Alright, I've finished reading Chapters One and Two, and I am currently reading Chapter 3 (Flood Season).
Here is what I've come up with so far.
In order to get the PC's together and so that they generally get along I am going to propose to them that they are a 'Waterpolo' team. I figured with the lake in the center of Cauldron it would work out.
If they agree to this they are granted two things.
1) Free 4 ranks in Swim
2) Free Feat based on thier position on the team.
- Center: Weapon Focus (Throwing)
- Forwards: Improved Unarmed Strike
- Defence: Improved Grapple
- Goalkeep: Deflect Arrows
This also gives the PC's an extra edge if for some reason they are caught without thier weapons and equipment, which can happen.
As I am reading through Chapter 3, I found that I can work this in very easily. At the start of the campaign they have just found that they have qualified for the tournament to be held at the festival and are going to celebrate (Enter the first encounter). During the Festival they play in the tournament (I haven't devised a system yet), and if they can make it to the final they face the Stormblades (Who of course aren't happy with them). This would take care of the encounter with them, and shouldn't result in any of the PC's or NPC's getting killed.
The only problems that I am finding is that I need a fifth person to join up with the Stormblades, and I need to figure out a system for the Waterpolo matches.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Please keep in mind that this is the first Campaign that I will be doing Solo. I have done several Co-DM campaigns in the past and I am a Muse when it comes to Ideas for everyone else. This is the first time I've come up with Ideas for myself (With the help of the book of course) and been able to keep them. But help would be appreciated if anybody is willing.
Thank you in advance,
Red Mage.
Hey, it worked in Final Fantasy, right?
My only problem would be that the free feats are a little overpowered and don't seem to balance among themselves. For instance doesn't deflect arrows have pre-reqs? So that person is getting a bigger bonus than the others.
I am not sure I or my players would like this, but if the idea works for you and your players then go for it!
Sean Mahoney
Updated after some thought given.
This idea came to me when I was thinking of how to get the PC’s together initially, how to make sure that they would all get along reasonably, and generally to make my life easier. I figured that since Cauldron has a lake in the middle of the city that possibly Water Polo could be a viable sport. I have since renamed it Crater Ball. So with this in mind I am offering the PC’s 4 free ranks in Swim, and a free feat depending upon their position to start the campaign.
Center: Point Blank Shot
Forwards and Defense: Improved Unarmed Strike
Goalkeeper: Increased Reflexes
To start the Campaign I am going to ask them to assign positions, then choose their Captain, and finally name the team. The Captain will be relevant come time for Chapter 3, and the team name will be relevant for the entire campaign.
Welcome to the Crater Bowl – Flood Festival (Chapter 3)
This event takes place during days 2, 4, and 6 of the Flood Festival, and has been the focal point of the Festival for the past five years. It is also the most prestigious event of the entire festival. PC’s that wish to compete have a chance to earn a lot of money, and also earn some influence.
Day 2, First Match (Quarterfinal):
Is against the Town Guard, with Terseon Skellrang as the Goalkeeper. The rest of his team is made up of the standard guards (Give them 4 ranks in swim).
Reward: 300gp (total) and +1 on all diplomacy checks with citizens of Cauldron.
Day 4, The Second Match (Semifinal):
Should the PC’s pass the first match, the second is against Triel and her thugs. Triel is the Goalkeeper for this team, and her thugs have 5 ranks in swim.
Reward: 600gp (total) and +2 on all Diplomacy checks with Citizens of Cauldron (Not cumulative with first match).
Day 6, The Final Match (Final):
Should the PC’s get to the final match it is against the Stormblades, who are the returning champions. This is to help take care of the conflict that the PC’s are supposed to have with them just before the Flood Festival. This will also insure that the PC’s don’t kill one of the noble’s children. Mind you, there are only four members of the Stormblades, so add in Fario and Fellian to make up the difference. How you do this team is entirely up to you, but the members of this team should have at least Swim 6.
Reward: 1200gp (total) and +4 on all Diplomacy checks with Citizens of Cauldron (Not cumulative with first or second matches), and personal invitations to The Demonskar Ball. The ‘Captain’ of the team is given the ‘Crater with the demonic claw rising out of it’.
Crater Ball – ‘Waterpolo’
Teams: 1 Center, 2 Forwards, 2 Defenses, and 1 Goalkeeper
Possession: Both Centers roll Initiative
- Roll d20 + Initiative + Ranks in Swim
- Winner gets possession
- Go to 'Attack and Defend'
Attack and Defend: Attackers and Defenders roll to determine participants
- All players (except goalies) make Swim checks (DC 15) to participate
- All players who succeed make a roll of d20 + Attack Bonus + Ranks in Swim
- For every five points that the offense beats the Defense award 1 shot on goal, go to 'Shots on Goal'
- If the defense beats the offense then possession changes, repeat 'Attack and Defend'
Shots on Goal: Determine shooter and Roll Opposed rolls
- Roll a d6 to determine shooter if necessary (1-2, 3-4, 5-6 / 1-3, 4-6)
- Shooter rolls a ranged attack roll (d20 + Base Attack Bonus + Dex)
- Goalie rolls a Reflex Save vs. the result of the shooter
- If goalie fails a goal is scored, all further shots dismissed, go to 'Possession'
- If goalie succeeds the shot is deflected and shots continue as normal
- If the goalie succeeds by 5 or more then the ball is caught and possession changes, all further shots
On goal are dismissed
- If all shots are deflected possession changes
Winning the Match: First to 7 goals wins
Nothing beats a little water polo with some D&D on the side! ;)
Very original idea, should make future battles against water creatures very interesting as well. Lots of potential to get too silly, though.
Will there be doping tests?
I'll try and test it later tonight, and come back with the results.
I'll run the Town Guard vs Triels Thugs.
Survey on who wins?
Red Mage.
I'll try and test it later tonight, and come back with the results.
I'll run the Town Guard vs Triels Thugs.
Survey on who wins?
Red Mage.
The East Germans win.
Which one is that?
Just out of curiosity, is the waterpolo match a backdrop for the campaign, or is the campaign a backdrop for the polo matches?
Farewell2kings is right. There is a lot of potential for sillyness. I assume that's the tone you want to go with.
Teams: 1 Center, 2 Forwards, 2 Defenses, and 1 Goalkeeper
I get the role of center and goalkeeper in terms of game mechanics. How are forwards and defenders distinctive in their role in the match?
Possession: Both Centers roll Initiative
- Roll d20 + Initiative + Ranks in Swim
- Winner gets possession
- Go to 'Attack and Defend'Attack and Defend: Attackers and Defenders roll to determine participants
- All players (except goalies) make Swim checks (DC 15) to participate
- All players who succeed make a roll of d20 + Attack Bonus + Ranks in Swim
- For every five points that the offense beats the Defense award 1 shot on goal, go to 'Shots on Goal'
- If the defense beats the offense then possession changes, repeat 'Attack and Defend'
this is pretty solid. I would include a mechanic to determine who gets to shoot. For example, the attacker with the highest result (attack roll), or center, left-forward, right-forward, or the character with the highest swim score.
Shots on Goal: Determine shooter and Roll Opposed rolls
- Roll a d6 to determine shooter if necessary (1-2, 3-4, 5-6 / 1-3, 4-6)
- Shooter rolls a ranged attack roll (d20 + Base Attack Bonus + Dex)
- Goalie rolls a Reflex Save vs. the result of the shooter
- If goalie fails a goal is scored, all further shots dismissed, go to 'Possession'
- If goalie succeeds the shot is deflected and shots continue as normal
- If the goalie succeeds by 5 or more then the ball is caught and possession changes, all further shots
On goal are dismissed
- If all shots are deflected possession changes
I see a potential problem here.
The save progression for good saving throws is 2 + 1 per two levels. The save progression for a bad saving throw is 1 per 3 levels. Compare that to the base attack progression of a fighter, and you get a pretty big difference as the levels go up. Multiclassing or taking a prestige class (with a good reflex save) mitigates the problem to a certain extent, but the attacker will still score more often than not. It doesn't have to be a problem, but it does mean the focus of the game will be on getting the ball first. Possible fixes are to have the goalie add his ranks in swim to the roll, or to make oposed attack rolls rather than reflex saves.
Winning the Match: First to 7 goals wins
maybe you could also put a time limit on the matches e.g. (after a total of 13 attacks, the match ends)
Alright, as for your 'Who is the shooter?' question, it's sitting right there. Roll a d6 to determine who the shooter is for each shot.
As for the Reflex Save to block the shot. This is why the Goalkeeper is getting the Improved Reflexes so that they have that little bit of an edge. If the party places a character with 'Good' reflex saves then they should have a base of +3 (Level 4 average). Add in improved reflexes and you have a +5. Then you add in Dex, and you have a pretty decent score. Now unless said fighter has a high dex bonus, they are only going to have +4 (Plus any relevant Feats). I don't see a problem. I see that the PC's have an edge.
Oh, and the Waterpolo is just a way for the PC's to be formed as a party. Makes the DM's life a little easier. I'm doing an entire supplement for the Campaign based around this. It's far from finished, but it will be available soon on RPGenius.
Red Mage