The Play's The Thing (aka The play my PCs are putting on)

[shilsen]

Amber, Ed, John, Mike, Scott, Steve ...

STAY OUT OF THIS THREAD!

That said, here's a situation in our 4e Port campaign (that I'm co-DMing with Rolzup and Mallus from ENWorld; see sig), which I'd like to pick the creative minds here for some help with:

The PCs have recently shanghaied a dire pig which was about to be used in a pit-fighting arena (and then created a religion in her name, but that's another story). Captain Clagoff, the rich and influential guy who the pig was being sent to wants her back, partly because of her value and partly because it makes him look bad (he's one of the primary procurers of animals for the pit-fighting). Since he's also a hack dramatist, albeit a popular one, whose latest play is about to come out, rather than fighting him the PCs challenged him to a drama-duel, which he agreed to. They will put on a play while he puts his one on, and the creator(s) of whichever play is judged the best will win the pig. The judgement will be made by three judges, one each of whom the PCs and Clagoff will pick and one to be chosen by them together.

Now I'm looking to have interesting things happen both in the arrangements for the putting on of the play (8 days away in game-time) and in the performance itself. I'm looking for any suggestions and ideas to that end. I should note that we do a lot of roleplaying over forums between sessions, so that gives me a lot of options for handling things in the lead-up to the play, whereas the performance itself is something I plan to have occur at the game table.

Also, how would you eventually decide whose play wins? I was considering setting it up as a hugely extended skill challenge, with the PCs having a list of tasks to fulfill in the lead-up to the play and then during the performance (they're all planning to act, BTW), and how well they do it via both RP and dice rolls determining their fate. Plus I'm considering having Clagoff send some goons to interfere in the performance, so that we might have PCs carrying out and performing the play while being involved in a running battle backstage.

In short, what do you think? How would you handle the above and what can I add to it to make it an amusing and interesting situation for all involved?

 

[Mark]

The PCs must win, so screw the mechanics. Rolling dice to decide an RPing moment is ultimately unsatisfying, anyway, and encourages the players to simply phone it in. Exactly the opposite result you would want for a stage play, ironically. Anyway, on to the show!

It might be fun to have the PCs actually construct a drama of some kind, if they are up to the task. Otherwise, you could just ask them during your lead in time to supply elements that you then turn into the final product. It doesn't have to be Tony-worthy, just solid enough to beat the fiasco you construct for the good Captain. For that I suggest something along the lines of the following . . .

Since he is, in his mind, I assume, as good as any aristocrat, I suggest you create a play along the lines of either a comedy of manners performed by obvious low-lifes or something that so strictly follow the rules of neoclassicism that it can't help but fail. For the former, he might cast the production from among his friends and people to whom he owes favors. This allows you to create a bunch of inside jokes and for the various "actors" to reveal a bit too much about themselves during the play, perhaps inclusive of future plot hooks.

Some fun little things to throw in for either of the choices of the Captain might be for one character to never leave the stage because the playwright forgot to have him exit. Have characters speaking way too much exposition, explaining their every motive and plan, heavily foreshadowing to the point of ruining any surprise the play may have been hoped to hold. Have characters introduced early on that never reappear and others get mentioned that are never around at all, far too many names for the audience to remember. Have the setting inexplicably shift with no explaination, perhaps because the production will be using stock sets so the cheapskate can save a few coppers. Costumes should be outlandish and have consistent malfunctions, such as a plume on a lead actor's hat always getting into his face and mouth during his lines.

Hopefully there are some useful gems in there. If I happen to come up with more, I'll try to post them before your eight days are up. Break a leg!

 

[shilsen]

The PCs must win, so screw the mechanics.

It's going to lead to entertaining repercussions whether they win or not, but I'm leaning towards the idea of them winning - as long as they make some effort (which it's absolutely certain my players will) and don't do anything to totally botch things up (which is also very likely with them).

Rolling dice to decide an RPing moment is ultimately unsatisfying, anyway, and encourages the players to simply phone it in. Exactly the opposite result you would want for a stage play, ironically.

Actually, neither my players nor I have any problem with rolling dice to decide a RPing moment, and they'll roleplay the hell out of a scene whether dice are involved or not, so I'm safe on that score.

Anyway, on to the show!

It might be fun to have the PCs actually construct a drama of some kind, if they are up to the task.

They're definitely going to construct a drama, or at least a pretty decent idea for one, though not the actual lines and such (well, some lines will come up, I'm sure). Last I heard they're planning to introduce Bollywood musicals to the setting. With fireworks. And possibly blood sacrifice. Don't ask.

Otherwise, you could just ask them during your lead in time to supply elements that you then turn into the final product. It doesn't have to be Tony-worthy, just solid enough to beat the fiasco you construct for the good Captain. For that I suggest something along the lines of the following . . .

I hadn't really considered doing much with Clagoff's play, but having them get a sense of it would be a good idea. He's actually putting on something like a Renaissance revenge tragedy (his pseudonym is Nick Middleton and the play is "The Avenger's Tragedy"), so it's easy for me to throw things up there which'll look amusing/weird as hell for people from a distance. I'm a specialist in Renaissance drama, so this lets me spoof Shakespeare and make inside jokes which the group will enjoy as players.

Hopefully there are some useful gems in there. If I happen to come up with more, I'll try to post them before your eight days are up. Break a leg!

Thanks

 

[Jack7]

Also, how would you eventually decide whose play wins?

Shil, if you could procure an outside and objective audience, even if it was no more than two or three people to be real judges, or to simulate the feedback of the audience, that would be best.

Since he's also a hack dramatist, albeit a popular one, whose latest play is about to come out, rather than fighting him the PCs challenged him to a drama-duel, which he agreed to.

The idea made me laugh out loud, but I like it.

Now I'm looking to have interesting things happen both in the arrangements for the putting on of the play (8 days away in game-time) and in the performance itself. I'm looking for any suggestions and ideas to that end. I should note that we do a lot of roleplaying over forums between sessions, so that gives me a lot of options for handling things in the lead-up to the play, whereas the performance itself is something I plan to have occur at the game table.

Audience reactions, maybe a stage riot, apparently faked stage fights being real (aka Hamlet), interruptions to the play from emergencies (fire back stage, things to interrupt the play lines, and I hope your players will have to memorize their lines and actually make a real play, or at least parts of it), maybe the introduction of special props and machines (a golem, an automaton, etc. assuming that is setting appropriate) and so on.

He's actually putting on something like a Renaissance revenge tragedy (his pseudonym is Nick Middleton and the play is "The Avenger's Tragedy"), so it's easy for me to throw things up there which'll look amusing/weird as hell for people from a distance. I'm a specialist in Renaissance drama, so this lets me spoof Shakespeare and make inside jokes which the group will enjoy as players.

Personally I would make the "drama-duel" part of a larger, and maybe even covert plot line, of real danger in the background (especially if one play or another is a comedy, then the Captain's play could be a dramatic, comedic, or even black-comedic parody of the secret and yet real danger the characters are in, as well as giving clues to what might be happening in background.)

But without knowing the exact subject matter of either production it is hard for me to give anything other than the most general recommendations.

Anywho, break a pelvis.

 

[shilsen]

Shil, if you could procure an outside and objective audience, even if it was no more than two or three people to be real judges, or to simulate the feedback of the audience, that would be best.

Interesting idea, but since we're not actually playing out the opposition play in any detail and will be doing the "highlights" version of the PCs' play, that's not too feasible.

The idea made me laugh out loud, but I like it.

If you think that's funny, you should have seen the roleplaying as the PCs persuaded him to go along with it via a skill challenge. My group is both crazy and fabulous, which is a great mix.

Audience reactions, maybe a stage riot, apparently faked stage fights being real (aka Hamlet), interruptions to the play from emergencies (fire back stage, things to interrupt the play lines, and I hope your players will have to memorize their lines and actually make a real play, or at least parts of it), maybe the introduction of special props and machines (a golem, an automaton, etc. assuming that is setting appropriate) and so on.

Very nice. I especially like the Hamlet-Laertes idea. I was already thinking of having a fight off-stage while the play was on, with PCs delivering lines, running off-stage to join in the fight, and running back on when their cue is up, but having a ringer turning a stage fight into a real one is a damn good idea.

Personally I would make the "drama-duel" part of a larger, and maybe even covert plot line, of real danger in the background (especially if one play or another is a comedy, then the Captain's play could be a dramatic, comedic, or even black-comedic parody of the secret and yet real danger the characters are in, as well as giving clues to what might be happening in background.)

Now that's a really interesting idea. I do like doing that kind of thing in my games, but it's a lot harder in this campaign since we're exchanging DMing duties fairly regularly (I'll run about 3 more sessions and hand over to someone), so having a large plot-line in the background is harder. But it's still doable with a little work, so I'll think about it.

But without knowing the exact subject matter of either production it is hard for me to give anything other than the most general recommendations.

Thanks anyway. Those ideas were quite helpful.

Anywho, break a pelvis.

 

[shilsen]

But without knowing the exact subject matter of either production it is hard for me to give anything other than the most general recommendations.

And since you mentioned this, in case it helps, here's a quick synopsis of what seems likely to be the subject of each play:

Captain Clagoff's "The Avenger's Tragedy" - This is going to be a bad pastiche of Renaissance drama, esp. revenge tragedy, based mostly off Middleton's The Revenger's Tragedy, but with horribly mangled bits from Shakespeare, Marlowe and the like. Lots of bombastic speeches, grand guignol, and cliched versions of the things in Renaissance drama which worked well for them but seem strange at a distance.

The PCs' "The Passion of the Pig" (tentative title) - This will be a musical (think Bollywood) drama relating the story of the gaining of the pig by the PCs and the creation of its religion. Featuring various parts of their adventures, including a battle on the city docks during a riot by goblins asking for better pay (some socialist propaganda is likely to feature here), a fight with undead in an underground cavern (I believe a PC is going to be mauled by dancers dressed as "sexy wraiths"), and a fight against a lycanthrope gang. Oh, and there will be an artificial pig full of fireworks.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Since this is a contest, which represents conflict and everyone likes as much info about the enemy as possible, how about attempts to steal screenplays by one or both parties. If the NPC feels threatened enough, he may try and kidnap cast members of the PC's play and stash them away until after the competition. I love this whole idea.

 

[shilsen]

Since this is a contest, which represents conflict and everyone likes as much info about the enemy as possible, how about attempts to steal screenplays by one or both parties.

Nice idea. Clagoff is certainly going to try to learn what the PCs are planning to put on, and whether (or how) they foil it will make a difference.

If the NPC feels threatened enough, he may try and kidnap cast members of the PC's play and stash them away until after the competition.

Today I actually thought of that and going one better. I think he's going to take out a couple of minor performers and send in a couple of doppelgangers to impersonate them and disrupt the play. Mainly by turning one of the many action sequences the PCs plan to put on into a truly deadly one. I'm hoping for a scene where a few PCs are engaged in a deadly battle on stage while others try to prevent it spilling over into the audience, who will actually be loving the "realism" and "special effects" of it.

I love this whole idea.

Thanks. As one of my players put it today, "I'm not sure if this play is going to make for the best session of D&D ever... or the worst. But there's only way to know for sure, so I'll be there!"

 

[Scribble]

I like the idea of a skill challenge to a degree...

Give them maybe a bonus if they do a little research (streetwise?) about what people in the area tend to like, comedy? Drama? Suspense? Love? and then add it into their play...

Maybe give them a bonus for knowing who to mention in their play (knowledge history?)

Maybe athletics or acrobatics checks to pull off some neat "acting?" Like to simulate fake combat or do flips to entertain the audience...

Diplomacy to win the audience over?

Diplomacy to "win" the favor of nobility in the area, which in turn would give them a boost in general favor... Ohhh Lord Dukel says the only play worth seeing is this one... I surely MUST be seen there!

Maybe even if they can, have them al do some sort of smaler promotional stuff that has a chance of creating a larger audience for their main show, which in turn gives them a bonus?

IE a seperate "promotion" skill challange that can either help or hinder? More fans if they suceeed, less if they fail...

Maybe intimidate to convince audience members not to dare show up at the oppositions play...

 

[shilsen]

I like the idea of a skill challenge to a degree...

Nice suggestions. Here's a little info on how my players (god rest their strange little souls) have already done or are planning to deal with the following:

Give them maybe a bonus if they do a little research (streetwise?) about what people in the area tend to like, comedy? Drama? Suspense? Love? and then add it into their play...

One of the PCs went out to spread info about the play in likely places (Streetwise) and also to persuade people that Clagoff's play involves a secret ritual which will render attendees impotent (Bluff). I'm not sure how the two relate, but I'm used to such leaps of, um, logic with this group.

Maybe give them a bonus for knowing who to mention in their play (knowledge history?)

Nothing yet in this area, but that's a nice idea.

Maybe athletics or acrobatics checks to pull off some neat "acting?" Like to simulate fake combat or do flips to entertain the audience...

Apparently the shifter fighter is going to put on an athletics display as part of the play, and the ranger is going to be showing off her archery by shooting apples off people's heads (I expect this to go badly somehow).

Diplomacy to win the audience over?

In my list. For those acting, I'm going to let them make a straight Cha check if they prefer too.

Diplomacy to "win" the favor of nobility in the area, which in turn would give them a boost in general favor... Ohhh Lord Dukel says the only play worth seeing is this one... I surely MUST be seen there!

Definitely, since the three judges for the play will involve two Magistrates (each district in the city they're in is run by a Magistrate) and another aristocrat, so Diplomacy can affect their viewpoints.

Maybe even if they can, have them al do some sort of smaler promotional stuff that has a chance of creating a larger audience for their main show, which in turn gives them a bonus?

IE a seperate "promotion" skill challange that can either help or hinder? More fans if they suceeed, less if they fail...

They're already doing a little to that end, but I'll give them opportunity and incentive for more.

Maybe intimidate to convince audience members not to dare show up at the oppositions play...

Nice. Maybe the ranger (played by my girlfriend, who's vicious) can do this.