Help! How do I do a ball scene?

[Mark]

Looks like you are well on your way...

Don't forget the masks and similar constumes or garments. Penalties to Spot checks and Listen checks. Appraise, Diplomacy, Disguise, Gather Information, Innuendo, Intimidate, Knowledge (all kinds), Perform, Pick Pockets, Read Lips, Sense Motive and Speak Language Skills all have huge possibilities of being brought into play. Might be worthwhile to make a few notes ahead of time on how they may manifest themselves among the NPCs (and PCs), just to be ready. One of the things that a good party will do is make folks lose track of the time because, while it is meant as a relaxing occasion, things can happen fast. You don't want your nose in a book double checking modifiers and giving them too much time to react to things. May want to go over the grappling rules again, just in case a challenge is issued. *shrug*

Just two cents...

 

[Meds]

Some great advice so far.

In my experience, a ball can be a incredibly fun. It can also be rather challenging for the DM.

Players have a tendancy to split up if they think they're safe and you give them enough options: e.g. one goes to dance with the Count, one to pick pockets, one to exchange verbal barbs with the jester etc. You can quickly find yourself dividing your time between 5 players, and roleplaying 5 NPCs. This can be great because the players have the freedom to develop their characters. However, it can also be tough on the DM.

If you haven't done much of this kind of encounter before, keep the options available to the PCs fairly limited to begin with. Don't introduce all of your NPCs at once, and only introduce events one at a time when things are flagging. If you're comfortable introduce another NPC or event.

"When in doubt, always have two men with guns burst in the door." -- Raymond Chandler

I would really recommend keeping a couple of action encounters in your back pocket just in case you feel that things are getting out of hand. If things go well and everyone's into their character then fine - enjoy, but if the monk's filing his nails in the corner, the cleric's itching for a fight, or you're in a terrible mess, then a bit of action puts you back onto safe ground.

It doesn't have to be a fight - just an event that reunites the group, e.g.
o the hostess starts to make a speech and faints, perhaps poisoned
o the shifty baron looks over his shoulder and slips through a secret door
o a surly rogue challenges the barbarian to a duel to first blood, which just provides a distraction for the heist upstairs in the study.

Finally, I know of a few ball scenes in recent published products. If you have access to any of them, you could milk them for atmosphere, NPCs and events.
o Madness in Freeport from Green Ronin has a great ball scene with very detailed NPCs
o Fortune Favors the Dead in Dungeon #80 has a real fun ball scene.
o The Last Dance by Atlas

 

[Bob Aberton]

Example gossip menu:

Lord Bob

* Is having an affair with A Pretty Young Noblewoman

* Has recently acquired new lands/wealth/etc. by shady means

* Is a notorious drunk


Now you have three Rumors about this Lord (we'll call him Lord Bob) How do various factions react?

The Party Playboy is angry because he had been pursuing the Pretty Young Noblewoman himself.

The Tempting Young Woman hates Lord Bob because he cast her aside in favor of the Pretty Young Noblewoman.

The Womanizing Old Man is insulted that the Pretty Young Noblewoman prefers Lord Bob to him (he thinks he is the ultimate stud, after all).

The Highly Decorated Military Officer is very stiffnecked about it, because he is a friend to Lord Bob and he thinks the rumors impinge on Bob's personal honor.

The Tipsy Noblewoman is just glad to have a juicy rumor to bandy about, as is The Fop.

Once again, too tired to type more. But you get the idea, right?

 

[Infinite Monkey@Work]

You guys are awesome! This is all really helpful.

 

[Leopold]

time to get the PC's involved. Perhaps have the scantily clad elven barbarian asked to perform a dance? Have the lady start to chat it up with some of the local nobles.

Most a ball is a social gathering with a few great dances everyone lines up to do at once. Fill in lots of conversation, tons of rumors that you may have or want to spread, and most of all never forget to have some small young petite thing as the huge 8ft beast to dance...

 

[alsih2o]

have a false problem...lady whosits expensive necklace has disappeared, and it is just in the punchbowl....but the p.c.'s will have a grand chance to try and be the heroes and possibly offend someone in the process

have an accident, lord whobehe could fall, and a good heal check could land the p.c.'s in his favor

have a crush- a younger ballgoer could get a crush on a p.c., brushing her off rudely could upset her powefrul dad, or appeasing her with harmless attention could win favor.

catch the punch spiker!

designated driver- a good opportunity for the p.c.'s to show their chivalry, making sure folks get home all right..turn down the batting eyes for a boring ride with the merchants wife

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

A Tempting Young Lady: Wearing a VERY low cut, suggestive, and/or revealing ballgown. Speaks in a husky voice and uses sexual innuendoes in conversation. Moves sinuously (sp.?) or fluidly. Will be VERY clingy & touchy-feely with the male party members. Will almost definately attempt to seduce one or more party members.

Sounds nice, do you have her number?

One of the adventures in the Four From Cormyr supplement revolved around a pretty extravagant party and the plots therein. The premise was a little odd (the king throws a celebration for all the adventuring groups of the land) but with a little tweaking I was able to run it in a non-FR campaign and my players seemed to enjoy it. That adventure used to be a free download on wizard's site, but it might not be around now that they've changed servers, I dunno.

 

[Ruined]

Too bad you don't have any rogues in the group. I played in a campaign that had an excellent ballroom scene and all three characters were rogues of varying skills. I played the social rogue, Reading Lips and Gathering Information, all the while providing distractions while the pickpocket made the rounds, and the burglar went for some escapades in the rest of the palace. Great stuff, and I mourn the loss of the campaign.

That's a decent thought. This was run in the Witchfire Trilogy. This was a particular gala for the Longest Night, a big event in the campaign. I can't say because I don't read modules I'm playing in, but there might be a decent writeup of the scenario in the books. Or it could be out of my DM's mind - he has that kind of talent. Someone else might know the answer to that.

 

[arwink]

Some more thoughts:

You know the phrase - behind closed doors? If you're concerned about embarresing anyone with seduction scenes, all you need to do is the set-up and a yay or nay. Then behind closed doors is where it stays. A few casual flirting remarks, mention that the option is there, and let the PC choose as they will. How far is too far will vary from group to group, and try to gauge how others are reacting to the situation - whether their unhappy with its place in the game or seem interested in the chance for their PC's to develop a character. I've once had a player greatly upset that someone elses character scored and he didn't - mainly because they were an uptight priest and his character was meant to be a Casanova. Sometimes you don't realise this is how people want to play their characters until you throw them into this kind of situation. May also be worth feeling out the players feelings on these kind of shenanigans before the game, work out whose most comfortable and whose not.

Don't be afriad to rely on skill checks. If you're uncomfortable roleplaying, they're a great way to get you back on familiar turf. There are all sorts of social skills, many mentioned above, that fit into a ball situation. Roleplay as much as your comfortable with, then push it ten percent. After you hit that point, go for a roll. Basically, if you aren't comfortable role playing and you push it too far, you end up feeling like the attmempt failed. If you go for small increments instead of the huge leap, you gradually improve on the situation one session at a time.

Do the voices. Really. The more you get into character, the easier it becomes. Don't be afriad of stuffing the accent or feeling embarressed - more often than not, players are greatful for the attempt and the change of pace.

 

[Maldur]

Major roleplaying challenge ( for the players) is getting the barbarian in a ballgown

She'll have to be laced in, it covers het legs, you cant run on spiked heels, where do you keep your axe the wig is a pain as well.

Make sure the dressing up part is well played.
If they dont want the party clothing. Let some lord deliver some with a note. He might be really insulted when they wont wear them. ( no armour for the Fighters, only a dress-sword etc)

The party might feel really unconfertable in this "dangerous" enviroment.