but it worked!!

[clark411]

I've done the "You're all slaves in a mine run by Orcs." routine.. that worked smashingly.


I believe the trick to cliches working comes down to two things:

1- Accepting Players.
2- The Cliche not being experienced before to the group as a whole, in almost exactly similar circumstances.

 

[Heretic Apostate]

Nah.. no fun here... saving the Dragon from the Princess, that would be fun, and a change of pace from a cliche, at least once... After all, how many dragons have you saved before?

One day I wll actually do it, save the dragon from that princess and restore peace to the kingdom!

Wasn't there a Nodwick where they had to save the Dragon from the Princess?

 

[Stormfalcon]

Wasn't there a Nodwick where they had to save the Dragon from the Princess?

Do you mean these Nodwick strips?

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Short story long, the party found the dungeon, went in, did all the normal stuff: check for traps, etc. When they came to the first door, they opened it to find...

A CHEST SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A 10' X 10' ROOM WITH AN ORC GUARDING IT

None of them thought it was strange or funny except the one experienced player (had played almost as long as me) and she laughed out loud. I couldn't keep a straight face either and smiled like an idiot. The newbies took it for a sadistic grin.

... Everyone else looked at her like she was crazy. They said things like "What's so funny?", "I *knew* we shouldn't have opened the door!", "We're being attacked by a monster!! KILL IT!"


None of the newbies had any idea how wimpy a lone orc is. After the fight (1 round) they actually thought they'd been in real danger, and that they were lucky no one had been killed.


*snif* one of my fondest DM memories.

Did it contain Pie? Pies are delicious...

The Auld Grump

 

[kengar]

Did it contain Pie? Pies are delicious...

The Auld Grump

You know, I've never played O & P. So, no it didn't. It was trapped (poison needle) and contained 1000 sp. No explanation as to why it was there in a room by itself, no reason given why one orc stood guard (in chainmail wielding a battleaxe), it had nothing to do with the rest of the dungeon. Just an orc, a chest, and a little square room.

 

[De Arco]

Amnesia!! The party all woke up with no memories, nothing but rags on their bodies, on a sandy beach. It was back in second edition, and it worked really well.

I DMed a group through this scenario with the added touch of giving the players only a physical description of themselves and each other. I held the character sheets and we played out characters learning their skills and abilities. It was also a mystery as there was a dead body in one of the rooms at the deserted keep the characters found themselves in when they awoke. I also reside in Columbus, OH and am starting to wonder if I and Crothian have crossed paths before.

 

[Voadam]

After all, how many dragons have you saved before?

One. I became his hatchfather.

 

[Richards]

I did the "amnesia" thing once in a one-on-one Gamma World session with my brother. His character wakes up naked in a radioactive desert with no memories of who he is or what he's doing there. I kept his character sheet, so even though he was a mutated humanoid, he had no idea of what his mutations were (none of them altered his physical appearance any, so he could pass for a Pure Strrain Human). It went rather well - he had a good time figuring out what his powers were, and through the course of his adventures met up with an NPC Radioactivist (thrown out of her tribe for failing to manifest any grotesque physical mutations) and eventually discovered who had mind-wiped him (and why), hunted him down, and killed him.

Johnathan

 

[Nifelhein]

One. I became his hatchfather.

Thta is good, except that you would have a wyrmling orphan unless you were a real young elf... hehehhe.. that is what i want, fantasy, innovation AND player's and DM (me) enjoyment!

Cliché or not, it doesn't matter, many people I know want one every once in a while, the quesyion is truly where is your group interests NOW...

Someday I will use the amnesia one!

 

[Voadam]

Thta is good, except that you would have a wyrmling orphan unless you were a real young elf... hehehhe.. that is what i want, fantasy, innovation AND player's and DM (me) enjoyment!

Cliché or not, it doesn't matter, many people I know want one every once in a while, the quesyion is truly where is your group interests NOW...

Someday I will use the amnesia one!

Yep, I was there at the hatching and saved him from being corrupted/sacrificed to pollute the world's magic. I was a good human wizard and spent some down time teaching him magic, good and evil, and the ways of the world before pawning him off to my magical patron for further raising. He came back into the campaign later once when we were dealing with dragon magic. It is great to be able to claim hatchfather as a title, I treat it like being a god parent, you occasionally show up to see how the kid is doing.