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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 2383035" data-attributes="member: 2629">#1: Don't eliminate combat from a session.  Even the most hardcore RPGers love a little hack and slash as part of the game.  The PCs might apprehend pickpockets, participate in a melee, deal with an escape attraction, foil a kidnapping, etc ... I find it best to make sure that no more than 90 minutes of role playing ever passes without a combat of some sort ...#2: When not fighting, keep the dice rolling.  I think every player should roll a d20 at least once every 30 minutes.  The thrill of the roll keeps things interesting.  Skill checks, attribute checks, gambling, etc .... all make good opportunities.  If all else fails: Ask the players to roll a d20 and tell you the result ... and don't tell them a reason, regardless of what they roll.  It keeps them on their toes.  If you have trouble pulling off such a deception, ask them to roll, bury your nose in a random page of the DMG (which remains hidden from the players) and then carry on without any othr comments on the roles.#3: Pay attention to your PCs.  Give them what they want.  If you have a superstrong fighter, add a competition of strength to the festival.  If you have an illusionist in the party, put a bard in the festival that is wowing the populace with petty illusions (that your wizard can outclass ... thereby earning himself an enemy in the form of the NE bard).  If you have a cleric who is into role playing, give him a chance to speak to the people and try to convert a few.  If you have a rogue with a high pick pocket skill ... well ... just make sure he sees a few key oppotunities to challenge his skills.#4: Don't run it as a location based adventure.  Run it as an event based adventure.  String together a series of unfortunate events that the PCs are there to witness/stop.  As an example, the PCs might be approached by a nervoud merchant who thinks one of the PCs is a member of the evl guild that plans to kidnap the princess at the festival.  When he asks the PCs if they need any more sleep poison for their task, an assassin takes him out and the PCs have to catch the assassin.  Then the PCs have to unravel the mystery of who is doing what and how they intend to do it to save the princess (who is too stubborn to leave the festival, even when notified of the danger).</blockquote>

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