FormerlyHemlock
Hero
Right. You were asking how to set up a threat, not an outcome.
D&D 5E Methods to split the party
Right. You were asking how to set up a threat, not an outcome.
Nebulous
Legend
That's a really good idea. Just flat out tell them, this is what's happening, go with it. Used very sparingly that would be a refreshing plot device.
aramis erak
Legend
Grapple then teleport. (Helps to have a teleport as move)
Have a fast giant frog gulp one down and hop away.
Dragon Snatch. Preferably hasted.
ExploderWizard
Hero
Step 1: Make sure your villain is an old man in a mask.
Step 2: Ensure the locale is sufficiently spooky and large. Like..jeepers man!
Step 3: Have the smell of something delicious and tasty come from one direction.
Step 4: Make sure a haunting noise or image can be detected in a different direction.
Step5: Be absolutely certain that the villain's plan would have worked if not for those meddling kids.
Step 2: Ensure the locale is sufficiently spooky and large. Like..jeepers man!
Step 3: Have the smell of something delicious and tasty come from one direction.
Step 4: Make sure a haunting noise or image can be detected in a different direction.
Step5: Be absolutely certain that the villain's plan would have worked if not for those meddling kids.
Pickles III
First Post
It sounds risky to me. If the first PC gets captured easily then the party fights tooth & nail to prevent the next one getting a KIA then they become super cautious - well the player has been out of it for an age.
Capture scenarios are always awkward. If they are presented as overwhelming force they feel railroady. If they have powerful "capture squads" then the PCs may well pull out all the stops to avoid capture & risk getting TPKed or just avoiding capture & i's still railroady & may feel unfair.
My tips, which are principles rather than concrete advice
are
1) Make sure the whole process does not take too long to ensure everyone remains involved
2) Try to get the players to buy in to their capture at least a little - ambush one one a dodgy assignation. Appeal to the greed of another.
3) Maybe use overwhelming force to round up the stragglers but tell (well show) the PCs that the necromancer has burned resources to do this.
Eg he summons Invisible Stalkers (something very capable cf the PCs) to capture the PCs but uses consumable gems to do this - the PCs see he has 4 cracked gems & only 1 or fresh ones remaining. This mitigates the "unfairess" aspect.
Capture scenarios are always awkward. If they are presented as overwhelming force they feel railroady. If they have powerful "capture squads" then the PCs may well pull out all the stops to avoid capture & risk getting TPKed or just avoiding capture & i's still railroady & may feel unfair.
My tips, which are principles rather than concrete advice
are 1) Make sure the whole process does not take too long to ensure everyone remains involved
2) Try to get the players to buy in to their capture at least a little - ambush one one a dodgy assignation. Appeal to the greed of another.
3) Maybe use overwhelming force to round up the stragglers but tell (well show) the PCs that the necromancer has burned resources to do this.
Eg he summons Invisible Stalkers (something very capable cf the PCs) to capture the PCs but uses consumable gems to do this - the PCs see he has 4 cracked gems & only 1 or fresh ones remaining. This mitigates the "unfairess" aspect.
Quickleaf
Legend
[MENTION=6793324]AriochQ[/MENTION]
A puzzle spaced throughout different parts of the castle that require simultaneous interaction to open a vault door.
Falling portcullises or even stone doors. Or mimics
A pit with water flowing thru it with multiple aqueduct tunnels the water flows thru. Before anyone makes checks to jump across clarify that the consequences of a low roll mean falling into the water and getting swept away...somewhere.
A coffin or an iron maiden with a built in teleporter. Include with a monster that Shoves or causes forced movement.
Gargoyles that grapple characters and fly off with them to perches throughout the castle.
Valuable treasure in a dangerous place to lure treasure-hungry PCs away from the party. Naturally guarded by a trap separating them from the party (e.g. chute).
Provide a side solo mission for a PC - if they accomplish it then the party (or just them) benefits. However, it requires them to go it alone due to (a) ethical differences with the party, (b) need for stealth, or (c) part of a multi-pronged attack strategy designed by the players.
A puzzle spaced throughout different parts of the castle that require simultaneous interaction to open a vault door.
Falling portcullises or even stone doors. Or mimics
A pit with water flowing thru it with multiple aqueduct tunnels the water flows thru. Before anyone makes checks to jump across clarify that the consequences of a low roll mean falling into the water and getting swept away...somewhere.
A coffin or an iron maiden with a built in teleporter. Include with a monster that Shoves or causes forced movement.
Gargoyles that grapple characters and fly off with them to perches throughout the castle.
Valuable treasure in a dangerous place to lure treasure-hungry PCs away from the party. Naturally guarded by a trap separating them from the party (e.g. chute).
Provide a side solo mission for a PC - if they accomplish it then the party (or just them) benefits. However, it requires them to go it alone due to (a) ethical differences with the party, (b) need for stealth, or (c) part of a multi-pronged attack strategy designed by the players.
Winterfell
First Post
I think my table attempts to perfect the "Party Split™" as it happens so often and they make it out unscathed most of the time.
Deathstrike
First Post
Magically concealed pit trap drops open, and half of the party are dropped onto another level. You could even find someone else to DM one group at the same time, while you run the other, so that neither group is aware of the other until they somehow reunite at the prison.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I have decided to let the party split themselves hehe. They are going to have two time sensitive goals to complete: Catching a henchman (primary goal) and saving some prisoners from execution (secondary goal). It will be interesting to see how they deal with it. I am assuming they will split the group, but they have surprised me in the past. It will be an adventure no matter what happens!
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