Your best "one shot" experience.

[Ashrem Bayle]

I'm supposed to run a session tonight, and I'm fishing for some inspiration.

So whats the best one nighter you've ever played in/Dmed/GMed?

 

[haiiro]

The best one shot I've ever run, hands-down, is a Call of Cthulhu scenario called In Media Res from Pagan Publishing's magazine, The Unspeakable Oath. This scenario is [grandmothering] unbelievable, and nine or ten years later I still remember how it went very, very clearly.

I don't want to spoil even the tiniest detail of this little marvel for prospective players, but it will test your roleplaying abilities and seriously freak you out at the same time. It's in TUO #10 (long out of print), and is reprinted in The Resurrected III: Out of the Vault (currently in print).

If you're ever in the mood for a truly amazing experience, find this scenario and run it -- or talk your DM into doing so. I could keep gushing, but you get the idea. It's fantastic.

 

[BiggusGeekus@Work]

It was using the old "Principalites of Glantri" book. I had the players all 8th level wizards, just a few exp from getting to 9th. I then made them the victims of a practical joke by the alchemists. Their job was to get the alchemists back while still getting to the school in time to pass their final exam.

The level mechanic of D&D works really well here. The players could either study (small bonus to their spellcraft roll) or level up by getting even with the alchemists (and get lots of skill points).

Fun game.

 

[Hjorimir]

I played in a Ravenloft one-shot that was awesome. I usually don't take to dark, drab, hopeless campaign settings. But, that night we played by candle-light and everybody held on to a spooky mood. Atmosphere was great. Was like Night of the Living Dead as we were running and screaming and chopping up zombies...a great memory.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Just a hunt the banbits game, get in, take them out, and return for reward. What made this a good game was layout of the castle, four levels box on box (smaller sitting on larger), the DM and the fact there was a vampire hunting both groups.

 

[Theron]

A Justice, Inc. session run at Origins in Dallas (1984?). It was the first time I'd ever had a GM run things in a cinematic style (actually using film terms as he described the action). It was fast, rules light (and for a HERO System game, that's saying a mouthful), and incredibly fun. It changed my approach to gaming overnight.

 

[Macbeth]

I'm also running a one shot tonight (AU Demo Adventure Between Life and Death), so I'd also like to hear about one-offs, in particular, what (beyond running a good adventure) makes a one nighter good?

 

[diaglo]

The Original Tomb of Horrors. i was the DM. i convinced my players to bring some of their favorites out of retirement for a one shot. i waited nearly 8 years to use this one.

the whole session lasted 10 minutes real time.

we hit reset and they tried again.

still not one of them survived.........

 

[d20Dwarf]

Just a hunt the banbits game, get in, take them out, and return for reward. What made this a good game was layout of the castle, four levels box on box (smaller sitting on larger), the DM and the fact there was a vampire hunting both groups.

I've had a lot of great one-shots in my gaming career, so I'll just mention the most recent. I ran Midnight (cliche, huh?) at the local Gameday for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It was a great experience, the players were awesome, and we all had a good time. 4 hours never went so fast.

 

[Henry]

The Original Tomb of Horrors. i was the DM. i convinced my players to bring some of their favorites out of retirement for a one shot. i waited nearly 8 years to use this one.

the whole session lasted 10 minutes real time.

(singsong voice) I bet I know what they did, I bet I know what they did!

we hit reset and they tried again.

still not one of them survived.........

Don't know what they did in that one, but did they at least make it into the entrance?