Lady newbie/One-on-one advice

[bloodymage]

Hi all. Just dropped off my 1e PHB to my masseuse yesterday. She's a complete newbie to RPG. She glanced at the book and mage and monk caught her eye. If I judge her right, she will really be attracted to a bard. Anyway, I'd like some suggestions on a one-on-one scenario I can come up with to introduce her to her character and the system before she jumps in the group. My own intro was bashing down four orcs that tried to waylay my F/MU. Guarantee you, Marla will be more interested in roleplay than h&s, tho one combat will be necessary to show her that aspect of the game. So, what gems can y'all give me?

Btw, no comparisons of 1e vs. 3e vs. 2e here please. The only time she's available to game is in my 1e campaign. She's married, works and lives in a nearby town and my Tuesday night 3e campaign is out of the question.

Thanks all.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Any chance you can arrange for a tavern duel with a goblin music-hater? That might work out.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

She's married, works and lives in a nearby town and my Tuesday night 3e campaign is out of the question.

Thanks all. [/B][/QUOTE]

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My advice would be to make sure your masseuse's husband is present. He might not appreciate the concept of "Role-Playing" and the one-on-one situation perpetuated beyond work.

 

[bloodymage]

My advice would be to make sure your masseuse's husband is present. He might not appreciate the concept of "Role-Playing" and the one-on-one situation perpetuated beyond work.

My comment on her status in real life was just to indicate why she couldn't join the 3e group. They're not jealous or possessive people. And there's no ulterior motive here. Marla sees naked people all day, you think her husband, Mark, is the suspicious sort? Btw, if he wants to show up, the more, the merrier. The group is just forming. And the one-on-one is a one-shot adventure. It's group after that.

Anyway, back to the topic. I just got back from donating platelets so I had a couple of hours to let my mind wander. What I've come up with is for her 1st level PC to travel from her nearby home village to the big city. I think that maybe a 1st-3rd NPC going along on her own business might prove helpful. A carefully engineered "random" encounter would be part of the journey. I thought maybe they could come across a desecrated wayside shrine and have a little mystery to solve, maybe with a piddly wandering undead or two. Maybe the hook could be that a particular child makes an offering at that shrine on the anniversary of his father's death in his honor. Maybe the shrine was erected on behalf of the dead father. Anyway, a little combat, a little human interest, a little variety, a mini-showcase of the workings of the system and what dangers lurk in a fantasy world. You get the idea.

Am I missing anything? Is my shrine idea subject to backfire somehow? Any improvements or additional elements? Should I scrap it in favor of something else? Any other scenarios (I might like yours better)?

 

[bloodymage]

bump...

...in the night

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

OK, bloodymage - sounds like you have your protection from evil spell in effect, so things sound great.

I think you are on the right track with the encounter idea you mentioned above, but if possible, having a larger group and allowing her to see how other player's PC's role play might be more ideal. I remember back when I started playing, and I was kind of lost in Meta-game thinking until I got to play with some more experienced players and learn what true role-playing was.

Although obviously different, a previous thread about EN poster Psion's wife getting ready to play D&D for the first time may have some good advice for you too:

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18394

Best of Luck,

Joe

 

[Zigmutt]

I would start it off with a little encounter with the Orca nd Pie.

And then work up to the abandoned Pie factory.

 

[ForceUser]

Ten first-level story hooks

1. Someone's been stealing money from the temple collection box.

2. Local children have been disappearing. Strange footprints are noticed outside their homes.

3. The character's mentor becomes deathly ill. Only an herb found in the old haunted forest near town can save her.

4. A tunnel is discovered under the local inn. Where does it go?

5. A rival performer plays nasty tricks to get the public to dislike the PC.

6. A childhood friend of the PC sends a letter asking the PC to visit him. He lives in a spooky castle plagued by strange accidents.

7. A meteor made of adamantine falls out of the sky. The townsfolk must hide it before the wicked local lord takes it for himself.

8. Something in the nearby hills has forced predators out of their terriroty. Now they prey on farmers.

9. An eccentric countess asks the PC to perform at a private party at her remote manor. That night, the countess is murdered. Who did it?

10. A charming stranger drifts through town. The next day, the mayor's teenage daughter has run away.

 

[bloodymage]

3. The character's mentor becomes deathly ill. Only an herb found in the old haunted forest near town can save her.

This one caught my eye ForceUser. I need a quick one-off to run her in and my idea might have a tendency to become too complicated and extend itself out. I do like the variety of elements my idea presents, but this one is elegent in its brevity, simplicity and human interest. Hafta ponder this.

Anyone care the help me develop the solo for these? Or suggest your own? Any thoughts on the NPC companion in my scenario. Wise? Unnecessary? What about introducing elements in ForceUser's scenario to demonstrate the various facets of RPG to our lady friend?