johnsemlak said:
Doesn't the Hackmaster game have a slogan like Kill the monsters and take their stuff--you know you want to!
Wouldn't surprise me.
My main group has been playing with me for... er... let's see...
Two players have been with me since 3E came out (4.5 years)
One player has been with me since this part of the campaign started (2 years)
Two players have only started in the last year (about 6 months or less).
Their ages range from 18 to 25. (I'm 32 and 4 days...)
Most of the players have either started playing RPGs with me, or had limited experience before joining my game.
In the past two years, they've advanced from 1st to about 10th level, the newer players starting with 8th level characters.
Currently:
* Human Ranger 2/Wizard 5/Eldritch Knight 3/Spellsword 1
* Dwarf Fighter 7/Dwarven Defender 3
* Human Paladin 9
* Human Psychic Warrior 6/Pyrokineticist 3
(I'm guessing a little as to levels, but that gives you the idea).
Absent last session:
* Human Sorcerer (monte) 6/Mindbender 4
This last session was set up as follows: the party returns to town and witnesses the local Skullcrusher Ogres (MM3) who are part of the mercenary force of the Great Kingdom killing the citizenry - they attack and kill the Ogres. (One Sergeant + 3 Skullcrushers down).
They discover that their patron has vanished, along with other citizens. After speaking to the guard and other people - and mentioning how bad they are at investigating - they finally get around to looking in the cellar of his house. There, concealed by a crate, is a tunnel - investigating the tunnel leads to a cave with three Destrachans (I've just got 4 of the miniatures). Destrachans are actually intelligent (Int 12) and had been torturing the merchant and the other townsfolk for fun. The party defeat them, but not before a couple of their magic items fall prey to the sonic vibrations.
The cave leads to a broken underground bridge, and a lower level of the cave system. Investigating that lower level allowed them to encounter 3 Flesh Golems (a long combat - about 13 rounds - as the warriors got a chance to shine), and then an Ettin and his 2 Brown Bears friends. A very lucky roll on the treasure table gave them a Manual of Gainful Exercise +1, but that was sold for a handsome profit (it helps to have a merchant patron you've just rescued
)
And that was the session. A small amount of plot. Some roleplaying and investigation, but it was the combat (and the treasure) that they really, really enjoyed.
I don't think it can be "monster, treasure, monster, treasure" all the time; but, conversely, I don't think that the game has to be too intricate (though I do enjoy having plots swirling around the PCs for my own enjoyment).
Cheers!