Eberron - The Race of Eight Winds

[Hand of Evil]

Over on the WotC web site Dragonshards this week deals with The Race of Eight Winds and this is just too good an idea to pass up so some ideas?

See:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20041220a

The rules do not say a thing about levels of the riders but I would think a DM would keep things close. So, what would you do to make this race interesting?

Riders, mounts, betting, cheats, tracks/courses?

Lets hear them?

 

[dravot]

I picture the course as being somewhat akin to a rollercoaster: tight hairpin turns, lots of quick changes in altitude (combined with turns) and so on. I'd bet that some of the riders have the Mounted Archery feat, or Deflect Arrows.

For riders, anyone with handle animal and/or ride skill would be preferred (ranger, paladin, barbarian, druid, fighter).

As for cheats, that could run a huge range, but they'd need to have Nystul's Magic Aura running (via spell or via item) in order to keep the cheat undetected.

Possible items/cheats include a crossbow with true strike on it, something with a bonus to ride/handle animal skill checks, telepathic communication with the mount (or possibly a competing mount).

I could see someone on the sidelines with control winds using the spell to hinder one or more mounts

 

[Micah]

thanks for the link!

Our players will end up in Sharn at some point. I don't know that any of our PC's would be interested in participating in the race right now, but I certainly could see using the setting as a backdrop to entangle them in the politics and shady dealings.

It would be an interesting piece to pull in a second time when some of them might be at a power level to compete. The group would then be aware of the fact that the race would be more than just a test of skill. It would give those with diplomacy/bluff/and charisma skills something to work on.

Heh, I have no doubt that our changeling rogue and wizard entertainer would be able to talk their way into quite a web of politics!

 

[shilsen]

I'm thinking of a mix of the races in Ben-Hur and The Phantom Menace, but working on three dimensions instead of two. Rather than PCs participating, I'd probably have them embroiled in everything else that goes on around the race. The betting, the politics, the social jockeying, the crime families having their fingers in the pies, one of the leading racers being kidnapped the day before the race (and if they can't find him, a changeling PC has to take his place!), trying to prevent another racer from being nobbled during the race, having to protect your racer during the race but do so secretly - so many possibilities

 

[Hand of Evil]

Been at the dentist and had a chance to think on it and see the course being done two ways 1) rings in each ward/district with judges to make sure the flyer goes through. 2) Poker run, were there are check points and you build a hand, the best hand at the end of the race is the winner, each check point only has so many cards.

Betting is were the money would be at: Betting on legs of the race, betting on who will die in the race, who will finish, order of finish.

Cheats? Well the assassin from along the race is standard but the assassins hired to kill the other assassins could be used. Then there are the 'birds' and the protection of them or the swapping of them.

Mmmmmm.

 

[Emirikol]

Wow! That concept is going in my RPGA: Eberron: Mark of Heroes scenario!

jh