jgsugden
Legend
I'm juat looking to share ideas here: One of the big issues with high level adventures that I've seen raised is that high level PCs can't be constrained. They can trivially pass through barriers, teleport, planeshift, etc.... If you want to run a 'dungeon' style adventure at high levels (13+), what techniques do you like to use to keep the PCs within the complex without it feeling too forced? Afterall, it sucks to spend hours designing a dungeon only to have the PCs bypass it entirely.
Some examples from my repetoire:
1.) The MacGuffin that can't leave - The PCs locate a MacGuffin within the dungeon, but it can't be taken out of it and it can't teleport/go ethereal/change form. This is not a favorite because it does tend to feel forced unless you really set it up well.
2.) Too much to do - There is a lot for the PCs to do and too little time to get it done. While they can leave to go rest or move around the dungeon at will, they still have to visit a lot of places in the dungeon. As such, doing them 'out of order' doesn't really negate anything.
3.) Too intriguing - The situation itself is interesting enough to the PCs that it does not occur to them to leave or bypass anything. They want to see each room. The adventure tells a story that they want to follow and uncover.
Some examples from my repetoire:
1.) The MacGuffin that can't leave - The PCs locate a MacGuffin within the dungeon, but it can't be taken out of it and it can't teleport/go ethereal/change form. This is not a favorite because it does tend to feel forced unless you really set it up well.
2.) Too much to do - There is a lot for the PCs to do and too little time to get it done. While they can leave to go rest or move around the dungeon at will, they still have to visit a lot of places in the dungeon. As such, doing them 'out of order' doesn't really negate anything.
3.) Too intriguing - The situation itself is interesting enough to the PCs that it does not occur to them to leave or bypass anything. They want to see each room. The adventure tells a story that they want to follow and uncover.