My group of 5 players is going through the Lost Mine module using the Pregens (2 wizards instead of 2 fighters) and were able to do something unexpected 3 sessions in: burn down the Stone Giant Inn.
They spent a week in Phandalin after rescuing Sildar reflecting on their previous encounters - my way of saying they went up a level. When they were good and ready the wizards went to the Luck Shrine and heard about the Redbrands. After sharing this information with the rest of the party the Cleric and Fighter actively sought out the miscreants and ended up in the Stone Giant Inn.
Some harsh words were traded in within minutes there was a lethal bar fight. One of the two wizards was still outside, heard the commotion inside and decided to cast Burning Hands through the door opening. To teach the party the powers (and dangers) of 5e spells - they're all 4e players primarily - I ruled that a ramshackle wooden building like that would be caught on fire.
So the Redbrands were killed, as was the poor soul tending the bar. And the great oak behind the building, passing the fire to the building next door. The fires died off on their own eventually.
I ended the session there, firstly because that would be a nice cliffhanger but also because I had to seriously think about the effect this would have on the rest of the town.
So.. brainstorm.. how would you make the next session start out? Surely such a deed, how well intended, wouldn't go unnoticed or even unpunished.
They haven't met the Town Master yet so I was thinking he'd show up with some hired goons to take them away. Or to take them to safety from an angry mob of citizens?
Reading the Town Masters' description he's not a kind man nor does he want the players to meddle with the Redbrands so obviously he's not too happy about this. And he won't let this slide easily. So how would the plyers redeem themselves in his (and the town's) eyes?
The party's Rogue wasn't in the town at the time. The player was taking the backstory very seriously and refuses to set foot in the town which obviously brings it's own set of problems.
I was thinking the Rogue would get a message via one of her contacts about the evens and that she has to come to town if she wants to save her friends. Two birds and all that.
Maybe the characters are in the holding cells beneath the Town Masters' house and need to be sprung. While a cool way for the Rogue to shine this won't do their reputation any good. Also in this scenario would I just have the rest of the party start in the prison or should I roleplay it from the moment the fires die out? That would probably be preferable for the players - who likes to hear they are now suddenly in jail? - but they would most likely find some way not to be incarcerated. A lethal way, most likely.
Also after they are freed from their cells they still need redemption, right. Oh and then there's Sildar who is still alive. I don't want him to steal the spotlight here. (I'd rather not have him around at all tbh
)
I'm just afraid that letting these guys go from this point will probably pretty much ruin the entire Phandalin hub by mistake.
So. Ideas welcome!
They spent a week in Phandalin after rescuing Sildar reflecting on their previous encounters - my way of saying they went up a level. When they were good and ready the wizards went to the Luck Shrine and heard about the Redbrands. After sharing this information with the rest of the party the Cleric and Fighter actively sought out the miscreants and ended up in the Stone Giant Inn.
Some harsh words were traded in within minutes there was a lethal bar fight. One of the two wizards was still outside, heard the commotion inside and decided to cast Burning Hands through the door opening. To teach the party the powers (and dangers) of 5e spells - they're all 4e players primarily - I ruled that a ramshackle wooden building like that would be caught on fire.
So the Redbrands were killed, as was the poor soul tending the bar. And the great oak behind the building, passing the fire to the building next door. The fires died off on their own eventually.
I ended the session there, firstly because that would be a nice cliffhanger but also because I had to seriously think about the effect this would have on the rest of the town.
So.. brainstorm.. how would you make the next session start out? Surely such a deed, how well intended, wouldn't go unnoticed or even unpunished.
They haven't met the Town Master yet so I was thinking he'd show up with some hired goons to take them away. Or to take them to safety from an angry mob of citizens?
Reading the Town Masters' description he's not a kind man nor does he want the players to meddle with the Redbrands so obviously he's not too happy about this. And he won't let this slide easily. So how would the plyers redeem themselves in his (and the town's) eyes?
The party's Rogue wasn't in the town at the time. The player was taking the backstory very seriously and refuses to set foot in the town which obviously brings it's own set of problems.
I was thinking the Rogue would get a message via one of her contacts about the evens and that she has to come to town if she wants to save her friends. Two birds and all that.
Maybe the characters are in the holding cells beneath the Town Masters' house and need to be sprung. While a cool way for the Rogue to shine this won't do their reputation any good. Also in this scenario would I just have the rest of the party start in the prison or should I roleplay it from the moment the fires die out? That would probably be preferable for the players - who likes to hear they are now suddenly in jail? - but they would most likely find some way not to be incarcerated. A lethal way, most likely.
Also after they are freed from their cells they still need redemption, right. Oh and then there's Sildar who is still alive. I don't want him to steal the spotlight here. (I'd rather not have him around at all tbh
)I'm just afraid that letting these guys go from this point will probably pretty much ruin the entire Phandalin hub by mistake.
So. Ideas welcome!
