I am a new DM, and am reading Marauders of the Dune Sea, and giving myself plenty of time (several weeks) to prepare to DM this adventure. I have some questions that may be basic to some, but are unsovable to me right now.
ENCOUTER D1: DESERT TREK
I am assuming the map I use on the table won't have the white W and R letters identifying the crystaline webs and the rock cactus field. If that is indeed the case, the status card for the web says that a DC 14 will succeed in noticing the web. So, should I prompt the characters for a Perception check out of the blue? And what if they all fail, do I then prompt them to keep on moving their figures on the map until something happens? I can't think of another way of doing it, but this way seems a little fabricated. And my question for the rock cactus is pretty much the same.
Following the encounter, the characters will undergo the Finding the Face skill challenge. Again, in the interest of roleplaying, do I simply tell them this is now a skill challenge and ask them to roll for each of the allowed skills, noting successes and failures? I would like to do it in a more natural way, but how would I then prompt them to roll for the right skill?
ENCOUNTER D2: STORM'S EDGE
My question here is at the end of this encounter, let's say no captives or enemies are left, how do I then persuade or, even better, make the characters chose to and think it was their idea to enter the dust devil? I could imagine myself narrating that through breaks here and there on the sand, as it whirls around violently, they can see a large rock formation, and one of them sees what he believes is a face sculpted on the rock. I think that would work, am I on the right track here?
Another question would be this: The text says the characters can capture the last Raider and question him about the Face, finding out they think it's inside the dust devil. That'd be great except in all the times I've played I've never seen anyone capture someone else, only kill them
. How does one go about capturing an enemy? Do they wait until they're bloodied and is the last one left, and common sense says he'd be weak enough to just give in? I can roleplay my way throught that, but I am wondering if there's an actual mechanism to do that?Thanks in advance,
1: Webs and Cactus
Maybe add some small hints to your description of the scene before them. For the web, something like:
A gentle breeze kicks up a small cloud of sand. You notice a faint sparkle reflecting sunlight for just a moment.
And come up with something similar for the cactus. Just a really vague hint that something is there. I would also add one or two meaningless hints for things that are just things, and not traps. Like make mention of hearing a lizard shreiking in the distance or something.
2: Finding the Face skill challenge
At the time we ran this, I was still figuring out how best to do skill challenges, so I cannot really offer advice on how we did that one.
3: Storm's Edge
Finding the entrance inside the huge dust cyclone can be hinted at in some of the initial conversation that sends the adventurers out into the desert. A character with some Streetwise skill could have picked up some rumors around town, the person sending the characters out might have heard the same rumors and passed them along to the adventurers. If this wouldn't work out for the way you send them on their adventure, than I would use your suggestion about seeing the rock formations between clouds of dust.
4: Capturing an NPC
I could be wrong, but I believe the process of capturing someone is this. NPC must be bloodied. Player uses either an Intimidate or Bluff check to convince the NPC to lay down his/her weapon.
Hoping this helps you out. I enjoyed running this adventure, but I also modified it a lot to fit in as the beginning of a much larger campaign.
What about the white "W" and "R" on the first encounter map, did you wait until you gave them hints, like you suggested, and if they passed the check you marked the map? Or did you not mark the map at all and it was a surprise when they stepped on it or close to it?
Great suggestions, thanks!
What about the white "W" and "R" on the first encounter map, did you wait until you gave them hints, like you suggested, and if they passed the check you marked the map? Or did you not mark the map at all and it was a surprise when they stepped on it or close to it?
In the case of a hidden element, here is how I generally handle it:
1. If it's not something they can see right away without using a skill check, I NEVER indicate it on a map.
2. Usually I'll try to give a very vague hint that something might be amiss, thus encouraging them to use a skill check, or further investigate things.
3a. If they fail to see anything of significance (due to a poor role, or lack of skill) I will not indicate what they would have found on the map. If a character then walks into the hidden spider web, I will then indicate on the map the location of all of the spider webs, since the party now knows from first hand experience what dangers to actively search out for.
3b. If someone succeeds in their check, I will then either place tiles, or draw on the map what they just found. If they found a spider web, I will indicate the location of all spider webs on the map at this point.
Forgive me, I do not have the module so I cannot refer to the printed version to understand exactly what is needed or suggested in the module.