Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 joelaurvick May 14, 2010 23:03:51	My heroes are locked in jail, and I need some ideas to get them out... They found out that Count Alek was behind all the trouble, so he locked them in jail, and he is due to exicute them in the morning. Need some ideas about how they can escape from jail.
#2 pauldanielj2 May 15, 2010 0:32:34	A few thoughts... 1. The heroes aren't alone in their efforts to defeat the Count:  1a. Sometime in the night a band of guerillas break the PCs out of jail.  1b. The PCs are hanged in the morning, but as they drop out of sight below the scaffold, instead of jerking to a sudden stop, the rope has been secretly sawn through by the guerillas, who then help the PCs escape the execution.  1c. At the execution, the Count begins to transform into something monstrous - realizing the true enemy his guards release the PCs and the final battle begins. 2. Skill challenge:   - finding a way to get the cell door open   - distracting the guards   - stealing some uniforms   - and so on until the PCs recover their gear and escape the cell 3. The Count isn't really the enemy:  3a. The Count himself comes to the PCs asking for help against a greater evil.  3b. That night something demonic appeares and drags the Count screaming through a flaming portal - his last command was that the PCs be freed and offered the greatest reward possible for going through the portal to save him.
#3 603 May 15, 2010 6:51:34	Terrorists unrelated to the PCs attack part of the jail near where the PCs are kept, but far enough away that they're able to escape without too much worry.
#4 sockmonkey66 May 15, 2010 9:52:00	Play sick/dead and jump the guards when they check. Find a way to set the place on fire.
#5 josh-hill May 15, 2010 10:35:52	My heroes are locked in jail, and I need some ideas to get them out... They found out that Count Alek was behind all the trouble, so he locked them in jail, and he is due to exicute them in the morning. Need some ideas about how they can escape from jail. a band of rouges break them out. they claim to have been following you for several months as their master is interested in what they are doing. then they disapear into the night. possible plot hook for the future too.
#6 joelaurvick May 15, 2010 16:56:25	Wow, the thought of having other NPCs breaking them out never even occured to me. Awsome! Thanks all.
#7 diggles May 15, 2010 18:54:26	Play sick/dead and jump the guards when they check. Find a way to set the place on fire. Best recommendation so far Diplomacy - try to conveince the guards that someone has a vendatta against them and they are innocent Bluff - 1)  bribe the guard with gold, will the PC's make their end of the bargain?  If not, great side quest, the guard hires mercs to the party! 2)  act like someones sick/dying/possed/mad and the guards need to help Inntimidate - party threatens guards life and his family Thievery - its not that hard to make cloth ropes from your clothing and snatch a key or door release lever, just like in the movie 'The Rock'! Got a wizard or psion in group? mage hand the keys!  Maybe thru sheer force of will they learn the basics of either of those classes, like Luke becoming a Jedi.  And they're now multiclassed/hybrid Or I would think the most basic escape is attacking the guards when the door is opened in the morning to take them to be executed.  unarmed attacks and they try to get the keys.
#8 603 May 16, 2010 13:26:26	Thievery - its not that hard to make cloth ropes from your clothing and snatch a key or door release lever, just like in the movie 'The Rock'! While I like the idea of using skill checks to escape, Thievery depends upon the quality of the prison. Some prisons (run by evil NPCs?) might keep their prisoners naked, for the psychological advantages if nothing else. A really serious prison might have booby-trapped masterwork locks that try to slice the fingers off would-be lock pickers, or lock canvas sacks over prisoners' heads when they aren't being fed.  There's also Guards and Wards from Arcane Power. Not to say it should be impossible. Just very challenging.
#9 diggles May 16, 2010 14:30:38	Thievery - its not that hard to make cloth ropes from your clothing and snatch a key or door release lever, just like in the movie 'The Rock'! While I like the idea of using skill checks to escape, Thievery depends upon the quality of the prison. Some prisons (run by evil NPCs?) might keep their prisoners naked, for the psychological advantages if nothing else. A really serious prison might have booby-trapped masterwork locks that try to slice the fingers off would-be lock pickers, or lock canvas sacks over prisoners' heads when they aren't being fed.  There's also Guards and Wards from Arcane Power. Not to say it should be impossible. Just very challenging. I disagree completely.  This is the equivilent of the dark ages.  Nobles and cities arent going to spare expensives to make their jails extra secure.  If people can break out of Alcatraz, anything 'back in the day' should be cake. The locks are simple, the materials are weak.
#10 joelaurvick May 16, 2010 14:30:46	Thievery - its not that hard to make cloth ropes from your clothing and snatch a key or door release lever, just like in the movie 'The Rock'! While I like the idea of using skill checks to escape, Thievery depends upon the quality of the prison. Some prisons (run by evil NPCs?) might keep their prisoners naked, for the psychological advantages if nothing else. A really serious prison might have booby-trapped masterwork locks that try to slice the fingers off would-be lock pickers, or lock canvas sacks over prisoners' heads when they aren't being fed.  There's also Guards and Wards from Arcane Power. Not to say it should be impossible. Just very challenging. I also like the idea of using a skill challenge to escape, but I don't know how to make a skill challenge, I'm still pretty new to DMing...
#11 diggles May 16, 2010 14:34:05	DM guide pg 72 has info about skill challenges.  Basically you want multiple rolls and how each success/failure will affect the challenge.
#12 joelaurvick May 16, 2010 14:36:44	Yeah, I've read that section a few times, it's not the core of the skill challeges that are difficult, it's actually building it, you know, making the levers and the buttons (Or whatever). it's the construction that gets me.
#13 diggles May 16, 2010 15:33:28	Ok, look at your guards.  Do they like the Count or are they loyal to him?  At what cost?  Can they be bribed?  Are they family men or scoundrels?
#14 603 May 16, 2010 16:17:52	I disagree completely.  This is the equivilent of the dark ages.  Nobles and cities arent going to spare expensives to make their jails extra secure.  If people can break out of Alcatraz, anything 'back in the day' should be cake. The locks are simple, the materials are weak. The OP didn't specify, and it varies by setting.
#15 joelaurvick May 16, 2010 23:14:26	I disagree completely.  This is the equivilent of the dark ages.  Nobles and cities arent going to spare expensives to make their jails extra secure.  If people can break out of Alcatraz, anything 'back in the day' should be cake. The locks are simple, the materials are weak. The OP didn't specify, and it varies by setting. He's a lesser noble Count, ruling only a small county with less than 15 farms in the surrounding area... So no, the jails wouldn't be to hard to get out of... But the Count is a lesser Wizard of sorts, specializing in fire spells and things of that nature. Haven't decided whether or not he's magicaly enhanced the locks...
#16 joelaurvick May 16, 2010 23:15:53	Ok, look at your guards.  Do they like the Count or are they loyal to him?  At what cost?  Can they be bribed?  Are they family men or scoundrels? All good things to think about. I'll see if I can get something rolling in my head.