If you wanted to test your lieutenants

[Gilladian]

Imagine you're a powerful evil wizard, and you are building an undefeatable army. You want to test your army's leaders to be sure they're the best they can be. So you build a dungeon (or an area within a larger dungeon) that is designed to take them in at one end, and spit out only the strongest at the other end.

You don't know particularly whether your people will be spellcasters, fighters, divine, arcane, or whatever, but you want to test them all. What sorts of challenges would you build?

Feel free to describe a single challenge, a philosophy behind your challenges, or whatever you like. I'm sure we can all come up with some interesting and varied scenarios, here.

(For a further challenge, imagine that said evil wizard is defeated in his attempt to conquer the world, and his dungeon/challenge has been abandoned for 400 years before being discovered again; what would be left?)

 

[Crothian]

(For a further challenge, imagine that said evil wizard is defeated in his attempt to conquer the world, and his dungeon/challenge has been abandoned for 400 years before being discovered again; what would be left?)

Tomb of Horrors

 

[Oni]

Not sure of any specifics but if I was that evil wizard, I'd want something that at times forced them to work together and at other times forced them to work against each other. A measure of strength, leadership, ambition, and ruthlessness.

 

[fafhrd]

Th dungeon would be comprised of a single room with a desk, a chair, some paper, and writing implements. The tests would involve math, logistical capabilities, and problem solving skills. The written exam would be followed by an interview to discern the lieutenant's ability to communicate quickly and clearly.

After 400 years, broken slivers of glass from the inkwell might remain.

 

[Asmor]

Th dungeon would be comprised of a single room with a desk, a chair, some paper, and writing implements. The tests would involve math, logistical capabilities, and problem solving skills. The written exam would be followed by an interview to discern the lieutenant's ability to communicate quickly and clearly.

After 400 years, broken slivers of glass from the inkwell might remain.

What he said.

If I'm an evil overlord, I will ensure that the leaders of my army are intelligent, charismatic and crafty. Combat capabilities are secondary-- that's what the grunts are for.

 

[fba827]

if you're hoping to also test combat and thinking in addition to leadership, perhaps when you enter the 'dungeon' some constructs/spirits (they can be low hit point cannon fodder) joins the lts. and the challenges are things that are expected to be done with the aid of (and possibly the expense of) the cannon fodder.

Stuff like "cross the bridge with lava below it" and to get the parts of the bridge in place it takes the creatures to do it for you, possibly sacrificing one of them behind to hold the bridge while the rest of you crossed (and may some swinging trap on the bridge as well, etc).

 

[Gilladian]

Thanks, FBA, that sounds like a very clever concept!

And thanks to everyone else, too; I realize in the REAL WORLD that a testing dungeon is probably illogical. So is DnD. Putting that aside, what would you have there.

Tomb of horrors is a very apt comparison to this scenario. I'll be sure to reread it and mine for ideas. Unfortunately, at least one of my players knows it well...

I like to ask here for ideas because if I just "do it all myself", I follow my own strengths and weaknesses, and my PCs know too well what to expect. I'd love more ideas!

 

[roguerouge]

They should fight each other naked and oiled up for your amusement.

 

[drothgery]

Well, if he's a competent Evil Overlord, he'll remember rule#71 on the Evil Overlord List...

If I decide to test a lieutenant's loyalty and see if he/she should be made a trusted lieutenant, I will have a crack squad of marksmen standing by in case the answer is no.

 

[Aramax]

Th dungeon would be comprised of a single room with a desk, a chair, some paper, and writing implements. The tests would involve math, logistical capabilities, and problem solving skills. The written exam would be followed by an interview to discern the lieutenant's ability to communicate quickly and clearly.

After 400 years, broken slivers of glass from the inkwell might remain.

Gee,this is rather rude, this thread is not stupid ,hes just looking for a little input.