Bring 'Um Back Alive?

[RUMBLETiGER]

Toying with an adventure concept. For whatever reason (lets say a wealthy and resourceful king) the adventurers are sent out into the wide, dangerous world not to slay monsters, but to capture them and bring them back to a centralized location, alive and fully functioning. Lets assume that when they return to the Kingdom there are resources to keep the creatures contained and not have them as a threat to the general population. Lets call it a highly enchanted and warded zoo.

How would such an adventure change the way a party would work? Lets consider a number of creatures:

-Aboleth
-Assassin Vine
-Basilisk
-Beholder
-Bulette
-Carrion Crawler
-Choker
-Cockatrice
-Destrachan
-Displacer Beast

...and that's just some up to the letter D. You'd need to encounter the creature, subdue it, then transport it while keeping it safe, fed, alive and prevent it from killing you or anybody else on your way back.

If a DM approached you with this as a campaign idea, what sort of character with what sort of tactics would you want to design? Assuming wealth by level and all non-cheesy/uber-ridiculous character builds as options, what would want from your character at level 1, 5, 10?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Let's hope the PCs start at high level. It's really hard to capture a monster, especially if it's something that can kill you every six seconds, like a beholder. (You could wrap its eyes. It could disintegrate the wraps. Etc.)

Toying with an adventure concept. For whatever reason (lets say a wealthy and resourceful king) the adventurers are sent out into the wide, dangerous world not to slay monsters, but to capture them and bring them back to a centralized location, alive and fully functioning.

This sounds like certain types of Dark Sun campaigns. Go into the deep deserts and capture "new beasts" with horrific unknown abilities, so they can be slaughtered in the arenas. Never ran or played in one though.

How would such an adventure change the way a party would work? Lets consider a number of creatures:

-Aboleth
-Assassin Vine
-Basilisk
-Beholder
-Bulette
-Carrion Crawler
-Choker
-Cockatrice
-Destrachan
-Displacer Beast

...and that's just some up to the letter D. You'd need to encounter the creature, subdue it, then transport it while keeping it safe, fed, alive and prevent it from killing you or anybody else on your way back.

If a DM approached you with this as a campaign idea, what sort of character with what sort of tactics would you want to design? Assuming wealth by level and all non-cheesy/uber-ridiculous character builds as options, what would want from your character at level 1, 5, 10?

At level 1, I'd want to go home!

More helpfully, I think that campaign would have a premium on wizards, because they can more easily capture opponents without killing (Charm Monster would be really handy here, or even Sleep at very low levels, and Telekinetic Sphere at high levels), and they tend to be the best at crafting items, such as the cage you'll be keeping monsters in. Rangers are also really good at tracking, and with favored enemy, handy to have when things go wrong. Also, they have Spot as a class skill. I'm picturing druids being handy too, much like rangers, and they can wild shape into creatures they've encountered

Don't get a sorcerer! You need to be able to change your spell selection for each mission.

There would be lots of disposable items like nets (they'll get shredded), bolas and tanglefoot bags being thrown around too. Plus there'd be expenses relating to transport and healing (captives, that is, you can't expect the fighter to only use nets, now can you?). PCs would need to be able to trade equipment. Those scrolls of Protection from Evil you use to keep mind flayers from dominating you* would be less useful when you're chasing after giant neutral wereapes.

*I know in 3.x it's just Charm, but that's lame. 2e mind flayers could dominate you, and considering their range of darkvision, could do so when you least expected it.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Ah, forgive me. Let me add that at each level, you'd be dealing with CL appropriate monsters. So, a level 1 party might be sent to collect an Ash Rat, a pair of human undead skeletons, a Howler Wasp, a medium Monstrous Spider, a Krenshar, a Swindlespitter Dino and a Nixie.

 

[Dozen]

Ah, forgive me. Let me add that at each level, you'd be dealing with CL appropriate monsters. So, a level 1 party might be sent to collect an Ash Rat, a pair of human undead skeletons, a Howler Wasp, a medium Monstrous Spider, a Krenshar, a Swindlespitter Dino and a Nixie.

Assuming a non-good party(obviously good guys would have qualms about locking Sprites up in a zoo):
1. Craft a box out of gypsum(so the box or the hand holding it does not burn to smitherines). Extinguish all fires in a considerable area, and lit fire(Preferably a Continual Flame, given you can cast it at that point) inside the box. Wait until the rat enters, then close the lid behind it.
2. Have one of the spellcasters command the skeletons to walk into a cage. May need to take care of their owner if there is one.
3. Dig a halfling-style hole a few hundred feet away from the Wasp nest during the day. Late at night, have a party member play dead in the open. Fascinate the Wasp as a readied action when it comes to investigate. While it's preoccupied, take care of any other wasps and ready the cage. Drop a weighted net on the wasp and defeat it the suprise round with nonlethal damage. Put it in the cage and run like hell for the shelter. Hold it until dawn.
4. Stake some rope with grappling hooks attached close by. Use the Wasp captured earlier as bait by opening it's cage around the spider nest. As it leaps down to catch it's prey, stick hooks into it from the side, again as a readied action. While it struggles, knock it unconscious and capture both of them.
5. Catnip!
6. Find a solitary Swindlespitter. Place meat near it. Don't show yourself just yet, wait until it finds the meat alone. After it finished eating, approach it and make a wild empathy check. Carnivores are peaceful when well fed, it should get you a circumstance bonus. Make friends with the bugger and adopt it as a pet. Optional: 'D'aww, who's the teeny dinosaur! Isitchu? Isitchu? Yes you are! Tickle-tickle-tickle...'
7. Have the party member with the highest will save stand around the lake in a peasant outfit, looking as stupid as they can(Boost will save beforehand, just in case). When the nixie charms the caster and fails(hopefully), pretend to obey commands. As it looks away within arm's range, pin it and signal the location to the rest of the party. In case they fail the check, the PC may stay there working for a few days, but nothing you can't afford once or twice.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Cool concept!

On a certain level, the party would only be supplying the muscle and possibly the plan- its up to the expedition's backers to equip them probably. At least, that's how it basically works in the RW.

 

[MarkB]

Monk would be a good class, as you can choose to deal non-lethal damage at no penalty. Rogue would also work, wielding a sap.

 

[Razjah]

I think this would be easy to run with just a slight tweak to the HP system. Steal the bloodied term from 4e. But make the term for 1/4 HP. Below that the monster will be much easier to handle due to penalties (-2 str and dex per hd?). It could be possible to get the monster into a cage once it is defeated.

If you have access to it, I recommend the film Hatari. The film is starring John Wayne, if that helps. The main characters work to capture animals for zoos and they get handed a photographer who needs to accompany them despite being ill fit for the dangers of dealing with rhinos and monkeys with teeth several inches long.

You could use something like that as a framework. Since these are dangerous game (the most dangerous game?) the party would need to disable the monster, load it into some cage, and get the cage back to their patron. Add in a sandbox style set up, there are known areas where certain monsters roam.
"We need 3 beholders this year."
"Three, that's insane. What is the king thinking?"
"Yeah, but the bonus is amazing."
"Fine, looks like we're spending more time this season in the Rocktooth Caverns."

You can let the party decide how they fulfill the order. You could have set numbers and then extras for greater bonuses. If the party is always out roaming the wilds, and far from civilization perhaps some ...company... would be a bonus for certain prized animals.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Assuming a non-good party(obviously good guys would have qualms about locking Sprites up in a zoo):
1. Craft a box out of gypsum(so the box or the hand holding it does not burn to smitherines). Extinguish all fires in a considerable area, and lit fire(Preferably a Continual Flame, given you can cast it at that point) inside the box. Wait until the rat enters, then close the lid behind it.
2. Have one of the spellcasters command the skeletons to walk into a cage. May need to take care of their owner if there is one.
3. Dig a halfling-style hole a few hundred feet away from the Wasp nest during the day. Late at night, have a party member play dead in the open. Fascinate the Wasp as a readied action when it comes to investigate. While it's preoccupied, take care of any other wasps and ready the cage. Drop a weighted net on the wasp and defeat it the suprise round with nonlethal damage. Put it in the cage and run like hell for the shelter. Hold it until dawn.
4. Stake some rope with grappling hooks attached close by. Use the Wasp captured earlier as bait by opening it's cage around the spider nest. As it leaps down to catch it's prey, stick hooks into it from the side, again as a readied action. While it struggles, knock it unconscious and capture both of them.
5. Catnip!
6. Find a solitary Swindlespitter. Place meat near it. Don't show yourself just yet, wait until it finds the meat alone. After it finished eating, approach it and make a wild empathy check. Carnivores are peaceful when well fed, it should get you a circumstance bonus. Make friends with the bugger and adopt it as a pet. Optional: 'D'aww, who's the teeny dinosaur! Isitchu? Isitchu? Yes you are! Tickle-tickle-tickle...'
7. Have the party member with the highest will save stand around the lake in a peasant outfit, looking as stupid as they can(Boost will save beforehand, just in case). When the nixie charms the caster and fails(hopefully), pretend to obey commands. As it looks away within arm's range, pin it and signal the location to the rest of the party. In case they fail the check, the PC may stay there working for a few days, but nothing you can't afford once or twice.

Dude, I'd play D&D with you any day. This is EXACTLY the kind of thinking I'm talking about. This would be an adventure for individuals more interested in making a buck than saving the day, so yeah, alignments could be pretty loose.

Cool concept!

On a certain level, the party would only be supplying the muscle and possibly the plan- its up to the expedition's backers to equip them probably. At least, that's how it basically works in the RW.

Makes sense, I'd probably have all sorts of mundane gear accessible, with perhaps custom order magical items as options, but you need to expect a delay before it's made available to you.

Monk would be a good class, as you can choose to deal non-lethal damage at no penalty. Rogue would also work, wielding a sap.

Great thinking, making use of non-lethal damage would make a lot of sense.

I think this would be easy to run with just a slight tweak to the HP system. Steal the bloodied term from 4e. But make the term for 1/4 HP. Below that the monster will be much easier to handle due to penalties (-2 str and dex per hd?). It could be possible to get the monster into a cage once it is defeated.

I'd keep all the rules for damage just as they are. It is very possible to accidentally kill your target if you hit it too hard, so the PC's would need to be careful and creative.

If you have access to it, I recommend the film Hatari. The film is starring John Wayne, if that helps. The main characters work to capture animals for zoos and they get handed a photographer who needs to accompany them despite being ill fit for the dangers of dealing with rhinos and monkeys with teeth several inches long.

Never saw the movie, but yeah, sounds like what I'm going for.

You could use something like that as a framework. Since these are dangerous game (the most dangerous game?) the party would need to disable the monster, load it into some cage, and get the cage back to their patron. Add in a sandbox style set up, there are known areas where certain monsters roam.
"We need 3 beholders this year."
"Three, that's insane. What is the king thinking?"
"Yeah, but the bonus is amazing."
"Fine, looks like we're spending more time this season in the Rocktooth Caverns."

You can let the party decide how they fulfill the order. You could have set numbers and then extras for greater bonuses. If the party is always out roaming the wilds, and far from civilization perhaps some ...company... would be a bonus for certain prized animals.

Yeah, this would be pretty sandbox. As the DM, I'd have locations set up, have a rough map designed because the trip back is part of the adventure. Leaving it open ended for the players to choose their targets based upon danger and reward sounds cool.

 

[Dandu]

Raise Dead exists for a reason, you know.

 

[Dozen]

Raise Dead exists for a reason, you know.

Not viable that early. Also, boring.

Dude, I'd play D&D with you any day.

Can I? Say the word, I don't have a lot to do.