I picked up the Here's to Crime DM's Guild offering and it's pretty slick. The flashback feature is very cleverly done. The whole thing is definitely a lot lighter on its feet than what I would have come up with.
Running an actual heist?
I picked up the Here's to Crime DM's Guild offering and it's pretty slick. The flashback feature is very cleverly done. The whole thing is definitely a lot lighter on its feet than what I would have come up with.
Blue
Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
Several people have mentioned Blades in the Dark and the Leverage RPG. Both are built around that sort of thing. And there are lessons we can take from them.
One of the things that heist experience with non-heist games (like D&D but more like shadowrun) is that it ended up being hours of not-exciting planning that then came apart at the seams at the first unexpected part and was invalidated. I play in the evenings - I don't have time for three hours of mostly wasted planning in my gaming.
So work out that "planning happened", and determine the sorts of things that each characters is suited for havign prepped, be it special equipment gathered, bribes made, stealthy recon, whatever. Give them resources of that type - but unspecified.
Then run the heist. Whenever something comes up, players can spend some of those "pre-planning" resources, realizing the exact nature of what they "have always been" in ways to influence the narrative.
For example, the alchemist in the party whipped up several formulas based on "what he'd heard". We don't know what they are, just that he spent 300 gp and has three of them. During the actual heist they are beset on by dogs, and the alchemist whips out vial with really strong smells that send the hounds racing away.
From the in-game narrative, the alchemist had that vial the whole time. Form a player/DM out-of-game perspective, it wasn't until it was needed that it transformed from "alchemical prep #1" to "strong scents to chase away beasts".
Another part might be running into a guard patrol, but another player turns "prep stealthy recon" into "know the guards schedule" and you rewind a little bit, spend some time to let them pass, and then sneak through without alerting the patrol.
This lets you jump into the action, and reward players / maintain the narrative of the types of prep the characters could do without spending loads of time that may not be relevant.
One of the things that heist experience with non-heist games (like D&D but more like shadowrun) is that it ended up being hours of not-exciting planning that then came apart at the seams at the first unexpected part and was invalidated. I play in the evenings - I don't have time for three hours of mostly wasted planning in my gaming.
So work out that "planning happened", and determine the sorts of things that each characters is suited for havign prepped, be it special equipment gathered, bribes made, stealthy recon, whatever. Give them resources of that type - but unspecified.
Then run the heist. Whenever something comes up, players can spend some of those "pre-planning" resources, realizing the exact nature of what they "have always been" in ways to influence the narrative.
For example, the alchemist in the party whipped up several formulas based on "what he'd heard". We don't know what they are, just that he spent 300 gp and has three of them. During the actual heist they are beset on by dogs, and the alchemist whips out vial with really strong smells that send the hounds racing away.
From the in-game narrative, the alchemist had that vial the whole time. Form a player/DM out-of-game perspective, it wasn't until it was needed that it transformed from "alchemical prep #1" to "strong scents to chase away beasts".
Another part might be running into a guard patrol, but another player turns "prep stealthy recon" into "know the guards schedule" and you rewind a little bit, spend some time to let them pass, and then sneak through without alerting the patrol.
This lets you jump into the action, and reward players / maintain the narrative of the types of prep the characters could do without spending loads of time that may not be relevant.
jimmytheccomic
First Post
Thank you! That was my work, I'm glad you enjoyed.
doctorbadwolf
Heretic of The Seventh Circle
Shoot! I didn't even know about this!
Aren't AL adventures on DMsGuild?
Anyway, DnD is completely compatible with heists. Some flashback mechanics and other "plot coupon" mechanics help, but they aren't necessary. You can just ask, "how does your careful planning or improvisational skill get you out of this mess?" when the dice go bad, and never be attached to a specific course of action.
Horwath
Legend
Biggest problem with working out heist scenario is the "d20" just one fail stealth/deception check and it is all over.
And you need rogues and bards in party. If not whole party.
Expertise in stealth and deception and at least one expertise in perception, investigation and thief tools.
but most likely will be this scenario:
Rogue: that clutz of a paladin just knocked down that vase?
Wizard: yep, he sure did.
Rogue: great, now half the guard heard that.
Wizard: ahem. Oh, frakk it... "FIREBALL!"
See the stuff earlier in the thread about the “flashback” idea, this is how you overcome setbacks like these in an entertaining and heist-movie-like manner.
Wiseblood
Adventurer
A heist will almost never be the players plan.
To make a heist you need NPC’s.
You need some or all of the following.
1: A Target
2: An NPC that can let the party know the target exists. This NPC May have a plan already or may know a key ingredient to acquire the target.
3: NPC’s that want to get or keep the target.
4: an NPC with Resources that are needed to acquire the target. (Information or materials the players don’t have)
It’s best if there are multiple encounters to get it or stages to get it.
5: a getaway plan
6: a patsy
7: a fixer (someone with specialized skills or resources that will assist in the heist and possibly execution)
8: a buyer
9: a fence (can be #2 or #7)
10: opposition this could be the law, a rival group, a recovery team or just some nosy neighbors to come sniffing around and threaten the operation
There could be more but it’s all about the NPCs
To make a heist you need NPC’s.
You need some or all of the following.
1: A Target
2: An NPC that can let the party know the target exists. This NPC May have a plan already or may know a key ingredient to acquire the target.
3: NPC’s that want to get or keep the target.
4: an NPC with Resources that are needed to acquire the target. (Information or materials the players don’t have)
It’s best if there are multiple encounters to get it or stages to get it.
5: a getaway plan
6: a patsy
7: a fixer (someone with specialized skills or resources that will assist in the heist and possibly execution)
8: a buyer
9: a fence (can be #2 or #7)
10: opposition this could be the law, a rival group, a recovery team or just some nosy neighbors to come sniffing around and threaten the operation
There could be more but it’s all about the NPCs
Wiseblood
Adventurer
A heist will almost never be the players plan.
To make a heist you need NPC’s.
You need some or all of the following.
1: A Target
2: An NPC that can let the party know the target exists. This NPC May have a plan already or may know a key ingredient to acquire the target.
3: NPC’s that want to get or keep the target.
4: an NPC with Resources that are needed to acquire the target. (Information or materials the players don’t have)
It’s best if there are multiple encounters to get it or stages to get it.
5: a getaway plan
6: a patsy
7: a fixer (someone with specialized skills or resources that will assist in the heist and possibly execution)
8: a buyer
9: a fence (can be #2 or #7)
10: opposition this could be the law, a rival group, a recovery team or just some nosy neighbors to come sniffing around and threaten the operation
There could be more but it’s all about the NPCs
To make a heist you need NPC’s.
You need some or all of the following.
1: A Target
2: An NPC that can let the party know the target exists. This NPC May have a plan already or may know a key ingredient to acquire the target.
3: NPC’s that want to get or keep the target.
4: an NPC with Resources that are needed to acquire the target. (Information or materials the players don’t have)
It’s best if there are multiple encounters to get it or stages to get it.
5: a getaway plan
6: a patsy
7: a fixer (someone with specialized skills or resources that will assist in the heist and possibly execution)
8: a buyer
9: a fence (can be #2 or #7)
10: opposition this could be the law, a rival group, a recovery team or just some nosy neighbors to come sniffing around and threaten the operation
There could be more but it’s all about the NPCs
