Halloween-themed one-shot

[Jamesplodica]

Hey guys, this is my first post here and I would really appreciate any help I can get.

I'm surprising my gaming group with a Halloween-themed adventure to kick off our gaming session this weekend. The players will take the roles of iconic horror movie monsters (Wolf-man, Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, The Mummy, The Blob, etc) that I have already statted out. Their objective will be to beat groups of adventuring parties (probably culminating in a battle against their normal Player Characters) and to wreak general havoc.

I want to start by getting them in the mood of their monstrous personas by terroizing the town (destroying buildings, defiling landmarks, invading temples, eating villagers, etc). What kinds of fun, iconic scenarios can a put my (Monster)PCs in? What ideas do you have that will keep my players engaged and having fun? What kinds of mechanics should I use?

Feel free to be as loose with this as possible, I'm thinking of The Blob crashing Town Hall, absorbing everyone inside, growing to tremendous size, and oozing out of the doors and windows. Push the limits! Go crazy!

 

[Worguron]

At some point, the Frankenstein character must be pursued by an angry mob with pitchforks and torches. Either stat the mob as a bunch of minions, or make it a swarm.

 

[Kylemcinnis]

Make up a Van Helsing type of character for them all to go up against. =P

 

[Turtlejay]

What sort of timeframe are you looking at. . .traditional assumed pseudo dark ages medival?

Angry mob is cool, and a trope to include. I think it might be fun to have the party fight an encounter against opponents with a vendetta. Maybe one guy who only has 1 arm because frankenstein has his, a vampire hunter who is seeking revenge because dracula turned his woman into a thrall, something personal and whimsical (since it seems like that might be the mood you are going for).

Perhaps give them a goal for the first part to get them in the mood. Like they have one night where the stars have alighned to make them free, and each player has a goal (dracula has to thrall 8 minions, frank has to find a new body part, mummy must curse 5 minions, etc) and let them loose in an invented town full of schmucks. Maybe that will help them get into character.

Jay

 

[Jamesplodica]

I love the idea of large groups of peasants as a swarms armed with torches and pitchforks doing fire damage and having to be whittled down after chasing the (monster)PCs into a corner! That seems like a perfect encounter led up to by a skill challenge where the monsters bash up the village and get the residents all riled up!

 

[Jamesplodica]

Make up a Van Helsing type of character for them all to go up against. =P

I really love the idea of a high-level, oversized crossbow wielding, Anthony Hopkins-style Van Helsing solo monster that they fight as a boss. Ultimately he will defeat the (monster)PCs, since that is the way all good monster stories end.

 

[Jamesplodica]

What sort of timeframe are you looking at. . .traditional assumed pseudo dark ages medival?

Angry mob is cool, and a trope to include. I think it might be fun to have the party fight an encounter against opponents with a vendetta. Maybe one guy who only has 1 arm because frankenstein has his, a vampire hunter who is seeking revenge because dracula turned his woman into a thrall, something personal and whimsical (since it seems like that might be the mood you are going for).

Perhaps give them a goal for the first part to get them in the mood. Like they have one night where the stars have alighned to make them free, and each player has a goal (dracula has to thrall 8 minions, frank has to find a new body part, mummy must curse 5 minions, etc) and let them loose in an invented town full of schmucks. Maybe that will help them get into character.

Jay

Definitely the assumed time period, 50s-style monsters in a "traditional" D&D world.

The vendetta idea could definitely work, I'd love to make it a little personal for the players.