D&D 5E Putting the Heat shootout scene in my Sharn Campaign

[Voi_D_ragon]

UNO, Kirk, Elhaz, Kora Tana, Berry, don't read this.

My players have been chasing the Blades and House Tarkanan around Sharn trying to figure out what they're up to.

What they're up to is a heist: they're going to break into House Kundarak's central facility in Sharn and take some documents and all the valuables they can get their hands on. Only, they're not going to have to actually break in, because they have all the floor plans and passcodes for the specific vault they're going for (the BBEG is considered dead to the world at large and wants to keep it that way, plus is busy, so can't go personally or send a Simulacrum -yeah, that busy).

What hurdles might the Tarkanans and Blades come up against despite having all they need for the vault itself? I'd assume they'd need a disguise - mundane, because in the biggest Kundarak facility in Sharn I'd imagine at least one instance of True Sight. Anything else?

After that, any idea on how to make the encounter with the robbers coming out of the bank cool? I'm pretty sure the Sharn Watch will be there since they have at least one day to be warned that the bank will be targeted, but since the bad guys aren't really attacking the bank, how will they know when to spring into action?

PS: link for reference

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It's one of the things the D&D ruleset doesn't handle very well. But I would lift freely from Keys from the Golden Vault. Vidoriant's Vault is an actual vault heist.

 

[Retros_x]

I mean if you break it down the scene in heat is just a combat in an urban environment with the protagonists having the goal of "getting out". You could run this as an actual combat, but its really hard to integrate what makes the scene in heat so great: The direction. On paper, there is nothing so special about the shootout scene, its how Michael Mann directs it and how it all comes together with the great sound design of the gunshots reverbing in the downtown streets. That is impossible to do in a TTRPG. But you could aim to recreate this mood of tense violent escape from the guard maybe better in form of a 4e style skill challenge.

I'm pretty sure the Sharn Watch will be there since they have at least one day to be warned that the bank will be targeted, but since the bad guys aren't really attacking the bank, how will they know when to spring into action?

I am not exactly sure what you mean here. If somebody warned the watch, they will be just waiting until the heroes show up. If nobody warns them somebody will need to give them notice.

 

[MarkB]

Are the PCs on friendly terms with any nobles (or other wealthy folk) in Sharn? One way for the thieves to get in without a disguise would be to get hold of a legitimate customer of the bank and compel them - magically or through threats to family members - to walk the criminals in posing as the noble's escort.

If you make that noble someone whom the PCs know and care about, it makes it more personal for them while also raising the stakes as the noble may be used as a hostage or caught in the crossfire on the way out.

 

[MuhVerisimilitude]

UNO, Kirk, Elhaz, Kora Tana, Berry, don't read this.

My players have been chasing the Blades and House Tarkanan around Sharn trying to figure out what they're up to.

What they're up to is a heist: they're going to break into House Kundarak's central facility in Sharn and take some documents and all the valuables they can get their hands on. Only, they're not going to have to actually break in, because they have all the floor plans and passcodes for the specific vault they're going for (the BBEG is considered dead to the world at large and wants to keep it that way, plus is busy, so can't go personally or send a Simulacrum -yeah, that busy).

What hurdles might the Tarkanans and Blades come up against despite having all they need for the vault itself? I'd assume they'd need a disguise - mundane, because in the biggest Kundarak facility in Sharn I'd imagine at least one instance of True Sight. Anything else?

After that, any idea on how to make the encounter with the robbers coming out of the bank cool? I'm pretty sure the Sharn Watch will be there since they have at least one day to be warned that the bank will be targeted, but since the bad guys aren't really attacking the bank, how will they know when to spring into action?

PS: link for reference

You'd need something like a really unexpected situation that does not prevent the heist, but screws it up.

As you stated, the criminals have all the codes necessary and all the floor plans, meaning that the unexpected situation needs to be something different. What about some kind of in-house intrigue in house Kundarak with some annoying higher-up demanding a guided tour of the entire premises? This could easily lead to a scuffle of some kind which alerts customers in the bank that something is up. Everyone attempts to escape at the same time and people shouting about a robbery.

 

[Clint_L]

This reads to me like you, the DM, have a very specific scene in mind. What happens if the players come up with something that leads to a different outcome? What if they don’t want to reenact the shootout from Heat (which would make sense; that scene ends horribly for the robbers).

As DM I try to be very careful to not try to force an outcome that I think would be awesome. The players usually come up with something better, and then I am entertained along with them because I didn’t see it coming.

 

[Reynard]

I mean if you break it down the scene in heat is just a combat in an urban environment with the protagonists having the goal of "getting out". You could run this as an actual combat, but its really hard to integrate what makes the scene in heat so great: The direction. On paper, there is nothing so special about the shootout scene, its how Michael Mann directs it and how it all comes together with the great sound design of the gunshots reverbing in the downtown streets. That is impossible to do in a TTRPG. But you could aim to recreate this mood of tense violent escape from the guard maybe better in form of a 4e style skill challenge.

I don't think.you need a skill challenge, just a set of stakes and goals different than "kill them.all before they kill you". Given in this case "they" are essentially limitless in number, that isn't an option anyway.

I would make it important that the PCs get where they need to be within a time limit, but make just running for it untenable. We don't know the level or party makeup so it is hard to be specific.

Unfortunately 5E D&D is not good at simulating the intensity of moving under fire. Taking cover just isn't that important so they can wade through to their goal. It's Sharn tho, so maybe the SWAT team has some tools to make the criminals REAL worried about getting caught in the open. Wands of paralysis or something.

 

[Quickleaf]

A fun possibility – There is the outer chamber (like the bank's public area) and then there's the secured vaults below. Describe massive metal portcullis that are drawn up into the gate hollows above. While they escape the vaults relatively unscathed, the metal portcullis are dropped down by the guards or golems or whatever, trapping them inside the bank. So the conflict becomes "how do we escape through these massive dwarven adamantine doors?"

 

[Retros_x]

I don't think.you need a skill challenge, just a set of stakes and goals different than "kill them.all before they kill you". Given in this case "they" are essentially limitless in number, that isn't an option anyway.

I would make it important that the PCs get where they need to be within a time limit, but make just running for it untenable. We don't know the level or party makeup so it is hard to be specific.

Unfortunately 5E D&D is not good at simulating the intensity of moving under fire. Taking cover just isn't that important so they can wade through to their goal. It's Sharn tho, so maybe the SWAT team has some tools to make the criminals REAL worried about getting caught in the open. Wands of paralysis or something.

Jeah as I said in 5e its a battle with different goal. But I think it will never feel similar to the movie for reasons I stated and you yourself stated too (5e is not made for moving under fire etc.). I am not the biggest fan of skill challenges, but I think it could work here.

 

[Bayushi_seikuro]

Maybe in addition to this, you need to consider Reservoir Dogs, where it's not about the thieves leaving as a group, but them meeting back up. The Watch will probably arrive in waves - like Mister Pink said, the cops who immediately were there were there because of the rat in the group, and those that showed up minutes later were actually responding to the alarm.

Incorporate law enforcement who use stuns and net type gear. Put tons of traffic on the street - nothing slows pursuit and chases like all the lookiloos who need to sit and observe, or worse, interfere trying to 'help' the Watch. I know you want the running gun battle, but be prepared for a ton of crazier things to go on, and the environment and other influences can help