What is the best way to capture some players?

[Lord Ben]

Okay, one of the PC's turned into a wererat and they're on their way to get cured. I think I handed out too much magic stuff and I wanted to remedy the situation. I've also never ran a campaign where they escaped from anywhere so I thought I could get both done at the same time.

I was thinking of letting the word get out that he was a wererat - wayside inn, etc. Then maybe trying to either capture them while they sleep or waiting until they're about to enter the city and capturing them at the gates with the city guards. Any suggestions? One of the PC's belongs to a mafia type smugglers unit (agains the gov't, not people) so I thought maybe they'd aid him in escaping.

Any suggestions?

 

[Wolfspider]

Set up a snare outside the FLGS?

 

[Lord Ben]

FLGS?

 

[bwgwl]

FLGS = "Friendly Local Gaming Store"

that might work for capturing players, but for capturing their characters, you might have to use something a little different.

one thing you really need to watch out for is that a lot of players really, really resent their characters getting captured. i'm not sure why -- heroes being captured and then escaping is a staple of adventure fiction.

you need to consider if your players will feel this way. i've seen groups try to "go down fighting" or even kill themselves rather than be captured. kinda puts a damper on the whole session...

another thing most players really hate: when the DM "steals back" magic items. be prepared for them to do everything they can possibly think of to get their stuff back.

as far as suggestions on how to actually capture them, a night-time ambush always works. your wayside inn idea is great -- especially if the innkeeper won't let the PCs keep weapons and armor in their bedrooms.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

FLGS?

Friendly Local Game Store.

Since your subject says you want to capture players, not characters, I think someone was having a little fun.

 

[Sodalis]

If your characters are prone to attack everythig you throw at them (no RP- just smash) then you can throw in a tough encounter that they have th eoptiono f pursuing. if they do, then have him beat the crap out of them and take a magic item to teach them a lesson.

A druid with magic fang on its wolf companion will do the trick. It will crush amost all weapons- short of a +4 longsword...

 

[nameless]

If you want to capture them without a fight, they need to be knocked unconscious. I recommend debilitating (Str or Dex) poison. My favorites are a nail sticking up in the bottom of the bath and gas while sleeping.

-nameless

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I have to say this:

You've put yourself in a bad position (giving away too much magic) but it is not the end of the world. However, you stand a good chance of making it worse by capturing the PCs and "stealing" their items. You are setting yourself up to seem like you are competing against your players and antagonizing them.

The last thing you want to do is make them feel like they are being punished for your mistake.

The poster above was correct: MANY PCs would rather DIE than be captured.

Your best solution is simply to be VERY stingy with the treasure and magic items for a little while. They won't find anything new and cool until the treasure you gave them in the first place has caught up to their level. This method is the most transparent to the players, they may never even notice it.

My number two suggestion would be to talk to them, admit that you gave away a bit too much, and ask if they wouldn't mind toning down the items a bit (drop a magic plus here and there, reduce charges, or add # uses per day).

If that doesn't work, go with Rust Monsters, a big nasty with Sunder, or someone with the spell Mordenkainen's Disjunction. The advantage of these three is that the PCs will at least feel like they're fighting something they can win against (although it may cost them some magic items).

Just knocking them out in their sleep and robbing them is a terrible idea, it will only foment resentment.


Wulf

 

[ForceUser]

The best way to shut down a PC is to use his worst saving throw against him. If he's a wizard, throw a Fort save at him. If he's a fighter, Will save. Cleric, Reflex. If he's a monk or paladin, a no-save effect is good

Seriously though, you might also consider other adventurers who attempt to subdue them, or a gang of monks who inflict subdual damage instead of normal damage, etc. There are ways to capture a PC, just be careful not to let the encounter degenerate into a duex ex machina situation; the PCs should always have a chance to resist capture to the best of their ability.

 

[LostSoul]

If you want to capture the PCs, make them do it for you.

If you can set up some kind of encounter where thier best option is to give themselves up, they won't feel railroaded and you won't have a mutiny on your hands.

You might be able to get away with dropping hints that a group of church inqusitioners - powerful ones - are hunting after wererats in the hopes of curing them. Thier methods are awfully nasty, though...

I guess my point is: let the players make the decision if they want thier PCs captured or not.