Transcript
Adventure Prep for NewbiesBy Mon Macutay, Sept 27, 2015
The Problem
YOUR REAL AUDIENCE
Bullets Are Great
• Do not write like a pro• Don’t plan for EVERYTHING• Over-thinking is a waste of time• Your players will do SOMETHING ELSE!• Write and plan in PARTS and BULLETS
The Dungeon
• Confined space (party is boxed in)• Controlled environment• Limited Choices• Highlights Class roles• Simple and fun• Easy to design and conceptualize
FIREBALLNOT good in confined spaces!
Prep Guidelines
30 mins / 2 hours of play
Reskin if possible
Generators save time (Names, NPCs, Treasure, Statblocks)
Google is your friend
1. Random Dungeon Generator2. Tweaking Published Modules3. Five-Room Dungeon4. Three Paths Method
Random Dungeons
Pros Fun to create Wild and chaotic Like a video game
Cons Random (often) doesn’t make sense (ecological) Thin or weak story-based elements
Published AdventuresPros
Already made Easily Available CR levels
Cons Reading Time Tweaking part System Conversion
5-Room Dungeon
Developed by Johnn Four (roleplayingtips.com)
Definition of “Room” Formula, Plot Structures PROS
Simple Allows improv, thematic Allows for character involvement, twists,
etc
5-Room Dungeon
1. Entrance and Guardian
2. Puzzle or RP Challenge
3. Red Herring, Trick or Setback
4. Climax, Big Battle
5. Reward, Revelation, or Plot Twist
The Tomb of the Dragon Queen
Backstory During the great War of Dragons, Tiamat
appointed a Dragonborn to be her Queen. The Dragon Queen led the evil Dragon Army to
battle and defeated the elves, humans and dwarves.
But soon, other gods heeded the call to war and the Time of Dragons soon faded into history.
Her Tomb, once assumed to be merely legend, has recently been found…
1 – Entrance and Guardian
Altar to Tiamat in center Sarcophagus made of black stone If desecrated, Monsters will come
out and attack Monster Ideas: Spectre, Aspect of
Tiamat, Baby Dragon
THE ALTAR OF TIAMAT
2 – Puzzle or Role-Play Challenge
Black and White tiles like a chess board
Ruined chess pieces on the other side (actually petrified adventurers)
Black tiles are illusion Pit Traps or Magical Trap Ideas: Petrification, Spikes,
Lightning, Fire
THE CHESS ROOM
3 – Trick or Setback
Only way to reach main chambers is through flood tunnels
May take away armor or risk drowning While swimming, ghastly hands grasp at one PC (easy
to escape or kill) On dry end, one of the PCs will be possessed by a dead
adventurer (the one who tried to grab him or her) The adventurer, Dorian, a Warrior, had a quest to find
a special healing potion to cure his wife of a magical disease. He heard it was in the treasure vault and asks the PC to locate it and bring it back to her.
THE FLOODED HALL
4 – Climax, Big Battle
Main chamber. More elaborate, bigger black sarcophagus
Burial chamber of the First Dragon Queen
Guardian: Dragon (Red). Age, dependent on PC levels
Roll for initiative!!!!
THE TOMB OF THE DRAGON QUEEN
5 – Reward and Plot Twist
Determine Treasure and magic items based on CR and Party levels
The “magical healing potion” for Darion is there If the party tries to locate Darion’s wife, She has been dead for a hundred years Darion’s grandchildren (or great) are still alive DM can determine their motives or their
reaction to what they bring Which can lead to new plot hooks, new
adventure
THE TREASURE CHAMBER
The 3 Paths Method
MECHANICS• Start with an adventure seed• Add “The PCs start in…”• Add 3 “Branches”• Locations• NPCs• Villains• Encounters
• Flesh it out further• DM assignments • Stats• More Info• More details
Example (Adventure Seed)
Dwarven Explorers uncover a Mad Wizard’s Vault underground
A floating Keep from another Plane crashes into a nearby forest
Assassins are out to kill a young girl for her powers
Audience choice or recommendation
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