Empirate
First Post
Also, Disguise Self is a 1st level spell etc.
A dragon infiltrating human society by using Alternate Form would surely be able to mask itself perfectly, at least where looks are concerned!
Wartime Battle missions
- Thread starter Omegaxicor
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Also, Disguise Self is a 1st level spell etc.
A dragon infiltrating human society by using Alternate Form would surely be able to mask itself perfectly, at least where looks are concerned!
green slime
First Post
Lots of good suggestions in this thread:
Remember the LotR scene of Helm's Deep, where repeatedly the actions of a few defenders have impact on a desperate battle: holding out long enough for the reinforcements to arrive.
Another important task, as mentioned before in the thread, is the attrition of battlefield supplies, a task highly suited to an elite team of brave, and daring adventurers, bold enough to operate behind enemy lines, and a danger to the enemies rear so great, as to require a large number of forces to protect the supply depots, and chase / harry the partisans. Armies do not just arrive on the doorstep, but take years to gather supplies, gather strength, train, organise and plan, and months to march across terrain, or weeks in ships (but ships need to be planned, suitable forest found and harvested, built by professional shipbuilders, crews trained). None of which can be done in particular secret.
Consider the Persian army in 480 BC. Said to be the largest army assembled at that time, some chroniclers put it at 1 million (which, if true, probably included baggage train, animal handlers, support engineers, craftsmen, the friendly women-for-hire, cooks, blacksmiths, etc). No wonder the Greeks knew the Persians were coming. They knew the when, they knew the where. Didn't save the city of Athens from plunder. But the King Leonidas of Sparta bloodied the nose of the Persian tyrant Xerxes at Thermopylae, to inspire stories thousands of years later.
Demonstrating the contribution the PCs make to the fight can be in terms of holding out until reinforcements arrive, blocking an area until the old, young, sick, and infirm have escaped or are rescued, recapturing an important hold, supply depot, or fortification. It could also be noticing important events and reporting to commanders in a timely manner, to another allow a unit to withdraw against impossible odds (saving lifes), or to reinforce a cracking infantry unit with the Elite Dwarven Squad in the nick of time. It could also be by carrying important messages across a confused battlefield to isolated commanders. Or rallying troops by standing by their side when the odds seemed stacked against them, and their sergeant just croaked.
By describing the effect of the character's actions on those around them; the way they look to their heroes for guidance, for hope. By the flash of fear in their opponent's eyes.
Remember the LotR scene of Helm's Deep, where repeatedly the actions of a few defenders have impact on a desperate battle: holding out long enough for the reinforcements to arrive.
Another important task, as mentioned before in the thread, is the attrition of battlefield supplies, a task highly suited to an elite team of brave, and daring adventurers, bold enough to operate behind enemy lines, and a danger to the enemies rear so great, as to require a large number of forces to protect the supply depots, and chase / harry the partisans. Armies do not just arrive on the doorstep, but take years to gather supplies, gather strength, train, organise and plan, and months to march across terrain, or weeks in ships (but ships need to be planned, suitable forest found and harvested, built by professional shipbuilders, crews trained). None of which can be done in particular secret.
Consider the Persian army in 480 BC. Said to be the largest army assembled at that time, some chroniclers put it at 1 million (which, if true, probably included baggage train, animal handlers, support engineers, craftsmen, the friendly women-for-hire, cooks, blacksmiths, etc). No wonder the Greeks knew the Persians were coming. They knew the when, they knew the where. Didn't save the city of Athens from plunder. But the King Leonidas of Sparta bloodied the nose of the Persian tyrant Xerxes at Thermopylae, to inspire stories thousands of years later.
Demonstrating the contribution the PCs make to the fight can be in terms of holding out until reinforcements arrive, blocking an area until the old, young, sick, and infirm have escaped or are rescued, recapturing an important hold, supply depot, or fortification. It could also be noticing important events and reporting to commanders in a timely manner, to another allow a unit to withdraw against impossible odds (saving lifes), or to reinforce a cracking infantry unit with the Elite Dwarven Squad in the nick of time. It could also be by carrying important messages across a confused battlefield to isolated commanders. Or rallying troops by standing by their side when the odds seemed stacked against them, and their sergeant just croaked.
By describing the effect of the character's actions on those around them; the way they look to their heroes for guidance, for hope. By the flash of fear in their opponent's eyes.
Have you ever seen the 3.5 adventure, Red Hand of Doom? It's about an invasion, and the PCs play out in special operations roles for the army.
This might be just what the doctor ordered for your game. Take the various scenarios given in the adventure and customize them for your needs.
Omegaxicor
First Post
No I haven't, I will see if I can find a copy though
Omegaxicor
First Post
I have decided that instead of a Black dragon I will use a Red Dragon because the tell tale signs are easier to identify but remain unnoticed by "normal" people... preferring stale food would be immediately weird and raise questions.
- He wears lots of jewellery from Rings to Necklaces and Bracelets, this is a low magic campaign so magic items are not so common and decorative jewellery is used by nobles. (Red Dragons are the most covetous of all dragons)
- He has a history attacking people and looting their gear, sometimes to sell but sometimes to keep as trophies. (Red Dragons don't use their breath weapon much to avoid damaging treasure)
- He has the highest room in the castle despite all his duties being in the base of the castle and the maid has to deliver wood up to his room daily because he always has the fireplace lit at full intensity all day, even when he isn't there. (Red Dragons prefer high vantage points to spot incoming threats and overlook their treasure horde. Red Dragons prefer high temperature environments wherever possible)
That identifies WHAT he is but being a Red Dragon while bad isn't necessarily the traitor so the clues to identify that he is the traitor are:-
- The maps that describe the caverns beneath the castle were leant to him and were returned with ink stains, further investigation discovers that he has bought several lanterns, lots of oil and writing implements for engineering. (Indicating he has an interest in the tunnels beneath the castle and is planning to spend LOTS of time down their, or some time with LOTS of other people)
- He was the noble in charge of purchasing the Dwarven/Gnomish black powder explosives but when purchasing the order of 500 barrels he purchased 50 more barrels from his own pocket. (indicating he needs explosives for something)
- A Pseudodragon has been seen passing into his room and flying away to the East (Indicating he is passing messages to someone in the East, the direction the enemy army are approaching from, and the alliance uses Hawks/Owls rather than Pseudodragons)
any other ideas?
(I am aware that the clues indicating he is a traitor require some suspicion before they can be gained, I am looking into that but the first breadcrumb is that the maps of the castles tunnels are requested by the King and the party are his messengers but they find Ink stains on the maps and the librarum tells them that He was the last person to take them and they were in perfect condition before that, she is going to redraw them but he only returned them yesterday).
EDIT: I have found a problem though, when they find and confront Him if he attacks them he would annihilate a party of four level 4 players but I want a combat encounter, he could have a few levels in sorcerer or even a few scrolls and cast summon monster but I don't know what he would summon, including what level he would use
- He wears lots of jewellery from Rings to Necklaces and Bracelets, this is a low magic campaign so magic items are not so common and decorative jewellery is used by nobles. (Red Dragons are the most covetous of all dragons)
- He has a history attacking people and looting their gear, sometimes to sell but sometimes to keep as trophies. (Red Dragons don't use their breath weapon much to avoid damaging treasure)
- He has the highest room in the castle despite all his duties being in the base of the castle and the maid has to deliver wood up to his room daily because he always has the fireplace lit at full intensity all day, even when he isn't there. (Red Dragons prefer high vantage points to spot incoming threats and overlook their treasure horde. Red Dragons prefer high temperature environments wherever possible)
That identifies WHAT he is but being a Red Dragon while bad isn't necessarily the traitor so the clues to identify that he is the traitor are:-
- The maps that describe the caverns beneath the castle were leant to him and were returned with ink stains, further investigation discovers that he has bought several lanterns, lots of oil and writing implements for engineering. (Indicating he has an interest in the tunnels beneath the castle and is planning to spend LOTS of time down their, or some time with LOTS of other people)
- He was the noble in charge of purchasing the Dwarven/Gnomish black powder explosives but when purchasing the order of 500 barrels he purchased 50 more barrels from his own pocket. (indicating he needs explosives for something)
- A Pseudodragon has been seen passing into his room and flying away to the East (Indicating he is passing messages to someone in the East, the direction the enemy army are approaching from, and the alliance uses Hawks/Owls rather than Pseudodragons)
any other ideas?
(I am aware that the clues indicating he is a traitor require some suspicion before they can be gained, I am looking into that but the first breadcrumb is that the maps of the castles tunnels are requested by the King and the party are his messengers but they find Ink stains on the maps and the librarum tells them that He was the last person to take them and they were in perfect condition before that, she is going to redraw them but he only returned them yesterday).
EDIT: I have found a problem though, when they find and confront Him if he attacks them he would annihilate a party of four level 4 players but I want a combat encounter, he could have a few levels in sorcerer or even a few scrolls and cast summon monster but I don't know what he would summon, including what level he would use
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