One Thousand Ways to Freak Out Your Players

[Clear Dragon]

582: Of course never allow the players to obtain one of the clay pots for study, and should they try to craft their own have it impossible for them to find the correct color of clay orshade of glaze(or the ingredients to make it). Perhaps have the pots detect as evil (the red clay is from a layer of the abyss or equally appropriate place).

 

[Astragoth]

583)This is what my DM did to us.... and some of us are leaving therapy right now........


during the campaign we had the pleasure of watching some guys in black armor absolutely WASTING some of the opposition we had serious difficulties defeating with. over the course of the campaign we found out that those guys in black armor were indeed baddies who were chasing the exact same item we were..... for reasons not disclosed but it wasn't too hard figuring out that it wasn't good. we also learned they were rather unhappy about our progress.

now this happens.... after fighting our way through the first lvl of a dungeon we encounter a maze with is filled with doors with riddles...

so we ponder about 5 minutes about the first riddle, get it right and enter. Door closes behind us. ( we are talking massive stone doors here... there was no way we could bash them open). Same thing at second door.. we go through that one as well and it closes behind us. A little bit too relaxed and comfortable (enjoying snacks and beer over a good set of riddles, I think someone mentioned the dreaded phrase: aaah... finally a relaxed session) we start at the riddle of the third door.
and

WHAM!!!!

the first door explodes in a massive shower of rockshards and sounds.

I can tell you... solving riddles under extreme timepressure is JUST NOT FUNNY. We were exhausted at the end of the session with literally sweat in our hands... although ome people got remarkably creative under pressure (big cheers to Ingrid who solved three riddles in a row within 5 seconds.... the DM was not happy about that) all in all it freaked us out completely

 

[Moe Ronalds]

584) Like 583, but have the big baddie that was chasing them meet them when they get out of the maze.

 

[Helspar]

585) "No! We can play when you guys are finished making those keychains. We gotta pay for this operation somehow. Now quit whining and get back to work!"


586) The Miserable Cubicle. 'nuff said.

587) Let Nylarlathotep play.

588) Introduce the Dragonstar tm campaign!

589) Be a "Chaotic Dietosser"

590) Carry around the "You are now EVIL" cards from Talisman. Use them as business cards.

591) "Psst! I think he's talking to you!"

 

[Cedric]

586) Put the PCs through a dungeon with a large number of hard to spot, increasingly difficult series of traps with AoE attacks...everytime they fail their saves, start rolling saves for their gear.

587)...continued from 586...make it clear the only way out is to keep going forward.

Cedric

 

[Dispater]

588
The party kills a bad guy. Let them anihlate him completely. Then scratch your head flip in the PHB, and ask them what level True Ressurection is.

589
Have the party attacked everywhere, everytime. Even in their beds, where there awaits assassin pillow-goblin

590
For mood music, put on Britney Spears.

592
Inform the players (whom are all mages) that you have taken the opportunity to change the magic system... again.

591 (inspired by KODT)
Leave the film cover of "Deliverance" near the gaming table. Start the session by saying> "So, I was watching this film while I wrote the adventure last night..."

 

[Nvvyn]

592. When the PC's enter a dungeon room, Say they see a very powerful looking warrior with his back to the group. Upon closer examination, tell them they see three red X's on the back of his neck XxX

 

[Moe Ronalds]

593) Convince one of the party members to take on an ancient red dragon alone.

 

[Clear Dragon]

594: If they are constantly polymorphing into to trolls or other monstrous humanoids for combat here is a nice solution. Unbeknownst to them Trolls(or whatever they poly into) have a well defined mating season. The pheremones released by the species this time of year(month, day) lures all nearby members together where they fight for mates(often to the death).

595: Have an NPC wizard(transmuter) who actually gets a thrill out of this stuff.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

569) Dice rollin' off the table. That's a paddlin'.

Talkin' out of turn..that's a paddlin'.

Looking out the window, that's a paddlin'

Staring at my sandals...that's a paddlin'

Paddlin the school canoe... oooh, you better believe that's a paddlin'