D&D General Holiday Adventure Brainstorm

[Guest 6801328]

I'm planning to run a one-off game, over several sessions, with some family over the holidays. Only some of the participants are familiar with D&D. Parameters are:

• I'm going to hand them all pregens, each with a brief backstory.
• The game will start with the trope of being prisoners who must escape, both to let us jump straight into the story and to pre-answer the "why are we going on this adventure?" question.
• It's going to take place in the far north, in a world of ice and snow, probably mostly in a "dungeon".
• It will have some kind of a Christmas (possibly in the generic sense) theme. Maybe they have to rescue Santa Claus, or "Nicklaus", or whatever. Yes, I know that's a groan-eliciting cliché for most of us, and has been since about 1981, but it will be new for this audience.
• They won't be first level, but also not very high level. Somewhere 3-6 range.
• One or two of the players will be on the young side, so it can't be too dark/violent.

And...that's all I got so far.

What are your ideas? Help me brainstorm this.

 

[aco175]

Jack Frost and his snow golem Frosty are the BBEGs who kidnapped Santa to keep him from delivering gifts to children. The group was taken hostage by the evil snow elves (goblins) that are helping Jack thinking they are there on his behalf. The Santa elves (gnomes) managed to sneak a NPC scout in to set the PCs free and give them the quest on behalf of the children of the world.

You can make magic items like tinsel grappling hook and eggnog potions. I would have the PCs around 3rd level and give each a cool item and a few one-use items. Make sure you give Jack a cool monologue before the big fight and allow Frosty a cool slide on his belly move.

 

[Eltab]

One villain has background music: the Heat Miser / Freeze Miser tune.

Rudolph and his nose are out looking for the PCs. It is not obvious if he will rescue them or attack them.

Random Encounter: the Abomina-bumble. This one has its teeth. It mostly chases you around and gets the action going again.

 

[jayoungr]

Instead of rescuing a Santa Claus type, where you'd have to either explain why "Nicklaus" can't help out in combat or run him as an extra NPC, what about having the PCs rescue some flying reindeer? As a bonus, they could use them to get away from wherever they're escaping from. (But then they'd find that the reindeer won't be controlled and insist on flying straight home, allowing for a "Nicklaus" encounter as the coda to the adventure.)

 

[Guest 6801328]

Great ideas so far. Thanks.

I love the idea of escaping on the reindeer.

 

[GMMichael]

I'm planning to run a one-off game, over several sessions,

You have an interesting definition of one-off.

• It will have some kind of a Christmas (possibly in the generic sense) theme. Maybe they have to rescue Santa Claus, or "Nicklaus", or whatever. . .
• They won't be first level, but also not very high level. Somewhere 3-6 range.
• One or two of the players will be on the young side, so it can't be too dark/violent.

Claus always becomes "claws." Always. Santa's a were-polar bear.

Why not first level? I let out the same rescuing-Santa groan when I hear that a D&D game starts at mid-levels.

Plot (young player friendly): Santa was delivering gifts at 30,000 feet when he reached backward to grab some snacks, and accidentally knocked several gifts out of his bag. Treasure hunt!

Or if Santa Claws HAS TO be rescued, he also bumped the Fuel Dump control on his sleigh, so he'll need some diesel-nog to top off the tank and fly home.

 

[LordEntrails]

And rather than prisoners, what about everyone is there for a family reunion or holiday celebration? That keeps the family and holiday theme and avoids spending time escaping from jail.

 

[Charlaquin]

The Angry GM is not to everyone’s liking, but you may find his article about writing Christmas (And other holiday) themed adventures useful. Or you may hate it and ignore it completely, which is also valid. But either way, I think it’s worth linking to here:

A Very Special Adventure

One of my least favorite holiday traditions is the one wherein I get bombarded with requests to explain how to write a good a holiday adventure. Or at least outline one. And I can’t fight it …

theangrygm.com

Personally, I think the save Santa premise will be great, especially for a group with a lot of new players, but I do think that the experience will be made much stronger if themes of community, goodwill, and faith (not necessarily religious faith, belief in the goodness of others is just as good if not better) are front and center. Saving Christmas by killing the bad guy can be fun, but saving Christmas by keeping hope and cheer alive is heartwarming and much more in line with the vibe of the Holliday.

 

[Charlaquin]

And rather than prisoners, what about everyone is there for a family reunion or holiday celebration? That keeps the family and holiday theme and avoids spending time escaping from jail.

This is an excellent idea.

 

[LordEntrails]

To add to the holiday reunion, you can make custom backgrounds that everyone can then mix and match with a character pregen. And you can then tie the background in to the story if you can do one tie in for each background.