The Play's The Thing (aka The play my PCs are putting on)

[roguerouge]

I did a backstage murder mystery which is posted in the 3e wiki of this site. I also did a Noises Off encounter, as the bard PC had to manage people's egos, get a prop on stage for a scene she wasn't in, find people who were supposed to be onstage, hide the bottle from the alcoholic actor, etc.

 

[Mark]

Thanks

You're welcome. It seems you have a lot more decided than originally let on. Have fun!

 

[Storminator]

A couple other ideas:

Have one side or the other try to rig the judging, either by compromising the "swing judge" or by working elements important to the judge into the play. Incidentally, does the socialist propaganda play to any of the judges interests/dealings?

Superstar casting. Have Clagoff hire the most popular actress in town... which the PCs learn about from the playbills.

Hiring hecklers. Why should the fights all be backstage? Imagine trying to subdue the thugs in the audience, while making the rest of the audience believe it's part of the show, while trying to hit your mark on stage...

And what about critics? I don't have anything here, but somehow critics should be involved. because everyone is one.

PS

 

[shilsen]

I did a backstage murder mystery which is posted in the 3e wiki of this site. I also did a Noises Off encounter, as the bard PC had to manage people's egos, get a prop on stage for a scene she wasn't in, find people who were supposed to be onstage, hide the bottle from the alcoholic actor, etc.

Thanks. I'll check it out.

You're welcome. It seems you have a lot more decided than originally let on.

That's more appearance than reality. I've just been throwing ideas around in my head since I posted, so I've been responding and updating accordingly. I'll have a general plan by the time the session occurs, but until then it's all up in the air. Actually, let me amend that - it's all up in the air till the PCs start doing their thing. I gave up on expecting anything when it comes to PC actions a long time ago.

Have fun!

Thanks. I fully expect to. This group is a blast to DM for, since I just have to give them a little opportunity and they'll run with it to an enjoyable (and usually horrifyingly strange) conclusion.

 

[Scribble]

Nice suggestions. Here's a little info on how my players (god rest their strange little souls) have already done or are planning to deal with the following:

Nice... Sounds like fun so far.

I was thinking... you could probably throw in a combat encounter durring the play as well? As the opposition hires thugs and such to secretly sabotage their play?

Maybe with a seperate "The Show Must Go On!" skill challenge to see if they can work all of it into the act- Moulan Rouge style?

 

[roguerouge]

There's also a centuries-long tradition of the claque, which were people hired to guide audience responses: when to laugh, applaud, gasp, etc.

You could bribe stage hands to make mistakes or break theater taboos in rival performances.

Itching powder in costumes.

 

[shilsen]

A couple other ideas:

Have one side or the other try to rig the judging, either by compromising the "swing judge" or by working elements important to the judge into the play. Incidentally, does the socialist propaganda play to any of the judges interests/dealings?

It's a possibility, with some of the potential third judges (which the PCs are in the process of deciding on).

Superstar casting. Have Clagoff hire the most popular actress in town... which the PCs learn about from the playbills.

Nice. I hadn't thought of that.

Hiring hecklers. Why should the fights all be backstage? Imagine trying to subdue the thugs in the audience, while making the rest of the audience believe it's part of the show, while trying to hit your mark on stage...

I like it. And knowing my players, some of them would love the chance to mess with the audience - subtly or otherwise.

And what about critics? I don't have anything here, but somehow critics should be involved. because everyone is one.

True. I'll have to think how to fit that in.

Nice... Sounds like fun so far.

I was thinking... you could probably throw in a combat encounter durring the play as well? As the opposition hires thugs and such to secretly sabotage their play?

Maybe with a seperate "The Show Must Go On!" skill challenge to see if they can work all of it into the act- Moulan Rouge style?

That's what I'm expecting to have happen with the combat encounter I mentioned earlier, actually. Some of it goes on backstage, with enemies trying to disrupt the production, and some of it onstage, with foes trying to kill PCs under the guise of acting and PCs trying to take them down while pretending it's all part of the show.

There's also a centuries-long tradition of the claque, which were people hired to guide audience responses: when to laugh, applaud, gasp, etc.

Thanks. That's something I definitely plan to incorporate now.

You could bribe stage hands to make mistakes or break theater taboos in rival performances.

Itching powder in costumes.

Now that's just mean

Thanks everyone, for all the suggestions. And if you have more, keep 'em coming.

 

[shilsen]

Just because I wanted to share...

Mallus, one of the players, posted the following outline for the play which is to be put on. To make things a little clearer, these are what the names represent:

Treasure - The pig
Jagoff - Name the PCs are using for their opponent Captain Clagoff in the play
Stephen Petard - Magistrate whose district the PCs live in
Yatagan - Dragonborn paladin PC
Odanais - Human wizard PC
Penelope - Human ranger PC
Heyoka - Shifter fighter PC
L - Former dwarven fghter PC; currently existing as a limbless, battered corpse (don't ask)

Anyhow, here's the play...

Act 1
-- Musical number on the Docks, with scantily-clad dockworkers ("We Shall Overcome").
-- The Rescue of Treasure (big fight!)
-- Back at the Hall, short song singing the praise of Stephan Petard for not blowing us or the rioters up (all classic Dragonborn art was pro-State propaganda)
-- An evil spirit named Bag O'Faces tries to take Treasure, is driven off, but not before revealing Treasure is a god and cursing her.

Act 2
-- League seeks guidance from the Temple of the Dog. Pig Meets Dog. Heyoka's big number.
-- Next morning, Treasure wakes up with no face!
-- League attacks Bag o'Faces evil lair (1st use of fireworks)
-- Bag o'Faces flees into a pit leading into the Underworld (at no point is Madame Glossop mentioned).
-- Rot Rustlers and sexy wraiths attack! Odanais's big number.
-- Bag o'Faces is found, defeated, Treasure face recovered. Odanais wears it out of the Underworld. One sexy wraith 'converts' and accompanies Odanais.

Act 3
-- Captain Jagoff hires Rat King to steal Treasure back.
-- Rat King and henchmen are mauled to music, a la West Side Story
-- Rat King is dismembered via archery while tied to a wheel. Penelope's big number!
-- Rat King (now played by "L"'s corpse) is stuffed full of explosives and hurled onto Jagoff's ship, blowing it up (2nd, bigger use of fireworks).
-- Finale.

 

[Herobizkit]

The PCs' "The Passion of the Pig" (tentative title) - This will be a musical (think Bollywood) drama relating the story of the gaining of the pig by the PCs and the creation of its religion. Featuring various parts of their adventures, including a battle on the city docks during a riot by goblins asking for better pay (some socialist propaganda is likely to feature here), a fight with undead in an underground cavern (I believe a PC is going to be mauled by dancers dressed as "sexy wraiths"), and a fight against a lycanthrope gang. Oh, and there will be an artificial pig full of fireworks.

This made my day, and possibly my whole week. Thanks!

 

[shilsen]

This made my day, and possibly my whole week. Thanks!

Any time. I get a lot of entertainment out of all the weird stuff my group does, so I figure I should share the wealth.