Would this be fair to the party? (My guys stay out, please)

[atomn]

I think it sounds completely fair and an interesting idea since it won't be killing the characters and is for story reasons.

But I think Blargney (and others) made a great point that you should be flexible and have back up plots if they don't get captured.

I think Shadowslayer made a good point, depending on your players. While I would find it an interesting change of pace to be without equipment for a while, one of my friends who I play with would be sore at it, seeing it as his character being hamstringed.

 

[claven]

i have been running games for my group for quite a while, so they are used to the idea that every so often an encounter isn't going to be exactly fair. that's life. if you want your campaign to be "realistic", sometimes the enemy will just be more powerful than the pc's can overcome, and they have to make the choice whether to stand and fight, or to flee.

in my campaigns, the story is everything, but it is fluid. i don't write a story and force my players to adhere to it, i come up with a bunch of great ideas (or at least ideas that i think are great) and weave them around possible outcomes to situations the players find themselves in.

one thing i never worry about is whether or not an encounter is fair to my players. i know, and they know that i will never outright try to kill them. they have learned to adapt to ever changing situations.

what it comes down to in my mind is knowing your players. the situation you have set up seems fine to me. my pc's would not see it as unfair at all, they would roll with it and come up with some plan one way or another. i can't speak for your pc's though.

 

[Quartz]

A question: have the PCs ever surrendered before? Have others surrendered to the PCs before? If the answer to either is no, then don't run this encounter. Get the PCs used to the idea of surrendering first, then throw this at them.

 

[DonTadow]

Nothing wrong with it, but be prepared for the PCs to win. Yeah its a long shot, but it could happen.

 

[Nightfall]

I guess no one liked my idea huh? Oh well I guess maybe you should just leave a trail of gold pieces in the wilderness. That should get their attention.