100 Problems that aren't solved by violence alone

[Ry]

I'd like to do another collaborative creative thread, about problems you can put in a campaign that don't lend themselves directly to violence.



1. The street that is home to an orphanage in the player's home city is getting run down, and is in danger of becoming a slum. To complicate matters, local gangs have started recruiting from the orphanage... and nobody is being careful enough with fire.

 

[Crothian]

2. the Big City is hosting a few weeks of games and competitions. The PCs enter and soon suspect that some fellow participants are cheating though they are hard pressed to prove it.

 

[Kestrel]

3. The King suspects that the Queen is cheating on him with an Ambassador from a neighboring country. He wants the pcs to a) Find out if its true, and b) dig up dirt to get get the ambassador expelled by his own country. They cannot hurt the ambassador because it will cause an international incident.

(As an aside, if Jack Bauer has taught me anything, any problem can be solved with liberal use of violence and torture)

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

4. A blight has destroyed the harvest. As winter approaches, the PCs are asked to secure sufficient aid from a rival nation to be able to ensure the survival of the people.

 

[Goblyn]

5. Formerly-poor mining town has recently come across a large gold vein at the same time that the water supply becomes tainted by the rotting carcass of a large creature from the far realms. Local flora/fauna is getting warped by it.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

6: The local peasants have taken up the worship of dark gods, and as a result, are living richer fuller lives. The only drawback is that one in every 3 children is born with a mark, and dies upon reaching adult hood, unless they sacrifice someone else. Another 1 in every 3 is a Half Fiend. If the villagers stop with the demon worship, then they all die.

The final aspect of this deal that any damage caused to those who worship the dark gods and are residents of the village is instantly reflected on their attacker, unless said damage is inflicted by another villager, an agent of that god. Or is a deity themself.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Remathilis]

Two Words: Hostage Situation.

 

[Zaruthustran]

7. The village of Ontelier, perched at the base of Mt. Orduro, must be evacuated before the volcano erupts*. PCs must first convinve the populace to leave, deal with earthquakes of increasing intensity, fires, panicked mobs, limited transportation, triage, ashfall, and the eruption itself.

* the eruption isn't caused by a Gate, fire giants, demons, dragons, drow, or anything else other than magma with nowhere else to go but up.

 

[Zaruthustran]

Two Words: Hostage Situation.

[Keanu voice] Magic Missile the hostage! [/Keanu voice]

 

[Kestrel]

Two Words: Hostage Situation.

To throw a twist, steal from the Supernatural hostage episode. One of the hostages is a shapeshifter and the hostage-taker is a good guy npc trying to kill the shapeshifter.