Need advice creating an event based adventure

[Da3mon]

Hey guys!

I have had this idea of a dnd adventure inspired by an episode of Burn Notice: players have to infiltrate a smuggling operation and manipulate one of the enemy second fiddles to revealing their stash. I know that this would be an event based adventure but I have not idea how to go around designing one. Mostly I ran premade adventures, but I have also made a couple of dungeon crawlers.
What advice do you have for such an adventure? Are there similar premades that I could check out about the adventure structure?

 

[Uller]

Flow chart it. Create a list of potential fights, challenges, dialogues/decision points. Diagram how one leads to the other.

Keep what you detail small in scope. Detail likely events for your next session only and outline material for a session or two past that. After each session think about choices/actions the npcs will take and rework your diagram accordingly. Don't focus too much on the end game. Let your player / npc choices determine that. Keep it limited to 3-4 sessions and make sure a significant npc survives to be used as a villian or unlikely ally later.

 

[Uller]

I happen to be starting the design of an adventure for my group. They are 6th level and recently entered the Shadowfell (tricked there by Sir Keegan from KotS). They happened upon a village in the Skins and freed it from the domination of a Bog Hag but replaced her with a vampire they accidently turned loose...the point of the adventure was to introduce my players to the idea that in the Shadowfell, survival trumps heroism, especially for heroic teir PCs.

So now they will be heading to Gloomwrought. They will need allies since they really are too low a level for the shadow plane. I think the Hooded Lantern will be a natural fit. So I'm thinking to involve them in a street fight of sorts, this will allow them to gain the attention of Hooded Lantern members. Below is a rough outline (pre-Flow Chart) of possible events for an adventure that will carry them through 7th level and a good way towards 8th. It will be designed to give them a patron in the city with some clues toward something sinister within the faction and will probably leave them with a choice for the last encounter (assasinate an enemy or rescue a potential friend). Right now it is rather linear. So the next step will be to break it up into some decision points.

1. Street Fight (EL 8) 350

2. Invite to Talk

3. Dialogue with Hooded Lantern Leader
Hook - Investigate Mysterious Disappearances of Hooded Lantern Members

4. Talk to family of missing HL Brother
Hook - Investigate Mysterious Disappearances

5. Alley Fight and Pursuit (pursuit Skill Challenge) (EL 5) 200
Hook - Who is hunting us?
Gain Ally

6. Hidden Shrine
A. Easy Encounter (EL 5) 200
B. Moderate Encounter (EL 6) 250
C. Moderate Encounter (Trap/Skill Challenge) (EL 6) 250
D. Hard Encounter (EL 8) 350
E. Flight or Fight (escape skill challenge, lose Ally) (EL 6 or 10 if they fight) 250

7. Sanctuary (Intrigue Skill Challenge) (EL 6) 250

8. Conclusion (Rescue or Revenge)
A. Stealth Skill Challenge (can lead directly to D) (EL 7) 300
B. Moderate Encounter (EL 8) 350
C. Moderate Encounter (EL 8) 350
D. Moderate or Very Hard Encounter (EL 7 or EL 10) 500


Optional Events/Encounters
A: Orcus Priest with Undead Escort/Litter Carriers (EL 8) 350

B: Witness Faction Attack on Innocents (EL 8)

C: Gargoyle Hunt (fight and escpape) (EL 9)