Abstraction
First Post
The players in my game are coming to a major story point. They just finished slaying the undead dragon rat god beneath the temple, but managed to arouse several different factions to action. So after the last session, the group is about to enter the main worship area of the temple. There will be an already ongoing battle between the forces of the wererat cult of the dragon, the Empire and the Blue Cloaks. Each of these forces is bitterly opposed to the other two. Add to that the fact that the PCs have managed to make enemies of all of them! Although the PCs could just slip away, they are known to be carrying a powerful artifact that every other faction of course wants.
So, that's the story. Now for the mechanics. Each faction should have a good number of combatants, number unsure. The description when the PCs enter will include quite a fair number of bodies, so the low-level mooks are already dead but the guys still up will be almost completely fresh. Each faction will also have brought their big heavy monster. The cult is unleashing the half-dragon owlbear they stole from the Blue Cloaks that was originally for an ambush against the PCs. The Blue Cloaks are bringing a friendly Dragonne (as they have draconic ties). The Empire is bringing an enslaved Gauth.
I want this to be cool and epic with the PCs able to take a major hand and perhaps defeat all the others. How do I run so much without detracting from the PCs actions?
So, that's the story. Now for the mechanics. Each faction should have a good number of combatants, number unsure. The description when the PCs enter will include quite a fair number of bodies, so the low-level mooks are already dead but the guys still up will be almost completely fresh. Each faction will also have brought their big heavy monster. The cult is unleashing the half-dragon owlbear they stole from the Blue Cloaks that was originally for an ambush against the PCs. The Blue Cloaks are bringing a friendly Dragonne (as they have draconic ties). The Empire is bringing an enslaved Gauth.
I want this to be cool and epic with the PCs able to take a major hand and perhaps defeat all the others. How do I run so much without detracting from the PCs actions?