes are cut. The survivors (both PC's & NPCs) are told that they are now officially dead and belong to the government. They are taken to a hidden base to be trained to be part of different tactical strike teams, depending on where their talents lie (basically your training for a class). After they have completed their training and have served the government on several missions (up to lv 3) they have the option of leaving to do their own thing or stay on as government agents. Worked rather well and the PCs felt more like teammates that depended on each other than the "strangers meet at a tavern" type of group. We got to 3rd level rather quick (3 or 4 adventures) and they chose to go out into the world.
Phrennzy 04-14-05, 06:45 PM	The players are Up and coming students of various masters - all nobility. They are selected by the king to sail across the ocean and explore the new continent. A small colony has been built after a previous colony disappeared without a trace. Mission is to find money, magic, allies, maps, and what happened to the colony, as well as protecting the current colony.
Herald@Large 04-14-05, 07:30 PM	Overnight, every living thing in the capitol city disappears. No bodies. No blood. Just ... gone! And everyone who has attempted to investigate has either returned stark raving mad, or has not returned at all ...
Good & Evil 04-14-05, 11:12 PM	The PC's are a band. Bard, monk, and rogue with max ranks in perform. Sorc or wiz do the special effects. Fighters and barbarians are the bodyguard/security. The cleric (especially with tickery domain) is the manager. They travel the countryside performing in villages and cities, solving mysteries and adventuring as they go. Not really a plot hook but still a nicer group set up than "You enter a tavern and you see an elf sitting at the only table still open..."
Morka 04-15-05, 09:10 AM	We are walking in the montain to reach some evil temple when we ear 2 persons discussing together in a cavern, complaining about a "Big Beasty". Sneacking in, we realize it is an Ettin! The giant is starving because the "Big Beasty" hunt all the game in the area. He kindly ask us to kill the "Big Beasty", and he return, he will give us... nothing. :confused:
mcnoo 04-15-05, 09:14 AM	Someone's been reading their Pratchett i see. Just a small pointer, mainstream authors tend to get read by a lot of people, exactly how long did you think it would take before someone realised this isn't original? Started my game with this and turned out pretty good: Player's make 1st lv characters and start out in jail for a crime they seperately did or didn't commit. They are hanged (hung?) in the morning (along with other NPC criminals) and just as they are about to pass out (yes, their necks didn't snap) the ropes are cut. The survivors (both PC's & NPCs) are told that they are now officially dead and belong to the government. They are taken to a hidden base to be trained to be part of different tactical strike teams, depending on where their talents lie (basically your training for a class). After they have completed their training and have served the government on several missions (up to lv 3) they have the option of leaving to do their own thing or stay on as government agents. Worked rather well and the PCs felt more like teammates that depended on each other than the "strangers meet at a tavern" type of group. We got to 3rd level rather quick (3 or 4 adventures) and they chose to go out into the world.
Helmed Horror 04-15-05, 05:03 PM	Just thought this up... sorry about lack of details...Depending on the players, railroading may be needed. I'm not truly sure how exactly the party met up together... anyways... You wake up, and on the base of each bed/sleeping roll/something near you, is a note. Nearby, is a totally empty vial lying on it's side along with some other clue. Describe the note as following, each note is identical. Greetings [character name], I am not one to be the bearer of bad news...but, You are Poisoned. What poison? The poison that leaves no trace. Every party member has been infected. It can't be detected by any magical means, shows no physical symptoms, and in [insert time] you will die. Each of your party members have been given a clue to the antidote written somewhere on this paper. The trick? There is only enough antidote for [total # of party members -1]. Good luck and good hunting. -[whoever you want] More DM's notes... There is no poison and all the characters are being scryed on by none other than the BBEG OR the major organization using this a test for possible recruits. The clues... should be parts to the map of the dungeon where the antidote is. The clues are all written in invisible ink. The vial has nystul's magic aura on it. Depending on the skill of the player's, hide the vial. (DC 25 or so..)
echobunny 04-15-05, 06:26 PM	You start the game out being hunted by a guild of assassins, and your party has absolutely no idea why. Eventually you get a hold of a copy of the contract, and it essentially says that you and your party members are to be eliminated by such and such date four years from now because you are all a threat to the society and political structure of the entire world. And this is before you've ever left the backwater little area of the world which you started in or done anything that seems at all "world-shaking".
Insane Pixie 04-15-05, 08:22 PM	You start the game out being hunted by a guild of assassins, and your party has absolutely no idea why. Eventually you get a hold of a copy of the contract, and it essentially says that you and your party members are to be eliminated by such and such date four years from now because you are all a threat to the society and political structure of the entire world. And this is before you've ever left the backwater little area of the world which you started in or done anything that seems at all "world-shaking". Hey, this sounds one I saw on the 1001 Worst Plot Hooks board! :P
Good & Evil 04-17-05, 11:09 AM	Someone's been reading their Pratchett i see. Just a small pointer, mainstream authors tend to get read by a lot of people, exactly how long did you think it would take before someone realised this isn't original? So...you're saying its not a good plot hook? Or because its been done before it couldn't work for anyone else? ;)
pzykotikjp 04-17-05, 01:07 PM	Here's one I used (it may or may not be great though, I liked it though): The youngest son of the general of the army is sent to a nearby kingdom to escort a wizard back to the kingdom. Unbeknowest to him, this wizard is king's nephew, and the king wants him killed so that he can never challenge the throne. Before the son sets out, a rogue from Naz'Shabboth (an organization founded by the king's brother/wizard's father, who was killed 5 years ago by the general), is instructed the travel with the son and make sure that no harm comes to the wizard. And to make things more interesting, the general had killed the rogue's father as well (no, the general isn't evil, there's just a lot of backstory on why all that happened). The son, the rogue, and the wizard are the PCs.
ToxicWiz 04-17-05, 01:07 PM	it sounds simular to one that came up before, but i'll say it anyway. a small fort on the skirts of the realm has stopped sending surpplies (sorry about the spelling) and messages. the < organisation PCs know and trust> want you to find out what has happened there because the goverment will most likely twist the information, for a very large sum of money and free reign over whatever equipment the PCs find there. If they agree, they arrive there finding the portcullis open, and enter. there are no obvious signs of battle, and there seems to be no sign of the inhabitants of the Fort. as they came in, <PC name> thought they saw someone on the battlements, but when they looked back, it were gone. <cue PCs begin doing something> like I said dunno if it is any good, but it came out well with my group. especially when they found out about what caused it. when they did they left VERY cautiously (once again sorry about the spelling!)
Gedrin 04-18-05, 02:00 AM	The background of "my parrent died" is fairly common. As a plot hook... A disheveled man arrives at the door wearing old clothes that look to have been chewed on by moths for several years. He says he's just gotten out of jail, and he has a message for you. from inside the lining of his jacket, he produces an aged worn leter with your Father/Mother/Brother/Whatever's personal seal and the date is the day he/she died. Pretty much instantly, you've got a character personally involved, introduced an NPC who knows things, offered up information in the form of the letter (the first clue), and established an atmosphere of tension and intrigue. What's in th letter? Who is this person? Why was this person in jail? The subject of the letter depends on where you want the PC's to go next, but it is a fairly interesting way to bring the PC's into things.
DaemeonBlack 04-18-05, 05:36 AM	"You are awoken from a dead sleep by a loud crash reverberating through the wall from the room adjacent to yours. In your half asleep groggy state you hear a muffled scream followed by a bloodcurdling sound unlike anything you have ever heard before, a grinding sound like metal upon bone. The sound sickens you on some unknown level but instantly awakens you, filling you with dread. You grab your weapon as you bolt from your room to bang on your allies inn room doors, franticly calling them to your aid." " The room next door is locked from the inside but easily broken open by your parties efforts. Once inside a stench assults your nose as it escapes from the now opened portal into the hall, the coppery smell of blood combined with sulfur and the hint of burnt wood. Inside you see the bed completely split down the center, both halves on either side of a large scorch mark on the floor where the bottom of the bed would have been. As you look around you see no sign of the resident of the room, and the window is barred from the outside like every other room in the inn. As you do a closer inspection of your surroundings you notice a single bloody hand print in the center of each wall, as well as the middle of the floor and ceiling."
Moon-Lancer 04-18-05, 07:27 AM	That gives nice goosbumps. Puts one in the mood for demonslaying.
echobunny 04-18-05, 07:14 PM	Hey, this sounds one I saw on the 1001 Worst Plot Hooks board! :P shrug I thought it was awesome. And the DM who ran it was astounding. If I won the lottery, I would employ this guy just to be at my beck and call (for roleplay purposes only, I swear innocent grin)
twad 05-12-05, 10:19 PM	:bump:
Samusic 05-13-05, 03:24 AM	In my campaign my grandfather, in order to free our tribe of Elves from slavery had to kill some of our own. After coming back from making a trade agreement (little side adventure) with some new comrades I find my home has been attacked. Not just the village, but my house in particular had been burned to the ground. My family injured, I inquire only to be silenced by my father who won't tell me much of anything. After discovering a hidden laboratory of his in my home he tells me the story of my grandfather. Though freeing our tribe made our family the village "leaders", the fact that my grandfather killed some of our own to do so led our deity to curse our family. Now, when the men reach the age of 300 we become monsters. Actually, a particular kind that hunts and kills all Elves with much hatred, but I can't remember the name. My father nearing the age of 300, I am now on a quest to save my father (and I) from that fate and adventuring along the way. I'm sure this is only a part of what our campaign will be, but this is it at the moment.
The Almighty Dru 05-13-05, 11:24 AM	You start the game out being hunted by a guild of assassins, and your party has absolutely no idea why. Eventually you get a hold of a copy of the contract, and it essentially says that you and your party members are to be eliminated by such and such date four years from now because you are all a threat to the society and political structure of the entire world. And this is before you've ever left the backwater little area of the world which you started in or done anything that seems at all "world-shaking". Been playing Morrowind with the Tribunal expansion, by any chance? Best game ever. And I pwn at it.
Kakerate 05-13-05, 11:44 AM	Started my game with this and turned out pretty good: Player's make 1st lv characters and start out in jail for a crime they seperately did or didn't commit. They are hanged (hung?) in the morning (along with other NPC criminals) and just as they are about to pass out (yes, their necks didn't snap) the ropes are cut. Give them the ghost template, tell them an evil force below them trapped them as ghosts, then send them on some mission to regain their lives back. Also, let the PC's keep their good alignment. and.. for more hook in your nook! Have the PC's as ghosts help out an Evil NPC party, because its the only way for the PCs to get brought back to life. That evil party makes its way through a dungeon that it can only get through with the ghost PC's help and in the end of the dungeon the NPC's will activate a device that unknowingly restores the ghost PC's lives, but only if the PC's can trick the evil party into doing this. By the way, giving the evil party a cleric or even 2 might be a good idea.