One Thousand Ways to Freak Out Your Players
- Thread starter HalfElfSorcerer
- Start date
MeepoTheMighty
First Post
I pulled this one on my party once:
959) As the party travels through the forest, they come to a small (~1 foot wide) stream. A log serves as a crude bridge over the stream, and it's guarded by a bugbear who demands a toll. The players laugh, step over the stream, and move on.
After the party goes to sleep for the night, they are attacked by a raiding party of a dozen or so bugbears, led by this guy.
After slaughtering half the party, the bugbears tie up the survivors and take a silver piece from each of them, and say "You forgot to pay the toll!"
959) As the party travels through the forest, they come to a small (~1 foot wide) stream. A log serves as a crude bridge over the stream, and it's guarded by a bugbear who demands a toll. The players laugh, step over the stream, and move on.
After the party goes to sleep for the night, they are attacked by a raiding party of a dozen or so bugbears, led by this guy.
After slaughtering half the party, the bugbears tie up the survivors and take a silver piece from each of them, and say "You forgot to pay the toll!"
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the black box
960. Have someone (I used an orc priest of Grumsh) deliver a black box to the party. The bearer is evil (if detected), but seems trustworthy (he does not lie). He gives the PCs the black box and no explaination other than not oppening the box "before the time was right", saying he has urgent business to attend. About 15 minutes later, screams and noises alert the PCs; the orc is found dead, by his own weapon (he killed himself, deliberately).
Now the fun begins. There seems to be no way to open the box, it is deep black in color, has no inscription and is heavier than it would appear. If detected, it is enchanted with an overwhelming magic that cannot be identified or dispelled.
961. The box foolows the players. If the ever forget it, give it or try to get rid of it, the players find that it is some distance (between 20 to 300 ft) away. The box still does nothing.
962. The box grants their deepest desires, unperverted. When they are in need, the box grants wishes. (When locked up in a cell and striped of everything, they wake up and find the door open. A few corridors down,they find the black box.) Try to not make so obvious that the two are related.
963. Each time a wish is granted (and as the PCs will eventually link it with the black box, it will increase in frequency---> "you find your lost shocking greataxe +4 in the sands of the desert"), have some nasty demon or devil appear anywhere within 5 miles. They are bent on killing, and not necessarely the PCs... and they have time...
I used all these.
960. Have someone (I used an orc priest of Grumsh) deliver a black box to the party. The bearer is evil (if detected), but seems trustworthy (he does not lie). He gives the PCs the black box and no explaination other than not oppening the box "before the time was right", saying he has urgent business to attend. About 15 minutes later, screams and noises alert the PCs; the orc is found dead, by his own weapon (he killed himself, deliberately).
Now the fun begins. There seems to be no way to open the box, it is deep black in color, has no inscription and is heavier than it would appear. If detected, it is enchanted with an overwhelming magic that cannot be identified or dispelled.
961. The box foolows the players. If the ever forget it, give it or try to get rid of it, the players find that it is some distance (between 20 to 300 ft) away. The box still does nothing.
962. The box grants their deepest desires, unperverted. When they are in need, the box grants wishes. (When locked up in a cell and striped of everything, they wake up and find the door open. A few corridors down,they find the black box.) Try to not make so obvious that the two are related.
963. Each time a wish is granted (and as the PCs will eventually link it with the black box, it will increase in frequency---> "you find your lost shocking greataxe +4 in the sands of the desert"), have some nasty demon or devil appear anywhere within 5 miles. They are bent on killing, and not necessarely the PCs... and they have time...
I used all these.
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The Sigil
Mr. 3000 (Words per post)
Re: the black box
964.) Have the PCs find a great big wooden box floating in a convenient bay. When they open it up, they find a *thump-thump-thump* (sound of you slapping something heavy three times - don't ever actually give them more info than this). This item is cursed - they can never be rid of it - and nobody will want to speak to them after they obtain it.
While I was walking down the beach
one bright and sunny day,
I saw a great big wooden box
a-floating in the bay.
I pulled it in and opened it up
and much to my surprise--
Oh, I discovered a *thump-thump-thump*
right before my eyes!
Oh, I discovered a *thump-thump-thump*
right before my eyes.!
I picked it up and ran to town
as happy as a kind.
I took it to a guy I knew
who'd buy most anything.
But his is what he holered at me
as I walked in his shop.
Oh, get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
before I call a cop.
Oh, get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
before I call a cop.
I turned around ang got right out,
a-running for my life;
And then I took it home with me
to give it to my wife.
But this is what she holldered at me
as I walked in the door,
Oh, get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
and don't come back no more.
Oh, get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
and don't come back no more.
I wandered all around the town
until I chanced to meet
A hobo who was looking for a handout on the street.
He said he'd take most any old thing,
he was a desperate man.
But when I showed him the *thump-thump-thump*
he turned around and ran.
But when I showed him the *thump-thump-thump*
he turned around and ran.
I wandered on for many years a victim of my fate
Until one day I came upon St. Peter at the gate.
And when I tried to take it inside
he told me where to go!
Get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
and take it down below.
Get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
and take it down below.
The moral of this story is:
if you're out on the beach
And you should see a great big box,
and it's within your reach,
Don't ever stop and ope it up,
that's my advice to you.
'Cause you'll never get rid of the *thump-thump-thump*
no matter what you do.
Oh, you'll never get rid of the *thump-thump-thump*
no matter what you do.
--The Sigil
964.) Have the PCs find a great big wooden box floating in a convenient bay. When they open it up, they find a *thump-thump-thump* (sound of you slapping something heavy three times - don't ever actually give them more info than this). This item is cursed - they can never be rid of it - and nobody will want to speak to them after they obtain it.
While I was walking down the beach
one bright and sunny day,
I saw a great big wooden box
a-floating in the bay.
I pulled it in and opened it up
and much to my surprise--
Oh, I discovered a *thump-thump-thump*
right before my eyes!
Oh, I discovered a *thump-thump-thump*
right before my eyes.!
I picked it up and ran to town
as happy as a kind.
I took it to a guy I knew
who'd buy most anything.
But his is what he holered at me
as I walked in his shop.
Oh, get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
before I call a cop.
Oh, get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
before I call a cop.
I turned around ang got right out,
a-running for my life;
And then I took it home with me
to give it to my wife.
But this is what she holldered at me
as I walked in the door,
Oh, get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
and don't come back no more.
Oh, get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
and don't come back no more.
I wandered all around the town
until I chanced to meet
A hobo who was looking for a handout on the street.
He said he'd take most any old thing,
he was a desperate man.
But when I showed him the *thump-thump-thump*
he turned around and ran.
But when I showed him the *thump-thump-thump*
he turned around and ran.
I wandered on for many years a victim of my fate
Until one day I came upon St. Peter at the gate.
And when I tried to take it inside
he told me where to go!
Get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
and take it down below.
Get out of here with that *thump-thump-thump*
and take it down below.
The moral of this story is:
if you're out on the beach
And you should see a great big box,
and it's within your reach,
Don't ever stop and ope it up,
that's my advice to you.
'Cause you'll never get rid of the *thump-thump-thump*
no matter what you do.
Oh, you'll never get rid of the *thump-thump-thump*
no matter what you do.
--The Sigil
thickeyebrows
First Post
.
966: instead of rolling for long, drawn out melee combat, set up 2 mixing tables and scratch battle it out with the big bad evil villain.
967:keep remarking every 4 minutes how you " can't get enough of that golden crisp."
968: have all semantic movement of all npcs be relayed via karate chop
966: instead of rolling for long, drawn out melee combat, set up 2 mixing tables and scratch battle it out with the big bad evil villain.
967:keep remarking every 4 minutes how you " can't get enough of that golden crisp."
968: have all semantic movement of all npcs be relayed via karate chop
970: while the party hunts the BBEG and the pc's discuss what to do about the band of trolloc's led by a myrddraal that are hunting them, have the npc in the party ask "Can you determine his direction still, or do you need to cast another spell?"
and when the pc answer with a negative have the npc respond with "Alright..." he mumbles. "You have no idea where he is right now, in other words?"
and when the pc answer with a negative have the npc respond with "Alright..." he mumbles. "You have no idea where he is right now, in other words?"
Wanderer At Dusk
First Post
971) constantly repeat something related to a very simple rule every single session, example "now remember that you add the following modifiers to your attack" be sure to only pull this on experienced players.
972) whenever you talk move your hands around, the more motion the better
973) after doing both 971 and 972 suddenly stop for several months.
974) have commoners in every settlement politely ask the pcs for their souls, never offer any explanation. If they give someone their soul they can't be raised, no matter what.
975) invite everyone to your house for a session, have a friend not in the group call halfway through the session or earlier if you prefer. say something like the following "Guys i've got to go pick up the dry cleaning i'm going to have to ask you to leave"
*bonus points if you actually do have to pick up dry cleaning or such
** further bonus points if you fake it and actually have something like that in your trunk and just go driving around for an hour or so.
972) whenever you talk move your hands around, the more motion the better
973) after doing both 971 and 972 suddenly stop for several months.
974) have commoners in every settlement politely ask the pcs for their souls, never offer any explanation. If they give someone their soul they can't be raised, no matter what.
975) invite everyone to your house for a session, have a friend not in the group call halfway through the session or earlier if you prefer. say something like the following "Guys i've got to go pick up the dry cleaning i'm going to have to ask you to leave"
*bonus points if you actually do have to pick up dry cleaning or such
** further bonus points if you fake it and actually have something like that in your trunk and just go driving around for an hour or so.
HalfElfSorcerer
First Post
Only 25 left. Which means we should set some ground rules for number 1000. DO NOT post a number 1000 without careful contemplation. Is it evil? Will it warp your player's minds? Or is it really idiotic and lame? DO NOT post a number 1000 until you are positive of its quality. I have enjoyed watching this thread over the months, and I am excited to reach my/our goal. BTW, if anyone out there has the spare time to make them all into a document...well, I won't make you, but I'll find out who your DM is and have them pull one of the 1000 on you. You've been warned.
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